HERKIMER — Through a partnership with the Lead-Free Mohawk Valley Coalition and the Walking Environmental Assessment Project Team, Herkimer County HealthNet will conduct a visual exterior assessment of homes in the village of Herkimer this summer to identify chipped and peeling paint, as well as walkability of streets and conditions of sidewalks.
“The project’s focus is to collect data and to utilize the resources of the Herkimer-Oneida County Planning Department to map the results.” said Dr. Thomas Curnow, executive director of Herkimer County HealthNet, in a news release. “We anticipate that after the data is collected and mapped, then our project team can start to identify needs based on it.”
“It is important for village of Herkimer residents to know that this project will serve as a resource for opportunities in the future for our community. It will be of no cost to village residents,” Herkimer Mayor Tony Brindisi said in the release. “We are excited to work on this project with Herkimer County HealthNet, as we have worked with them before on other projects.”
The Walking Environmental Assessment-Village of Herkimer Pilot Team will consist of representatives from HealthNet, the village of Herkimer, Herkimer County government, the Herkimer-Oneida County Planning Department, state Department of Health, Herkimer County Public Health and Working Solutions. The project budget is $10,376, which consists of funds from The Community Foundation supported the Lead-Free Mohawk Valley Coalition, HealthNet and the Herkimer County College Corps. Internship Program.
Interns will start the assessment process in June and will continue through August.
After the project is finished, the data collected and the maps that are developed will serve as support for grant applications, educating elected officials for private or public funding, and for multiple use by agencies at the village and county levels.
HealthNet officials are hopeful this same project will also be replicated in other communities in the near future.