Mention Montana, and most people conjure an image of rolling mountain ranges and wide open rural spaces. This is the land of Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, a haven for outdoor activity that is blessed with truly remarkable scenery and the nation's third lowest population density.

In California, Yuba County Supervisor Mary Jane Griego has a finger on the pulse of her constituents—literally. Alarmed by rising childhood obesity rates and related health problems in her district, Griego decided enough is enough. Armed with a contagious can-do attitude and the support of her peers, Griego brought public health to the forefront by making access to fresh, local foods and physical activity a county priority. 

Ron Simms, executive of King County, Washington, is working to make the county—which includes the City of Seattle—the healthiest in the nation. In this interview, Sims discusses the importance of designing for active living—and why he’s taking it personally.

Why active living
“Active living is smart. Walking, bicycling, exercising, good buses, small tight communities where you know your neighbor—all these things are really good because when you have that social network, and particularly active living communities, it is really interesting watching how kids learn. We can talk about ‘why don’t schools work?’ but it is because they are no longer community connected. So you create your community connectors. Those are the things that give a young person a sense of place and purpose.”