Community and Regional Planning Center

Above On November 9, 2015, OCED conducted a walkability audit in an attempt to assess the safety and accessibility of the environment in Mendota on the major corridors in the city. The audit team consisted of 13 individuals, including OCED staff, and 12 community members from the West Side Youth Center. The walkability audit was conducted in an attempt to assess the walkability and accessibility of the City of Mendota. The audit route acted as a representative sample of the commercial and residential corridors of the city. The audit began at the West Side Youth Center and continued Northeast on 7th Street, capturing a busy commercial corridor and a popular walking route for Mendota children. The route continued past Oller Street, to a small residential neighborhood, and continued back down 7th Street. The route ended back at the West Side Youth Center on 7th Street and Quince Street.

Above On October 12, 2015, OCED conducted a Walkability and Economic Development 101 workshop and a walkability audit in an attempt to assess the safety and accessibility of the environment in San Joaquin on the major corridors in the city. The audit team consisted of nine individuals, including OCED staff, and seven community members. The walkability audit was conducted in an attempt to assess the walkability and accessibility of the City of San Joaquin. The audit route acted as a representative sample of the commercial and residential corridors o the city. The audit began on Main Street and continued Northwest on Nevada Avenue, capturing data in a school zone. The audit route continued Southwest on 7th Street, capturing a large residential corridor. On the route back to Main Street, the audit team traveled Southwest on Colorado, and ended in the busy commercial corridor on Main Street.

Earlier in the month, CRPC staff attended the 11th Annual San Joaquin Valley Fall Policy Conference to present the 2015 San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Awards. The Blueprint Awards encourages quality in planning and development by recognizing and celebrating projects that reflect the Blueprint Principles. Categories included: Mixed Use, Residential, Downtown Revitalization, and Transportation Enhancement. In addition, the Darrel Hildebrand Blueprint Leadership Award was presented.

Winners included:

MIXED USE PROJECT:

Award of Excellence-City of Bakersfield and Viridian Group, 1612 City Lofts (Bakersfield)
RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS:

Award of Excellence-City of Turlock and EAH Housing, Avena Bella (Turlock)
Award of Merit-California State University, Bakersfield, Student Housing Complex (Bakersfield)

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECTS:

Award of Excellence-Granville Homes, Brio on Broadway (Fresno)
Award of Merit-Ten Space, The Newberry Building (Stockton)

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS:

Award of Excellence-City of Clovis, Dry Creek Trailhead (Clovis)
Award of Merit-Caltrans (District 10), Bradley Overhead on Highway 140 (Merced)

DARREL HILDEBRAND LEADERSHIP AWARD

San Joaquin Sustainable Communities Coalition (San Joaquin)

Above On September 17, 2015, OCED and Pueblo Unido Mejorando Avenal (PUMA) conducted a walkability audit in an attempt to assess the safety and accessibility of the environment in Avenal on the major corridors in the city. The audit team consisted of 15 individuals, including OCED staff, 12 community members (two of which were children), and one employee from the City of Avenal. The walkability audit was conducted in an attempt assess the walkability and accessibility of the City of Avenal. The audit route acted as a representative sample of the commercial and residential corridors of the city. The audit began at City Hall and continued southwest on Highway 269, capturing data on a large commercial corridor. As the audit route made its way back toward City Hall on E. Dome St., auditors were able to collect additional data on a residential corridor.
 

Above On July 29, 2015, OCED partnered with Cultiva la Salud to host a town hall meeting at the Orange Cove Community Center with over 60 participants, including city council members, the mayor, city manager, police department representatives, residents, and business owners. The purpose of the town hall meeting was to engage residents in a discussion about walkability and public health in Orange Cove. Through the community forum, participants learned about the realities of access to health food and the importance that walkability has on the health of the community.

Above On July 23, 2015, OCED conducted a Walkability and Economic Development 101 workshop to seven individuals in Mendota, including Mendota City staff and members of the community. The workshop consisted of a presentation about walkability and the correlation that it has with economic development, followed with a community discussion. Participants also completed a walkability survey, which acted as a tool to measure the community's perception of walkability in their neighborhoods. The results of the walkability survey will supplement the walkability audits and business surveys that were scheduled for Mendota at a later date.

Above John Gonzalez, program assistant presented a Walkability and Economic Development 101 workshop to members of the Avenal community group, PUMA-Pueblo Unido Mejorando Avenal. Those in attendance included city council members, business owners, and active residents. The presentation covered the elements of walkability and ways to work to increase walking and bicycling in Avenal. A Walkability Audit will be conducted at a future PUMA meeting.

PUMA's mission statement is to "increase awareness and participation of residents in Avenal, CA, for the wellbeing of the community." Its goals are to:

Improve the health and education of residents, youth, farm workers, and Immigrants
Advocate, Develop, Sustain, and Support programs for youth and adults in the community.
Ensure that institutions can provide support to maximize the development of our community.