James Coburn
EDMOND — Many contemporary neighborhoods don’t have the traditional backyards found generations ago when neighbors would talk over the fence and share ideas. The Edmond Neighborhood Alliance offers neighbors ways to join together to strengthen their community.
The Edmond Summit is set for from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the MAC Center in Mitch Park. It is sponsored by Edmond Neighborhood Alliance, Edmond Economic Development Authority and the City of Edmond.
ENA President Ed Moore said topics of interest will include the Mayor’s Neighborhood Challenge, neighborhood beautification, neighborhood lights and sidewalks, legal issues, how to organize 30-minute meetings, security and safety, animal control issues such as barking dogs and vicious animals and enforcing covenants and laws.
“We’re just encouraging and challenging our neighbors to have better neighborhoods,” Moore said. “Edmond is the best place to live in the greater Oklahoma City area.”
Mayor Dan O’Neil plans to encourage neighborhoods to organize fitness challenges.
Oklahoma has the ninth highest rate of adult obesity at 26.8 percent and the 17th highest rate of overweight youths for ages 10 to 17 at 15.4 percent in the nation, according to a 2007 report by Trust for America’s Health.
“We’re going to pump them up,” O’Neil said.
O’Neil is joining Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in a campaign to make the city metroplex weigh less. Fitness challenges can be as simple as neighborhood walks, bicycling and neighborhood cleanups to create a healthier Edmond.
“I encourage kids to walk to school,” O’Neil said.
Edmond residents prefer walking in well-lit neighborhoods during evening hours, Moore said. His Park Lane Estates neighborhood is adding more lights.
“We’re kind of excited,” he said.
“We met with Edmond Electric about some of our dark spots. We have a real safe neighborhood but there’s nothing like having a well-lit neighborhood.”
jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114
