Active Community Environments (ACEs)

Creating Active Community Environments (ACEs) represents a valuable opportunity for public health practicioners interested in increasing opportunities for people to be physically active. ACEs are places where people are able and encouraged to walk, bike, or roll for both pleasure and purpose. There is increasing recognition of the importance of the environment in shaping behavior, yet public health professionals are just beginning to learn about effective strategies that focus on changing environments.

The north Carolina Division of Public Health recognizes this unique opportunity for impacting physical activity levels and has developed Winning with ACEs! How You Can Work toward Active Community Environments (referred to as the ACEs Guide). The ACEs Guide was developed to assist North Carolinians who are interested in making their communities more supportive of physical activity. The primary audience for the ACEs Guide is public health practitioners, but many community groups and grassroots coalitions will find the information useful.

ACEs Material

ACEs Policy Guide

ACEs Community Assessment

Chapter 3 Worksheets (PDF)

Chapter 3 Worksheets (Word)

ACEs - CDC One-Page

Age of Sprawl - Why Johnny Can't Walk to School

Increasing Physical Activity Through Community Design

NC Smart Growth Commission Report

Walking & Bicycling Suitability Assessment (WABSA) Materials

WABSA Guidebook

WABSA Excel Scoring (Excel)

Bike Method (Revised)

Funding Sources for Walk Bike

Liability Waver

Sample Workshop Evalution

Walking Method (Revised)

WABSA Slideshow (54mb)