VAN BUREN (MI) PROMOTES ACTIVE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS

[Todd Scott]

According to a Feb. 27th story in the Belleville View, "Van Buren
Township is the recipient of a grant from the Governor's Council on
Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Department of
Community Health to promote active community environments. Active
community environments (ACEs) are places where people of all ages and
abilities can easily incorporate physical activity into their daily
routines because the landscape provides ready access to walking, biking
and other forms of active transportation and recreation. ACEs can be
identified with such elements as well-designed sidewalks, on-street
bicycle facilities, multi-use paths and trails, parks, open space and
recreational facilities. In addition, homes, work, schools and stores
are built close together with a connected grid of streets.

"Van Buren Township is one of five pilot sites statewide which will
develop a pedestrian and bicycle committee with diverse representation.
This group will assess the community's environment and residents'
attitudes and behaviors related to physical activity. Using these
results plus other community feedback, a vision will be developed for
improving the physical activity environment, including a strategic
plan. In addition, the township will receive up to $3,000 towards a
related first-step project. 'Van Buren Township has prioritized
greenways and trails and other important elements for walking and
biking in their planning already,' said Risa Wilkerson, director of
ACEs. 'We are looking forward to working with them.'..."

Source: http://www.bellevilleview.com/news/2003 ... asp?ID=109
Archive search: http://archives.heritage.com/
Cost: No
Title: "Township gets grant for fitness project"
Author: Joan Dyer-Zinner