Health and Public Safety

Public Safety

Why it Matters

Healthy neighborhoods are safe neighborhoods that have design features to reduce crime and violence, transportation-related crashes, and pedestrian and bike injuries.  Local agencies can pair environmental strategies that improve neighborhoods' health and safety, to create more cohesive livable neighborhoods.

  • Better-lit areas decrease the likelihood of theft and violence and increase the feeling of safety and security.
  • Appropriately designed increases in neighborhood density, provide more people supervising public space and encourage pedestrian activity.  Creating environments that facilitate "eyes on the street" reduces crime and makes streets safer.

Explore Ideas for Action

Find Resources to Support Your Efforts

Read Case Stories

The following case story featured in this section are examples of incorporating public safety with creating healthy neighborhoods. Some of these case stories were prepared in collaboration with other Institute programs.

Ideas for Action

  • Follow principles for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to reduce neighborhood crime and violence.
  • Improve the neighborhood retail environment.
  • Promote “eyes on the street”.
  • Prevent bicycle and pedestrian accidents.
  • Encourage efforts to improve the image of safety in neighborhoods.
Read more »

Resources to Support Your Efforts

Community environments can be designed to support crime prevention. For example, better-lit areas decrease the likelihood of theft and violence and increase the feeling of safety and security. If designed appropriately, increasing neighborhood density provides more people supervising public space.Read more »

Richmond Rehabilitates Housing Complex

The city of Richmond recently unveiled Pullman Point, a revitalized affordable housing community.Read more »