Safe Routes to Play
GP RED worked with the Institute for Public Health Innovation in Prince George’s County, Maryland IPHI to create and implement Safe Routes to Play effort with more than 60 youth throughout the County. As part of IPHI’s Safe Access to Recreational Opportunities (SARO) project funded by a Centers for Disease Control Community Transformation Grant GP RED facilitated PhotoVoice (participatory research) and UMap (Children’s Environments Research Group) activities and prepared the final report.
The project sought to incorporate policies and practices that promote active living to improve health outcomes and quality of life. These include the development of Wellness Zones around community centers, removing barriers hindering students’ use of recreation facilities, and other initiatives to make active living more accessible and convenient.
These policy initiatives are informed by Safe Routes to Play and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design activities that assess the needs of community residents, the County, community based organizations, and other local stakeholders.