September 5, 2012
Jen Horton, Policy and Planning Fellow, US EPA, for the Smart Growth Network

What does it really mean to live in a healthy community? From recreational opportunities and safety to access to health-oriented programs and services, most everyone has a different definition of what a healthy community looks like. Whatever your definition, planning is usually key. There are many ways that using smart growth strategies can help increase a community’s overall health, through increasing its walkability, providing multiple forms of transportation, reducing traffic congestion, and making streets safer for drivers and pedestrians. Such strategies can pave the way for programs and policies that increase opportunities for exercise and access to healthy food.

Active Living Research (ALR), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, uses data-driven research to prevent childhood obesity and create active communities. Debbie Lou, who works at ALR, has this to say about the program: "We use evidence to prevent childhood obesity and create active communities. Our website (www.activelivingresearch.org) contains many resources that policymakers, practitioners, and advocates can use to promote physical activity and health in their communities. It is our vision that everyone will live in communities that make being active daily (e.g. walking or biking to school, work, or the market) an easy, safe, and attractive choice. We offer a range of tools and resources to help practitioners, policy-makers, and advocates create more activity-friendly environments. The presence of parks, trails, playgrounds, sidewalks, and bike lanes encourage walking, biking, and play among both kids and adults. And when communities are safe, well-maintained and have appealing scenery, children and families are more likely to be active." Check out ALR's infographic showing how community design can help families be physically active: (http://www.activelivingresearch.org/blog/2012/06/node/12666) An example of a program that raises awareness about the importance of healthier communities is the Communities Putting Prevention to Work project, developed by the Hawaii State Department of Health. The initiative is increasing resident's access to local, fresh foods, and raising awareness about the importance of active living on the island of Kauai. The project is part of a national effort to reduce obesity. One part of this effort is a Walk to School Day for students and parents. Thomas Noyes, the Project Coordinator for the initiative, explains, "Our children learn better when they have a chance to exercise their bodies before they are expected to focus their minds." Click on this link to watch a brief video that highlights how Kauai families' are incorporating healthier lifestyles through Walk to School Day: Kauai Celebrates Walking to School[video:vimeo:47584402] The Farm to Keiki Program is another interesting program that allows preschoolers to learn healthy habits. Adopting healthy eating at a young age reduces the likelihood of diabetes and obesity, but this is much easier for children if communities plan the built environment around access to healthy food. Adopting zoning codes that allow local farmers markets in central, walkable locations is just one smart growth strategy that can improve access to healthy food in a community. Click on this link to learn more about this innovative project: Farm to Keiki[video:vimeo:45469927] These types of programs do well at raising greater awareness about smart growth principles that encourage walkable, healthy, mixed-use, multimodal communities. However, sometimes the built environment does not allow for safe routes to school, access to fresh food, or other opportunities that promote physical health. So, what do you think communities can do to encourage new planning initiatives that transform the built environment, making safe and walkable routes and more physical activity the status quo? What are the roles of planners and/or smart growth organizations in this process?