RJWF Culture of Health Phase 1 Essay

LEYLINE@Kelly Ellenwood
Nov 4 · 13 min read
21 Meals Flyer

I recently submitted this collaborative essay on behalf of the City of Beacon, written with the help of Air Nonken Rhodes of Hudson Valley Seed (the author of a 2017 RWJF Essay, including much of the opening statement describing Beacon), Sember Weinman of Common Ground Farm, research from various articles studies about Beacon, and official documents related to the accomplishments (cited below). I believe that the City of Beacon and its many volunteer driven organizations have been working towards a “culture of health” for many years — the four “accomplishments” outlined below are only a small sample of how our caring and compassionate community is bringing equity and health to all in our small city. The essay is Phase 1 of the prize application. For more information on the RJWF Culture of Health Prize: https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/features/culture-of-health-prize.html

Introduction to the Community

The city of Beacon, NY lies 50 miles north of New York City. in the Hudson Highlands between the east bank of the Hudson River and the foot of Mount Beacon, it is a small densely-populated city of approximately 15,000. Scenic parks, historic brick buildings, a world-class modern art museum, breweries, fine restaurants, music venues and galleries all draw visitors to admire Beacon’s quaint beauty. But it has not always been that way and for many of us who live here, life is more grit than charm.

While visitors and recent transplants may be prospering economically, many Beaconites are not. Equity is an increasingly pointed issue that our small city wrestles with. Many residents are acutely concerned by issues of gentrification as droves of young professionals from New York City, move north to Beacon in search of affordable homes in a small city setting. This migration pattern skews the median income. The Area Median Income for a family of four in Beacon is $65,305, but 43% of households earn less than $50,000 and the poverty rate has risen from 11% to 13% in recent years. 51% of Beacon public school students are economically disadvantaged, and 20% of Beaconites live in poverty. We are racially diverse: 6% two or more races, 18% Black, 22% Latinx, and 54% White (only). Lastly, according to the RWJF County Health ranking, although ranked relatively high vis a vis the 62 counties surveyed, Dutchess County’s health is trending downward (21.8% of the population receives Medicaid or other means tested public medical coverage).

Beacon’s housing stock is old, 38.1% of all units were built before 1939 and is divided evenly between owner occupied and renter-occupied units. While 34% of Beacon homeowners are “cost burdened” (paying more than 30% of their income towards housing), 50% of renters are cost burdened including 25% who are severely cost burdened (paying more than 50% of their income towards rent), and evidence suggests that these numbers are rising rapidly as housing costs continue to rise reflecting demand.

Beacon’s history and geography have greatly contributed to its strength and in the shaping our community. The area was one of the first colonial communities settled by the Dutch in the early 18th century, and there two villages grew: Fishkill Landing on the Hudson River and Matteawan at the foot of Mount Beacon. It is interesting to note that “Fishkill” is the Dutch translation of the Algonquin word Matteawan. Both refer to the creek that runs through Beacon, that has historically provided food, then power for factories, and now beauty and solace for its residents. In 1913, the two villages merged to become Beacon, named for the mountain in its backyard. By merging the two villages, Beacon gained a 1.5 mile Main Street that is the economic spine of our small city. Beacon’s history is also rooted in industrial production, first with grain mills and later brick and hat factories forming the economic foundation, physical built environment, and hard-working cultural identity of Beacon. When industry pulled out, for decades the large prison at the edge of town provided the only major employment. Now, as the city gentrifies, and although service jobs are plentiful due to our burgeoning Main Street businesses supported by the tourist industry, these jobs are not adequate to keep pace with the skyrocketing costs of living.

Photo by Linda T. Hubbard

But perhaps Beacon’s greatest strength is its generosity of spirit and volunteerism. Although Beacon struggled in the ‘70’s, 80’s and ‘90’s with the decline of industry, volunteers and organizations have always shown up to fill in the gaps when necessary to contribute to our quality of life and community health alongside governmental policies. With the 2003 opening of Dia:Beacon, a renowned art museum, many in our community — non-profits, grassroots community groups, government officials and business owners all saw the opportunity for economic development tied to arts tourism; it was also acknowledged at that time that because of our easy access to New York City, Beacon’s population was poised to change due to gentrification, creating new and deeper inequity in our already struggling community. The city’s Comprehensive Plan had not been updated since the 1970’s. A new plan was drawn up in 2007, and amended again in 2017. Both processes were weighed in from all corners of Beacon’s diverse citizenry. It is from these community-crafted plans that our four outstanding community accomplishments sprang.

2. Describe four community accomplishments.

A combination of city policies and planning, community input and volunteerism, and the recognition of how our abundant resources must be preserved are all contributing to our health as a community. All the accomplishments detailed in the following paragraphs are geared towards creating equity and health for our citizens. They are: 1. Zoning and Policy changes leading to a variety of housing solutions; 2. Partnerships with non-profits that address food security and healthy food choices; 3. Expansion and preservation of open space along the Fishkill Creek Corridor; 4. An arts-based solution and collaboration with the county transit system to create a free transportation amenity that benefits visitors and community members alike.

Accomplishment 1):

Zoning and policy changes that led to low-income housing for artists, workforce affordable housing for those that qualify and mixed-use development geared to encourage economic development.

Until the late 90’s, Beacon was a city that had fallen on hard times due to the decline of the once bustling factories that lined Fishkill Creek and parts of the Hudson River frontage. Almost 80% of the city’s commercial business spaces and factories were vacant. Urban Renewal policies of the 1960’s did not render the intended results of eliminating blight, as once proud and historic structures were razed and turned into non-descript row houses. Storefronts on Main Street became residences, and as described by lifelong resident and current Mayor of Beacon Randy Casale, “you could throw a bowling ball down Main Street and not hit a single car.” Then in 1999 plans were announced for for the opening of Dia:Beacon, in a reclaimed Nabisco box printing factory. An agenda of code enforcement stopped landlords from turning their storefronts into makeshift apartments and some historic properties were starting to be restored aided by low-interest loans. The opening of the museum was the catalyst Beacon needed to pull itself into a new era of prosperity. The sudden and dynamic economic shift in the city led to new comprehensive planning framework that resulted in an affordable-workforce housing code requiring developers to create below-market dwellings in new multi-residential projects. Recognizing the importance of the arts and the role of artist-citizens in Beacon’s renaissance, it also led to low-income housing development for artists on city-owned property, as well as other market and “affordable” rate live/work configurations to accommodate makers of all disciplines. New residents of all income levels are now attracted to Beacon and it’s “culture of health” that begins with an array of housing solutions. 30% of Beacon’s housing is below market rate, and more attractive and affordable solutions are coming online in the 2–3 years as a result of these policies.

In addition, zoning along the Fishkill Creek corridor, once the site of abandoned and crumbling factories, was modified to encourage mixed-use development — office space, maker space, restaurants and some residential. Soon, Beacon will be welcoming new types of industry and jobs with higher wages and salaries than the city has seen in decades. Together, all of these policies are aimed at managing growth in a sustainable way, discouraging displacement, and helping residents who are struggling with rising housing costs.

Accomplishment 2):

Addressing food security and education about healthy food choices through a number of partnerships between non-profits, the Beacon City School District and the City of Beacon.

Since 2012, there has been a marked community-wide cultural shift towards valuing fresh foods. School gardens (at each of the 4 elementary schools and a brand new garden planted in 2019 at the middle school), local farms, and school food have become points of Beacon pride. The community as a whole supports and benefits from Common Ground Farm, Hudson Valley Seed, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Green Teens program. The Beacon Nutrition Advisory Committee coordinates these and other food security focused organizations, helping to give Beacon residents the information they need to put food on their plates, through its “21 Meals” initiative.

Most Beacon students rely on school cafeterias for their meals: 45% of Beacon students receive free or reduced-cost school meals, 54% of students purchase lunch each day, and 22% also purchase breakfast. In 2012, three groups in the Beacon community began to independently take steps towards real solutions. Karen Pagano was hired as the new Food Service Director for the Beacon City School District, and she quickly started shifting school foods towards healthier choices. The farmers at Common Ground Farm transitioned to increasing food access for low-income neighbors and teaching the community about fresh foods. Ava Bynum, a young farmer and elementary school teacher, started a school garden education program called Hudson Valley Seed in one of Beacon’s schools to help kids learn to love veggies. Together, they present the now popular “Harvest of the Month” feature throughout the schools, curriculum-integrated lessons focused on healthy eating, food literacy, outdoor learning, cooking lessons with volunteer chefs (Chefs in the Classroom), and farm field trips.

In addition to the farm and it’s wide ranging and impactful education and farm to school programs, Common Ground Farm operates the Beacon Farmer’s Market in conjunction with the City of Beacon, serving as a vital connection between local consumers and the farmers and food producers of the Mid-Hudson Valley as well as providing the community with direct access to affordable, locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables. Common Ground Farm also operates a collaborative mobile market alongside the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Green Teens program, offering affordable produce from both it’s farm and the Green Teen’s urban gardens to low-income communities.

Accomplishment 3):

Expansion and preservation of open space along the Fishkill Creek Corridor

Photo by Jeff Simms

In 2013, the City, in cooperation with a Greenway Trail committee, developed a master plan for the Fishkill Creek Greenway and Heritage Trail (FCGHT). The proposed trail connects the Beacon Metro‐North train station to the town of Fishkill through the City of Beacon. The purpose of the trail is to reconnect residents and visitors to this critical natural resource. The trail is part of a larger open space vision for the greater Hudson River Valley trail network that encourages positive engagement with the natural and historical landscape. The FCGHT Plan proposed a location for the path, trail heads, points‐of‐interest, and many other interesting details that would make this trail a unique feature of Beacon. As of 2019 over 50% of this proposed trail has been completed due to land use regulations that promote sustainable new development. New development along the Fishkill Creek Development Zone requires developments along the creek to allow greenway access. In some cases, city inspectors have waited for the trail to be accessible before issuing certificates of occupancy for creekside developments. The results are stunning and the increased walkability and access to this critical component of Beacon’s history and natural landscape is vital to the health of our community. When completed, The Fishkill Creek Greenway & Heritage Trail will:

• Be continuous, uniform and fluid along its entire length

• Connect the existing regional Hudson River Valley Greenway and other trail networks to the scenic, historic, and recreational areas within Beacon

• Strive for universal accessibility to all segments with the understanding that not all sections will be appropriate for all uses and that physical constraints at select locations may prevent complete continuity for some user groups

The FCGHT will also become an integral part of a broader vision for open space within Beacon and the greater Hudson River valley by encouraging use of and engagement with the natural, historical and cultural landscape. The FCGHT will foster stewardship of its own corridor and the open spaces and cultural resources it connects. Regionally, the FCGHT is one element of the expanding Hudson River Valley Greenway trail network.

Accomplishment 4) :

The creation of free public transportation that is transforming how resident and visitors alike move through our city streets, and making it possible for residents to access public transportation more easily and at no cost.

Beacon Free Loop Logo

In the 2017 Comprehensive Plan update, it was acknowledged that the City should work with Dutchess County Transit to enable a free or low-cost conveyance to be available at frequent intervals between points along Main Street and the train/bus/ferry station. The conveyance would benefit both visitors and residents.

Although a Dutchess Transit “loop” bus (aka “G” Route) became operational in November of 2013, the service never became popularized and was grossly underutilized. The fare was low, but awkward to pay, and there was seemingly little awareness of the service. There was also a morning and evening “RailLink” service for commuters that was also underutilized.

In October of 2017, BeaconArts President Kelly Ellenwood presented an idea to the City Council to brand and promote the bus to reach out to citizens and visitors; to meet with Dutchess Transit to discuss how to make the service work better for Beacon’s needs by combining the “RailLink” and “G” Routes; and to tap the Marist College student-run PR and marketing firm North Road Communications to help with design and promotion logistics. Beacon Arts and the City of Beacon had already successfully partnered on multiple a public art projects, as well as encouraging tourism through the arts. The most recent success was the transformation of the city bus shelters as showcases for local artists, an example of community “creative placemaking.” Ellenwood argued that by applying some of the same ideas to the “G” Route bus, it could help boost ridership, which in turn would solve some of the street congestion problems, and provide a no-cost and easy to use transportation solution for citizens in Beacon that didn’t own a car — making it possible for them to access the Metro North station and its myriad of regional transportation options year round.

In May of 2018, stakeholders (Dutchess Transit, the City of Beacon and Beacon Arts) greenlighted the project and identified funding sources. On August 22nd, 2018, Dutchess County Public Transit’s Route G in the City of Beacon became known as “The Beacon Free Loop” and began providing unlimited free rides for residents and visitors within the city’s limits as part of a new collaboration with the City of Beacon, Beacon Arts, and Dutchess County. Today, the route operates Monday through Saturday, 6am to 9pm. Feedback on the service has been overwhelmingly positive, and ridership has increased exponentially from 3,000 in 2018 to 45,000 in 2019. The City of Beacon is considering expanding the program to serve more residents, including those living in senior housing not near the current route.

2. Describe how these four accomplishments represent your community’s commitment to sustainable systems changes and policy-oriented long-term solutions, as described in criterion 2.

Accomplishments 1 and 3 are now part of the City’s code, and as our city grows, more affordable housing and accessible Greenway Trail will be built. Accomplishment 2 is now in its 7th year in the schools, and as evidenced by the new garden and a home economic class being introduced at the middle school in 2019, it is clear that a sustainable systems change in nutrition and food security for our public school children has taken place. The City Council recently approved the renewal of the agreement with Dutchess Transit regarding the Beacon Free Loop, and BeaconArts and its partner North Road Communications (Marist College) have committed to another year of finding innovative ways to engage and inform and engage the community through informative videos, live “tiny concerts” at the bus shelters, and social media.

3. Describe how these four accomplishments demonstrate creating conditions that give everyone a fair and just opportunity to reach their best possible health, as described in criterion 3.

Accomplishments 1, 3 and 4 are rooted in the City of Beacon’s 2007 Comprehensive Plan, a document that was collaboratively crafted by citizens from across Beacon’s demographic. Leaders on the committee represented our Black and Latinx communities, our burgeoning arts community, lifetime residents, and newly settled citizens. The revision in 2017 followed these same principles, and that document is available in both English and Spanish on the City of Beacon website.

Accomplishment 2 encompasses and engages all of our public school children, empowering them to make healthy choices for themselves on a daily basis. The “21 Meals” brochure is a snapshot of how this collective community accomplishment engages everyone in our community, especially those who are traditionally absent from the decision making process.

Sources:

Common Ground Farm and Hudson Valley Seed’s RWJF 2017 essay, Sember Weinman, Education Director; Air Nonken Rhodes, Asst. Executive Director/Director of Development, and author of the essay.

Fishkill Creek Greenway and Heritage Trail Master Plan; Fishkill Creek Greenway Trail Committee, James Korn, Chairman. June 2013. http://www.cityofbeacon.org/Pdf/Fishkill_Creek_Greenway_Heritage_Trail_Master_Plan_Combined.pdf

Pattern for Progress, “Urban Action Agenda — City of Beacon Profile,” January, 2018. http://agenda.cityofbeacon.org/AttachmentViewer.ashx?AttachmentID=12632&ItemID=7192

Pattern for Progress, “Center for Housing Solutions and Urban Initiatives — City of Beacon Housing Profile,” March, 2018. http://www.pattern-for-progress.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Beacon.pdf

Poughkeepsie Journal Editorial Board: “Free bus loop is a sound initiative in Beacon: Editorial.” September 4, 2018. https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/09/04/beacons-free-bus-loop-proposal-sound-initiative-editorial/1190339002/

Simms, Jeff, “Beacon Greenway to Open New Segments,” Highlands Current, November 30, 2018. https://highlandscurrent.org/2018/11/30/beacon-greenway-to-open-new-segments/

Rosenberg, Zoe, “ Dia:Beacon at 15: How the arts institution shaped the Hudson Valley,” Curbed NY, June 26, 2018. https://ny.curbed.com/2018/6/26/17485530/dia-beacon-hudson-valley-transformation-nabisco

LEYLINE@Kelly Ellenwood

Written by

Wife, mother, daughter. Singer of songs. Kelly enjoys Getting Sh*t Done and suspects she lives on a ley line in the Hudson Valley.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade