Resources for Open Spaces, Parks & RecInternational City/County Management Association (ICMA), Active Living and Social Equity: Creating Healthy Communities for All Residents. A Guide for Local GovernmentThis report examines the link between health and the built environment, and it describes a number of ways that local governments can remove barriers and promote health equity. Solutions include increasing walkability and pedestrian safety; providing safe bicycle pathways and open spaces; improving transportation infrastructure; and increasing food access and affordability.http://bookstore.icma.org/Active_Living_and_Social_Equit_P1247.cfm Local Government Commission, Land-Use Planning ToolsThis site provides tools that can be used to increase public participation in community and land-use planning. Tools include a computer simulation to allow the public to conceptualize what the redesigned area will look like; a visual survey allowing the public to rate an image on a scale of one to 10; and land-use mapping that allows the public to create different development strategies using board games or computer software.www.lgc.org/freepub/community_design/participation_tools/index.html National Conference of State Legislatures, The Legislative Role in Healthy Community DesignThis report examines state legislation during a two-year period that encourages physical activity and access to healthy food. Much of this legislation was collaborative and required state and local governments to come together to fund, implement and oversee projects. This report is free to state legislators and their staff, and available for purchase for $10 to all others.http://ecom.ncsl.org/programs/pubs/summaries/0143580004-sum.htm Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Trail Building ToolboxThis toolbox provides basic information communities need to build trails. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nonprofit organization working with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into trails.www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailbuilding/technicalassistance/toolbox/toolbox_index.html The Trust for Public Land, The Excellent City Park SystemThis report examines the role of parks in residents’ lives and makes suggestions for the creation of more effective park spaces. It outlines “Seven Factors of Excellence” in evaluating parks including a clear expression of purpose; a continued planning and community involvement process; and sufficient assets in land, staff and equipment.www.tpl.org/content_documents/excellentcityparks_2006.pdf U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Community Development Block Grants Toolkit on Cross Cutting IssuesThis Web site provides information about the CDBG program, which provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The toolkit provides information about financial management; the environmental review process; federal labor standards; rules of fair housing and non-discrimination practices; and statutes, regulations, forms and other documents that guide the acquisition and relocation process for state and local governmental organizations.www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/toolkit/index.cfm U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
This Web site provides policy-makers with information about RTP, which gives funds to states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The RTP funds are distributed to states by legislative formula: half of the funds are distributed equally among all states and half are distributed in proportion to the estimated amount of non-highway recreational fuel use in each state. Back to Open Spaces, Parks, and Rec home page |
