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Mapping Health in Springfield – Carlos García

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Mapping Health in Springfield – Carlos García

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This Padlet explores how health is shaped in my community in Springfield, MA. Using my neighborhood as a starting point, I documented the built environment, food access, healthcare services, culture, and other factors that affect health. Some observations reflect safety and wellness in my quiet condo complex, while others show broader challenges across the city.

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I live in a condo complex on 16 acres in Springfield, MA. My unit is at the end of the complex, about half a mile from the main road. At night, it’s so quiet you wouldn’t even know you were in the city. Walking and biking here feel safe, and I’ve never experienced crime personally. The environment encourages movement without fear of safety concerns.

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The nearest grocery store is about a mile away, with three major options within five miles. There’s also an Aldi’s about three miles out that sells affordable and good-quality food. Fast food chains and gas station snacks are easy to find, but healthy food feels expensive unless you search for value. Even Springfield’s schools show the challenge — my daughter has told me they sometimes serve nachos with cheese as lunch, which makes her prefer bringing food from home.

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Springfield has two major hospitals, including a Level 1 Trauma teaching hospital — which is also where I work. In addition, there are urgent care facilities, specialty clinics, pharmacies, and other healthcare offices spread throughout the city. Public transportation makes it relatively easy for people to get to appointments.

For the most part, patients do get the care they need, but insurance barriers are a constant issue — medications not covered, or surgeries and procedures denied. That part of healthcare can be frustrating, because it shows how much access depends not just on having hospitals nearby, but also on navigating insurance systems.

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Springfield is a very diverse city, with people representing many cultures, languages, and religions. There are places of worship for the three major religions, and it’s common to see bilingual signage around the city that reflects inclusion and accessibility. The community often celebrates this diversity, even though the broader political climate can sometimes feel worrisome.

Culture shows up not just in traditions and beliefs, but also in health practices. While there are resources for exercise and wellness, I wish healthy behaviors were promoted more strongly and made a bigger part of the community’s daily life

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In my neighborhood, there are several spaces that support youth and community engagement. A public library is just a mile away, and there are two parks at opposite ends of the main road nearby. There’s also a gym only three minutes from me, where I’m a member and attend regularly. These places feel welcoming and safe, and they offer options for people of different ages to connect, exercise, or gather. From what I see, young people in my area do seem connected to the community through these spaces, which helps build a sense of belonging and supports both physical and social health.

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My condo complex is right next to a Catholic Church, which many in the community attend — faith and spirituality provide an important sense of connection and support. Across the city, there are plenty of parks where people can walk, run, or spend time outdoors to relieve stress. There are also spas and other wellness businesses, and public schools regularly remind students about mental health resources. Several mental health organizations do a good job making themselves visible, though I wish more people would take advantage of those services.

At the same time, Springfield struggles with safety. The crime rate is high, and violent incidents often make the nightly news. I feel fortunate to live in a part of the city where I feel safe, but I’m aware that not everyone in Springfield has that same sense of security. Safety and stress are tied together, and for many residents, living in an unsafe environment adds another layer to the challenges of health.

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There are many places spread throughout the city where people gather to either go for walks, exercise, walk their pets, or simply connect with one another. My immediate neighborhood is very clean and well-kept, but unfortunately, many other areas of the city show signs of neglect, with trash and pollution being common issues. Access to clean, safe, natural spaces can make a big difference for stress and well-being, but it isn’t equally available across all neighborhoods in Springfield.

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Despite the challenges, there are clear signs of community spirit in Springfield. People gather in places of worship, attend local events, and rely on shared spaces like parks, gyms, and libraries. The diversity of cultures and languages contributes to a sense of resilience. In my neighborhood, especially, there is a sense of pride in keeping the area clean and safe. Community spirit and trust are uneven across the city, but in certain pockets, like where I live, they make daily life healthier and more connected.

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Mapping Springfield through the lens of health showed me that community wellness is layered. Where I live, health feels supported by safety, access to parks, and cultural connections. At the same time, the city as a whole struggles with crime, affordability, and unequal access to resources. This project reminded me that community health is not just about hospitals and doctors, it’s about environment, culture, safety, and trust. Health is experienced differently depending on where you live, even within the same city.

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Dr. Seuss Museum at the Springfield Quadrangle

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Dr. Seuss Museum at the Springfield Quadrangle

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Springfield Museum of Natural History at the Springfield Quadrangle 

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Springfield Museum of Natural History at the Springfield Quadrangle 

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The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum at the Springfield Quadrangle

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The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum at the Springfield Quadrangle

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Planet Fitness, one of two in Springfield

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Planet Fitness, one of two in Springfield

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Mosque No. 13 in Springfield; Founded by Malcolm X. 

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Mosque No. 13 in Springfield; Founded by Malcolm X. 

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Coming soon to Springfield, about a mile away from me. I like stores like BJ’s and Costco, because they offer many healthy food choices at reasonable prices.

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Many fast food restaurants, which provide easy access to unhealthy, cheap food.

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Mapping Health in Springfield, Massachusetts (Day 2)

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Mapping Health in Springfield, Massachusetts (Day 2)

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My Padlet explores how “place” shapes community health in Springfield, MA. Through photos, notes, and course readings like Sharrelle Barber’s “Place Matters” and the film Unnatural Causes: Place Matters, I examine how access, environment, safety, and culture intersect to influence wellness and equity. What I discovered is that health is more than hospitals, it’s about the neighborhoods we build, the systems we maintain, and the resilience of the people who live within them.

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This post summarizes my second community walkaround in Springfield, where I revisited earlier locations and added new observations based on feedback from Dr. Martinez and classmates. It highlights what I noticed differently, how my understanding of community health evolved, and how insights from course readings and films, like Place Matters and Unnatural Causes, connect to what I observed in the field.

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Day 2 Reflection & Revisions – Mapping Health in Springfield, MA

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Day 2 Reflection & Revisions – Mapping Health in Springfield, MA

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For my second walkabout around Springfield, I focused more intentionally on distance, accessibility, and the lived reality of getting to essential places like grocery stores, clinics, and wellness centers. After reviewing my professor’s feedback, I realized how much I had underestimated what “a mile or two” really means when you’re walking or relying on public transportation. What feels like a short five-minute drive for me can be a real challenge for families in low-income neighborhoods, especially those without reliable transportation or who have children, disabilities, or limited time.

I also became more aware of how the built environment influences health beyond physical distance. In the North End, for example, there are noticeably more liquor stores and corner markets (Bodegas) than grocery stores or parks. I hadn’t noticed that contrast as sharply before. It made me think about what Dr. Sharrelle Barber wrote in “Place Matters”, that health outcomes are shaped by structural and social conditions, not just personal choices. The environment itself becomes part of people’s health story.

Safety stood out again during this walk. Some areas felt tense or uncomfortable, and I didn’t feel safe getting out of my car to take photos. That experience helped me understand what “chronic stress” from unsafe surroundings might feel like for residents who live there daily. It connects to Unnatural Causes, which explains how long-term stress contributes to poor health outcomes and shorter life expectancy.

Following Dr. Martinez’s feedback, I also reflected on the role of religion and community programs in health. Many Springfield neighborhoods have churches, mosques, and community centers that also serve as support networks, offering food drives, after-school programs, or even free mental-health workshops. These faith-based and local partnerships seem to play a big role in resilience and community trust, especially where formal systems fall short.

Overall, my definition of community health has evolved. I used to think of it mainly in terms of hospitals and resources. Now, I see that it’s just as much about environment, accessibility, safety, belonging, and representation. Themes of inequality, pride, and resilience are clear across Springfield, some areas do well, while others struggle. But every neighborhood contributes something valuable to the city’s overall well-being.

If there’s one thing missing from my Padlet, it’s the voices of residents themselves. Hearing firsthand stories about how they experience Springfield’s health challenges would make the map even more complete.

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This project helped me see Springfield in a completely new light. What started as a simple mapping activity turned into a deeper understanding of how environment, access, and history shape health. Through class materials like Place Matters and Unnatural Causes, I realized that health inequities are not isolated issues, they’re rooted in policies, zoning, and decades of structural neglect. But I also saw how community pride, faith-based support, and cultural identity bring resilience to every neighborhood. Moving forward, I think cities like Springfield should invest in accessible transportation, community wellness spaces, and education that centers equity. This experience made me appreciate that improving health starts with understanding place and that real change begins when we listen to the communities who live it every day.

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Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), Springfield Area

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Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), Springfield Area

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According to the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment for the Greater Springfield region, asthma, obesity, and transportation barriers continue to be major community health concerns. The report points out that many residents in lower-income neighborhoods struggle with limited access to grocery stores, healthcare, and safe housing, all of which contribute to these chronic disease. These findings line up with what I observed during my mapping project, especially in areas like the North End and Mason Square, where families face real challenges getting to affordable food and medical care.

Source: Baystate Health / Public Health Institute of Western MA, Community Health Needs Assessment, 2022

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Unnatural Causes: “Place Matters” (2008)

Dr. Sharrelle Barber – “Place Matters” talk

Massachusetts Department of Public Health (https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-health)

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), 2022 – Greater Springfield Region

Personal field observations and photographs from my community mapping project

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This project helped me connect what we’ve been learning in class, to the real world around me. It made me realize how much “place” influences health and how even small changes like safer streets, reliable transportation, and better food access can have a huge impact on community wellness.

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This is one of the small corner stores in the North End of Springfield. It’s convenient, but most of what’s sold here is packaged or processed food, and prices are higher than big grocery stores. For many families without a car, this becomes their main food source. It really shows how limited food access can lead to higher rates of diabetes and poor nutrition in low-income areas.

Healthy Eating Research (2021) found that corner stores across U.S. cities tend to stock mostly processed foods with few healthy, affordable options, reinforcing the cycle of poor nutrition in underserved neighborhoods.

Healthy Eating Research. (2021). Healthy food availability in small urban food stores: A comparison of four U.S. cities. Duke Global Health Institute. https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/healthy-food-availability-in-small-urban-food-stores-a-comparison-of-four-u-s-cities/

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Local parks and green spaces provide safe areas for exercise, relaxation, and connection. Having access to clean, well-maintained parks can make a huge difference in physical and mental health, especially in urban neighborhoods. Studies have shown that access to green space is directly linked to lower stress, improved heart health, and stronger social ties (Maas et al., 2006).

Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., De Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: How strong is the relation? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 60(7), 587–592. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16790830/

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Community centers like the Boys and Girls Club offer free or low-cost programs that promote wellness, education, and support for families. They play an important role in bridging the gap for people without easy access to healthcare.

County Health Rankings (2022) emphasizes that community centers play a vital role in promoting health equity by providing social support and preventive programs in underserved areas.

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2022). Community centers. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/strategies-and-solutions/what-works-for-health/strategies/community-centers

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Reliable transportation makes a big difference in health outcomes. Missing a bus or having a long commute can mean missed medical appointments or limited access to healthy food. Health Affairs (2021) reports that transportation barriers are a leading cause of missed healthcare visits in the U.S., especially for people living in urban or low-income areas.

Health Affairs. (2021). Public transportation in the U.S.: A driver of health and equity. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20210630.810356

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References

Healthy Eating Research. (2021). Healthy food availability in small urban food stores: A comparison of four U.S. cities. Duke Global Health Institute. https://healthyeatingresearch.org/research/healthy-food-availability-in-small-urban-food-stores-a-comparison-of-four-u-s-cities/

Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., Groenewegen, P. P., De Vries, S., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2006). Green space, urbanity, and health: How strong is the relation? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 60(7), 587–592. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16790830/

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2022). Community centers. University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/strategies-and-solutions/what-works-for-health/strategies/community-centers

Health Affairs. (2021). Public transportation in the U.S.: A driver of health and equity. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20210630.810356