The bus tour reveals essential insights decisionmakers can utilize to enhance healthcare provision in Sentinel City. The different districts have unique characteristics that would influence healthcare delivery and resource allocation. This paper explores the physical environment and recreational amenities and highlights how recreation can help the community.
Physical Environment Observations
Touring the city, one observes economic differences between the neighborhoods. Nightingale Square appears affluent, with trees along the streets and concrete walking areas. It has public play areas where residents can engage in sports activities. It homes Lily’s Restaurant, an eatery that offers authentic American foods. Nightingale Square also has a community center, an important congregation site for residents. The center offers parenting lessons as well as English Language proficiency sessions. It caters to the population’s diverse needs and welcomes individuals from various backgrounds to learn.
The city has grocery stores and smaller convenience stores distributed across its districts. Fresh and processed foods are available in different locations depending on one’s location. Common areas and hangout zones include parks, playing fields, and community centers. The city feels open to strangers and people from different ethnicities. Community centers offer educational and health resources, signaling the city’s openness to strangers. Graffiti and billboards are common in Industrial Heights. The parks in this district do not have trees and it has minimal trees and green areas.
Additional city characteristics include information sharing through Buzz radio and well-maintained roads. The radio station is essential in disseminating healthcare-related information and emergencies. The roads are clear, have no potholes, and are in good condition throughout the city. This implies that residents can easily move from one point to another in search of medical services. It also suggests that emergency response in a disaster is swift and effective.
Recreation Observations
The city has parks and playgrounds distributed across its districts. However, they are fewer as one moves from Nightingale Square towards Industrial Heights. Additionally, open areas in Casper Park and Industrial Heights are bare. Walking paths are available throughout the city with some interruptions due to construction in some areas. Some areas in Industrial Heights have trash in the streets and heavy police presence. This can impact residents’ ability to participate in recreational activities. At the same time, open areas in this district are bare and this can limit the variety of activities residents practice.
How Recreation Supports the Community
Recreation is essential for communities in multiple ways. Parks, playgrounds, walking, and biking paths encourage physical activity, which can combat obesity and chronic diseases (Lee, 2020; Slater et al., 2019). 21% of the adult population in Sentinel City is obese; this is a major cause for concern for the city’s public health decisionmakers. This rate can increase in the coming years and require more funding if unchecked. Sporting activities can help tackle this challenge in the long term.
Recreation is also critical for social interactions and community safety. Because activities like soccer and basketball require residents to congregate, they allow those involved to develop societal bonds (Rivera et al., 2022). As such, recreational activities in the city can minimize security concerns, especially in Industrial Heights, where there is a heavy police presence. Finally, recreation impacts local businesses (Clement, 2023). Sporting amenities host events and attract visitors; this promotes economic activities, and businesses flourish. Additionally, quality recreational amenities enhance the community’s appeal and attract new residents and businesses.
Summary
Sentinel City hosts a well-resourced and diverse community. Residents have access to good roads and recreational facilities. Community centers provide educational and health resources can citizens can utilize to enhance their living conditions. Recreational facilities are vital for public health, social interactions, and business activities.
References
Clement, J. (2023, June 27). The benefits of youth sports in local communities (and how businesses can support them). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/06/27/the-benefits-of-youth-sports-in-local-communities-and-how-businesses-can-support-them/
Lee, K. H. (2020). Mental health and recreation opportunities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249338
Rivera, E., Veitch, J., Loh, V. H. Y., Salmon, J., Cerin, E., Mavoa, S., Villanueva, K., & Timperio, A. (2022). Outdoor public recreation spaces and social connectedness among adolescents. BioMed Central Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12558-6
Slater, S. J., Tarlov, E., Jones, K., Matthews, S. A., Wing, C., & Zenk, S. N. (2019). Would increasing access to recreational places promote healthier weights and a healthier nation? Health & Place, 56, 127–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.01.013
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