BRIDGING COMMUNITIES, BOOSTING NUTRITION: ADDRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN FAYETTEVILLE, NC

Fayetteville, North Carolina, faces a public health crisis rooted in poor walkability and limited food access, contributing to high rates of obesity, diabetes, and food insecurity—especially among low-income and minority residents. With a Walk Score of 21/100, the city ranks among the least walkable in the U.S. This capstone proposes a place-based nutrition intervention integrating two evidence-based models: the Complete Streets Initiative and Safe Routes to Healthy Food (SRHF). The intervention includes (1) constructing pedestrian and bike infrastructure within a one-mile radius of grocery stores and (2) establishing SRHF corridors to connect food-insecure neighborhoods with retailers. Grounded in the socioecological model, the plan aims to increase physical activity and improve dietary behaviors. Evaluation methods include traffic counts, consumer surveys, dietary recalls, and geospatial analysis. This initiative seeks a 20% increase in foot traffic and a 25% improvement in produce consumption, offering a cost-effective, equity-driven strategy to reduce chronic disease in underserved communities.