New Port Richey Pedestrian Social Distancing Project
CARES ACT JUSTIFICATION – CITY OF NEW PORT RICHEY
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted thousands of people, who are either sick, have died, or have lost friends and loved ones due to the spread of this disease. The nation’s healthcare system, its healthcare professionals, medical supplies and equipment have been severely overtaxed and overburdened. From an economic standpoint, manufacturing has slowed down, supply chains have been disrupted {e.g., paper towel and toilet paper shortages), and both travel and international trade have been impacted. Socially, we have not been able dine out, attend sporting events, go to plays or movies, take vacations, have celebrations, worship or embrace our families and friends as we were able to do pre-pandemic. These external impacts take their toll in impactful ways on our emotional wellbeing and increase stress in our lives. In a patient education document from the Mayo Clinic entitled: Tips to Help You Manage Stress Related to Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 – MCSlSS-31 (mayoclinic.org), recommends: “Be physical. Plan 30 minutes of physical activity or exercise every day. Use a variety of activities so you stay interested and engaged. Walking is a great option. Plan to go outside to get fresh air every day.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, residents of New Port Richey, Pasco County, the State of Florida, and the United States have been forced to shift how they work, play, exercise, shop, travel, and move through their communities.
An article from the National League of Cities cites, “… cities are facing a new demand from their residents: creating safe spaces for residents to walk, run, bike, and get around while maintaining social distancing. Traditional sidewalks are between three and five feet in width, which doesn’t allow for the recommended six feet of distance that the Center for Disease Control recommends. Rethinking Sidewalks and Streets in the Midst of COVID-19 – National League of Cities (nlc.org).
The project will construct 10,602 linear feet of a six-foot (6 ft.) wide sidewalk system in areas of the city that are not currently serviced by a sidewalk to provide residents with safe pedestrian walkways within the city that facilitate necessary social distancing, while creating safe spaces for residents. The project area is located in a portion of the city where the following three sites are located: Gulf Middle School, the New Port Richey Public Library and Francis Avenue Park. Additionally, the project area is located in a low/mod income neighborhood where a majority of students walk to school and to other locations of interest.
This project will connect predominately low- to moderate income residential areas to Gulf Middle School, the New Port Richey Public Library and Francis Avenue Park. These improvements will provide New Port Richey’s residents with the means to safely leave their homes, exercise, shop, and socialize, with the outcome goals of restoring some normalcy, promoting better health through exercise, and relieving some of the pandemic stress levels for the community as a whole.