Funded by a two year grant from The National Institutes of Health, PACE is a participatory based grant focused on the incentives and barriers to building active community environments.
A physically active lifestyle is important for the development of good health and well being. Active living is clearly important in efforts to combat the rising epidemic of obesity, but it is also important relative to many other health problems.
The decision to be active or not is influenced by many things. Recently, increased attention has centered on the influence that the built environment may have on the opportunity and the decision to be physically active. Several specific components of the built environment (density, zoning regulations, land development patterns, designs, and structures, pedestrian systems) have been identified as potential determinants of physical activity. The creation of activity-friendly environments, then, is very important to public health. Substantial information regarding specific building practices and zoning recommendations is readily available. However, little information is available regarding barriers to implementing these recommendations in the land development process. Therefore, PACE has engaged key stakeholders of the built environment (land developers, builders, realtors, residents, policy makers, designers, and lenders) in discussions to uncover deep and shared understandings of barriers, supports, and recommendations for building activity friendly neighborhoods. It is our hope to work toward enhanced community involvement and shared vision for healthy living in the greater Memphis area.
