The American Lung Association is making an “urban planning push” in three San Joaquin Valley counties, according to a recent article in Associations Now. The idea behind the efforts to reduce public health risks: promote walkable communities.
The American Lung Association is making the connections between urban-planning and public health in California’s San Joaquin Valley, according to a recent article by Ernie Smith.
“See, the region, which includes the cities of Fresno and Bakersfield, has some of the worst air-quality problems in the country, and according to a new series of reports from the association, efforts to create more walkable community areas could help save hundreds of millions of dollars in health costs over the next two decades by cutting down on air pollution and promoting healthier lifestyles. In other words: Fewer cars, more walking and public transit," writes Smith.
To make the case for a new planning paradigm in the mostly agrarian, sometimes historic, and frequently sprawling exurban communities of the San Joaquin Valley, the American Lung Association recently released the “Public health Crossroads” reports focusing on the counties of Kern, Fresno, and San Joaquin. Amonthe recommendations of the reports, that the counties actively pursue strategies recommended (and required) by California’s SB 375 smart growth law.
The reports estimate the following benefits to their recommendations:
- A savings of at least $415 million in health-related costs by 2035 across the San Joaquin Valley
- A decrease of 2,490 lost work days between Kern, Fresno, and San Joaquin counties
- A drop in asthma attacks and other respiratory health impacts by 14,499 across the three counties.
FULL STORY: The American Lung Association's Planning Push
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.