›› Built Environment
The built environment includes all aspects of the environment that are modified by humans, including homes, schools, workplaces, parks, industrial areas, and highways. These modifications can affect our nutrition and physical activity. The lack of sidewalks, long distances to schools, work and shopping and the need to cross busy streets, discourage walking and biking. Greater reliance on convenience foods and fast foods, a lack of access to fruits and vegetables, and expanding portion sizes encourages more calories and less nutritious food. Eliminating such barriers can increase rates of activity and healthy eating.
Read about some of Kentucky’s initiatives to improve the built environment
Kentucky Rails to Trail Council, Inc. is a non profit volunteer organization. Their purpose is to "foster and facilitate the conservation of greenways and railroad right-of- ways in Kentucky by the conversion of such holdings to trail use for the general public. To find out more about Kentucky Rails to Trails go to http://www.kyrailtrail.org
The Safe Routes to School program is designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing and healthier alternative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program also addresses the safety concerns of parents by encouraging greater enforcement of traffic laws, educating the public, and exploring ways to create safer streets. Kentucky received $1.6 million through Transportation Department for Safe Routes improvement projects.
http://www.saferoutes.ky.gov
The Kentucky Bicycle and Pedestrian Program services the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians within the state by supporting and encouraging bicycling and walking as forms of transportation and recreation. http://www.bikewalk.ky.gov website includes maps, events, bicycle clubs and more.
Look for the label at your grocery store, farmers' market, or roadside stand. Check out the Kentucky Proud website for local farmer’s markets, Kentucky’s seasonable produce, Kentucky Proud recipes, roadside farms and more. http://www.kyproud.com
The Community Farm Alliance (CFA) is a grassroots organization that believes that independent family farmers are the most reliable, efficient, careful producers of food and fiber for our citizens and that economic development must include rural and urban citizens working together. CFA members have developed a plan for local innovative food economies (LIFE) which brings together urban and rural people, to create economic and social empowerment, to preserve and enhance our farms and communities. LIFE has the power to enhance Kentucky's fiscal and cultural vitality. A local food system allows Kentuckians to benefit from consuming most of their food from local farms, ensures that farmers can make a living off the land and opens the door for a new generation of farmers to prosper. CFA works to achieve LIFE in Kentucky in a number of ways—from starting new Farmers’ Markets in Louisville’s West End, to organizing farmers in Bath County to market produce directly to local schools and State Parks. http://www.communityfarmalliance.org
Community Farm Alliance published “Bridging the Divide: Growing Self- Sufficiency in Our Food Supply” a community food assessment of west Louisville. A community food assessment is a collaborative and participatory process that systematically examines a broad range of community food issues and assets. This report is intended to generate a public discussion and discourse in Louisville about markets, local food, food related economic development and the connection between health, nutrition and race in the low-income areas of West Louisville and East Downtown. Download the document at: http://www.communityfarmalliance.org/BridgingTheDivide.pdf
Market Maker is an interactive mapping system that locates businesses and markets of agricultural products in Kentucky, providing an important link between producers and consumers. http://www.marketmakerky.com
Great resources for creating healthy food and activity environments