Healthy Communities - Promoting Physical Activity

About Physical Activity Programs

In 2005 the Washington legislature passed Chapter 360, Laws of 2005 (ESSB 5186) relating to the promotion of physical activity. Regular physical activity is essential to maintaining good health and reducing the rates of chronic disease. Providing opportunities for walking, biking, horseback riding, and other regular forms of exercise is best accomplished through collaboration between the private sector and local, state, and institutional policymakers. This page focuses on programs to encourage physical activity. Other pages in MRSC's Building Healthy Communities series provide information on land use and transportation approaches to promoting physical activity.

References

Example Comprehensive Plan Policies to Support Physically Active Communities ( 581 KB), Washington State Office of Community Trade and Economic Development, September 2007
Nutrition and Physical Activity - Washington state Department of Health
Pathways to Health Living ( 432 KB) - National Park Service Brochure
Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN), Saint Louis University School of Public Health, Prevention Research Center - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created PAPRN in October of 2004 to study the effectiveness of health policies related to increasing physical activity in communities.
Planning for Bicycling and Walking: 2005 Amendments to the Growth Management Act ( 92 KB), CTED (Washington State Deptartment of Commerce), Department of Health, Department of Transportation, August 2005
Physical Activity for Everyone - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Washington Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity

Resources for Recreational Opportunities

Bicycle Friendly Community - League of American Bicyclists
- Steps to Make Your Community More Bicycle Friendly
Community Health and Trail Programs - American Trails
Healthy Communities: Trails and Greenways Promote Physical Activity ( 54 KB) - National Park Service Fact Sheet
Healthy Youth - Promoting Better Health Strategies - School Programs - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Hearts N'Parks Program - supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
Pathways to Health Living (annoucement) ( 432 KB) - National Park Service - Through its Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, the National Park Service is launching a nationwide initiative to encourage healthful outdoor physical activity in National Parks and local communities to demonstrate practical approaches for public land managers and community leaders who want to encourage active lifestyles.
Physical Activity - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Physical Activity Planning Handbook ( 576 KB), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002
National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA)
Step Up to Health: It Starts in Parks - National Recreation and Park Association
Steps to a Healthier US Initiative
Washington State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program ( 4.7 MB) - Washington State Department of Health
Associations

Local Government Programs - General Recreation

Issaquah entered into joint projects with the King County Health Department to further promote walking/hiking opportunities in the Issaquah area in a key endeavor to highlight its unique/special characteristics. See Walking Maps on Parks & Recreation Page
King County
- Public Health - Physical Activity Page
- DASANI "Blue Bikes" program Press Release, August 17, 2005
- County Offers Free Use of Bikes, by Karen Gaudette, Seattle Times, August 19, 2005
Kitsap Health District Physical Activity
Discover Port Townsend: Walking, Bicycling & Transit Guide Map (Word), 2002 AWC Municipal Achievement Awards Entry
Spokane Health District Physical Activity
Steps to a Healthier WA - Washington State Department of Health
Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health - Physical Activity and Nutrition
Other States
- Healthy Parks Program - Los Angeles, CA

Walking Programs & Opportunities

General
- Walk This Way, by Rachel Roberts, Parks and Recreation, November 2007 - Starting a walking program only takes a few easy steps; Library Loan
- Walking in Washington - Washington State Department of Transportation
- Walking to Public Transit: Steps to Help Meet Physical Activity Recommendations ( 136 KB), by Lilah M. Besser, MSPH, Andrew L. Dannenberg, MD, MPH, American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2005;29(4):273–280) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Walkable Communities - Walkable Communities, Inc. is a Florida non-profit corporation,
- Walking - Government of Western Australia Department for Planning and Infrastructure's walking program
Washington Local Government
- Lake Forest Park City Parks Open Spaces and Walking Routes ( 26 KB) - 2002 AWC Municipal Achievement Awards Entry
- Kent Walking Guide - The guides were published with funding provided by Seattle & King County Public Health.
- Kirkland Neighborhood Walking Loop - On Transportation and Street Page ( Scroll to Neighborhood Walking Route Brochures)
- Tumwater Parks & Recreation Department Tumwater Walking Club ( 29 KB) - 2002 AWC Municipal Achievement Awards Entry
Walking Advocacy Groups
- Feet First - Puget Sound Pedestrian Advocacy
- Walkable Olympia Neighborhoods and Olympians for a Livable Community
- Walking - AARP Page
- Walk San Francisco

Relationship of Safety and Physical Activity

Access to Safe Parks Helps Increase Physical Activity Among Teenagers ( 217 KB), by Susan H. Babey, E. Richard Brown and Theresa A. Hastert, UCLA Health Policy Research Brief, December 2005
Neighborhood Safety and the Prevalence of Physical Inactivity -- Selected States, 1996, MMWR, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, February 26, 1999.
Promoting Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety - MRSC