Kids Score Skate Park Using Health Data

To improve safety for skaters in their neighborhood, a coalition of San Diego kids lobbied hard for a new skate park, but they were having a hard time getting city officials to take them seriously. To convince decision-makers and skeptical community members, the coalition used data from a health impact assessment (HIA) to make their case.

With support from The California Endowment, Human Impact Partners helped the youth to identify priority issues and develop a plan for an HIA to highlight benefits that a new skate park would bring to the community. The kids’ work paid off. The City Heights Skate Plaza opened in 2016 and is a living reminder that anyone can have a voice.

Learn more about the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts: http://www.healthimpactproject.org