Active design can support broader goals of sustainability while also playing a crucial role in combating the rapidly growing public health issue of obesity and its impact on related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

New York City has recently published Active Design Guidelines: Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Design. The manual provide planners, architects, engineers, and urban designers with strategies for creating neighborhoods, streets, and outdoor spaces that encourage walking, bicycling, and active Transportation and recreation.

The manual can be downloaded for free on New York City’s Department of Design and Construction website.