Headwaters Regional Development Commission
Active Living Toolkit
August 2010
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1
Background……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1
5P Approach………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2
Active Living Regional Vision………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Active Living Principles…………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
Active Living Toolkit………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
Preparation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
Policy…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Physical Projects…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
Programs/Promotions………………………………………………………………………………………………….13
Resolution of Support………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17
Introduction
The Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) has been increasingly involved in
active living efforts with two separate, but complimentary interventions via Blue Cross/Blue
Shield and The Minnesota Department of Health.
BlueCross/BlueShield
HRDC partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota as part of Prevention Minnesota to
pursue a comprehensive active living project in the Bemidji Area. Active Living is a
comprehensive approach to incorporating physical activity into daily routines, with a focus on
environmental and policy change efforts. This initiative started in the Bemidji Area with a robust
planning process and is now in the first of four years of implementation (2010).
Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP)
In response to increasing rates of chronic disease and rising health care costs, the Minnesota
Legislature called for the creation of a plan to fund and implement comprehensive statewide
health improvement. The plan addressed risk factors for preventable illness and death in the U.S.,
including tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. The Statewide Health
Improvement Program (SHIP) intends to reduce the prevalence of obesity and tobacco use in
Minnesota through policy, systems, and environmental change. The HRDC partnered with the
North Country Health Board and the SHIP Community Leadership Team (CLT) to develop a
plan and begin implementing policies and practices that create active communities by increasing
opportunities for non-motorized transportation (walking and biking) and access to community
recreation facilities.
Background
There has been an increasing “buzz” surrounding health, wellness, and physical activity as
communities are making these issues a priority. Lessons learned from both successes and
challenges throughout the first year of implementation of active living in the Bemidji Area have
been invaluable. These new skills have helped the HRDC to completely rethink the traditional
approach to transportation planning and programming. The result has been a truly region-wide
approach to active living and transportation planning.
As a result of the work in the Bemidji Area, HRDC has developed and fine-tuned their skills in
active living. The HRDC is excited and willing to help communities in the region move forward
on their most significant issues pertaining to active living and transportation.
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The “5P” Approach
Blue Cross is supporting communities that are pursuing a comprehensive approach to promoting
active living based on the 5P Community Action Model. Developed by Active Living by Design
(www.activelivingbydesign.com), HRDC utilized the 5P approach in the development of this
toolkit.
Preparation is essential to success. It is important to foster and develop interdisciplinary
partnerships that include representatives from fields such as public health, city planning,
transportation, and parks and recreation. Together a partnership should assess existing policies
and environmental conditions, engage stakeholders, develop a strategic action plan, and identify
additional resources.
Policy Influence ensures that key decisions affecting environments and infrastructure are
conducive to active living. Local policy makers play a key role in determining community design
and transportation options.
Physical Projects such as parks, trails, bikeways, and sidewalks are a necessary component of
an integrated approach to increasing routine physical activity.
Programs are necessary to heighten the demand and create social support for physical activity in
the community. Some programs may help raise awareness of active living issues, while others
will mobilize the public to advocate for policy change.
Promotion of active living messages occurs through multiple channels, such as traditional mass
media, social media, and newsletters. Messages should highlight the importance of active living
in a variety of built, natural, and social environments.
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Active Living Regional Vision
Through deliberate, collective action, The Headwaters Region will be a place:
 Where there exists a mutual respect among all modes of transportation
 That has been recognized nationally as a safe and healthy place to live
 That is as accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians as it is for motor vehicles
 Where physical activity is safe, easy, accessible, and a common occurrence for residents
 That has strong connections – allowing for people to comfortably navigate to and from
destinations in the community
 Where children can safely walk and bicycle to school
Active Living Principles
1. Communities should consider all modes of transportation when designing roadways; this
includes new construction, reconstruction, and repaving projects.
2. Communities should plan, provide and maintain infrastructure that makes physical
activity a safe, easy, accessible, and enjoyable option.
3. Communities should promote policies that create and support an active living
environment.
4. Communities should be designed to meet the needs of all people – regardless of age,
ability, economic status, ethnicity, and gender.
5. Communities should promote and encourage programs and promotions with a focus on
marketing existing opportunities to be physically active.
The Toolkit
This toolkit is intended to lay the framework for active living in local communities by providing
them with specific and attainable objectives and strategies to create a safe and convenient
community that is more accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians.
The Active Living Toolkit includes a wide range of objectives and strategies for incorporating
active living principles and concepts into comprehensive plans, zoning regulations,
transportation enhancement projects, and ultimately into day to day processes and procedures.
The toolkit is formatted in the following way:




Goals
Objectives
Strategies
Action Items
Each goal is partnered with potential stakeholders, objectives, strategies, and corresponding
action items. The objectives describe what can be done in a community to address active living.
The associated strategies outline how the objectives can be completed. The toolkit also provides
technical assistance with resources from successful communities and active living experts.
Accompanying the toolkit is a resolution of support for active living.
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Preparation
Goal: Utilize existing (or form new)
partnerships to drive change in the
community.
Preparation is essential to success
and would not be possible without
the leadership and dedication of several committed individuals and organizations
within a community. It is important for partnerships to include representatives from
a variety of backgrounds including: health, planning, transportation, and parks and
recreation. Together a partnership should assess existing environmental conditions,
engage stakeholders, develop an action plan and consider implementation steps.
There are a variety of strong organizations already operating in the Headwaters
Region. These existing organizations and partnerships can collaborate with their
shared expertise to address the communities most important issues related to active
living and transportation.
Existing Organizations in the Region
 SHIP Leadership Team
 Headwaters Regional Development
Commission
 Healthy Park Rapids 2020
 Progress Park Rapids
 Bemidji Leads
 Blackduck 20/20
 Seventh Generation (White Earth –
Mahnomen, MN)
General Stakeholders
 Community-based
organizations
 Health Officials
 Planning Officials
 Local/Elected Officials
Objective 1 – Raise awareness in the community about the importance of active
living.
Strategy 1.1 – Identify and empower champions of active living.
Description – There are a variety of individuals and organizations with a
vested interest in improving the health and wellness of residents in the
Headwaters Region.
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Strategy 1.2 – Find creative ways to partner on key funding opportunities.
Description – Active living is a comprehensive effort and cannot be taken
on by one entity exclusively. Individuals and organizations can partner to
identify a variety of funding opportunities. Examples include: Capital
Improvement Programs, federal and state grants, private funding
opportunities, grassroots fundraising, parkland dedication funds, etc.
A Walk Audit is an
examination and
evaluation tool used
to identify assets and
barriers to
walkability and
bikabiliy in a
community.
Strategy 1.3 – Conduct a community Walk Audit to identify assets and
barriers to walkability and bikability in the community.
Description – A walk audit is a low cost/highly effective tactic. Objectives
of a walk audit include: recognizing health and environment connections,
creating a vision of a walkable community, and developing a plan of action.
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Policy
Goal: Implement policies and practices that create active communities by increasing
opportunities for non-motorized transportation and access to community recreation
activities.
Communities can increase
opportunities for physical activity by
creating a policy environment that
supports safe, equitable transportation
making bicycling and walking a more
viable transportation option in the
community.
Potential Stakeholders




State and local elected officials
School officials
Transportation officials
Headwaters Regional Development
Commission
 Planning officials
 City and County health officials
 Law enforcement
agencies
 Community-based
organizations
 Community members
Objective 2 – Support/promote policies that provide a framework for active living in
the community.
Strategy 2.1 – Develop or update long range transportation plans,
comprehensive plans, or other planning documents to incorporate a strong
commitment for active living.
Description – In the context of active living, long range planning documents
should include a vision for the future where the community is designed and
built to meet the needs of all users and all modes of transportation.
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Strategy 2.2 – Develop a policy that ensures that the needs of all users and
abilities are considered in all future transportation projects (including
facilities such as bicycle lanes, sidewalks, multi-use trails, marked
crosswalks, wide shoulders, etc.), as well as specific measures for
implementation.
Description – This type of policy can take on many forms. Many
communities across the State of Minnesota and the United States are
adopting formal Complete Streets Policies that range from simple
declarative statements to totally reworking transportation programming and
design manuals. See the complete streets resources below for more
information.
Strategy 2.3 – Develop or update (parks and) trails plans where
opportunities present themselves, with a focus on active transportation
(using human powered transportation to get to destinations such as schools,
places of employment, shopping/commercial centers, residential areas, and
others).
Complete Streets are
roadways designed
and operated to
enable safe,
attractive, and
comfortable access
and travel for all
users. Pedestrians,
bicyclists, motorists,
and public transit
users of all ages and
abilities are able to
safely and
comfortably move
along and across a
complete street.
Human Powered
transportation is a
term used to describe
walking, biking, etc.
Strategy 2.4 – Adopt a “Safe Routes to School” Policy.
Description - The Safe Routes to School program enables community
leaders, schools, and parents to collaborate to improve safety and encourage
more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. Safe routes programs
work to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and environment
conditions.
Strategy 2.5 – Review/revise local zoning and subdivision ordinances for
indicators that promote or inhibit active living.
Strategy 2.6 – Consider snow removal policies (especially along multi-use
trails/sidewalks) to address accessibility issues for all users.
Action Items
o HRDC is available for transportation planning and can help communities
frame their strategic transportation issues.
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Resources
Active Living by Design
Active Living by Design (ALBD) creates community-led change by working with
local and national partners to build a culture of active living and healthy eating.
http://www.activelivingbydesign.org
Active Living Ramsey County Comprehensive Plans and Active Living
This website provides an approach to incorporating active living principles and
concepts into comprehensive plans such as Land Use, Transportation, and Parks
and Open Space.
http://www.coramsey.mn.us/alrc/project.htm
Active Living Resource Center
This website provides communities with resources and tools to help incorporate
walking and bicycling into your community.
www.activelivingresources.org
Complete Streets Local Government Toolkit
This toolkit will help organizations understand the value of complete streets and
how you can incorporate complete streets policies and practices in your Minnesota
community.
http://www.mncompletestreets.org/gfx/MnCSLocalGovtToolkit.pdf
Design for Health
Design for Health (DFH) is a collaborative project between the University of
Minnesota, Cornell University, and the University of Colorado that serves to bridge
the gap between the emerging research base on community design and healthy
living and the everyday realities of local government planning.
http://www.designforhealth.net
La Crosse County Safe Routes to School Plan
This plan provides a 5-7 year guide and implementation process for a safe routes
program in La Crosse County, WI.
www.westsalemwi.com/pdf/safe-routes-to-school-plan-west-salem.pdf
Local Government Commission
This online resource provides technical assistance for local elected officials and
community leaders who are working to create healthier, more walkable and
bikeable communities.
www.lgc.org/issues/communitydesign/health_physical_activity.html
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Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition
The Minnesota Complete Streets Coalition is a growing collaboration of
individuals and groups across the state who are working together to make our
streets and roads safe for all users.
www.mncompletestreets.org
National Center for Biking and Walking (NCBW)
The National Center for Biking and Walking is a major program of the Bicycle
Federation of America, Inc. NCBW aims to change the way communities are
typically planned, designed, and managed to ensure that people of all ages and
abilities can bike and walk easily, safely, and regularly.
www.bikewalk.org
National Complete Streets Coalition
Instituting a complete streets policy and/or concepts appropriate for your
community ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design
and operate roadways with all modes of transportation in mind – including
bicyclists, public transit, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.
www.completestreets.org
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, creates opportunities, and
promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
www.nwmf.org
Safe Routes to School
Safe routes to school programs enable community leaders, schools, and parents
across the United States to improve safety and encourage more children, including
children with disabilities, to safely walk and bicycle to school. In the process,
programs are working to reduce traffic congestion and improve health and the
environment, making communities more livable for everyone.
www.saferoutesinfo.org
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Physical Projects
Goal: Build a community that is as friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians (of all ages
and abilities) as it is to motor vehicles.
Share the Road
signs are intended
to make drivers
aware of the
presence of
bicyclists and
pedestrians and
encourage
cooperative
behavior.
Potential Stakeholders





State and local elected officials
Transportation officials
Planning officials
City and County health officials
Headwaters Regional
Development Commission
 Community-based organizations
 Community members
Objective 3 – Provide essential infrastructure that makes physical activity the safe,
easy, accessible, and enjoyable option.
Strategy 3.1 – Incorporate bicycle and pedestrian facilities into standard
transportation programming (take advantage of all funding opportunities).
Description – It is essential to highlight the importance of equity among all
modes of transportation (i.e. walking, biking, motor vehicles, transit, etc)
when conducting road design/redesign (see Complete Streets definition on
page 7).
Strategy 3.2 – Include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, signage, wide shoulders,
and separated bicycle trails in appropriate road construction projects OR as
standalone transportation projects, with a focus on routes to key destinations.
Strategy 3.3 – Install “Share the Road” signage.
Description – “Share the Road” signage is a relatively inexpensive/high
impact option that alerts motorist of the presence of bicyclists and
encourages cooperative behavior.
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Strategy 3.5 – Develop and implement a way-finding system.
Description – Way-finding signage seamlessly guides visitors, bicyclists, and
pedestrians to key destinations in the community.
Strategy 3.6 – Install bike racks at key locations or destinations.
Strategy 3.7 – Paint, repaint, and sign marked crosswalks – particularly along
desirable pedestrian and bicycle routes.
Strategy 3.8 – Install information kiosks at various locations.
Description – The information in each kiosk will be tailored to the respective
location, but should generally include information about destinations in the
community that bicyclists and walkers could enjoy visiting.
Way-finding is
the utilization of
signage to lead
bicyclists and
pedestrians
and
pedestrians
bicyclists
to to
key
key destinations
destinations
in a
in a such
city such
as
city
as parks
parks
and trails.
and
trails.
Information
Kiosks dispense
free information
for tourists,
bicyclists, and
pedestrian such
pedestrians
such
as route maps,
pamphlets, and
information
about the city.
Action Items
o Local policy-makers and health officials can partner with planners, road
authorities, and other key stakeholders to identify locations that would benefit
from physical improvements.
o Local community leaders can partner with city officials to identify and
prioritize key destinations for bicyclists and install bike racks at these
locations.
o Local policy-makers can partner with health officials and other key
stakeholders to prioritize locations for information kiosks and pursue funding.
o Local policy makers can support road construction projects that incorporate all
modes of transportation into planning.
Resources
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
This toolkit provides transportation planners, key policy makers, and road authorities
with ADA’s best practices for curb ramps and pedestrian crossings.
http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit.htm
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
This online manual defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install
and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and
private roads open to public traffic.
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
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Share the Road
This online resource provides important information regarding rules of the road,
safety, and crash facts.
www.sharetheroadmn.org
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
This website provides guidance, legislation, funding data, and links to further
resources.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov
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Programs/Promotions
Goal: Increase the number of individuals who
are physically active by highlighting existing
trails, fitness, and recreation opportunities.
It is essential that people are aware of the
importance of incorporating physical activity
into their daily routines as a part of a healthy
lifestyle. This can be accomplished through
education, skill building, and increased
awareness of opportunities to be physically
active.
Potential Stakeholders
 City/County Health Officials
 Headwaters Regional Development
Commission
 SHIP Leadership Team
 Biking Advocates
 Walking Advocates
 Parks and Recreation Officials
 After School Programs
 Heath Advocates
 Community-Based
Organizations
 Citizens
 Chamber of Commerce
 City/County Elected
Officials
 Health/Fitness Clubs
Objective 4: Develop programs and promotions that highlight existing opportunities
to be physically active.
Strategy 4.1- Collaborate with existing organizations to put together an
“Active Opportunities” booklet.
Description - This booklet would promote and highlight existing opportunities
to be physically active that many community members and visitors may not be
aware of.
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Strategy 4.2 – Organize/promote a variety of events that have an active
component.
Description- This could take on many forms. The following are a few options:
 Promote and organize a bike/walk to work week
 Organize/promote a non-competitive walking program
 Organize an active living event at a key destination in the community
 Start a bicycle or walking club
 Host a 5k run/walk
 Organize community bicycle rides or walks
Strategy 4.3 – Develop pedestrian and bicycle route maps.
Description - Bicycle and pedestrian route maps help to guide pedestrians,
bicyclists, and visiting tourists to key destinations within a city. Bemidji
recently completed a bicycle and pedestrian route map of Lake Bemidji.
http://www.activelivingbemidji.com/upcoming-events/184/lake-bemidjibicycle-and-pedestrian-route-maps
Employee
Wellness
programs are
designed to
improve the
health and wellbeing of workers
through
promotion of
good health
rather than the
correction of
poor health.
Walking School
Buses are groups
of children who
walk to school
together with
supervision by
more than one
adult particularly
along unsafe
routes.
Strategy 4.4 – Create visual “point of decision” prompts to encourage or
remind people of healthy behaviors.
Description – A popular point of decision prompt is a sign near an elevator
alerting people of the health benefits of taking the stairs. This can serve as a
catalyst for inactive individuals and a reminder of the option for active
individuals.
Strategy 4.5 – Implement an employee wellness program.
Description – Employee wellness programs are a simple effective way for
most companies to increase the fitness of their workforce and reduce
healthcare costs.
Strategy 4.6 – Organize a “Walking School Bus.”
Description - A walking school bus consists of a group of children who walk
(or bike) to school together with supervision by more than one adult
particularly along unsafe routes.
Objective 5: Utilize social media, traditional media, and area websites to highlight
successful active living efforts in the community.
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Strategy 5.1 – Provide positive coverage and publicly recognize an action or
decision by a developer, designer, organization, or local government whose
work creates active living opportunities.
Strategy 5.2 – Utilize social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogging to
promote active living efforts in your community.
Strategy 5.3 – Develop a website or partner with existing organizations to
have a location for individuals to get more information about your active living
efforts.
Strategy 5.4 – Create an active living community newsletter.
Description - This promotion can take on many distribution methods. You
could send this out electronically, by mail, or utilize partnerships with your
city to send it out with local billings (i.e. water).
Action Items
o Community leaders such as service organizations and health and fitness
advocates can collaborate to organize events with an active component in the
community.
o Planners and city officials can partner with health officials and community
leaders to develop a list of key destinations and amenities in the city such as:
bike racks, trails, and parks. Utilize the information gathered to develop a
bicycle and pedestrian route map.
o Health officials and community leaders can collaborate to prioritize locations
for point of decision prompts (i.e. hospitals, offices, etc.).
o Local policy-makers, health officials, and health advocates can partner with
local businesses to develop employee wellness programs that encourage an
active and healthy lifestyle.
o Local policy makers, school district decision makers and teachers, parents, and
local law enforcement can partner to identify locations where it is unsafe for
children to walk and bicycle to school and develop a plan of action to assist
these children.
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Social Media is a
highly effective
and accessible
web-based
marketing
technology.
Social media is
utilized as a form
of social
communication
and can take on
many forms such
as internet
forums, social
blogs, and micro
blogs. Some
common social
media sites
include:
Facebook,
Twitter, You
Tube, Area
Voices, and
MySpace.
Resources
Active Living Bemidji
Active Living Bemidji partnered with Fit City and the City of Bemidji Parks and
Recreation Department to develop this one-stop-shop to everything physical activity
and health related in the community. This website contains information such as a
community calendar, a bicycle and pedestrian route map, and active living programs
and promotions.
http://www.activelivingbemidji.com
Bike Bemidji
This local volunteer-based organization drives to improve the safety of local bicycle
riders though education and organized rides promoting rules of the road and helmet
safety.
http://www.activelivingbemidji.com/active-living/186/bike-bemidji
Collaborating for Success
This online resource is an example of community cohesion. This booklet highlights
summer (2010) activities in the Bemidji Area.
http://www.ci.bemidji.mn.us
Simple Steps Bemidji
Modeled after Simple Steps Dakota County, Simple Steps is an incentive-based noncompetitive walking program for residents of the Bemidji area that encourages people
to get out and walk.
http://www.activelivingbemidji.com/active-living/171/simple-steps-bemidji
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Resolution of Support for Active Living
Whereas, the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC) began
active living efforts in the Bemidji Area in 2008 and has initiated a region-wide
approach to active living after the completion of an Active Living Strategic Plan
(July 2010), in partnership with the North Country Health Board (funded via the
Statewide Health Improvement Program); and
Whereas, the HRDC and the Community Leadership Team (CLT) utilized
information gathered from public engagement meetings and a SWOT analysis
(strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to develop an Active Living
vision, goals, objectives, and strategies; and
Whereas, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and smoking are all leading causes
of increased rates of obesity and preventable (chronic) illness; and
Whereas, a mutual respect among all modes of transportation creates
community cohesion, a distinct quality of place, and increases safety; and
Whereas, the Partnership seeks to encourage and empower communities to
implement active living objectives and strategies; and
Therefore, be it resolved, our community supports the regional Active Living
Vision:
Through deliberate, collective action, the Headwaters Region will be a place:
 Where there exists a mutual respect among all modes of
transportation.
 That has been recognized nationally as a safe and healthy place to live.
 That is as accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians as it is for motor
vehicles.
 Where physical activity is safe, easy, accessible and a common
occurrence for residents.
 That has strong connections-allowing people to comfortably navigate
to and from destinations in the community.
 Where children can safely walk and bicycle to school.
Be it further resolved, that our community supports the goal of active living:
To implement policies and practices that create active communities by
increasing opportunities for non-motorized transportation and access to
community recreational activities; and
Be it further resolved, that our community supports the active living
principles:
1. Communities should consider all modes of transportation when
designing roadways; this includes new construction,
reconstruction, and repaving projects.
2. Communities should plan, provide, and maintain infrastructure
that makes physical activity a safe, easy, accessible, and
enjoyable option.
3. Communities should promote policies that create and support an
active living environment.
4. Communities should be designed to meet the needs of all people –
regardless of age, ability, economic status, ethnicity, and gender.
5. Communities should promote and encourage programs and
promotions with a focus on marketing existing opportunities to be
physically active.
Be it further resolved, that our community will incorporate active living
objectives and strategies into our public policies, planning, programs, and
physical infrastructure projects as opportunities for implementation occur.
Now, therefore be it resolved, that our community understands the importance
of health and wellness and therefore supports the Regional Active Living Vision
Statement.
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