OKC 3rd to last in fitness rating

[Plutonic Panda]

Regardless of what you do, the majority of people don't.

not sure about the majority, but I can say with great confidence, that I'm not the only one who does and certainly not part of a small group either.

[Just the facts]

If I might suggest - for those interested in the subject of sidewalks go buy from a bookstore or checkout from your local library - Walkable City: How Downtown can Save America One Step at a Time.

Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck | 9780865477728 | Paperback | Barnes & Noble

For those with ADHD - here is a video.

Jeff Speck: The walkable city | Talk Video | TED.com

I found that my health improved once I incorporated exercise as part of my daily living. As I said in another thread long ago - if you drive to the gym you already lost.

[Plutonic Panda]

If I might suggest - for those interested in the subject of sidewalks go buy from a bookstore or checkout from your local library - Walkable City: How Downtown can Save America One Step at a Time.

Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck | 9780865477728 | Paperback | Barnes & Noble

For those with ADHD - here is a video.

Jeff Speck: The walkable city | Talk Video | TED.com

Thanks for that. I'll check that out!

[Just the facts]

It is a very easy read with small sections. I just put it next to the bed and read a section per night. Of course, Uber also paid me to read it while I sat in the car.

[boitoirich]

Anecdote Warning

When I visit my family on the Eastside, I often walk the half-mile to Edwards Park in order to run around the 0.5-mi. lake trail. I see families playing pick-up sports, older people walking along the track, children on the playground, and elderly men fishing. I see many of these people with some regularity. They all enjoy the amenities that are offered near their own homes. However, EVERYONE drives to Edwards Park. Although it flanks three neighborhoods, there are absolutely no sidewalks leading to the park. There is a sham of a sharrow bike lane that even I would be afraid to use, and I certainly wouldn't let my children ride along it to get to the park (N Bryant is over-engineered for the neighborhoods' needs). When I jog back to the house, some people stop me to ask the same questions:
1. What's there to do at the park?
2. Is it dangerous?
3. I want to try it, but does anyone else even go there?
4. There are no sidewalks and don't people drive crazy around here?

Decades of infrastructural shortcomings have inspired people that there is nothing to do, parks can be dangerous to be, and even more dangerous to walk/bike to. While I applaud OKC's efforts to improve neighborhood parks, those improvements mean nothing without investment in streets that children and older people can walk along safely. Those improvements also mean nothing if neighbors aren't made aware of efforts to add amenities and safety features.

[trousers]

While I applaud OKC's efforts to improve neighborhood parks, those improvements mean nothing without investment in streets that children and older people can walk along safely. Those improvements also mean nothing if neighbors aren't made aware of efforts to add amenities and safety features.

This x1000

[bradh]

Bchris is right about the Phoenix metro. I lived in the east valley in Gilbert, and I ran 1.5 miles one way to Lifetime Fitness on nice wide sidewalks along Warner Rd.

One thing I notice about Oklahoma is tobacco use seems to be way higher than other places. Disgustingly higher it seems.

[ljbab728]

Some of the things measured for this report are very easy (number of tennis courts) and some are fairly speculative. I'm not saying the findings are totally wrong, just that there is nothing conclusive about it. And I find the inclusion of number of dog parks to be a little strange. It may be a lifestyle plus but I'm not sure it has much relationship to the fitness of humans.

[Just the facts]

Parking spaces at a park is a sure sign someone messed up somewhere. Pick your favorite park in the world and then see how many dedicated parking spaces are available (minus on-street parking).

Here is my list:
1) Rittenhouse Sq - Philly
2) Memorial Park - Jax
3) Balis Park - Jax

None of them have dedicated parking.

[Pete]

Some of the things measured for this report are very easy (number of tennis courts) and some are fairly speculative. I'm not saying the findings are totally wrong, just that there is nothing conclusive about it. And I find the inclusion of number of dog parks to be a little strange. It may be a lifestyle plus but I'm not sure it has much relationship to the fitness of humans.

As a breeder of Labradors, I can tell you there is a very strong correlation in the fitness of the canine and their human.

I have 37 Labs out there and have had a couple of reunion get-togethers and the out-of-shape people had out-of-shape dogs, and vice versa.


The study is about as scientific as it's going to get but all you have to do is look around OKC to know it's pretty close to right, give or take a few positions.

[ljbab728]

As a breeder of Labradors, I can tell you there is a very strong correlation in the fitness of the canine and their human.

I have 37 Labs out there and have had a couple of reunion get-togethers and the out-of-shape people had out-of-shape dogs, and vice versa.


The study is about as scientific as it's going to get but all you have to do is look around OKC to know it's pretty close to right, give or take a few positions.

I'm sure that may be true about the dogs and the owners, Pete. I just don't think the connection is there between the number of dogs parks and the fitness of humans for that to be a serious consideration for this report.

[boitoirich]

Here is an interactive map of parks in Oklahoma City. Green means existing park, and neutral-colored areas are meaningfully served by nearby park. The areas in tan (some need for a nearby park), orange (moderate need), and red (strong need) show where more effort is needed.

ParkScore

[Just the facts]

When I see charts like that boitoirich it just reminds me that we simply don't have enough money to save most of these places. All we can do is start building better urbanism at the core and work our way out from there, and if that means urban sprawl falls further into disrepair then so be it. The data and signs are there for suburban homeowners who want to save themselves before they are trapped forever.

[boitoirich]

OKC's own Parks Master Plan admits the need for about 25 new parks and 8 multi-generational recreational centers in addition to investments in off-street trails, neighborhood sidewalks, and upgrades to existing parks. The 20-year plan would cost $1.35 billion over to implement. That represents tripling of what OKC would typically spend on parks, recreations, and trails.

Like you, I would not be upset if the first investments were made in the older neighborhoods of the core. Most pressing would be the immediate neighborhoods surrounding OCU, the neighborhood south of the Downtown Airpark, and the Culbertson Heights Addition neighborhood (North of JFK) east of Lottie.

I wonder if OKCPS would be open to making their open spaces available on evenings and weekends like in other cities.

[bradh]

I wonder if OKCPS would be open to making their open spaces available on evenings and weekends like in other cities.

I would love it if local HS would open their stadium tracks with lights on nights and weekends

[Pete]

I would love it if local HS would open their stadium tracks with lights on nights and weekends

Absolutely no reason not to do this.

It's a big pet peeve of mine... Those facilities are paid for by taxpayers yet are usually denied to the community. Same way with playgrounds and play fields at elementary schools, which should be open in the evenings, weekends and summers.

Every school has security guards and all they have to do is keep an eye out to make sure no one trashes anything.

[bradh]

The local HS track where I went to HS in suburban Houston was always opened, and there was actually a timer for the lights that could be set by users.

[bradh]

I got a little pissed yesterday driving by Bluff Creek Park on Hefner and looking at the dam and seeing no trespassing signs along an area where many (including myself) would go do hill runs up the dam. The city re-sodded where a couple dirt paths had been cut out from people running hills there. People are trying to get fit, and there aren't exactly a lot of hills to run around here, and the city gets butt hurt and throws a few signs up?

If anyone else ran the dam, there is a path on the NW side where Hefner bends that was also re-sodded, but no signs were put up.

[LandRunOkie]

Absolutely no reason not to do this.

It's a big pet peeve of mine... Those facilities are paid for by taxpayers yet are usually denied to the community. Same way with playgrounds and play fields at elementary schools, which should be open in the evenings, weekends and summers.

Every school has security guards and all they have to do is keep an eye out to make sure no one trashes anything.

The same is true for school gyms. I was told it wasn't possible to use my high school's gym, no exceptions. No good reason to exclude people from the facilities they fund through taxes. Incidentally I think this closed-door policy regarding school gyms could explain why there are so few good shooters from Oklahoma. Too much wind outside to develop your skills.

[PWitty]

^^ Doesn't seem to give the players in Kansas any issues

But seriously, I can understand not opening up gyms because that would give the public access inside the school when it's closed. Football fields and tracks there are no excuse for.

[Bellaboo]

The same is true for school gyms. I was told it wasn't possible to use my high school's gym, no exceptions. No good reason to exclude people from the facilities they fund through taxes. Incidentally I think this closed-door policy regarding school gyms could explain why there are so few good shooters from Oklahoma. Too much wind outside to develop your skills.

Mark Price and Brent Price both were great shooters in the NBA. Mark Price has one of the all time best FT percentages ever. They both played at Enid High School.

[LandRunOkie]

Not getting either of your points and how they relate to mine. Of course the Price brothers were exceptional - they were different, probably because they had access to a gym. And KS isn't as windy as OK.