Urban Land Institute Joins Coalition of Urban Development and Public Health Organizations to Pledge Support for Healthier, Walkable Communities

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Urban Land Institute has joined a coalition of organizations representing 450,000 professionals involved in industries related to community building, public health and parks creation to pledge support for the advancement of healthier, more walkable and more equitable communities. 

The coalition today issued a Joint Call to Action to Promote Healthy Communities that emphasizes the key role that design and development play in promoting health and wellness. "To address growing health challenges and inequities requires new partnerships and collaboration between built environment and public health practitioners, and a health-focused approach to landscapes, buildings, and infrastructure. When built environment and public health professionals work together, we multiply our potential to improve health," says the call to action.  

ULI's work on building for health and wellness is advanced through its Building Healthy Places Initiative, which seeks to leverage the power of the Institute's global networks to shape projects and places in ways that improve the health of people and communities. "We are excited to collaborate with organizations that share ULI's commitment to the creation of healthy places. By working together, we can build momentum for the common objective of creating and sustaining healthy buildings and spaces," said ULI Global Chief Executive Officer Patrick L. Phillips. "Building for health is a sign of how cities around the world are introducing amenities and services to encourage physical activity, healthy living choices, and social interaction to improve livability and gain a competitive advantage."

The Call to Action to Promote Healthy Communities specifically addresses four key points:

1. Creating and foster partnerships that advance health;
2. Building and understanding of health data and establish measurable health objectives for plans and projects;
3. Advancing policies, programs, and systems that promote community health, well-being and equity; and
4. Communicating the importance of health.

Organizations supporting today's call to action include:

• American Institute of Architects
• American Planning Association
• American Public Health Association
• American Society of Civil Engineers
• American Society of Landscape Architects
• National Recreation and Park Association
• U.S. Green Building Council
• Urban Land Institute

Follow the conversation about building healthier communities at #Build4Health.  

About the Urban Land Institute

The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has 40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SOURCE Urban Land Institute

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