As we traveled through miles and miles of cornfields leaving the Kansas City airport, conversation inside the car turned to speculation as the NRPA team discussed what the town of Chanute, Kansas might be like. Would the kids be excited to see us? What would the staff at the recreation center be like?
I was visiting Chanute with NRPA staff and other Commit to Health partners on my first site visit with NRPA. I was excited to see in person what our funding and resources look like in action, when used by the agencies we serve and partner with.
The Chanute Recreation Commission was one of ten rural park and recreation agencies who received grant funds from the Walmart Foundation and the National Recreation and Park Association this year to increase access to healthy food and nutrition education in their out-of-school-time programs. This cohort of agencies in Colorado, Kansas, and Mississippi will provide insight into the barriers rural communities face in providing meals and services to children, as well as the assets these communities can leverage to improve health outcomes. Chanute is using its Commit to Health funds to help build a snack bar and kitchen that will help distribute healthy foods to kids attending its summer and afterschool programs.
Though it’s a small town of 9,000, Chanute is doing big things and it didn’t take long to see just how that is happening. Throughout the day, we saw firsthand how enthusiasm, creativity, hometown pride and collaboration across organizations are actively improving the recreation commission, the local parks and the entire town. As we finally pulled into Chanute’s Recreation and Maring Aquatic Center, there was a sense of excitement and it seemed like every few minutes, there was a new person for us to meet who couldn’t wait to share how they were making an impact in Chanute.
The day’s first activity was watching the summer campers participate in a Commit to Health activity, as they learned about herbs and vegetables while starting their own gardens. Later, as we toured the town, the staff revealed that they hoped the kids soon would be able to sell those herbs and vegetables at the new farmers market downtown. As I spoke with parents and children throughout the day, I learned just how important the recreation center is to the community. The recreation center provides an affordable, quality childcare option for parents with full-time jobs. Other parents revealed that despite being surrounded by farmland, healthy food wasn’t exactly readily available or affordable, so this was how they ensured their kids ate healthy. Another revealed that she didn’t grow up knowing much about nutrition and was grateful her son was learning about it through Commit to Health programming and wouldn’t get diabetes like her too.
The town’s pride stood out to me throughout the entire trip. Parents were proud their kids attended camp at the historic recreation center that was once their high school. The executive director of the Business Improvement District was proud to return to his hometown to attract new businesses to it with the town’s recreation and park facilities. The teenage camp counselors were proud to be role models. The staff at the recreation commission was proud of their work in providing kids quality care in a safe environment with healthy food.
None of what we saw on our site visit would have been possible without this hometown pride that allowed different organizations to work together to come up with creative solutions to secure funding and complete projects that make Chanute a healthier and more attractive place to live. Thanks to Julie, Steve, and the entire delegate of representatives from Chanute for their time and hospitality!
Audrey Fox is NRPA's Communication Specialist.