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Creating Healthy Communities Through Smart Growth
The way the spaces in which we live, work, and play are designed have an important effect on how physically active we are. Without sidewalks to walk along, parks to play in, gardens to smell the roses in, or shops to ride our bicycles to, there is no incentive for anybody to ever leave the confines of the family car. Changing the way our communities are designed is an important part of increasing physical activity, and improving public health. In this section, we examine a number of ways communities can become more active. Improving Mobility in New Jersey |
What Makes A Healthy Place?
Courtesy of Project for Public Spaces www.pps.org True Communities Are:
- Parks and public squares full of activities, concerts, and events, with amenities that draw people and families regularly, such as barbecue pits; clean, accessible bathrooms; interesting play areas; food kiosks; water fountains; ponds; sculpture; and movable seating.
- Lively, pedestrian-friendly downtowns with a mixture of stores, merchants, services and public spaces. Residential streets encourage slow-moving traffic so that people can come out of their homes to talk, walk, play on the sidewalks, and shop.
- Libraries located close enough to schools and neighborhoods that children can walk to them
- Playgrounds and recreation facilities that kids can walk or bike to and make it home safely
- Schoolyards that give students better places to play, and allow for a diverse range of activities for all community residents after school hours
- Farmers markets provide affordable, healthy food and also keep land outside cities under cultivation, encouraging both sustainable agriculture and sustainable urban development.
- Sidewalks and crosswalks make it easier and safer to walk to libraries, schools, laundromats, local shops, or downtown retail areas.
- Institutions that people visit regularly are situated together, making it more convenient to accomplish tasks and participate in activities.