A Windshield Survey of Maryland Heights
Caitlin K. Murphy
Chamberlain Collage of Nursing

Maryland Heights (63043) is a quiet suburb located in St. Louis County. It is about 30 minutes outside of the city of St. Louis. The city of Maryland heights was founded 1885. Maryland Heights lives up to its motto “where life is celebrated” by offering many community centered activities that residence can attend. Creve Coeur, St. Anne, Bridgeton and Earth City box in the city of Maryland Heights.
The city is mostly residential with a few exceptions: the corporate park off highway 270, the casino located on the edge of Maryland Heights and Earth City, and lastly Creve Coeur Park that divides the residential neighborhoods from the farmland located out in the western part of the city.
The city has many parks and areas where the population can go to exercise. Creve Coeur Park, located in Maryland Heights, is by many of the residence. While Maryland Heights may have great facilities that inspire the populace to get outside, it is also home to over 40 fast food restaurants. This kind of unhealthy food can lead to obesity, diabetes and, hypertension. Because Maryland Heights is in the outer ring of St. Louis County, it does not have as many public transportation options as areas closer to the city of St. Louis. This distance leads many to make use of personal cars and the highways system that brings residence to the city in about 15 minutes.
The City of Maryland Heights is a middle class neighborhood. Public areas and roadways are. The city has recently updated and rebuilt schools, firehouses, and common areas.
The city boasts eight traditional schools and one special school district. The Pattonville School District is an award-winning school system in Maryland Heights. It educates about 6,000 students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. Pattonville "has consistently been recognized by Missouri with its "Distinction in Performance Award" for academic achievement" (City if Maryland Heights Schools). "The Special School District of St. Louis County Missouri (SSD) provides special education services to students in Maryland Heights. SSD's special education mission is to identify and educate students with disabilities to enable them to attain an independent and productive place in their communities" (City of Maryland Heights Schools).
In conclusion, Maryland Heights is a middle class city. It is and is in the process of updating many public properties. The city boasts many excellent schools and a wide variety of public parks and recreational areas. The city does have a large amount of fast food restaurants that could potentially negatively impact over all residential health.
References

City of Maryland Heights : Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.marylandheights.com/index.aspx?page=187