"Active Design: Guide for Community Groups"

What?  As one of the Center for Active Design’s more recent publications, Active Design: Guide for Community Groups addresses transportation, recreation, buildings, green space and nature and healthy foods and beverages.  Inspired by NYHD’s work with community partners throughout the 5 boroughs, the Guide for Community Groups provides resources for communities to identify assets, envision the future of their neighborhood and strategize to improve public space.  With these tools community led initiatives will be better empowered to make their neighborhoods more livable, vibrant and healthy.

Why?  Knowing that physical inactivity reduces life expectancy, in 2006 the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene began a series of initiatives to consider how design could encourage activity and mobility.  Since beginning this initiative the city has published Active Design Guidelines and produced numerous supplements on subjects ranging from sidewalks to affordable housing.  Seeing the community as a critical partner in advancing community health, Guide for Community Groups, makes the original Active Design Guidelines and related resources accessible to community leaders across sectors.