Vermilion County is one of the most unhealthy counties in the state of Illinois. That’s not an opinion. That’s a fact. Our people suffer from diabetes, obesity, cancer, and heart disease – as well as the mental illness that often accompanies them – at rates that far outstrip our neighbors in Champaign County, and in fact exceed almost every county in the state, ranking just 100 of 102 Illinois counties.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only bad news. Vermilion County has been one of the most unhealthy counties in the state for over a decade, and the trend is moving in the wrong direction. While a large portion of this disparity is economic, and factors contributing to it are somewhat out of our control, there is also an easily identifiable and correctable lack of services, amenities, and awareness in Vermilion County that can be filled by dedicated individuals and organizations like VCTA and so many others doing good work here.
Trails can improve public health by increasing physical activity and providing safer transportation routes for pedestrians and cyclists.
Lawson, Measuring Trails Benefits: Public Health 2016
Certainly in Vermilion County’s not-too-distant past, and possibly still even today, the social norm has been to greatly de-emphasize recreation, physical activity, and exposure to outdoor spaces. That’s sort of wild for a county as blessed with stunning natural resources as Vermilion, but honestly it makes sense; in places where economic realities force hard choices and people might have precious little spare time, it’s easy to cut park funding to pay for potholes. Especially if nobody resists. Especially, if people complain when money isn’t spent on potholes.
That’s exactly what happened. Year after year with brutal compounding effect, as our citizens struggled to make ends meet, parks and recreational opportunities and budgets were gutted, facilities abandoned and left to rot. Not a single resident can escape the impacts of those decisions.
Now however, we know the truth. The science is clear. Recreation, and especially outdoor recreation, is a requirement for healthy humans. Being outdoors and moving around in nature is part of what makes us human. The trees, the air, the cobalt sky, the buzzing insects, the chirping birds, the rustling leaves; all of it works powerful chemical magic on our bodies and minds. Put simply, outdoor recreation makes you healthier and happier. That isn’t a luxury. For anyone.
Combined with the fact that outdoor recreation has exploded in popularity and shows no signs of slowing, especially certain disciplines and hobbys, and it’s clear that an active transportation system is a key missing and easily achievable element in Vermilion County. It’s an idea and a culture whose time has finally come.