Clinton County

Grantee NameClinton County Health Department
Project Title: Clinton County Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative
Grant Amount: $250,000

Grantee NameClinton County Health Department
Project Title: Clinton County Healthy Neighborhoods Fund Phase 2
Grant Amount: $300,000

Community Fast Facts
  • 17% of residents in Clinton County live below the poverty line (higher than State average of 15.6%);
  • 22% of the population smokes (higher than State average of 14.5%);
  • 21% of children are obese;
  • Plattsburgh City Beach on Lake Champlain is the largest freshwater beach in the continental United States; and
  • Approximately 603 farms are in the county but very few formal farmers markets exist.
Project Goals
  • Increase access to healthy and affordable foods through the implementation of a healthy certification program for local food retailers; and
  • Enhance and activate spaces for physical activity for residents across the age spectrum.
What We’ve Achieved to Date

Healthy Foods:

  • Designed and implemented a locally tailored Better Choice Retailer program (a healthy food certification program for small food retailers) that has now grown to more than 20 local convenience stores and food store outlets. These food outlets, typically located in food deserts, received technical assistance to offer and display healthier food items. Local farmers also reached out to CCHD in an effort to provide these retailers with produce items to promote healthy, local produce and keep more dollars in the local community; and
  • Recruited 17 local farmers to accept the local food incentive program, Farm Fresh Cash, creating more opportunities for the neediest residents to purchase local, fresh food.

Built Environment & Physical Activity:

  • Improved the Cadyville Trail, which included the mapping and marking of three other connecting trails and the addition of a new map signboard at the trailhead;
  • Developed a new resident-driven walking path in the Village of Rouses Point, which creates a continuous walking loop around the village’s civic center and connects area residents to Lake Champlain. Through an NYHealth-funded ioby campaign, residents also raised funds to purchase outdoor fitness equipment to be installed in late spring 2017;
  • Restored a playground in the hamlet of Perry’s Mills in the Town of Champlain; and
  • Used complementary funding awarded to the Foundation of Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital to retrofit 10 inactive outdoor and indoor spaces for public use, and established a Fitness in the Parks program at 6 locations across the county to serve youth. The 10 public spaces were refurbished for activities such as tennis, pickleball, and soccer golf courses. Parks and Recreation staff are maintaining the courts and continue to coordinate organized
    leagues to increase use. The Fitness in the Parks initiative was located at existing parks within 13 towns, exposing young people to age-appropriate activities such as archery, karate, and yoga.

Community Engagement:

  • Created a video series, Better Choices, Better Health, to inform residents about healthy food and physical activity options in Clinton County and motivate them to make choices that lead to better health; and
  • Launched an online directory of healthy lifestyle programs and events calendar that allows users to search for health improvement programs, specific physical activity opportunities, and classes and events aimed at increasing knowledge of healthy nutrition practices.
Partnerships
What We’re Investing In

Access an online directory for upcoming activities and events.

Bunches of carrots and beets on a table at a farmers market; a hand reaches in to grab a beet. Sunset overlooking autumn trees and two silos.