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 Active Community Environments are places where people of all ages and abilities can easily enjoy walking, bicycling, and other forms of recreation. Priority recommendations include utilization of urban planning, transportation policy and infrastructure changes to promote non-motorized transportation, as well as enhancement of safety and perceived safety of communities. |
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WSU Spokane Design Students Partner with Hillyard Community to Create an Active Environment
Washington State University Spokane Interdisciplinary Design students are partnering with the the members of Spokane's Hillyard community to develop ideas for the neighborhood's revitalization. On January 10th, students toured the area and participated in a charrette to learn what their designs needed to incorporate. Student teams were challenged to develop designs that would support an active and vibrant community that is pedestrian friendly and energy-efficient while meeting the daily needs of all age groups. Suggested features included a predominantly pedestrian business district and a metropolitan agricultural base that increases fresh food availability. The teams presented their design scenarios to a panel of judges comprised of Hillyard residents, business owners and local design professionals on Jan. 12th.
The results of the charrette served as the basis for a semester long project involving the development of a master plan that considers the economic and social revitalization of Hillyard. Students presented the master plan to the community on March 2 and were asked to explore specific areas of the plan in greater detail. Each student will provide a detailed design presentation for a selected site or structure at the conclusion of the spring semester. These detailed plans will complete the package of products for Hillyard residents to consider in their revitalization project.
Target Audience: Residents of Spokane's Hillyard neighborhood located in City Council District 1
Lead Agency: The Interdisciplinary Design Institute at WSU Spokane advances knowledge to enhance the quality of people's lives in the built and natural environment through interdisciplinary instruction, research and community service.
Partners: Hillyard business owners, the Neighborhood Association, Spokane County Public Health, Spokane Planning and Spokane Neighborhood Business Centers Program, Spokane Economic Development, and Spokane Healthy Communities Project.
For More Information:
Bob Scarfo, Associate Professor
Interdisciplinary Design Institute
WSU Spokane
(509) 358-7913
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Health Impact Assessment of the Built Environment
Health Impact Assessment (HIA) offers a means of identifying potential population health effects associated with the built environment. Conducting HIA as new projects, plans, and policies are being developed can inform and influence decision makers, help address health disparities, and promote partnerships. Examples of factors that can be assessed include physical activity, air quality and respiratory diseases, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and social equity and environmental justice.
Through a partnership facilitated by the Steps to Health grant, Feet First and the Environmental Health Services Division of Public Health - Seattle King & County are piloting a Health Impact Assessment project in the North Beacon Hill neighborhood concerning future development plans and a Sound Transit Light Rail stop that may affect the health of local residents. An additional objective of the project was to offer HIA training at PHSKC and other agencies and organizations.
In December 2006, PHSKC and Feet First sponsored a seminar on Health Impact Assessment with presentations by Kathy Baughman McLeod and Melanie Simmons, co-founders of Healthy Development, Inc. The nearly 100 attendees included developers, planners, local and state health agency staff, university staff and faculty, community residents and advocacy organizations. Eight cities and six counties were represented. The attendees reflect the growing interest in the built environment among a broad range of audiences. The complexity of the built environment and health requires the skills and knowledge of many.
We can expect to see increased use of HIA to guide development of the built environment. In 2006 the Washington State Legislature passed Senate Bill 6195 declaring it state policy to include health impact assessment and consider health disparities for people of color. The House Bill 3097 directs the State Board of Health to complete health impact assessments in collaboration with an Interagency Council on Health Disparities, however, a limited budget was appropriated to carry out these directions.
Target audience: Architects and developers; local, state and regional planners; local and state health agencies; universities; community residents and advocacy organizations
Partners: Public Health Seattle King County,
Feet First,
Steps to Health King County
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UPCOMING EVENT: 3rd Active Living Leadership Forum
The 3rd annual Active Living Leadership Forum will
be held following the Washington Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity Annual Meeting. The Forum will focus on how transportation, land use, and physical
activity connect, and the importance of public
awareness of these issues.
The forum will begin with a healthy breakfast at
7:30 am. Morning sessions will start at 8:15 am
and will feature experts speaking on complete
streets, growth management, and legislative bills. Confirmed speakers include:
- Dr. David Buchner,
Physical Activity and Health
Branch Chief, Division of
Nutrition and Physical
Activity, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
providing an overview.
- State Representative John McCoy, addressing House Bill 1188-requiring physical activity opportunities every school day.
- Steve Stuart, Clark County Commissioner speaking on physical activity and growth management.
- Eric Shields, City of Kirkland Planning Director addressing the passage of Washington’s first Complete Streets ordinance.
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - 7:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Location: Centre at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave NE, Tacoma WA
Target Audience: Government officials, planners, and other policy makers
RSVP by April 25, 2007: To Dr. Jane Moore, WCPPA Executive Director
Download: Event Invitation (pdf)
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Read More in Past Issues | Share Information on Your Work to Create Active Community Environments |
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