How Can We Improve the Jogging Path Around Whittier Narrows' Legg Lake?
Youth Voices is working with students from South El Monte High School to explore El Monte/South El Monte and the surrounding communities. The students have formed teams to explore and investigate their communities, map assets, collect and share stories, data and community input for their projects. All the while they are learning and expanding their knowledge of digital media and civic engagement. Follow their work on Social Media by using the hashtag #kcetyv.
Team Name:
MarkerMakers
Team Members:
Linda B.
Maria N.
Lesly D.
Anissa V.
San Gabriel Mountains Leadership Academy Adviser:
Jessica Espinoza
Social Media:
Twitter: @SEM_MMakers
Our goal is to create and install a series of ½ mile markers around Legg Lake's walking and running nature path at the Whittier Narrows Area and Park. We feel it's important to create markers because they promote local residents to feel motivated and optimistic about exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The ½ mile markers will also educate residents on the local wildlife in the San Gabriel Valley and Mountains. The markers will include original artwork providing a glimpse of the regions nature and wildlife, as well as contain a Quick Response (QR) Code with factual information. We hope the markers spark the curiosity of residents and solicit frequent visits to the San Gabriel Mountains.
The mile marker project will help runners, joggers, and walkers better track their distance and goals. For example, if someone runs ½ a mile everyday maybe the next day they might want to run a mile. It will also help improve local teens' appreciation of nature and promote better health. The artwork could encourage residents to learn about the diverse wildlife and plants found at our doorstep that many don't know exists.
Jessica Espinoza, member of the San Gabriel Mountains Leadership Academy, pitched this exciting project with the goal of promoting a healthier lifestyle and increased use of Legg Lake's jogging path, and promote the area's unique ecosystem. "My vision for the students is to engage in all parts of the project process," states Espinoza. "As students in their community, they have a unique position of being a voice that community members like to see participate. I want them to be the voice of the project." She was inspired by her own community and their commitment to leading a healthy life and experiencing the outdoors. She tells us that when she first visited Legg Lake, she saw the beauty of the area and how popular the jogging path was among residents, but lacked information and markers.
Our outreach and marketing goal is as follows: We plan to utilize social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote our groups process, which is an important part of our marketing strategy especially when advocating a healthy outdoor lifestyle to teens. We also plan to create promotional materials such as posters and pamphlets that will be distributed throughout the city and school. We also plan to solicit donations from local businesses like Lowe's and Home Depot.