The Independence Health Department received a grant from the

Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City in the summer of 2014 to

conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) that assessed current

sidewalk and walkability conditions

and recommended future sidewalk

placement in zip code 64053.

As the end of the grant nears, IHD wants to share the results which were

determined by the community and stakeholders in the area.

Community Recommendations

Sidewalks linking Fairmount Shopping district, Fairmount Community

Center, Fairmount Elementary, and Fairmount Park.

Sidewalks along Ash Avenue from Kentucky Avenue to 24 Highway.

Sidewalks connecting Mount Washington Neighborhood and

Fairmount Neighborhood.

Sidewalks along Kentucky

Avenue from Brookside

Avenue to Overton Avenue.

Sidewalks connecting

Fairmount Community Center

and Mount Washington Senior

Living.

Fix areas where sidewalks are

present but in disrepair.

Create a marked walking path/bike

lane on one side of the road and

space for parking on the other.

Ensure lighting is adequate.

Place benches along commonly

walked routes.

To read the final HIA report, visit:

http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/userdocs/health/

Northwest Independence Sidewalk

Health Impact Assessment

Building a Healthier

Independence Independence Health Department ● 515 S Liberty ● 816-325-7185 ● July 2015

Walkability:

A simple definition of walkability

is a measure of how friendly an

area is to walking.

HIA:

An HIA is a research and community

engagement process that brings

together data, health expertise, and

stakeholder input to identify the

potential health effects of a project,

in this case, the walkability in zip

code 64053.

P A G E 2

Building a Healthier Independence

The Independence farmers’ markets are open again for the season!

What are some reasons to shop at a farmers’ market?

1. Freshly picked, in season fruits and vegetables taste great and are

full of nutrients that are good for you.

2. You can support your local farmers and economy and strengthen

the community.

3. You can participate in food demos and taste testing. Demos will

take place from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. on July 11 and August 8.

4. Farmers often have recipes and recommendations for preparing

their products.

5. You can try a new fruit or vegetable. Have you ever had a

kohlrabi? Find one at the Independence Farmers’ Market!

6. SNAP benefits are accepted at the Independence Farmers’ and

Craft Market. Additionally, you can receive double the produce for

your money through the Beans and Greens Program.

7. Farmers markets are easy to find. Plus, Independence has two!

Independence Farmers’ Market

Independence Farmers' & Craft Market

N.W. corner of W. Walnut St. and S. Liberty St.

Hours: Sat. and Wed.- 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Drumm Farm Market

3210 Lee’s Summit Road, Independence MO 64055

Hours: Sat.- 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Independence Farmers’ Markets

Both markets are open now through the end

of October.

What: Free health expo to the community

Where: William Chrisman High School—1223 N Noland Road

When: July 30, 2015 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Everyone is invited to attend and take advantage of the services and

resources that will be provided.

Wellness and Health Expo

P A G E 3

Looking for somewhere to go where there is water fun for the whole family? Try

Adventure Oasis! It is located at 2100 S. Hub Drive, Independence, MO 64050.

For more information on Adventure Oasis, call (816)325-SWIM or go to

www.ci.independence.mo.us/parksandrec/advenoasis.

Don’t want to spend all day in the water? Try one of the Independence spray parks.

These are located at McCoy Park (800 N Bess Truman Pkwy) and Rotary Park (10615

E 24th St S). For more information about any of the Independence Parks, call

(816)325-7843.

Facility Hours:

Noon - 8 p.m. Mon-Fri

11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat & Sun

11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Holidays

Along with the water park,

Adventure Oasis offers:

Swimming Programs

Water Exercise

Party Packages

Back-to-School

Nutrition

The Independence School District works hard to

serve meals that are healthy for your children, but

packing lunches can be another great option. Help

your child make the right choices at lunch with the

following tips.

Review weekly lunch menus

Review the menu with your child. Discuss which

foods are liked and why certain foods are healthier

choices than others. Come to an agreement for each

meal. When you involve children in the decision-

making process, they are much more likely to be

excited about the outcome.

Pack your own healthy lunch or snacks

Another option is to pack a lunch. If you want to help

assure that your child will eat what is packed, involve

your child in making the lunch.

Choose various fruits and vegetables and cut them

into easy-to-eat pieces. Sometimes the difference

between a child eating an apple and not eating it is

simply slicing it up. Healthy eating includes a lot of

colors, and it makes lunch more appealing.

Pack water, 100% juice, or plain low-fat or skim milk

to drink.

Whole wheat and multi-grain are better choices than

refined grains found in white bread, cereals, and pasta.

Brown rice is also a good choice.

Set an example at home and at school

While it is great to have our children eat healthy during

the day, if they come home to fast food and pizza, they

receive mixed signals.

Taking the time to plan and prepare healthy meals at

home will not only impact you, but will benefit your child

and the entire household. Again, involve your children. Let

them help you cook to get them excited for the food.

Teach moderation at home so children can practice at

school as well. If they learn that a treat or snack involves

only a couple cookies or a small handful of chips, rather

than the whole bag, those habits will carry over when they

are given treats in school for birthdays, fund-raisers, and

rewards for doing well in class, such as pizza parties.

Promoting healthy eating at home will help children eat

better when they go back to school and vice versa.

P A G E 4

Practicing Sun Smarts Many people love the warmth that comes from summer and the

sun. The sun's rays have many health benefits including making us

feel good and helping us get the vitamin D we need.

However, too much sunlight can be harmful. Ultraviolet

radiation are the sun rays that can cause harm. The two

types most affecting us are ultraviolet A (UVA) and

ultraviolet B (UVB), which can lead to sunburn, skin

damage, skin aging, and skin cancer.

Just a few serious sunburns can increase your risk of skin

cancer later in life. You need protection from the sun's

rays whenever you’re outdoors.

Dress in lightweight, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts, pants or long skirts.

Sunglasses are an important way to help protect your eyes from sun damage.

Look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

Wear a hat to provide sun protection to your nose, cheeks, neck, and chin.

Use sunscreen labeled “broad-spectrum” with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Use water-resistant sunscreen if you are going to be exercising or spending time in

water.

1. Heat olive oil spray in a small pan over medium heat. Cook and stir

eggs until eggs are done, 3 to 5 minutes.

2. Place black beans in a microwave-safe

bowl. Heat on High in the

microwave until warm, about 1 minute.

3. Pour beans into bowl.

4. Top beans with scrambled eggs,

avocado, and salsa. Season with salt and

black pepper.

What you’ll need:

Olive oil spray

1 egg, plus 2 egg whites,

beaten

1/2 cup black beans,

drained and rinsed

1/2 avocado, peeled and

sliced

1/8 cup salsa (more if

needed)

salt and ground black

pepper to taste

Recipe Corner: Black Bean Breakfast Bowl

Building a Healthier Independence (BHI) is an initiative that aims to make it easier and safer for our citizens to be

physically active, make healthy food choices, and reduce tobacco use.

Using sunscreen:

Apply 15 to 30 minutes

before sun exposure

Make sure to use enough.

Cover all exposed parts.

Reapply sunscreen at

least every 2 hours.

Pay attention to the

expiration date on the

bottle.

Per serving: 370 calories, 19 g total fat , 23 g protein, 13 g dietary fiber, 500 mg sodium

Recipe from: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=2923520