Photo Credit: Grand Forks Park District
The mission of the Grand Forks Park District (GFPD) in North Dakota is to provide the best parks, programs, facilities, forestry services, and other services possible to promote a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle for all its citizens. After determining that the concession stands were part of the mission statement, the GFPD knew something needed to be done.
A Group Effort
In 2010, I, as the Park Board Commissioner, and North Dakota State University, Grand Forks County, Extension Agent, was awarded a $40,000 ACHIEVE Healthier Communities grant for the district. Nine additional community leaders were recruited to participate in identifying health-improvement initiatives. This group adopted the name “Take Action” and included a city council member, who was also a state senator, a member of the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Metropolitan Planning Organization, the CEO of the YMCA, a member of the Grand Forks Public School District, a local grant writer, the executive director of the park district, a retired coach and teacher, a dietitian from the Public Health Department, and the coordinator of the University of North Dakota’s Work Well employee-wellness program.
“Take Action” identified five initiatives that would positively impact the health of local citizens. Each initiative identified different “Take Action” members and community partners. Work focused on policy, system, and environmental change.