Department Resources

Healthy Environment & Active Living

photo strip of active outdoor physical activities

Definitions

Healthy Environment: A healthy environment promotes physical, mental, and social well-being by providing safe spaces for exercise, access to nutritious food, clean air and water, while minimizing exposure to harmful hazards. It supports civic life, sustainable community practices and equitable access to resources that enhance quality of life for all.

Active living: Active living means integrating physical activity into daily life through safe, accessible, and inclusive opportunities in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. It is supported by environments and policies that reduce barriers, foster equity, and encourage movement as a natural part of civic and social life.

Goal 1:

Expand membership in the Healthy Environment and Active Living Team to develop, implement and sustain the goals and key action identified in the CHIP

Community Identified Theme: Capacity Building

Key Actions:

1.1 Identify perspectives not currently represented, including community members experiencing the greatest disparities

1.2 Assess alignment between potential community partners and the CHIP areas of work

1.3 Educate community members, leaders and partners on the work and invite them to participate

1.4 Develop a charter to define the roles of the HEAL Team in supporting the CHIP areas of work and identify resources needed

Goal 2:

Promote complete, connected and comfortable active transportation networks

Community Identified Theme: Accessibility/Mobility

Key Actions:

2.1 Develop relationships and engage with partners responsible for building and maintaining a comprehensive network of safe and comfortable sidewalks, trails and shared use paths, particularly in areas of high need

2.2 Determine pathways to support Complete Streets projects to provide safe crosswalks, sidewalks and safe crossings and develop advocacy plan to include participants, especially vulnerable populations, and decision makers throughout the process

Goal 3:

Make streets safer for all residents, particularly vulnerable road users (e.g. pedestrians, bikers, etc.)

Community Identified Theme: Accessibility/Mobility

Key Actions:

3.1 Determine pathways that advance low cost, easily implementable treatments for pedestrian safety to equitably provide needed safety infrastructure improvements and develop plans to include participants and decision makers throughout the process

3.2 Determine pathways to support full implementation of the Fairfax Safe Streets for All program and develop plans to include participants and decision makers throughout the process

3.3 Advocate for robust, sustained Safe Routes to Schools initiatives across Fairfax County

3.4 Explore opportunities with the HEAL community of practice to educate community on how to use infrastructure safely

Goal 4:

Increase access to a safe and connected public transit system to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities

Community Identified Theme: Accessibility/Mobility

Key Actions:

4.1 Develop partnerships and networks with professionals working in this space

4.2 Develop education and advocacy strategies that center rider experiences and elevate community voices to improve transit access and connectivity that meets the needs of riders, engaging them and decision-makers throughout the process

Goal 5:

Promote the adoption and implementation of policies that create, enhance, and increase equitable access to healthy environments, both built and natural, in support of active living and community health

Community Identified Theme: Healthy Environments

Key Actions:

5.1 Develop and implement a system to track and prioritize policies and projects related to healthy environments and active living

5.2 Review, advocate for, develop, and revise, where appropriate, priority policies and projects to promote community health, well-being and environmental resiliency

5.3 Share Health in all Policies ideas generated by the HEAL community of practice with county and city agencies to strengthen the implementation of policies and initiatives related to healthy environments and active living, build buy in, and leverage resources in new ways

5.4 Advocate for the equity-focused implementation of land use policies that promote healthy communities across the Fairfax Health District

Goal 6:

Promote activities and awareness of activities that make it affordable and accessible for people to engage in physical activity

Community Identified Theme: Healthy Behaviors

Key Actions:

6.1 Advocate for the expansion of the Capital Bikeshare for All program

6.2 Promote awareness of new and existing physical activity opportunities in the community

6.3 Advance the evolution of the annual Healthy Together Fairfax event

6.4 Promote and participate in, as appropriate, affordable and accessible community-driven opportunities for people to engage in physical activity

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Department Resources

Healthy Environment & Active Living

Creating a community environment that fosters active lifestyles and promotes health and well-being for everyone

Definitions

Goal 1:

Expand membership in the Healthy Environment and Active Living Team to develop, implement and sustain the goals and key action identified in the CHIP

Goal 2:

Promote complete, connected and comfortable active transportation networks

Goal 3:

Make streets safer for all residents, particularly vulnerable road users (e.g. pedestrians, bikers, etc.)

Goal 4:

Increase access to a safe and connected public transit system to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities

Goal 5:

Promote the adoption and implementation of policies that create, enhance, and increase equitable access to healthy environments, both built and natural, in support of active living and community health

Goal 6:

Promote activities and awareness of activities that make it affordable and accessible for people to engage in physical activity

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