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
Building social relationships within neighborhoods can reduce
crime by facilitating community action
Traffic calming measures encourage pedestrians and bikers to
use the roads
Cleaning up contaminated or polluted sites creates safer
community spaces
Key words: design for safety, increase neighborhood density,
social relationships, traffic calming, decontamination
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.
These case stories highlight examples of incorporating public
safety and creating healthy neighborhoods. Each story includes
lessons learned, links to additional resources and can serve as
examples other agencies may consider and adapt to meet their
communities’ unique circumstances.
