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Health & Public Safety

Overview

Health and Public Safety

Residents’ perception of safety impacts their health and well-being by influencing their level of engagement in physical and social activities.  Residents who don’t feel safe in their communities are less likely to be involved, increasing their risk of isolation, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. 

Local agencies can help by supporting neighborhood design features that reduce the risk of injuries and 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.  Local agencies can also enforce local codes to clean up vacant lots, contaminated or polluted sites and reduce graffiti. 

 

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Ideas for Action
Health & Public Safety

Healthy neighborhoods are safe neighborhoods that have design features to reduce crime and violence, transportation-related crashes, and pedestrian and bike injuries.

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Case Stories
Health and Public Safety

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.

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