LOS ANGELES COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT.
Los Angeles, CA
PLACE Technical Assistance Coordination
Project: Policies for Livable and Active Communities and Environments
Grants for Policy Initiatives and Physical Projects
Scale: 5 communities in Los Angeles County
Long Beach, Culver City, Glendale, Pacoima, El Monte
Date: 2008-2011, Consultant
PLACE project initiated mid 2008
Role: Principal, Kendall Planning + Design, Technical Assistance Coordinator
Kendall Planning + Design will provide technical assistance for five physical project areas including:
Culver City - Expo Line Terminus/Downtown Bike-Ped Connection
El Monte - Tyler Corridor Pedestrian Circuit
Glendale-LACBC - Traffic Calming Toolbox and Active Street Prototype
Long Beach-Bike Station - Bike Boulevards
Pacoima Beautiful - Pacoima Wash Greenway Master Plan
Kendall Planning + Design was selected to be the Technical Assistance Coordinator for this unique policy initiative to promote changes in the physical environment and to increased physical activity. Alison Kendall, Principal and Esther Ibarra, Planning Associate assisted Coordinators from each of five communities to identify and fulfill their needs for technical assistance on a wide array of initiatives. In addition to preparing Technical Assistance Plans based on surveys and interviews with each community, KPD coordinates regular Learning Network meetings which provide opportunities for grantees to compare notes and develop useful skills and knowledge for undertaking their initiative.
The initiative is expected to last three years, with the first year devoted to an assessment of current and proposed policies and physical conditions and preparation of a detailed action plan. KPD will assist grantees in assessing the opportunities and constraints of their existing environment and the types of assistance they require to complete their initiatives. The second year will focus on development of policies, community participation and adoption of policy changes. A third and final year will focus on implementation of a related physical project and evaluation of the PLACE assistance process and the assessment of its impact upon physical activity levels.