Improving the Built Environment in Granville and Vance Counties to Enhance Access to Physical Activity to Reduce Obesity-Related Chronic Health Conditions

Physical activity significant contributes to chronic disease risk and health outcomes. In many rural communities, structual aspects of the neighborhood and built environment create barriers limiting active living opportunities. The 2021 Granville Vance County Health Assessment (CHA) identifies several key barriers to physical activity, including unsafe sidewalks, inadequate lighting on walkways, and a lack of designated bike lanes, commonly called active transportation. These factors affect accessibility for residents for all ages and abilities, including pedestrains, cyclists, drivers, and public transit users. The culmination of evidence-based research and CHA data conducted by the Granville Vance Public Health Department supports a strong connection between physical activity and chronic underfunding in public infrastructure that promotes active transportation. Multiple methodologies were employed to explore this connection, including social determinants of health (SDOH) analysis, the development of a rich picture, and a contextual anaylsis. Principles of engagment, leadership, quality, and systems thinking were utilized to generate recommendations and insights for addressing community challenges. This proposal recommends advocating "Complete Street" policies, forming a priority partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transporatation (NCDOT), establishing a leadership steering committe, and implementing a continous quality improvement plan to sustain and expand the initiative.