Active Living by Design

Parks, Trails & Greenways

Prepared by the

Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative

•Parks, Trails & Greenways•Transportation Systems

Active Living by DesignParks, Trails & Greenways

Parks Trails & Greenways promote environments that offer choices for integrating physical activity into daily life.

Active Living by DesignParks, Trails & Greenways

To reduce the risk of chronic disease

• 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity 5 or more days/week

• OR 20 minutes of vigorous exercise 3 or more days per week

Active Living by DesignEffects of Parks, Trails & Greenways

• Parks, trails and greenways can increase physical activity among diverse groups.

Active Living by DesignWalking

• Walking is the most common physical activity

• People say they would like to walk more throughout the day for exercise or to get to places

• Linking parks and trails would allow more people to walk.

Active Living By Design Calls to Action for Parks/Trails

• Preparation• Promotion• Programs• Policies• Physical Projects

Active Living By Design Calls to Action for Parks/Trails

Preparation• Find partners• Assess existing places• Assess policies• Provide training• ID funding sources

Active Living By Design Calls to Action for Parks/Trails

Promotion:• Inform local officials• Educate local media• Create community

campaigns• Establish community

events

Active Living By Design Calls to Action for Parks/Trails

Policy Ideas• Integrate park, trail, & greenway plans with

land use, economic dev. & transportation plans

• Ordinances that require land set-aside• Ask Public officials to increase funding• Participate in decisions that affect park, trail, &

greenway master plans

Active Living By Design Calls to Action for Park/Trails

Physical Project Ideas• Link parks, trails and

greenways to local destinations

• Design parks, trails and greenways to deter crime and enhance safety

Active Living By Design Transportation & Physical Activity

Active Living By Design Transportation & Physical Activity

• People with access to: – sidewalks are 28%

more likely to be physically active

– walking trails are 55% more likely to be physically active

– walking trips increase with well connected streets

Active Living By Design Transportation & Physical Activity

Current Stats:• Walking trips have

declined 40%.• ¼ of all trips people

make are 1 mile or less • Children’s walking trips

to school declined by 60% between 1977-1995.

Active Living By Design Transportation & Physical Activity

Active Living By Design Call To Action for Transportation

Programs:• Walking clubs• Walk-To-School and

Safe Routes to School Programs

• Trail accessibility • Routine trail use

Active Living By Design Call To Action for Transportation

Policies:• Link land use with

priorities• Consistent local policies• Update road policies• Update zoning

ordinances, codes• Convenient and safe

access to public schools and civic buildings.

Active Living By Design Call To Action for Transportation

Physical Projects:• Build trails, sidewalks,

trails and bike lanes• Control traffic• Protect pedestrians• Enhance street lights• Bicycle storage• Stair use

Active Living By Design County Discussion