Integrating Community Health in Trail and Park Planning
Track: Resource Management & Park Planning

Thursday, April 30th | 10:30 - 11:45am
Speakers: Alexandra Stone, National Park Service and
Melissa Morin, Whatcom County Public Health
Room: 317


Description: 
From January to June 2013, the Whatcom County Health Department participated as a pilot site in the development of the "Parks, Trails and Health Workbook," a rapid health impact assessment tool created by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program.  The workbook is designed to help community groups, planners, public health practitioners, and other stakeholders to establish baselines and assess the health benefits of proposed trails and parks in their community, and to integrate the consideration of community health in planning for and designing trails and parks.  Presenters will provide a step-by-step tour through the workbook, share the lessons they learned from applying the tool to a trail project in their community, and describe ways that public health and planning practitioners can collaborate to promote active transportation and recreation through trails. 

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to explain the value and benefits of a integrating a rapid HIA in recreation planning.
  • Participants will be able to list 5 steps covered in the NPS-CDC Parks, Trails and Health Workbook.
  • Participants will be able to appreciate opportunity to partner with public health and other health professionals when integrating community health into planning.

Speaker Bio: Alex Stone, National Park Service

Alexandra (Alex) Stone is a community planner with the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program in Seattle.  Trained as a landscape architect, Alex's community assistance on recreation and conservation projects often brings attention to active living, engaging youth and diverse communities, public involvement and incorporating the arts and design.

Co-presenter Bio: Melissa Morin, Whatcom County Public Health

Melissa Morin holds a BS in Community Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist.  She currently serves as a Community Health Specialist at the Whatcom County Health Department in their “Healthy Communities” program, which aims to foster policies and on-the-ground environmental changes that promote healthy eating, active living, and tobacco-free living. Ms. Morin has expertise in community engagement and mobilization, partnership development, project management, policy development and advocacy, and social marketing. She’s worked on several projects to improve the walking and biking environment, including Safe Routes to School projects, bicycle and pedestrian master plans, and trail development. Over the past two years a significant focus of her work has been partnering with long-range planners to apply best practices for integrating public health and equity concepts into land use and transportation plans.