Paths to Health is a project of the Rhode Island Prevention Coalition, a public-private partnership of public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and insurance companies. Founded in 1997, the program has distributed grants supporting small initiatives throughout the state of Rhode Island to encourage active living.
Among these initiatives are several that have created walking trails, such as the one in Providence created by the South Providence Neighborhood Ministries (SPNM). SPNM installed signs to mark a safe walking route through the Broad Street area and then marketed it through special events and posters. Other similar projects have taken place throughout Providence as well as in Woonsocket, Newport, Pawtucket, Naragansett and Middletown.
The program has also funded organizations to create walking clubs, activity guides in multiple languages and exercise videos. One such project was SPNM.s creation of a physical activity guide to South Providence in both English and Spanish to educate residents about opportunities for regular physical activity.
Goal
Creating Paths in Urban Environments