ABSTRACT
Green communities are in many ways healthy communities—promoting good health and well-being directly for those who reside in them, indirectly for their neighbors, and indirectly for those who come after. In sprawling communities where people spend much time in their cars, motor vehicle fatality rates and pedestrian fatality rates are high. This is a pressing public health challenge; motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among young people nationwide. Community design is increasingly recognized as a public health strategy. Community design, then, can do a great deal to promote health. Good sidewalks and trails, mass transit, nearby destinations, parks and other green spaces, safety, and the presence of other people all play a role. Health professionals can serve as members of planning commissions, and planners can serve on boards of health. The beauty of this synergy extends beyond direct health benefits.
