Description
Book SynopsisThis companion to the PBS series provides deep insights into the need to improve our built environment, while providing tools for readers to effect similar positive change in their own communities.
Trade Review“Though intended as a companion to a four-part TV series he is hosting on PBS stations, the book stands on its own very well. Though professionals of many stripes can learn from
Designing Healthy Communities, its greatest strength is likely to lie in energizing and educating a broad public — readers described by Dr. Jackson as “those of us who are concerned about our communities and the world we are giving to our children.” –
Better Cities/Towns, February 2012. “It’s called the ‘built environment’ and if you’re a public health whiz, you know exactly what that means. If you don’t, Dr. Richard Jackson, Chair of UCLA’s Environmental Health Sciences Department believes it’s critical you do.” – The California Report health blog, KQED (San Francisco)
“An admirer of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Dr. Jackson argues that such details of daily life make existence worthwhile. And that is what “Designing Healthy Communities” is all about.” – Reporting on Health (USC Annenberg)
“The new book, “Designing Healthy Communities,” says: ‘When there is nearly nothing within walking distance to interest a young person and it is near-lethal to bicycle, he or she must relinquish autonomy — a capacity every creature must develop just as much as strength and endurance.’” – New York Times, January, 31, 2012
Table of ContentsForeword vii
Anthony Iton Preface ix
The Author xvii
Prologue: Why I Care About the Built Environment xix
PART I. HEALTH AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: AN INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 What Does Love, or Caritas, Have to Do with the Built Environment? 3
We Love Our Families and Our Country, but Do We Really Love Ourselves? 4
For Love of Family 6
For Love of Community 7
For Love of Our Nation and the World 14
Chapter 2 What Is Health, and How Do We Measure It? 15
Personal Health 17
Public Health Policy 23
Environmental Health 28
Mental and Social Health 30
Chapter 3 Can the Built Environment Build Community? 35
Organic Places Are Healthy Places 36
Urban Centers 41
State and Nation 45
PART II. EXAMPLES OF CHANGE
Chapter 4 From Monoculture to Human Culture: the Belmar district of Lakewood, Colorado 53
Symptoms 54
Diagnosis 60
Cure 62
Prevention 64
Chapter 5 Using New Urbanism Principles to Build Community: Prairie Crossing, Illinois 67
Symptoms 69
Diagnosis 70
Cure 73
Prevention 77
Chapter 6 Saving America’s Downtowns and Local History Through the Political Process: Charleston, South Carolina 79
Symptoms 80
Diagnosis 82
Cure 86
Prevention 88
Chapter 7 Reinventing a Healthy City Through Community Leadership for Sustainability: Elgin, Illinois 91
Symptoms 92
Diagnosis 94
Cure 98
Prevention 104
Chapter 8 Ending Car Captivity: Boulder, Colorado 107
Symptoms 108
Diagnosis 110
Cure 115
Prevention 117
Chapter 9 Ports as Partners in Health: Oakland, California 119
Symptoms 120
Diagnosis 123
Cure 132
Prevention 135
Chapter 10 The City That Won’t Give Up: Detroit, Michigan 139
Symptoms 140
Diagnosis 144
Cure (or at Least Treatment) 146
Prevention 155
PART III. BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD
Chapter 11 What’s Happening in Your Community? 159
Determining the Health of Your Community 159
Conducting an Audit of Your Built Environment 166
Chapter 12 Who Are the Players? 175
Finding Your Stakeholders 178
Social Networking 187
Getting Everyone to Pull Together 188
Chapter 13 Create an Action Plan 189
Analyze the Symptoms 189
Determine the Diagnosis 194
Implement the Cure 195
Protect Through Prevention 206
Epilogue: Now It’s Your Turn 207
Notes 213
Index 219
