Over 40 people from around the state involved in the fields of transportation planning, public health, economic development, community planning, and trails and open space came together to help build connections across these sectors with the purpose of increasing coordination of walkability and community mobility efforts. Representatives from various state agencies, Councils of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, non-profits, and consultants were in attendance.
National public health, planning, and transportation experts, Mark Fenton and his team presented how best to design walkable communities for people of all ages and abilities and how community design can influence health, safety, and local development. An Olympic race-walker, MIT-trained engineer, former host of PBS’ America’s Walking, and author of The Complete Guide to Walking for Health, Weight Loss, and Fitness, Mark has led training and planning processes for pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-friendly designs in communities across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Mark Fenton explains to participants how to engage the community in walkability solutions.
Kicking off the workshop, participants were asked to recall their earliest, positive recollection of being physically active. Their answers emphasized the change in play over the years with more youth moving away from being “free-range kids” who enjoyed outdoor play and exploration without adult supervision, walked or biked to school or interacted with friends, and played games with no formal uniforms or referees. This shift has influenced concerning trends in childhood obesity. Less than 5% of all children in the 1960s were considered overweight or obese, while today 23% of South Carolina’s children ages 6-17 fall into that category (Source: Trust for America’s Health).
However, improving walkability in communities is not just about physical activity. It affects citizens’ health and quality of life, the environment, social justice priorities, and community economic advancement. Can the design of our communities actually influence population health and community outcomes? Mark and his team highlighted that policy change leads to more active transportation infrastructure, which directly impacts a community’s health improvements.
Physical activity support occurs on three scales:
Providing a variety of destinations within close proximity;
Linking a network of pedestrian, bike, and transit facilities; and
Ensuring active transportation options are safe, functional, and accessible for all.
Equipped with this information, participants broke out into small groups by industry sector to discuss their roles in advancing active transportation, specifically what they should accomplish in the short-term and what is needed in order for them to be successful. One catch: the answer couldn’t be “more money!”
Workshop participants on a walk audit in downtown Columbia.
A highlight of the day was a 1.5-mile walk audit around downtown Columbia. Mark encouraged participants to take this exercise back to their own communities as an effective and inclusive community engagement tool that can reach all ages, races, income levels, and abilities. Walk audits integrate going to everyday community destinations where people live and work while paying particular attention to land use, the network of facilities, site design, and safety.
The workshop concluded with a call to action and commitment. Over 90% of participants affirmed they are very or extremely willing to contribute to a statewide collaborative to advance equitable active transportation by providing or sharing information and helping to make connections. A central theme was the need for more detailed and sharing of data as the workshop reinforced that the key to success in this work is more interdisciplinary participation. The group left energized and ready to be a part of this important priority in our state.
Stay tuned for more as Wholespire continues to play an integral role in inspiring wellness in all communities!
The notion of creating more walkable communities may seem like a daunting task, particularly for rural towns that struggle to find the time and resources to devote to such projects. However, WAI helped remind its participants that small efforts can lead to bigger changes. Community walkability projects, even on a minor scale, can impact not only citizens’ health and safety but local economic opportunities as well.
But where do you even begin? To start with, community engagement is critical. Assessing community readiness and educating citizens before any changes are made are important first steps.
“Community buy-in is important. Without their understanding, all of this is for naught. We’re using varying approaches to educate since people care about different things – beautification, pedestrian and public safety, jobs and small business, less traffic, increased real estate values, and social connection,” said Dara Brown, Chair of the Active & Accessible Community Transit Coalition and a member of the Cayce-West Columbia WAI team.
While there is a long-term goal of creating an inclusive, inter-municipal walk + bike loop in the Cayce – West Columbia arts district to promote tourism and connect lower-income areas to everyday destinations, conducting pop-up demonstrations and walk audits for this project helped identify solutions for immediate needs. Bike racks for both cities were installed, and a four-way stop sign was added in an underserved community to slow vehicular traffic. Other neighborhoods noticed and began asking for stop signs near parks and where school buses pick up children.
The more prepared and involved the community is, the easier it becomes to approach local councils and government officials with needed projects. “Training is about conversations. Engaging community leaders and informing them on how walkability can improve other issues such as safety and crime is critical,” said Dara.
The idea that place affects health – how a community’s built environment contributes to eating healthy and being physically active in a safe manner – was another resounding theme at WAI. With cars as the primary mode of transportation, sidewalks are not as commonplace in rural communities since fewer people and destinations tend to be more spread apart. The sidewalks that do exist are less likely to receive maintenance.
Broken sidewalks like this one in Lane, South Carolina, make mobility unsafe for people with disabilities, older adults and others.
The Town of Lane is part of Williamsburg County, another local team of public health, planning, and transportation representatives that participated in WAI. Delores Cantey, a resident of Lane, has an adult paraplegic son and has fought for safer road infrastructure for decades. With no real sidewalk network, she says his only option to get around town in his wheelchair includes the side of a highway.
“He’s entitled to have a good quality of life outside of his home. I think Council and local government are starting to see how everyone wants sidewalks as a safe option for travel,” she said.
Since WAI, the Town of Lane identified a need for traffic-reducing devices in areas of high use by people with disabilities, seniors, and youth. A radar speed sign and flasher kits were installed to warn drivers that they are entering a pedestrian crossing and to reduce speed.
“WAI was the catalyst for helping develop a connection to why we should consider these types of walkability projects. It served as an eye-opener of what could be done in a small town and rural community. It’s a real issue, and now we can do something about it,” said Regina Smith-Dimery, Community Engagement Manager for the South Carolina Department of Public Health and a member of the Williamsburg County WAI team.
So, what are some practical steps to implement walkability projects in your area?
Create an advisory committee made up of a diverse group of citizens to help increase public awareness and education about walkability and to identify projects that address specific community needs. Invite local leadership to participate.
Conduct assessments, which are free or low-cost, to help determine how pedestrian and bike-friendly a community is as well as what citizens view as priorities. These can include walk audits, “windshield tours,” and surveys. Try to plan these activities alongside existing community events where there will already be a crowd.
Put together a list of potential projects and then prioritize them based on importance, how capable the community is to implement and timely complete the project, and the feasibility of having the funding.
Phasing larger projects helps make tasks more manageable. Rather than a 10-mile sidewalk, prioritize key intersections to start with.
Continue momentum in the community by holding pop-ups and town hall meetings and creating appealing message development. Maintain intentional communication of what the goals are and how partners can fit in to increase participation.
Walkability and active transportation planning is a public health focus area that has the potential to have a positive community and statewide impact on our health, environment, and economy. Active community environments, where people of all ages and abilities have opportunities to be physically active for both recreation and transportation, must be thoughtfully designed with a holistic approach. The Walkability Action Institute proved even small steps towards this overarching goal can make a notable difference.
Wholespire remains committed to providing technical assistance and training to promote walkable, active and connected communities.
Each community will receive financial assistance from The Duke Endowment and technical support from the South Carolina Hospital Association and the South Carolina Office of Rural Health. The coalitions will serve to strengthen local infrastructure and community engagement to measurably improve population health around chronic prevention issues like unhealthy weight, diabetes, and heart disease.
“We are beyond excited for Wholespire Richland County, the communities it serves and the possibilities this substantial funding will support,” said Meg Stanley, executive director at Wholespire. “Co-Chairs Robin Cooper and Wanda Austin have done an incredible job navigating through the challenges coalitions often face and positioning the chapter for success.”
In the HPHC model, diverse community organizations collaborate to address systemic conditions that have led to poor health outcomes by implementing evidence-based interventions and sustaining them through policy, systems, and environmental changes. At the end of a one-year readiness phase, each coalition can reapply for up to five more years of funding to support implementation and policy change.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), in partnership with the University of South Carolina and the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation, has released a new SC FitnessGram data report, revealing a steady decline in student health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SC FitnessGram assessment is a comprehensive physical fitness test that evaluates various components of fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. The test is administered by school PE teachers in grades 2, 5, 8, and high school in participating schools across South Carolina.
In keeping with the declines in health noted in the study, participation in the study also declined from 64 districts in 2018-19 to just 52 in 2020-21, and of those 52 districts, only 21 districts had high-enough student participation data to be considered responsive. This study reflects data from those districts, which represent 48,154 students, 58% of whom qualify as living in poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The report shows the percentage of children in the “Healthy Weight Category” decreased from 65% pre-pandemic to 59% post-pandemic, and the percentage of students in the “Healthy Fitness Zone” for cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., heart and lung function) declined from 60% pre-pandemic to 51% post-pandemic.
There were also several disparities present in the data:
A disproportionate number of Black and Hispanic children scored lower on all testing than their White peers;
Students living in poverty are less likely to achieve the Healthy Fitness Zone; and
The percentage of students in the Healthy Fitness Zone decreases from elementary to middle to high school.
“This stark decline when students are not in the school setting, particularly for marginalized populations, proves that students are much more physically active when attending school in person,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC public health director. “These numbers show us just how important the role of public schools is to our children’s overall health, and schools should continue to promote physical activity before, during, and after school. We have a lot of ground to make up.”
Dr. Russ Pate of the USC Arnold School of Public Health and his team at the Children’s Physical Activity Research Group has been analyzing the SC FitnessGram data since its inception in 2014 and producing statewide reports of the data annually.
“These findings add to the growing body of evidence showing that the COVID pandemic harmed children’s health by depriving them of the physical activity that they normally receive in the school setting,” Pate said.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, healthy children are less likely to develop chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease at a young age. The health of children also has a direct impact on academic capabilities. Children who are within a healthy weight range tend to have better memory, attention spans and self-esteem compared to those who are overweight or obese.
Breonna Mealing, SC FitnessGram Coordinator, said the connection of childhood health to the workforce of tomorrow can’t be underestimated.
“Even within the Career and Technical Education offerings for South Carolina students, there are many jobs that require physical fitness such as construction, the military, manufacturing, transportation and corrections,” Mealing said. “While offering these pathways to our students is important, equally as important is ensuring students are physically capable to take on those jobs once they graduate.”
The critical data SC FitnessGram produces each year is used to support programs and policies in public schools that will improve the health of our children. However, schools alone cannot bear all of the burden.
“We are calling on not only schools, but community organizations, parents, community members, and students themselves to play a role in the movement for daily physical activity,” Mealing said. “Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
Visit SC FitnessGram at scdhec.gov/fitnessgram for the full data report and summary and to learn more about how you can support the movement to support students’ health from head to heart.
Representatives from five communities at the Walkability Action Institute.
South Carolina’s picturesque landscapes, historic charm, and vibrant communities have long attracted residents and visitors alike. However, beneath the surface of this Southern gem lies a set of walkability challenges that impact both rural and urban areas.
Five cross-disciplinary teams representing rural communities in South Carolina were recruited to address walkability and movability with the help of national and state experts. The two-day National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) Walkability Action Institute course focused on community and transportation design. Teams entered the training with the commitment to create action plans, participate in multiple virtual follow-up classes and implement action plans without any dedicated national or state funding for the time being.
“With NACDD guidance, the teams were intentionally made up of public health, planning, transportation, elected officials and other community members to help them understand that it takes more than just one department to successfully implement changes,” said Meg Stanley, executive director at Wholespire. “Cross-disciplinary teams also gain a greater understanding of how to leverage their resources to create a more liveable, sustainable and inclusive environment.”
Participants representing Anderson, Fairfield, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties and the cities of West Columbia and Cayce got hands-on training after their lectures and small group discussions. They performed a walkability assessment in downtown Spartanburg and found out that even the best laid out plans may not be the best. During the assessment, they discovered that when crossing roads, a vision-impaired individual is led into traffic and not toward the crosswalk because the crosswalk ramps with bumps or ridges are not always placed in the correct direction. Another learning point that was observed is that the sidewalks are wide enough for a person in a wheelchair and another individual to move comfortably side-by-side.
Participants conduct an assessment of downtown Spartanburg.
“As people who use cars for transportation, many of us take for granted the ease of access to parks, school, the office, the grocery store and many other places we visit. When we are planning projects, we must stop and think about those of us who may only depend on wheelchairs, bicycles, walking or other modes of transportation. An even smarter thing to do is have a conversation with those people and ask about barriers to getting from point A to point B,” said Stanley.
Walkability refers to the measure of how friendly an area or neighborhood is for walking. It takes into account various factors that influence the ease and safety of walking as a mode of transportation and a way to access amenities, services, and recreational areas. Walkable communities are designed to promote pedestrian activity, reduce dependence on cars, and enhance overall quality of life.
The South Carolina State Team First Row (l-r): Landon Campbell (SCDHEC), Lori Phillips (SCDHEC), Kelsey Sanders (Wholespire) Second Row (l-r): Torri Toland (SCDHEC), Meg Stanley (Wholespire), Kaylin Garst (YMCA), Sara Griffin (Clemson University) Third Row (l-r): Guillermo Espinosa (SCDOT), Ken Harvin (SCACED), Amy Ely Johnson (Palmetto Cycling Coalition), Paola Gutierrez (SCORH)
The five community teams meet virtually on a recurring basis to learn from national experts about topics related to movability and to seek guidance from the state team and each other on action planning, potential new team member recruitment, and project implementation. All five teams have developed action plans as described below.
The Georgetown County team wants to improve safe access to all schools in the Town of Andrews and add a bike lane shoulder along Plantersville Scenic Highway. They’re working to establish a partnership with Safe Routes to School, collect traffic and pedestrian data, install crosswalks and improve lighting and sidewalks around schools, and create a temporary shoulder until SCDOT can construct a permanent one.
The Anderson County team plans on implementing a trail connecting the Town of Williamston to the Town of Pelzer. Another goal is to work on a joint cycling and pedestrian trail initiative between the county and City of Anderson. They will also participate in local meetings to include walkability, cycling and pedestrian characteristics in the transportation section of the Anderson County 2026 Comprehensive Plan.
The Fairfield County team is working in the Town of Winnsboro to update town ordinances related to downtown revitalization and walkability. Specifically, they want zoning ordinances for outdoor dining to be amended to create vibrant public spaces and squares that encourage social interaction and community engagement. They also want to improve the safety and walkability in the Mount Zion community by converting large shoulders to walking paths/bike lanes, creating a walking path cut-through from Zion Hill to Fortune Springs Park, and installing a covered bus stop.
In West Columbia and Cayce, the team wants to create a safe and inclusive walk/bike Arts District Loop that connects West Columbia and Cayce using Savage Craft and Steel Hands Breweries as anchors to increase active tourism and improve connectivity for lower-income and historically Black areas to access everyday destinations and opportunities.
The Williamsburg County team is focusing its action plan on the Town of Lane. They want to create an advisory committee to increase public awareness of walkability and mobility and educate the community and stakeholders on the importance of accessibility for all residents. They also want to assess the current need for accessible walking and bike trails for all residents and work with the appropriate partners to establish walkable and accessible pedestrian routes.
Incorporating these strategies into community and transportation design can enhance the quality of life for all residents, promote healthier and more sustainable lifestyles, help the local economy, and create vibrant, inclusive communities. Through a partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Wholespire was honored to assist and participate in presenting the NACDD Walkability Action Institute.
Historically, many Black communities have faced disparities in access to recreational facilities and resources. In Camden, South Carolina, the Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board is doing something about that with the help of their community and funders like Wholespire.
In 1900, Knights Hill Park was deeded to a group of community organizers in the Knights Hill community, a residential area with their own unique character and community dynamics. The park became a centralized location for community events, celebrations, family gatherings, and outdoor recreation. It was a time when families and neighbors cherished fellowship by gathering outdoors to enjoy each other, share stories, exchange ideas, escape their problems, laugh, and play outside.
Over the years, Knights Hill Park was in disarray due to a lack of maintenance and a misunderstanding about who was responsible for the upkeep of the park. The Knights Hill community wanted something to be done about their neighborhood retreat. They wanted a safe place for seniors and youth to engage in physical activity and fellowship but couldn’t understand why their requests for maintenance were not being heard by the county.
Returning to where it all began
Bill Robinson, executive director of Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board, and his canine companion at the park. (Photo: Chronicle-Independent)
Bill Robinson is a descendant of the Knights Hill community who has the skills and knowledge to help get the park revitalization project going. His parents were born and raised there, and he visited Knights Hill on many occasions during his childhood. Bill eventually returned to Camden to help his sister make improvements to his father’s house following his death.
“People noticed that I was in the community and because my parents are both originally from this community, they knew me from years of coming down from Long Island where I grew up. They asked me to attend a meeting last year, which happened to be a board meeting, and raise some funds to do some upgrades to the park,” said Robinson.
The group explained to Robinson that they had been asking Kershaw County Parks and Recreation for some upgrades for years, and they were wondering why there was no response. Because he has experience as a fundraising and non-profit consultant, Robinson did some research and uncovered a couple of things. First, the original group lost its standing with the state as a non-profit due to some administrative errors. Most importantly, there was an agreement with the Parks and Recreation Department to list the park as part of the county park service and they would do what they could to help, but the agreement did not include maintenance of the park.
Robinson devoted time to correcting the non-profit status and the group renamed themselves to Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board. He also needed to start the process of renegotiating the agreement with the county, but the Board had one more request. They asked him to be their executive director, but they couldn’t pay him.
“They proposed for any funds that I raise to include an administrator fee for me, and I said sure. It was important to me because for me it was full circle. This was a part of the legacy of my family on both sides who grew up in this community, went to school in this community and were active in this park in this community. So, for me, it was like this is the least I could do. And now that both my parents are gone, I could provide this service and keep this legacy going. That’s how it all began,” said Robinson.
Building credibility through awareness and relationships
Kershaw County Parks and Recreation helps clear debris.
While waiting for their non-profit application to be approved, Robinson continued doing more groundwork to get the organization and their park improvement project positioned for success. He connected with some key partners like Kershaw County Parks and Recreation to reintroduce them to Knights Hill Park and revisit the initial agreement.
“We engaged in a two-pronged approach. One, to get outside funding to prove to the county that we could raise the funds and fix the park up whether they’re involved or not and use that as leverage for their part of the agreement. This is a 50-year agreement and I think we’re in year 30 of this agreement. So, I was happy to find out literally about six months ago that we were actually owners of the park. So that just opened up a whole new thing,” said Robinson.
Robinson says the relationship with parks and recreation has “been a great partnership ever since late last year and we’re continuing to build on that now.” The Wholespire HEAL Mini-grant proved to parks and recreation that they were serious about revitalizing the park. They’ve been able to rely on the department for help with maintaining the grass, tree and debris removal and other high-maintenance requests.
Media advocacy and community engagement are two essential components of public awareness campaigns. Each plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion, influencing policy, and mobilizing support. Robinson understood this and went straight to The Chronicle-Independent newspaper.
“I invited the editor of the paper out to the park to show him what we intended to do. I literally walked the park with him, opened up the shelter building, let him know that this is who we were and what we planned to do. He did a beautiful 2-page article about the park, the history and our goals for the park.”
Awareness in the form of media coverage helped ramp up Robinson’s ability to advocate for their park improvement efforts and prove that Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board is a valid and credible organization. Introducing himself and the organization at council meetings and to individuals after the meetings became easier, allowing for better conversation and even funding opportunities.
Identifying the first project with community feedback
Knights Hill Park basketball court before renovations.
Knights Hill community members of all ages have been involved in the park’s revitalizing efforts from the beginning. They were included in meetings and asked to provide feedback on their wants and needs. The seniors and youth set the phases of the overall project.
“Usually, our meetings were held outside underneath the shelter building, so as people were coming to the park – there’s a swing area, the playground area, as well as the basketball court and then a baseball field in between all of that — they would watch us meet once a month and depending on what was happening, we just pulled the kids over and said ‘Look you know this is what we’re doing. What do you all want to see first?’ We thought as adults that that would be a great way to engage young people. Offer them something and then we can engage them in future plans down the road.”
“So, they were with us every step of the way, designing the court, picking out the colors for the court and they just could not wait as we were going through the process. The court was in progress and the kids were still playing on it. So, there were times when we had to literally work around the kids. ‘Look, kids, please play on this side of the court so we can get the work done on this’ and the other side that we wanted to do for any particular day.”
Measuring the success of a basketball court
Youth playing basketball on an unfinished court.
It’s easy for Robinson to see the benefits of revitalizing the basketball court and it puts a smile on his face. He says that not a day goes by that he doesn’t see people playing basketball. There’s a new respect for the court – litter is decreasing. And during a recent May Day community event, the court was particularly exciting.
“We hadn’t finished painting the court, but the kids didn’t care. They’re playing three-on-three. Then it was five-on-five. Then the teens were waiting to play. The girls had the courts for a while, and they were doing their thing and it was just…it was beautiful to watch.”
Another successful indicator is when young people from outside of the Knights Hill and Camden communities find out about a great basketball court.
“During college spring break earlier this year, I was out doing something on the court and there were all kinds of kids here. And the interesting thing is, there were more white kids there than I had seen in a long time. So, I just let them play, and I was doing my thing on the other side of the court. When I got finished, I asked them, ‘Where are you guys from?’ Three of them were Clemson students, one was from Coastal Carolina and another one was from USC. They had gotten together and driven from Lugoff because they had heard about the Knights Hill basketball court. They said, ‘Man, this is gonna be a cool court when you get finished. We can’t wait to come back after the school year is over.’ We saw some of those people during the summer come back and play basketball.”
Looking forward to a healthier future
Knights Hill Park basketball court was brought back to life.
The stars aligned for the Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board. Starting from scratch is no easy task for a large project like revitalizing an entire park. The organization has found that when you engage with community members and value youth feedback and participation, the chances of getting things done and being successful on many levels can be achieved.
But they’re not done yet. The seniors want a walking trail for safe physical activity. Then, there’s the baseball diamond, lights, shelter improvements, a potential community center, and yes, a youth employment program.
The Knights Hill community values its cultural heritage and has a huge sense of pride. They want their roots to grow deeper and stronger. “And that’s more than anything for me. That’s what I want to happen… something to be proud of…to see young people and elderly folks come to this park and just enjoy the stories that they bring.”
