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Definition of a "healthy community"
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wpbu-@aol.com
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Aug 25, 2009 20:38 PDT
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-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Burden <dbur-@Glatting.com>
To: David Barth <DBa-@Glatting.com>
Sent: Sat, Aug 22, 2009 4:54 pm
Subject: RE: Definition of a "healthy community"
| | Do you have anything that defines what we mean by a “healthy
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community?”
Let me ask a few other experts, after putting forth a few healthy community
oncepts of my own.
In my search I find that there is no single definition. So, here is mine.
In terms of what we seek through our planning and design programs, focusing on
hange to the built environment to increase:
* physical activity,
* social interaction,
* social engagement,
* volunteerism and
ccess to high quality, healthy foods.
This set of goals for principles and practices includes proper
esign and layout of neighborhoods and cities, i.e. block pattern, street
onnectivity, mix of uses, location of parks, schools, public spaces, design of
treets for human activity and livability, design of parks and streets to
aximize social exchange and social equity. In review, healthy communities are
lmost exactly what we have been calling for at Walkable Communities and Glatting Jackson.
Checking Google I find there are many definitions of a healthy community. See
fficial references below:
The Center for Disease Control defines healthy communities in its "Designing and
uilding Healthy Places" page <http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/default.htm> as, "A
ommunity that is continuously creating and improving those physical and social
nvironments and expanding thos
e community resources that enable people to
utually support each other in performing all the functions of life and in
eveloping to their maximum potential."
The Healthy People 2010 strategy <http://www.healthypeople.gov/default.htm>
escribes a healthy community as one which includes those elements that enable
eople to maintain a high quality of life and productivity.
Some of the elements, described in Healthy People in Healthy Communities A
ommunity Planning Guide Using Healthy People 2010 <http://www.healthypeople.gov/Publications/HealthyCommunities2001/default.htm>,
nclude access to health care services that focus on both treatment and
revention for all members of the community; a safe community; the presence of
oads, schools, playgrounds, and other services to meet the needs of the people
n that community; and a healthy community has a healthy and safe environment.
Dan Burden
Walkable Communities/Glatting Jackson
rlando, Florida
14-595-0976
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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