National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research | Create Thriving, Activity-Friendly Communities - National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research

Start the conversation by asking...

How would a more activity-friendly community be good for us and our neighbors?
What are some examples of activity-friendly places or infrastructure in our community?
What are some untapped opportunities and possibilities for activity-friendly plans or development in our community?
What could the future-version of our community look like?
What areas and who in our community would benefit most from more places to safely walk, bike, run, or roll?

Activity-friendly communities create economic opportunities.
Economic opportunities help attract employees, customers, and patrons who want to live and work near jobs, businesses, and services that are convenient and easy to access.
People in thriving communities live longer and report better health, contributing to lower health care costs and increased productivity for employers.
When communities make it easy and convenient to walk, bike, and roll to ample job opportunities, businesses, and services, they create shared economic prosperity, which helps people feel connected and promotes the community’s overall health and economy.

Start the conversation by asking...

What issues are important to people in the room?
What plans and solutions are being considered to address what our community cares about, whether it’s housing, traffic, or economic growth?
Have you considered activity-friendly development to address these priorities?
What different fields, sectors, or groups in the community are involved?

Improving the built environment is not a one size fits all approach. What is important for your community may not be the same for another.

Activity-friendly development solves problems and addresses needs in almost every sector: transportation, land use and planning, zoning, housing and real estate development, and business.
Activity-friendly communities can address community transportation and housing priorities by reducing congestion, adapting to changing travel needs, or increasing housing without increasing traffic congestion or sprawl.
Policies and investments that support a range of housing options, including smaller and multifamily homes, can help increase affordability and walkability.
For communities focused on economic issues, activity-friendly places can boost business and tourism to bring in needed tax revenue.

Start the conversation by asking...

What types of projects are tax dollars currently being spent on?
Where are the transportation safety problems in your community, and how do you think you can use federal dollars to address them?
How are decision makers taking advantage of the expanded opportunities in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?

The increased productivity, opportunity, and stability resulting from activity-friendly investments can lead to greater revenue from taxes, sales, and business to support community needs, infrastructure, and initiatives.
This incremental, sustainable development can increase property values while retaining existing residents and businesses. These opportunities for economic recovery can benefit the whole community.
Need more funding? There are more resources available than ever for projects to support activity-friendly communities, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
- Federal transportation dollars can be spent on much more than just roads and pavement. They can be used to improve safety, which means more funds for activity-friendly places.
- Many funding streams are dedicated to activity-friendly projects, and many others are eligible for activity-friendly projects.

Start the conversation by asking...

What traffic safety or congestion projects are we postponing right now due to cost?
Where could we avoid having to build more roads by finding a better and cheaper solution?
Are there alternatives to increasing vehicle traffic that bring other benefits like lower costs and better quality of life?

Routine maintenance such as repaving roads and repairing bridges can provide a lower-cost opportunity to ease the flow of vehicles so walking, biking, and rolling are safer and more pleasant.
Sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails cost less to build and maintain in comparison to roads for vehicles. For example, bike lanes can go in existing road shoulders, parking lanes, or narrowed traffic lanes.
Communities often tap into non-traditional options to fund infrastructure projects: local option sales taxes, fuel taxes, utility fees, and motor vehicle fees; state infrastructure banks; and public-private partnerships.

Healthy communities are desirable communities

Healthy development means different things for different people: In some places, a trail network or a bus route connecting to nearby towns may be enough to help local businesses thrive. In other places, a different balance may be needed, like preserving open spaces and natural resources. Local governments have many tools to include resident voices in community development decisions and provide incentives for smart growth.
Include community residents in development solutions and decision-making: Community-based planning and engagement can help ensure that changes address community goals and avoid unintended consequences. For example, policies that help existing businesses keep jobs in the community and help retail prices remain affordable can ensure that current residents and businesses aren’t priced out and communities remain stable.
Find the right approach for your community: It’s critical to weigh the pros and cons of different policy tools and strategies in your context to support current residents and businesses through healthy development.

Create Thriving, Activity-Friendly Communities