Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant Letter of SupportTHE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
September 14, 2010
Dubuque
E I tca� �
2007
Kathy Ridnour
Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator
Iowa Department of Transportation
Office of Systems Planning
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50010
RE: Support for Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant
Ms. Ridnour:
Health Services Department
City Hall Annex
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4732
Office (563) 589 -4181
Fax (563) 589 -4299
TTY (563) 589 -4193
health @cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org
On behalf of the City of Dubuque Health Services Department, I am pleased to offer our
support for the City of Dubuque's application for a Safe Routes to School Infrastructure
Grant.
The City of Dubuque Health Services Department collaborates in community health
assessment, assurance, and policy development to ensure the public's health. Its prime
responsibility is to plan programs, develop and implement policies and ordinances based on
community health needs, and respond to related health issues and emergencies as
required, all in collaboration with community partners. The Health Services Department is
very concerned with the health and safety of the community's children. Childhood obesity is
becoming a significant issue in our society, and we're continually looking for ways to
encourage children to be more active. The need to address obesity has also been identified
in our Community Health Needs Assessment. Walking or riding a bike is an excellent
opportunity to promote this kind of effort. However, without a safe route to and from school,
many parents may be reluctant to allow their children to walk and bike. We believe that the
actions included in the safe routes to school grant application will significantly improve
health and safety for the community's children.
Safe Routes to School would directly affect the health and safety of the community's
children. We support the City of Dubuque in applying for the Safe Routes to School
Infrastructure Gra
>6
J
Mary RoseCeorrigan
RN, Public Health Specialist
Cc: if hael C. Van Milligan, City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Service
People Integrity
Responsibility Innovation Teamwork