Health and Wellness: Healthy Community Design
Designing communities to encourage pedestrian access and healthy lifestyle activities, and improving the appearance and vitality of urban areas, improves community health and the perception of community well-being.
In the Severn Sound watershed:
- Official Plans generally include policies that support “livable” and walkable communities.
- Communities have not been assessed for “livability” or “walkability.”
- Municipalities generally have not adopted urban design guidelines to enhance the livability and physical appeal of the community (exception: City of Orillia Official Plan, Severn Township policies, and Township of Tay for downtowns).
- Community-based initiatives include:
- Active and Safe Routes to School program, which promotes the use of active and efficient transportation for the daily trip to school.
- Simcoe County Nutrition Task Group supported and nurtured a new community garden in Oro-Medonte.
- A community group in Penetanguishene is also restoring the local Ecology Garden.