Active Living

Physical activity is a critical component in reducing obesity and chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. There are many factors that impact one's ability to be physically active active including the built environment.

Built environment is simply the infrastructure that makes up our community surroundings – human-built structures such as homes, schools and workplaces, transportation systems including sidewalks, roads and rail; green spaces such as parks and trails; and our energy and water networks. These factors affect numerous choices we make every day that can impact our health, including how we commute to work, what we eat, drink and breathe, and how we play.

HCF envisions built environments that promote healthy lifestyles — communities with safe roads, clean air and water, sustainable buildings, adequate outdoor space for the community — so that all individuals have the best opportunity to live healthy lives.

Resources

Regional

Infographics

National

  • Missed Opportunity: Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America

    The Brookings Institution, May 2011.

  • May 2011 Bicycle Friendly Communities

    League of American Bicyclists

  • 2008 City Walk Score Rankings

    Source: walkscore.com

  • 2008 City Walk Score Rankings

    Source: walkscore.com

  • Safe Routes to School National Partnership

    Serving a diverse national community of organizations that advocates for and promotes the practice of safe bicycling and walking to and from schools throughout the United States.

  • President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition

    Acts as a catalyst to promote healthy lifestyles through fitness, sports and nutrition programs and initiatives that educate, empower and engage Americans of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

  • National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity

    Uniting the strengths of public, private, and industry efforts into collaborative partnerships that inspire and empower all Americans to lead more physically active lifestyles.

  • National Association for Health and Fitness

    Improving the quality of life for individuals in the United States and its territories through the promotion of physical fitness, sports and healthy lifestyles by fostering and supporting Governor's and State Councils on physical fitness and sports.

  • Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report

    Alliance for Biking and Walking, January 2010.

  • Action for Healthy Kids

    A volunteer network fighting childhood obesity and undernourishment by helping schools become healthier places and our kids learn to eat right, be active every day and be ready to learn.

  • Providing Underserved Patients with Medical Homes: Assessing the Readiness of Safety-Net Health Centers

    The Commonwealth Fund, May 2010

  • The Built Environment and Health: 11 Profiles of Neighborhood Transformation

    Prevention Institute, July 2004.

  • Center for the Built Environment

    University of California-Berkeley.

  • Bicycling and Walking in the United States 2010 Benchmarking Report

    Alliance for Biking and Walking, January 2010

News

Regional

  • Kansas City, Kan., groups work to revive deserted Jersey Creek trail
    The Kansas City Star, Aug. 3, 2015
    2015-08-05 14:26
  • As number of cycling kids plummets, school programs step in
    By Alex Smith for KCUR, July 3, 2015
    2015-07-09 09:07
  • As number of cycling kids plummets, school programs step in
    KCUR, July 3, 2015
    2015-07-07 08:58
  • KDADS announces mental health ‘diversion’ grants
    KHI News Service, June 4, 2015
    2015-06-05 10:40
  • Extensive Missouri bike trail plan creates both hope and lawsuits
    By Alex Smith for KCUR, May 28, 2015
    2015-05-28 01:20
  • Fewer Americans are participating in physical activities than in recent years
    Fox 4 KC, April 29, 2015
    2015-05-01 07:29
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