In Richmond, California, Iron Triangle residents have been enjoying a newly renovated, fully useable green space and neighborhood center at Nevin Park.  Once unusable, the park now features a community center, new playground equipment, better lighting, and a leveled out green space allowing the area to be more accessible and, most importantly, safe..  This much-needed improvement in this Richmond neighborhood is an example of what Healthy Eating Active Living, Richmond (HEAL), and community advocate Andres Soto, hope one day to see in each and every park throughout the city. 
 
Last year, Andres partnered with the Pacific Institute to develop a survey that would look at the safety and infrastructure of all 52 parks in Richmond.  Working with the City of Richmond's Summer Youth Employment Program, Andres conducted the survey over this past summer and the results, as is the case in many places throughout California, were not surprising:  Trash was strewn throughout the majority of parks; buildings were shuttered and abandoned, creating a haven for illegal activity; lighting was poor or nonexistent; broken glass littered areas around outdated playground equipment.  By the time the survey was over, Andres and the youth he had partnered with were all asking themselves the same thing, "How are we going to encourage people to live actively in their neighborhoods if they don't feel safe stepping in to their local park down the street?"
 
Armed with the results of the survey, Andres and the youth group put together a power point presentation as a tool to educate the community of the importance of having safe parks in the city's neighborhoods.  After seeing firsthand the state of their parks, the youth themselves began presenting the results of the survey to many of the city's stakeholders.  They first presented the results of their survey to a very receptive parks and recreation department, who quickly offered their support. They then took their presentation to schools boards, neighborhood councils, and other Richmond youth.  With the growing support of the community, Andres and the youth group hopes to eventually have a wider impact on the city and push through more projects just like the redevelopment of Nevin Park.  Andres plans to continue the survey, yearly during the summer, through at least 2010.
 
To learn more about the efforts of HEAL, the Pacific Institute, or the City of Richmond Summer Youth Employment Program, please contact Andres Soto at [email protected].