Recommended Initiatives
Important Issues
Recommended Initiative 9:
Public Facilities for Fitness, Health, & Wellness
Related News | Policy Papers & Articles | Web ResourcesMaximize use of public facilities (by including public schools, libraries, health departments, etc.) in support of adult physical fitness and health and wellness programs.
Benefit of Recommended Initiative 9
Communities benefit from active and social populations that are healthier, both physically and emotionally. Overuse of clinics, hospitals, and outpatient services decreases as people experience better physical and mental condition, and this diminishes costs for all payers.
Pathways to Implementation
- Providing access to school and school-owned physical activity facilities by students, staff and community members during non-school hours.
- Requiring that a percentage of monies from Community Development Black Grant (CDBG) awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development be earmarked to promote physical fitness in under-served.
- Drafting and implementing legislation requiring that a side3walk or bake path accompany each new highway or road built in the state.
- Identifying lightly traveled roads that could be closed on weekends to allow community residents to walk, job, or bike without fear of traffic.
- Encouraging public libraries statewide to offer yoga and other “quiet” exercise opportunities, compatible with their general mission.
- Encouraging and challenging businesses and other enterprises to offer their facilities.