Neighborhood plans as tools for public health improvement : steps to a healthier Austin and neighborhood planning in Austin, Texas

This study explores local plans as primary source documents outlining resident-requested, City-approved projects that may help reduce neighborhood-level barriers to physically active transportation and recreation. Emerging evidence suggests a link between the built environment and physical activity, but any causal relationship remains uncertain. This report begins with a literature review to discover neighborhood traits currently under investigation for correlation with higher activity levels. This is followed by an analysis of Austin Neighborhood Plans to identify community-prioritized Action Items pertinent to physical activity. Next, crime data are reviewed to assess objective and perceived safety levels in the study neighborhoods, Chestnut and East César Chávez. Finally, planners and residents are interviewed to explore how health and safety were addressed in the planning process, discover methods by which plan items have been implemented, and identify common barriers to project completion that the public health community may help bridge. Findings indicate that residents’ concerns regarding personal safety and crime may outweigh other neighborhood barriers to physical activity. Planning and health departments would be advised to address crime and safety levels as part of larger built environment efforts to encourage active transportation and recreation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community and Regional Planning

Grantor

The University of Texas at Austin

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• McGehee, Megan Lynn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• McMillan, Tracy E.

• Neighborhood planning
• Public health
• Austin
• Physical activity
• Transportation
• Recreation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/2152/22310

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/22310