HUNTINGTON – The town of Huntington is among several hilltown communities set to receive a grant from Healthy Hampshire, part of the Mass in Motion statewide initiative through the Department of Public Health to support infrastructure projects, policies and maps that promote walkability and healthy town center design. Healthy Hampshire is administered by the City of Northampton in partnership with the Collaborative for Educational Services.
The town of Huntington will receive a Healthy Hampshire grant of $4,500 to create a Riverwalk recreational area behind town hall on the Westfield River. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The Town of Huntington along with local architect Jeff Penn will receive a grant of $4,500 to develop access to the riverfront through the lot behind Town Hall by designing a Riverwalk with fully accessible public paths for exercising, relaxing, picnicking, or fishing.
“Huntington is grateful for this award as a catalyst for the long-range recreation improvements we envision. We are partnering with other communities and planning agencies to increase access and preservation of our remarkable forests, hills and history as we encourage complimentary recreational and economic development,” said Huntington architect Jeff Penn, about the award.
Also funded with a grant of $2,500 will be the Jacob’s Ladder Business Association’s (JLBA) Hilltowns Destination Map, which will include at least two dozen family-friendly, well-marked accessible trail heads in twelve hilltown communities. The map will also include JLBA businesses and access points for food, water, gasoline and bathrooms for public use.
Projects were also funded in Goshen, Williamsburg, and Worthington
The grants, totaling $25,706 followed a strategic planning process in which Healthy Hampshire gathered information about policies and practices that support or inhibit access to healthy food and physical activity in the hilltowns, and hosted a series of community forums to hear residents’ vision for healthy and vibrant communities.
Results from the strategic planning process indicated strong support and opportunities for enhancing the walkability and connectivity of town centers, as well as the promotion of local recreation and economic assets to residents and visitors. To view the report compiled by the American Institute of Architects, go to http://tinyurl.com/HealthyHilltownsReport.
The mission of Healthy Hampshire is to reduce rates of chronic disease in its partner communities by effecting changes to policies and systems that encourage physical activity, healthy food access, improved patient care, and linkages between healthcare systems and community-level prevention activities.
