This year, Sioux City directed funds to the Northside Building Blocks Daycare Center, Siouxland District Health Department, the All-Abilities Coalition, Sioux City Parks and Recreation Department, Long Lines Climbing, and First Tee of Siouxland.
Sioux City’s year two projects:
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Building Blocks Daycare Center on the Northside, one of the most popular daycare centers in Sioux City, installed a filtered, refrigerated water bottle filling station for children and staff to use.
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The Siouxland District Health Department (SDHD) partnered with several locations in the community to host Move Your Way week for students attending summer programs. SDHD staff used 5210 funds to purchase recreation equipment, such as beachballs and jump ropes, as well as educational materials to provide this weeklong youth health initiative.
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The All-Abilities Coalition and the Siouxland District Health Department led several unique initiatives focused on inclusivity for individuals with different abilities:
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Adapted climbing training for recreation staff: staff members from Long Lines Climbing, Camp High Hopes, Miracle League, and Siouxland Adaptive Sports were trained in the use of adapted climbing equipment that allows individuals with different abilities to use the vertical climbing wall.
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- Adapted climbing nights: All Abilities Coalition also partnered with Long Lines Climbing to host three Adapted Climbing Nights and used 5210 funds to offset costs, reducing the cost of admission to just $5.
- Sensory Friendly Event Kits: All Abilities Coalition created three sensory friendly kits that can be checked out by businesses and organizations hosting events in the Siouxland area. These kits include items to assist individuals with sensory differences during community events, such as headphones, tactile objects, fidget toys, and weighted lap pads.
“The sensory friendly go-kit allows us an opportunity to offer sensory friendly options at events and programs. We set up a sensory friendly room at the NAIA National Women’s Basketball Tournament and used components of the go-kit during the Special Olympics Iowa Basketball Clinic. One student in particular was overstimulated during the clinic. School support staff were able to take her to a quieter area and able to help comfort her with use of a few of the sensory toys found in the go-kit."
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Sioux City’s Parks and Recreation Department received funding toward the purchase of a recumbent electric mountain bike that can be checked out at the Cone Park Mountain Bike facility. This bike will allow individuals who cannot ride a typical mountain bike to use the new facility.
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First Tee of Siouxland purchased adapted golf equipment for their youth programs to support students with different abilities. The new items include an automatic powered golf club, tossable golf tees, and scramble sticks for picking up golf balls.
The steering committee, made up of representatives from public health, recreation, nutrition, and human services sectors, will meet this fall to discuss the third and final year of projects.
