Success StoryMartin County Connectivity Plan Development



Martin County Connectivity Plan Development

Author: Jayoung Koo

Planning Unit: Landscape Architecture

Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General

Outcome: Initial Outcome

The Healthy Eating and Active Living to Reduce Rural Obesity Through Extension project funded by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is led by Jennifer Hunter (Extension Professor and Assistant Director of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)) and Alison Gustafson (Associate Professor, Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition). As part of the 5-year project Jayoung Koo (Associate Extension Professor) and Natalie Jones (FCS Extension Specialist), along with Alison Gustafson and members of the Martin County Coalition, finalized the Martin County Connectivity Plan. A cross-sector team including representatives from various disciplines across the community, including Cooperative Extension, transportation, and public works worked together to assess the physical environment features and amenities, town characteristics, and policies to be addressed in the plan. The Martin County Connectivity Steering Committee utilized the Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) tools and CDC The Active Communities Tool (ACT): An Action Planning Guide and Assessment?Modules?to Improve Community Built Environments to Promote Physical Activity to diagnose missing pathways, segments, gaps in the sidewalk network, and identify potential project areas to connect.  The plan is intended to be a roadmap for how Martin County in eastern Kentucky can enhance the connectivity of their built environment over a five-year period (2018-2023) to increase physical activity and reduce obesity rates.






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