Action steps to increase access to safe and attractive places for physical activity in the community include:

1. Build, maintain and enhance infrastructure for opportunities for safe indoor and outdoor physical activity.
   Children are less likely to engage in recreational physical activity if parks or playgrounds are unavailable, in disrepair, or are not accessible by safe routes. Communities should make it a priority that there are safe and developmentally appropriate physical activity opportunities for all children (e.g. playgrounds, parks, community pools, etc). Efforts should be made to regularly maintain these sites and keep them safe (e.g. ensure appropriate lighting, landscaping, equipment is in good repair, adequate policing, etc). In many communities, there are opportunities to utilize vacant land/lots, or rehabilitate blighted areas.

Recommended by:

• AAP Policy: Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity
• AAP Policy: The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children
• AAP Policy: Promoting the Participation of Children With Disabilities in Sports, Recreation, and Physical Activities
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
• Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit - A Guide for Local And State Leaders Working to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity

For more information:

• The Trust for Public Land: The Excellent City Park System
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development: Community Development Block Grant Program
• Rails to Trails Conservancy: Trail Building Toolbox
• Example: Miami Dade County Parks and Recreation Department: Master Plan for Parks and Open Space
• Example: Somerville, MA: Shape Up Somerville
  
  

2. Improve access to recreational facilities by establishing joint-use agreements, partnering with centers to extend hours, providing public transportation, and exploring incentives to promote affordable and free physical activity opportunities.
   School and local government officials can develop joint-use agreements that allow community members to use school-owned recreation facilities during non-school hours. In turn, communities can offer facilities to schools, such as swimming pools. In addition, communities can partner with private recreational centers (gyms, dance studios, churches with gym facilities, etc) to encourage extended hours and discounted rates or occasional free classes for children and families.

Recommended by:

• AAP Policy: The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
• Institute of Medicine Report (IOM): Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit - A Guide for Local And State Leaders Working to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity

For more information:

• Model Joint-Use Agreement Resources
  

3. Adopt community policing strategies to improve safety and security of community especially areas where children can be physically active.Communities should explore a variety of community policing strategies such as increased police presence and neighborhood watch. In addition, they should consider changes to the infrastructure. For example, they can ensure safe, attractive walking environments by providing appropriate lighting, properly groomed landscaping, building design features that promote eyes on the street (such as front porches and active storefronts with windows overlooking sidewalks), and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and streets.
   

Recommended by:
• AAP Policy: The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
• Institute of Medicine Report (IOM): Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit - A Guide for Local And State Leaders Working to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity

For more information:

• Local Government Commission Center for Livable Communities: Land Use Planning for Safe Crime Free Neighborhoods
• Active Living by Community Design
• Example: Somerville, MA: Shape Up Somerville
  
  
4. Improve opportunities for safe physical activity for pedestrians and bicyclists
   

   Research suggests that children in neighborhoods with sidewalks and controlled intersections were more physically active than those children in neighborhoods with road hazards and unsafe intersections. Studies also indicate that simply adding and improving bicycle lanes, traffic signals, sidewalks and crosswalks can increase the number of children walking or bicycling to school and/or getting recreational physical activity. In order to increase opportunities for safe physical activity for pedestrians and bicyclists, communities can:
   
   

   • Enhance traffic safety by planning, building, and/or retrofitting streets to reduce vehicle speeds, accommodate bicyclists, and improve walking environment (e.g. complete streets, separate bike lines, higher sidewalk curbs, raised medians, streetscaping, well timed traffic lights and street lights);
   • Expand trails and connections;
   • Plan, build, and maintain a network of sidewalks and street crossings that connect schools, parks, and other destinations;
   • Improve access to bicycles, helmets, and related equipment for lower income families through subsidies or repair programs.
     
     
   Recommended by:
   
   • AAP Policy: The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children
   • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
   • Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
   • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit - A Guide for Local And State Leaders Working to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity
   
   For more information:
   • National Complete Streets Coalition
   • Rails To Trails Conservancy: Trail Building Toolbox
   • Prevention Institute, Policy Link, and Convergence Partnership: The Transportation Prescription: Bold new ideas for healthy, equitable, transportation reform in America
   • Active Living by Community Design
   • Example: Columbia, MO: Get About Columbia
   • Example: Chicago, IL: Active Transportation Alliance
     
     
5. Consider strategies to set minimum play space, physical equipment, and duration of play in preschool, after-school, and child care programs.

   Child-care facilities provide a valuable opportunity to promote healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in children. Communities can create policies that require new childcare facilities have adequate space for physical activity.

   Recommended by: Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
   
   For more information: Healthy Eating Research: Promoting Good Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child-Care Settings
   
   

6. Create and promote youth athletic leagues and increase access to fields, with special emphasis on income and gender equity.
   Children and adults alike benefit from programs and facilities that promote active play and recreation. Communities can make concerted efforts to promote affordable athletic leagues for all ages regardless of gender.

Recommended by: Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity