Community Design
Articles | Briefs & Primers | Reports | Tools | Helpful Links
Articles
- Neighborhood-Scale Planning Tools to Create Active, Livable Communities
Local Government Commission
As national physical activity levels decrease and obesity rates increase, local leaders are looking for ways to incorporate smart growth or livable communities principles into their general plans so people can safely and conveniently walk and ride a bicycle for transportation and exercise. This fact sheet offers tips, tools, and case studies to help communities align planning with the implementation of walkable community design.
- The Legislative Role in Healthy Community Design [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures
May 2006
This report analyzes state legislation that encourages physical activity and access to healthy food through direct approaches—such as safe-routes-to-school, school siting, food procurement, food policy councils and direct food marketing—and indirect approaches that emphasize changes in the built environment through land use planning and zoning.
- The Public Health Roots of Zoning: In Search of Active Living's Legal Genealogy [PDF]
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
February 2005
Predicated on the idea that protection of public health lies at the heart of zoning, this article explores zoning's public health origins and makes the case for zoning reform. From English common law to landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the authors trace zoning's roots and lay out legal, historical and policy rationales for zoning reform.
- What's Health Got to Do With It? [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
June 2004
Policymakers are increasingly looking at ways community design can encourage physical activity in response to the obesity epidemic. This article discusses the impact of sprawl, the cost of obesity, obstacles to land-use planning that promote active living, and successful designs and resources available to legislatures to support healthy community design.
Briefs & Primers
- A Primer on Active Living for Government Officials [PDF]
Leadership for Healthy Communities National Office
October 2005
This primer provides an introduction on how state and local government officials can address the obesity crisis by promoting active living and healthy community design. It outlines the health and economic benefits of physical activity, and the role many government agencies play in encouraging physical activity through healthy community design.
- State Policies for Shaping Healthy, Active Communities: A Michigan Case Study [PDF]
National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices
June 2005
This issue brief examines the link between the built environment and public health, highlighting Michigan's innovative slate of "active community policies" to illustrate strategies that can increase physical activity. It offers state leaders a variety of policy options for creating healthier communities, from development and transportation initiatives to health promotion programs.
- Walking Path to Enlightenment [PDF]
Council of State Governments
April 2005
This brief outlines the connection between health and the built environment. In addition to profiles of several states at the forefront of developing active living policies and initiatives, it also includes tips for state policymakers looking to incorporate active living principles into community planning.
- Physical Activity and Community Design [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legisbrief
June 2004
This brief describes the connection between physical activity and health, as well as actions that states are taking to redesign their communities to allow people to be physically active in their daily routines. Strategies highlighted include creating mixed-use development, encouraging multiple forms of transportation and building safe routes for children to walk and bicycle to school.
- Neighborhood-scale Planning Tools to Create Active, Livable Communities [PDF]
Local Government Commission (LGC)
June 2004
Having safe, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods that encourage walking and biking are key to creating active living communities. However, a city's or region's smart growth plans sometimes overlook the policies that govern neighborhood-scale development. This brief provides strategies, planning tips, case studies and additional resources for planning future development at the neighborhood level in order to support active living.
Reports
Creating a Regulatory Blueprint for Healthy Community Design [PDF]
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
August 2005
Increasingly, reformation of zoning codes is being seen as a key strategy for promoting active lifestyles. This guide can be used as a roadmap for local officials as they develop strategic approaches to reforming zoning codes to help increase physical activity and support healthy community design.
Turning Brownfields into Mixed-Use Developments [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
May 2005
Reclaiming vacant lots to develop new areas for housing allows communities to grow without fostering urban sprawl, while supporting healthy community decision principles. This article explores how a Georgia community created a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood on an abandoned industrial area, and identifies the environmental and policy issues faced by the developer.
Active Living and Social Equity: Creating Healthy Communities for All Residents [PDF]
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
January 2005
This guide describes how local governments can design healthy communities for all residents, regardless of income, race or ethnicity, age, ability or gender. It explains the connection between active living and social equity, provides tools and strategies to equitably promote active living and highlights examples of local initiatives from around the country.
Active Living for Older Adults: Management Strategies for Health
and Livable Communities [PDF]
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
September 2003
This report offers strategies to local governments for designing communities that support "active aging"-active living for older adults. Specific strategies address land use planning, streetscape design, transportation, housing and promoting awareness in order to help aging populations remain physically active, healthy and independent.
Tools
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Geographical Information Systems: A Tool for Improving Community Livability [PDF]
Local Government Commission (LGC)
2004
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is a software tool that allows policymakers to explore their communities' geography and plan for making communities more livable and activity-friendly. This resource provides examples of six ways leaders nationwide have used GIS tools to make communities safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and to increase access to community services such as transit, schools and libraries.
- Healthy Community Design Legislation Database
National Conference of State Legislatures
Helpful Links
- www.activelivingbydesign.org
Active Living by Design
This program establishes innovative approaches to increase physical activity through community design, public policies and communications strategies.
- www.activeliving.org
Active Living Network
The mission of the Active Living Network is to promote active, healthy environments by building a national coalition of professional leaders who have a stake in the health impacts of how places are designed and built.
- www.planning.org
American Planning Association (APA)
APA is a nonprofit public interest and research organization committed to urban, suburban, regional and rural planning.
- www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthy Places
This site is committed to designing and building healthy places.
- www.healthytransportation.net
Healthy Transportation Network
Healthy Transportation Network's mission is to foster safer bicycle and pedestrian behaviors and encourage local leaders to create more walkable and bike-friendly communities.
- www.bikewalk.org
National Center for Biking and Walking (NCBW)
NCBW helps to create bicycle-friendly and walkable communities across North America by encouraging and supporting the efforts of individuals, organizations, and agencies.
- www.smartgrowthamerica.com
Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is a coalition of national, state and local organizations working to improve the ways we plan and build the towns, cities and metro areas we call home.
- www.smartgrowth.org/sgn
Smart Growth Network (SGN)
The SGN works to encourage development that serves the economy, community and the environment.
