Improving Value

Community Infrastructure that Supports Health

The built environment is what is around us as we go about our daily lives. Certain neighborhoods have environments that are more conducive to healthy living—they have safe, outdoor spaces to exercise, areas for kids to play, and allow community members to walk and bike safely so they do not have to solely depend on cars for transportation.

Interventions to affect population health through improvements in the built environment could include targeted urban planning to create green spaces and more walkable mixed residential and commercial areas. Urban planning that supports bus routes and other public transportation options that help move people, in an affordable way, to areas where jobs are located, is another important issue. Tax incentives could be designed to bring grocery stores and healthy food options to areas that might otherwise not have them.  

Click here for more information on public health strategies.