If you missed the Friends of Hamilton County Parks Foundation’s (FHCPI) 6th Annual On Par for Parks Golf Tournament at the beautiful Hawthorns Golf & Country Club last September, Carmel Monthly is excited to share with our readers a very special announcement from the foundation!
The FHCPI has launched a $50,000 grant toward the Active People, Healthy Hamilton County℠’ project. FHCPI’s partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in their national initiative is aimed at helping 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. FHCPI is actively seeking support from local municipalities to prioritize this initiative within Hamilton County.
Executive Director for FHCPI April Williams shared how this initiative aligns with the foundation’s mission.
“FHCPI is a nonprofit foundation created for the sole purpose of bettering parks and recreation in Hamilton County and its communities,” Williams said. “The Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. is entrusted with the stewardship to advance development, promotion and preservation of the county’s public parks and green spaces for the recreational, cultural and educational benefit of Hamilton County residents and visitors. FHCPI accomplishes this by actively seeking donations, grants and other financial support through relationships and partnerships with patrons, donors and granting organizations; sustaining an enthusiastic corps of volunteers; and abiding by informed, visionary and creative practices.”
A National Call to Action for Healthier Living
Active People, Healthy Nation℠ is the CDC’s national initiative, which seeks to engage:
15 million adults from inactive (no aerobic activity) to some moderate-intensity activity every day, like brisk walking.
10 million adults from some physical activity to meeting the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline.
2 million young people from some physical activity to meeting the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline.
According to the CDC, increased physical activity can improve health and quality of life while reducing health care costs. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of at least 20 chronic diseases and conditions and can be an effective treatment for many of these conditions. Societal benefits include better school performance and improved military readiness. Building active and walkable communities can help support local economies, lower air pollution and create more cohesive communities.
Additionally, participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over longer durations (weeks or months of regular physical activity) reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety in young adults and older adults. Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States and is a leading cause of disability for middle-aged adults in the country. Engaging in regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing depression in children and adults and can improve many of the symptoms experienced by people with depression.
“Last year, our board went through a strategic planning process so that we could map out a three to five-year plan and really make sure that we are fulfilling our broader mission, which is to be a resource to all of Hamilton County,” Williams shared. “We decided to partner with the CDC and their initiative ‘Active People, Healthy Nation℠,’ and we’ve customized it to ‘Active People, Healthy Hamilton County.’ Our board approved a $50,000 grant, and we visited each [Hamilton County] municipality to share the details. We asked them to propose a project to us that we can get behind and marry private funds to public funds, and bring some type of amenity that exhibits active living and encourages people to get outdoors to enjoy the county’s parks and amenities. Mayors Scott Willis [Westfield], Chris Jensen [Noblesville] and Sue Finkam [Carmel] all gave proclamations and resolutions to show their support for this initiative.”
Williams explained that FHCPI put a call out to all of the municipalities to submit their respective projects and received grant requests from the Cities of Westfield and Fishers.
“We plan for this to be an annual [grant] initiative, and we would like for these [grant] funds to continue to grow,” Williams expressed. “This is an opportunity for the communities to bring a great project to fruition and have a voice in doing so. The winner of this year’s grant will be announced at our annual awards banquet and fundraiser in February at the Lucas Estate in Carmel. The project that most aligns with the criteria of both the Active People, Healthy Nation and mission of FHCPI will be awarded the grant at this event.”
Williams continued, “We can only grow these [grant] funds if our county community supports this initiative, so we’re asking our Hamilton County community members to support this pool of funding so we can offer an even larger grant next year! You can visit our website to learn more about this initiative, or [you] can reach out to me directly. I love to have one-on-one meetings to get to know individuals and share our mission. We would love to see a full house at our awards event, and we are currently seeking candidates for our board. If anyone is interested and has a passion for preserving and growing our recreational amenities, I’d love to talk with them.”
The Proposed Projects
Westfield: Park Street District Decorative Crosswalks
Westfield’s Park Street District and Grand Junction Plaza have transformed downtown Westfield, making the area a bustling, walkable downtown district filled with activity. Community events, new restaurants, a new library and increased development have all increased foot traffic in the Park Street District. Now Westfield is looking for unique and colorful ways to make the walking routes to and from the numerous destinations within the district safer. The City of Westfield would use the Active People, Healthy Hamilton county grant funds to begin piloting its Decorative Crosswalk program in the District.
Fishers: Fitness Court®
The City of Fishers is focusing on expanding efforts to support an active culture of health. To create more accessible outdoor means of physical exercise and recreation, the City of Fishers has proposed building a Fitness Court® geared to adults of all ages and abilities. It will be fully accessible and home to premier outdoor fitness classes and training programs. A public Fitness Court® would also allow large groups to work out together and motivate one another, creating a culture of wellness. The City of Fishers would use the Active People, Healthy Hamilton county grant to begin building a Fitness Court® in a location that is easily accessible and visible by residents, preferably along a trail or within a Fishers Parks footprint.
For more information on the Active People, Healthy Hamilton County℠’ and to make an online donation to FCHPI, visit the website at friendsofhamiltoncountyparks.org.
Get Involved With FCHPI Community Events
Look for more announcements and details on the FCHPI annual banquet in February on the FCHPI website. You can also check out the other events that support the foundation throughout the year. This last On Par for Parks golf outing was another smashing success and an exhilarating networking opportunity that supports the foundation’s projects.
“True Rx Health Strategists is proud to be a longstanding sponsor of the Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Inc. On Par for Parks event, as it aligns with our mission to enhance the health and well-being of communities. By supporting the stewardship of Hamilton County’s parks and green spaces, we invest in the recreational, cultural and educational benefits that enrich the lives of residents and visitors. We’re honored to continue our involvement in this initiative that fosters community engagement and environmental preservation.” – Eric Barker, Chief Growth Officer