Letter to Editor in Support by Dr. Kathleen Paco Cadman-
Green space in Ogden are important for our health
Maintaining and enhancing Ogden’s green spaces, including those designated as surplus by Ogden School District, can have life-long health benefits for our community. The single largest factor responsible for our physical and mental health outcomes is the environment in which we live, work, and play; known as our social determinants of health. One category of these determinants, outlined in Health People 2030, is our neighborhoods and built environments, including is the presence or absence of intentional green spaces.
Much of the focus in the Ogden land debate is centered on youth soccer, which promotes physical fitness, teamwork, confidence, and belonging for children and their families. While this is significant, the use of these spaces is vast enough to benefit EVERY member of our society, regardless of age, race, politics, gender, disability, nationality, faith, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
These spaces promote societal health and cohesion by providing a place for ALL of us to disconnect from our screens and make meaningful connections with nature, each other, and ourselves. These connections can boost serotonin levels and our parasympathetic nervous systems, both of which promote relaxation, and decrease overly active sympathetic nervous systems, associated with fight or flight responses and chronic stress.
On an individual level, numerous studies show that access to ample green spaces can decrease rates of violent crime among youth, obesity, pregnancy complications, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, heart disease, fatigue, and completed suicides. These conditions have repercussions not only on our quality of life, but also on the budgets of individuals, households, and our state. Nearly a half million Utahans are covered by Medicaid/CHIP, which means that health promotion strategies such as increased access to parks, can save money in the long run, at every level.
Whether looking at green spaces as a form of environmental justice, a spot to cheer on kiddos chasing a ball, a great location for a picnic, a place to walk your dog, or an ideal setting for a stroll, maintaining and enhancing these spaces is in the best interest of each of us and our society.
(Letter to Standard Examiner by Dr. Kathleen Paco Cadman) https://www.standard.net/opinion/letters/2022/dec/22/letter-green-space-in-ogden-are-important-for-our-health/
Letter to Mayor in Support by Student Athlete, Ella Stewart -
Mike Caldwell
Mayor
City Council
Dear Mayor Caldwell:
I am writing this letter to give you a few reasons why I believe we should keep the three school sites, Grandview Elementary, Lynn Elementary, and North Jackson, and incorporate them into the present park community for the use of the citizens. I can see why they would be good to sell. We would gain more money for Ogden City that could go towards public buildings and many other things that can be improved throughout the city, but I think that keeping the parks would be more beneficial to our community.
One reason we should keep the three school sites is because we are limited on parks already. My dad coaches my younger brother's soccer team and we are always searching for new park locations to practice at. This is because the parks are too crowded and it is hard to practice with the team, when the available space is so limited. We have started practicing in South Ogden because of how busy the parks are becoming.
My second reason focuses on how fast Ogden is growing. Per year the average growth rate is around 10,000 people. worldpopulationreview.com Not to mention that many of the people moving here are coming for the amazing outdoor lifestyle that Ogden has to offer. If these properties do sell and become developed there will be potentially hundreds more people trying to share space at the local parks. This could cause major environmental impacts. The more people at the parks, the more crowded they will be, causing more pollution and damage to them. This would also increase the cost of maintaining them. If we choose to sell these sites there will be limited time for them to be used before they are developed. If we keep them they can be used for many future generations in sports and many other things.
My last reason for keeping these sites is that parks can be beneficial to public health. The trees in public parks remove 7,111,000 tons of toxins in the air according to cityparksalliance.org. Green space can also help keep Ogden city cool reducing the heat-island effect and, filter rain which reduces water pollution and helps protect our precious drinking water. City parks also may increase physical activity levels of the citizens. By doing this we may prevent many mental and physical health problems.
As you can see, keeping these three sites would benefit our community by providing more park space for sports and recreation, preventing crowding of Ogden City parks, and helping with the health and safety of our community. Thank you so much for taking the time from your busy schedule to read this letter and I hope that you will understand my reasoning and thinking about why we should keep these three school sites and incorporate them into the present city park system.
Sincerely,
Ella Claire Stewart
(Letter to Standard Examiner by Ella Stewart) https://www.standard.net/opinion/letters/2022/dec/12/letter-many-community-benefits-to-turning-school-land-into-parks/
Letter to Ogden City by Youth Program Director, Tara Jorgenson -
Ogden City Park and Recreations
133 W. 29th Street
Ogden, UT 84401
Dear Ogden City,
I am writing to you regarding the purchase of vacant school properties (Grandview, Lynn, North Jackson and Taylor Elementary). I am asking that these properties are used to enhance the quality of life for all youth, families and the environment. Parks and recreation create a better life for everyone by building strong, healthy and resilient communities.
I have worked with underserved families within Ogden for over 27 years. My experience in creating a better life for these families includes accessing services and assistance to overcome challenges and barriers. Services are short term, but relationships and connections are lifelong.
According to the Landscape and Urban Planning Journal, many communities of color and other marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+, immigrants, people with low income and people with disabilities, lack the opportunity to experience and engage in high-quality parks and recreation-because these resources literally do not exist near them.
Utah’s 2022 Intergenerational Poverty (IGP) annual report ranked Ogden #1 with the highest counts of adults and children experiencing IGP. IGP examines public assistance, education, well-being/healthcare access, housing and family economic stability. Ogden’s children and their families have very limited access to a local park, and often, the families do not have the means to access parks or engage in costly recreation. I work hard every day to break the cycle of poverty for Ogden’s children and know that open space improves wellbeing, health, mental health and education.
I am concerned for Ogden youth’s mental health. According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, in the 12 months preceding the survey, Utah high school students reported the following: 41.5% felt sad or hopeless, 22.5% seriously considered attempting suicide, 18% made a suicide plan, 9% attempted suicide one or more times, and 2.7% had a suicide attempt that required medical attention. The 2019 Prevention Needs Assessment data indicate that overall, 62.2% of Utah students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 reported experiencing moderate depressive symptoms. Students were also asked social isolation questions and reported the following: 16.4% felt left out, 15.3% felt that people barely know me, 15.3% felt isolated from others and 19.4% felt that people are around me but not with me. Ogden’s youth are becoming more isolated with no outlets for positive social engagement or access to areas for physical activity.
I am imploring Ogden City to provide families the opportunities to experience lifesaving and life-enhancing benefits of parks and recreation located near them. Give our families and our youth an opportunity to engage in a community by connecting with other youth, positive role models (e.g. coaches, team mates, neighbors, and community members), a safe space to be outside, and the ability to engage in healthy physical activities that creates habits that will last a lifetime.
I am requesting that Ogden City honors the people that live, work and make it their home by striving for a future where everyone has fair and just access to quality parks and recreation.
I am asking Ogden City to consider the following:
- Include in the Park Expansion Plan - a minimum of 32 acres of usable park space by 2026.
- Honor the 2019 Ordinance – whereas 20 acres of usable park space would be added by 2023 in order to meet deficiencies.
- Update Ogden’s current parks for safe use and expand open areas. Please include amenities for ADA requirements, walking paths, recreation and dogs. (Standards outlined in – National Recreation and Pak Association – nrpa.org and Utah Recreation and Parks Association – urpa.org)
- Work with Ogden School District to enter into an agreement for the vacated land at Taylor Elementary.
- Maintain a healthy park/green space of no less than 3.10 acres per 1000 residents.
- Including parking in the green space to minimize impacts on neighborhoods.
Thank you,
Tara Jorgenson