Population Standards

by the City of Ontario’s Planning Department and includes private organizations, non-profit partners, school districts, and the community. The Collaborative understands that maintaining good health is easier when people are surrounded by healthy choices in their schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. The Collaborative represents a community-based approach to wellness that seeks to make changes at multiple levels to bring about improved health outcomes. The following goals support the ORMP:

1. Prevention and wellness

Goal 1: Environments, systems, and policies that minimize chronic disease and enhance optimal health and wellness.

Objective 1.1: Increase awareness and consumption of and access to healthy foods and food preparation

Objective 1.2: Increase opportunities for, and participation in, physical activity

Objective 1.3: Increase opportunities to support positive mental health

Objective 1.4: Increase awareness and opportunities for regular health and dental screenings

4. Safe and complete neighborhoods

Goal 4: Safe, complete and distinct neighborhoods that support healthy lifestyles

Objective 4.1: Create neighborhoods that sustain economic prosperity, safety, physical and mental health, and access to employment and other means of economic prosperity for residents of all ages and income levels.

Objective 4.2: Create places that provide safe and enjoyable gathering points for the community. (i.e. Health Hubs such as Town

Square, Huerte del Valle community garden, parks and community centers, and Farmers Markets).

In its simplest form, the existing parks system is analyzed against a ratio that compares park acres per 1,000 people. Local agencies can adopt their own standards, but often agencies tend to look toward national and regional standards. The “3 acres per 1,000” population standard was developed as part of the city’s general plan recreational element. Although this ratio is typical of the Southern California region, the ORPMP will explore other methods of evaluating population standards that are tailored to the city based on input, local demographics, and trends. The following chapters take a deeper look into the population standards and communicate how effectively the city is meeting those guidelines.

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acres of property for every 1,000 persons must be devoted to parks

John Galvin Park