Montco 2040:
a shared vision
53
■■ Number of recreation
coordination meetings held
Measuring success
■■ Increase in farmers’
markets
■■ More farms growing
produce or producing meat
and dairy products
Measuring success
...advocate with local municipalities, schools, and property
owners to make communities more walkable and coordinate
joint recreation planning efforts.
Communities should encourage “active design” - a way to make the built
environment more healthful, livable, and supportive of physical activity. For
starters, municipalities can:
■■ Design playgrounds with ground markings to initiate games and other activities;
provide lights on sidewalks and active play areas to allow for physical activity
into the evenings; and encourage physical activity facilities in schools.
■■ Design well-connected streets with sidewalks; keep block sizes relatively
small; provide pathways through existing blocks to increase walkability;
minimize mid-block vehicular curb cuts; implement traffic calming measures;
provide amenities such as seating, restrooms, and water fountains to increase
the frequency and duration of walking.
Joint recreation planning is also key. Communities can and should take advantage
of nearby amenities that can benefit their residents. For example, the Pottstown
area has been discussing joint recreation needs for several years—an outgrowth
of the regional planning effort there. A small financial investment shared among
the eight communities in the region will be beneficial to all in the long run. Other
communities have joined together to plan for joint trail needs—such as Hatfield
Borough and Hatfield Township. The county will help coordinate efforts like these
to encourage joint recreation planning and use of facilities.
...work with food providers, farmers, health advocates, and others
to increase the supply of local, fresh food.
Having easy access to affordable fresh food is an important step in keeping the
county’s residents healthy. Many residents rely on convenience stores or fast food
restaurants for meals, which often have a limited number of healthy options. This
is a real concern with obesity and obesity-related diseases like diabetes on the rise.
Although most of the county is within close proximity to one (or more) full service
grocery stores, many of the more densely populated boroughs do not have a full-
service grocery store. These places should encourage grocery stores, farmers’
markets, community gardens, home gardens, and food safety net providers within
their borders to provide fresh fruit and vegetable options.
The county will continue to encourage farming as a viable enterprise by preserving
farms, providing technical assistance to farmers, and encouraging farmers to raise
and/or grow products for local consumption. Food pantries, cupboards, and soup
kitchens should partner with farms and farmers markets to provide fresh produce.
Get Out and Go Montco is a new county
initiative to encourage county residents
to get healthy and have fun using the
county’s network of parks, trails, and
open spaces.
