Beyond Sidewalks: Partnerships for Active Living and Community Connection
What if getting to work, school, the grocery store, or a medical appointment did not require getting in the car? Imagine neighborhoods where youth and families can safely walk, bike, or roll to parks, libraries, trails, and recreational activities; and communities where neighbors can connect on sidewalks and outside of local businesses. Faculty and staff in the Agricultural and Human Sciences department, along with colleagues in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department, and partners in communities throughout the state, are doing just that.
Making this vision a reality requires cross-sector collaboration. Scholars, planners, local officials, advocates and professionals working in public health, parks and recreation, and Extension all have a role to play in creating healthier, more connected places. Moreover, this kind of work requires the investment and passion of engaged citizens. Together, these partnerships can help create communities where safe movement, connection, and physical activity are accessible to all.
Walkable communities support healthier residents, stronger local economies, safer and more socially connected neighborhoods, and increased access to the spaces and resources that people need to thrive. The benefits of physical activity are multifold, including reduced risk of chronic disease; improved sleep and muscle and joint health; and positive impacts on mental health. Improving walkability can make it easier for residents to incorporate movement into their daily routines and interact in shared public spaces. Communities designed for walking and biking can also support local economies through increased foot traffic, stronger business activity, and more vibrant commercial districts.
Despite the well-documented benefits of walkable communities, significant barriers continue to limit safe and convenient access to physical activity opportunities, particularly in rural areas. Many communities lack the infrastructure needed to support safe walking, biking, and rolling, including connected sidewalks, safe crossings, lighting, and traffic calming measures. Rural communities often face additional challenges related to long travel distances, limited access to parks, schools, healthcare services, and grocery stores, as well as limited transportation options. Policy limitations, funding constraints, and competing infrastructure priorities can also make it difficult for local governments and community organizations to invest in sidewalks, trails, greenways, and other active transportation improvements that support community walkability.
Across campus and in counties across the state, NC State Extension is working to connect communities with resources that can help them overcome these barriers. As part of the CDC-funded Healthy ROOTS Initiative, faculty and staff in the Agricultural and Human Sciences and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management departments at NC State are working alongside county Extension personnel and local partners to find creative solutions to build healthier, more connected places that increase access to safe spaces for active living.
Community priorities and collaboration are at the heart of this work. This approach is reflected in the recently launched Walk Audit toolkit website, which helps local leaders, Extension professionals, parks and recreation staff, and public health partners assess walkability and identify opportunities to improve access to physical activity in their communities. The toolkit emphasizes engaging residents and local stakeholders throughout the process to ensure that walkability improvements reflect local priorities, lived experiences, and existing community assets rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
To advance this kind of local work to improve community design and increase access to spaces for physical activity, the Healthy ROOTS team is connecting communities within their 10 county scope to funding opportunities, such as the Connecting Communities to State Trails Grants, which help local governments develop trails that link their communities to larger, existing regional trail networks. For rural communities with abundant natural resources, these kinds of opportunities can be particularly impactful.
The Healthy ROOTS team is also engaging youth as leaders in shaping healthier communities. In partnership with the North Carolina 4-H program and experts in positive youth development, Extension professionals and youth are working together to design community-driven projects that can expand access to physical activity opportunities, including trails, youth-led 5K’s, and recreation programs. By positioning youth as leaders and decision-makers, this initiative illustrates how collaborative, locally informed strategies can help rural communities develop sustainable solutions that improve walkability, physical activity access, and overall community health.
Creating more walkable communities is not simply about building sidewalks or trails. It is about investing in healthier, safer, and more connected places where all residents have opportunities to move, gather, access resources, and participate fully in community life. While challenges remain, collaborative and community-driven approaches are helping communities identify practical, sustainable solutions that reflect local priorities and strengths. NC State Extension remains an invested partner in this work, ready to provide tools, technical assistance, funding connections, and community engagement support that can help turn local ideas into action.
