Healthy People
After walking through the neighborhood, talking to some of its residents and performing research, it seems like those living in East Cesar Chavez have options to live as healthy people. The neighborhood has:
The City of Austin in whole seems to have a high water quality. There are some concerns that I will discuss later, but the city rates high on regulated tests according to the city’s latest water quality report. The water tests performed by the city show that toxins are well below suggested limits for healthy water. There are many options for residents and visitors to enjoy outdoor spaces within the neighborhood. Festival Beach is the largest of those. Stretching down the shores of Town Lake, Festival Beach has a long stretch of hike & bike trails, open greenspace, picnic tables, a boat ramp and room to breathe. Toward the east side of the park is a fenced in area with a large pavilion to host festivals and other concerts. The noise from festivals is likely an annoyance at least. There are also a few public parks with playgrounds and baseball diamonds for people of all ages to enjoy. There are a few options for residents to choose groceries. Some local shops are still operating and are the preference of a few locals. Some small nationwide chains have moved in as well. Not too far outside the neighborhood are many more options for affordable groceries. The buildings are mostly residential and don’t block out the sky or light. The only exception is the RBJ Public Health Center, which has quite a bit of space between it and the next residence. Being right on the shores of constant-level Town Lake, the trees in the neighborhood are tall and healthy, and offer tree canopies unlike that of most other Austin neighborhoods.
Even with these positive influences on the health of the inhabitants, there are a few opportunities still for the neighborhood and the area to maximize people’s health. These include:
Times have been changing, and access to healthy and whole foods are becoming more common. This area still struggles to keep any quality food chains or grocery options. With some of the new residents and buildings joining, that may change in the next few years. Right now there are a few fast food chains and plenty of other calorie-rich restaurants that focus on flavor over health. The mosquitoes can be overwhelming in the evening throughout the year. There are plenty of options around for stagnant water which festers mosquito breeding. I’ve also heard that rats and roaches can terrorize some of the residents with older houses. I noticed at least two smoke shops while touring the neighborhood. These shops may serve more as novelty shops, but the influence on the residents is likely not positive in leading a healthy life. Finally, though the water quality report issued by the City of Austin looked great, I worry about how that’ll be maintained and also what the quality of the water is in Town Lake. There has been an immense level of construction in downtown Austin the last decade – including significant construction on some of the tributaries that feed Town Lake. Downtown is upstream from East Cesar Chavez and there is likely a lot of silt run off that has settled in the waters. Also the traffic on the interstate right outside of the area, is a mess. The traffic likely leaves plenty of runoff into Town Lake that degrades the quality of the water.
All in all, people in the neighborhood have lots of positive influence in leading healthy lives. With a few key changes, the residents could have a lot of opportunity to maintain that health.
- access to clean water,
- outdoor open spaces,
- walkable and bikeable streets,
- grocery options within the neighborhood,
- other grocery options within walking distance from the neighborhood,
- nearby options for health care
- public parks and sports fields,
- hike & bike trails, and
- healthy trees and tree canopies.
The City of Austin in whole seems to have a high water quality. There are some concerns that I will discuss later, but the city rates high on regulated tests according to the city’s latest water quality report. The water tests performed by the city show that toxins are well below suggested limits for healthy water. There are many options for residents and visitors to enjoy outdoor spaces within the neighborhood. Festival Beach is the largest of those. Stretching down the shores of Town Lake, Festival Beach has a long stretch of hike & bike trails, open greenspace, picnic tables, a boat ramp and room to breathe. Toward the east side of the park is a fenced in area with a large pavilion to host festivals and other concerts. The noise from festivals is likely an annoyance at least. There are also a few public parks with playgrounds and baseball diamonds for people of all ages to enjoy. There are a few options for residents to choose groceries. Some local shops are still operating and are the preference of a few locals. Some small nationwide chains have moved in as well. Not too far outside the neighborhood are many more options for affordable groceries. The buildings are mostly residential and don’t block out the sky or light. The only exception is the RBJ Public Health Center, which has quite a bit of space between it and the next residence. Being right on the shores of constant-level Town Lake, the trees in the neighborhood are tall and healthy, and offer tree canopies unlike that of most other Austin neighborhoods.
Even with these positive influences on the health of the inhabitants, there are a few opportunities still for the neighborhood and the area to maximize people’s health. These include:
- Access to healthy foods,
- mosquitoes and pests,
- smoke shops, and
- potential for water pollution.
Times have been changing, and access to healthy and whole foods are becoming more common. This area still struggles to keep any quality food chains or grocery options. With some of the new residents and buildings joining, that may change in the next few years. Right now there are a few fast food chains and plenty of other calorie-rich restaurants that focus on flavor over health. The mosquitoes can be overwhelming in the evening throughout the year. There are plenty of options around for stagnant water which festers mosquito breeding. I’ve also heard that rats and roaches can terrorize some of the residents with older houses. I noticed at least two smoke shops while touring the neighborhood. These shops may serve more as novelty shops, but the influence on the residents is likely not positive in leading a healthy life. Finally, though the water quality report issued by the City of Austin looked great, I worry about how that’ll be maintained and also what the quality of the water is in Town Lake. There has been an immense level of construction in downtown Austin the last decade – including significant construction on some of the tributaries that feed Town Lake. Downtown is upstream from East Cesar Chavez and there is likely a lot of silt run off that has settled in the waters. Also the traffic on the interstate right outside of the area, is a mess. The traffic likely leaves plenty of runoff into Town Lake that degrades the quality of the water.
All in all, people in the neighborhood have lots of positive influence in leading healthy lives. With a few key changes, the residents could have a lot of opportunity to maintain that health.