Healthy Community Design: Success Stores from State and Local Leaders

Publication Date:

Publisher: Active Living Leadership, San Diego State University

Author(s): Active Living Leadership; San Diego State University

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

This report from the Active Living Leadership project highlighted efforts on the local and state levels that focused on promoting active living. Active living involves incorporating physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day, in the daily lives of individuals. The commitment of local and state leaders across the country to collaborate and design healthy communities comprised the work of the Active Living Leadership project. Local efforts of the Active Living Leadership project included the Main Street Corridor Master Plan in Houston, Texas. The emphasis was on revitalizing the city's Main Street so that citizens could take advantage of an environment that is amenable to pedestrians and focuses on public spaces. State level efforts of the Active Living Leadership project involved work in the policy and legislative arenas along with partnerships between leaders. An example of state efforts was Minnesota's Metro Greenways Program, which involved seven counties around Minneapolis-St. Paul that focused on creating a system of parks, trails, and spaces for people to engage in active living. The report concluded with suggestions for implementing active living in other communities. Examples of suggestions included having forums or forming committees where active living could be discussed or maintaining and creating new park areas in different neighborhoods so that people would have space to engage in physical activity as near to their homes as possible.