On September 25th, 2012, the Community Transformation Grant at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and Department of Health & Mental Hygiene hosted an Active Design workshop. The term Active Designs applies to making places and spaces more hospitable to physical activity and healthy living. It is a means to "make the healthy choice the easy choice." By implementing small or large scale improvements that encourage activity in the physical spaces people frequent, we increase the possibility of positively impacting the health of communities. This was demonstrated when attendees worked on an actual community based site; a mapped out space in East New York. Participants broke into groups to create their own ways to integrate Active Design in the mapped out area. A hearty discussion ensued and the exercise revealed issues around safety, the need for proper lighting, which would encourage walking, running, and perhaps a ball park for surrounding schools to utilize. This practical exercise showed that Active Design principles are feasible and realistic steps to improving physical activity and also towards improving the overall health of our community.
