Public health was one of the many topics to merge from the American Planning Association's recent national gathering. Here's a look at the proceedings from the conference's Planning Healthy Communities Symposium.
Georges C. Benjamin, MD, who heads the American Public Health Association, told the recent APA 2014 National Conference in Atlanta about the critical role of planners in delivering positive public health outcomes, according to an article by Mary Hammon.
"A culture of health means living as long as you can, as well as you can, and have a short but glorious ending," said Dr. Benjamin. "It also means having a system in place that ensures we can all achieve it."
Writes Hammon: "Place-based factors that affect health include access to safe, affordable, nutritious foods and safe water; proximity of industry, trash dumps, and transportation infrastructure and facilities to homes and schools; access to quality education and places to play; equitable access to quality housing; urban sprawl; transportation systems; and more."
Heather Haney also recapped Dr. Benjamin's speech and called attention to two resources: the Community Guide, as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Atlanta Healthy Dashboard: Neighborhood Quality of Life and Health, as provided by the Georgia Tech Center for Geographic Information Systems.
FULL STORY: Planners Have a Role in Public Health Mission
Transportation Access Is a Public Health Issue
An expert discusses the public health implications of the CDC’s new finding that 5.7 percent of Americans face unreliable transportation.
The Messy Politics of Saving Lives from Drug Overdoses
Philadelphia was on the verge of approving a key harm reduction strategy to prevent fatal drug overdoses until the city council all but banned supervised injection sites, overriding a mayoral veto. A New York Times report explores the controversy.
After Waiting Two Days, Justice Department Appeals Transit Mask Ruling
Mystery surrounds the decision by the Biden administration to not ask for an immediate stay of an unanticipated district court ruling to vacate the CDC's masks-on-transit rule. Two days later they appealed as coronavirus cases increase nationwide.
Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
A new state law requires all Washington cities to allow co-living facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing.
Central Florida’s SunRail Plans Major Expansion
The expanded train line will connect more destinations to the international airport and other important destinations.
NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
Two blocks of the marquee street will become mostly car-free public spaces.
Harnessing Waste Heat Through Thermoelectricity
Heat from industrial installations and buildings can be captured to create renewable electricity.
Major US Cities Still Suffering Downtown Decline
Research shows that the “donut effect” hollowing out central business districts since the pandemic continues to cause economic decline in the 12 largest American cities.
Terre Haute Transit Goes Fare-Free
Buses in the Indiana city will be free as of January 2.
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.
Los Alamos County
City of Culver City
Skagit Transit
American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners