Partners for a Healthier Community

Healthy City Fall River Action Priority Summary Page
This is one of five pages that describe an Action Priority that was selected for a focus in 2004. Participants in the Healthy City Summit held on March 25th outlined specific targeted activities that will address one or more identified problems and challenges supported by data indicators. A complete report summarizing all activities specific to this priority area is currently being prepared by members of the Healthy City Fall River Design Team with the assistance of the Healthy City Coordinator.
	Environment: The second most voted Area will develop goals for 1) cleaner streets and parks; 2) increased and improved recreational opportunities for youth and adults; and 3) measures to ensure cleaner air and water.
While the City of Fall River provides a clean and rich natural environment including miles of fresh and saltwater waterfront, the largest natural bio-reserve of any Massachusetts community and numerous city parks and recreational facilities, attention has been brought to a number of challenges:
Data indicators that support the recognition of problems and challenges: (click underlined text to link with data source)	Current activities that are directed to improvements or problem resolution (click underlined text to link with web-based information about the activity)
The Fall River Open Space Plan provides a thorough analysis of the environmental challenges for the City of Fall River and surrounding area.	The City of Fall River provides trash removal and recycling through the Department of Public Works. In addition, the Mayor's Office of Volunteerism also assists city residents with voluntary neighborhood clean-up and repair projects by providing tools and trash removal.
	Numerous organizations focus on the preservation of the natural environment, including Green Futures, the Fall River Street Tree Planting Program, the B.M.C. Durfee High School Environmental Engineering program, the Friends of the Fall River/Freetown State Forest, the Greater Fall River Land Conservancy, and the Trustees of Reservations.
A major threat to air quality comes from local sources of air pollution that are not within the city's boundaries. Support of city residents has been shown, for instance, for reductions in the mercury content of the Brayton Point power station in nearby Somerset.	The City's Combined Sewer Overflow project will significantly reduce the amount of untreated sewage flowing into Mt. Hope Bay during periods of significant rainfall. The project is expected to be completed by 2010.
The City faces a major environmental challenge with a proposal to locate a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) storage facility at Weaver's Cove.	The Mayor's Office submitted a report of the LNG Task Force protesting the LNG installation citing numerous environmental and safety concerns.
The percentage of adults who participated in any leisure-time physical activity in the past month in the Greater Fall River Area (26.8%) was significantly lower than the state average (31%) and does not meet the national Healthy People 2010 goal of (30%). Lower physical activity levels are strongly associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers.	The City's Parks and Recreational Facilities Department provides and maintains recreational facilities including 12 major parks and 11 playgrounds throughout the city. Fall River's Open Space Plan outlines goals for protection of the natural environment and a safe water supply. It also outlines specific plans for increasing the availability of recreational facilities.
	Over 400 children at the Doran School are participating in a daily walking program with a goal of 500 total miles. The winning student will receive a bicycle from Wal-Mart and each winning classroom will receive a pizza lunch.
	The Boys and Girls Club of Fall River, provides daily recreational and developmental activities for over 2,000 Fall River youth, over 4,000 youth in summer resident and day camp, and over 200 older teens and adults in their fitness programs.
	The YMCA of Greater Fall River provides a full schedule of health and fitness programs for youth and adults that run seven days a week. Scholarships are available for persons with limited income.
	The City provides numerous recreational and fitness opportunities through the Community Development Recreation program that operates programs for youth and seniors throughout the year at a number of locations.
	The Fall River Youth Soccer League promotes soccer to the youth of Fall River in our instructional and competitive programs that instill in the youth of our community the benefits of teamwork, fair play, and physical exercise.
	The Police Athletic League sponsors sports events, sports teams, and teen dances open to Fall River youth.
The single most frequent recommendation voiced at the thirty visioning sessions by Fall River residents over the summer of 2003 involved recommendations for cleaner streets, parks and environment throughout the city.	ComCast and other businesses have been involved in beautification efforts throughout the City, often in collaboration with the Fall River Garden Club and other groups. A clean-up and painting project was organized in November 2003 at North Park.
	The Clean City Committee brings together representatives of City Government with agency and community leaders to review ordinance enforcement and plan educational programs designed to change public attitudes about littering. Voluntary efforts of citizens and businesses are also encouraged.

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