SECTION IX: HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Existing Conditions Summary

The sector plan area is one in which residents have access to quality open space, trails, parks, multimodal transportation options, healthy food, and nutrition, and where people of all ages can live comfortably. Most residents live within a 10-15-minute walk of nature, quality parks and trails, multimodal transit options, and healthy and nutritious food choices. The Northwest Branch Stream Valley Trail provides access to the regional trail network and the opportunities for recreation and commuting by biking or walking cannot be understated: this network provides direct connections to Silver Spring, Wheaton, and the District of Columbia.

Nine supermarkets are located throughout the sector plan area where residents can access fresh food via walking, bicycling, or driving. The sector plan area also has an immense amount of parkland and open spaces that make up approximately 21 percent of the sector plan area, exceeding the national average. There are approximately 231 acres of M-NCPPC owned and maintained park and 15 miles of existing and planned shared-use paths and bicycle facilities that provide connections throughout the sector plan area.

Amenities and services that are a critical component for aging in place includes senior activity centers, health care services, public gathering places, and an accessible transportation system that offers alternatives to driving. In addition to the regional trail network, there are several transportation amenities and services that offer residents multiple ways to move about the sector plan area. Assisted and senior living facilities are located throughout the sector plan area as well, offering residents amenities for aging in place.

While the sector plan area offers many local resources and facilities, there are some barriers to accessibility for residents throughout the area. Many of the major roads and corridors throughout the sector plan area still lack adequate sidewalks and connections to shared-use paths. There are several wide intersections and roads that make access to many of these resources unsafe or uncomfortable. It is important to improve connectivity and walkability by closing these gaps to promote active transportation and safely connect residents to nearby local amenities. Preservation of and increased connectivity to existing open space provide residents multiple recreation options.

BENEFITS OF WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE COMMUNITIES

“Creating or modifying environments to make it easier for people to walk or bike is a strategy that not only helps increase physical activity, but it can also make communities better places to live. Studies show more people bike and walk in communities where improvements have been made, such as adding safer sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and protected bike lanes. In addition, when people move to neighborhoods that are designed to promote physical activity and active transportation, they tend to spend less time in their cars and more time walking for transportation. Making walking easier can also help communities by improving safety, increasing interaction between residents, improving local economies, and reducing air pollution.”

U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “Designing Activity-Friendly Communities”, accessed online on May 20, 2022 at https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/walk-friendly-communities/index.html.

Policies and Strategies

Policy HC 1. Create a built environment that allows for safe walking and biking to multiple destinations, amenities, and other non-automobile transportation options. See also Policies LU 4, LU 5, LU 6, LU 7, LU 8, TM 1, TM 2, TM 3, TM 4, TM 5, TM 7, TM 9, HD 4, and PF 1.

HC 1.1. Implement the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements identified in Policies TM 1, TM 4, and PF 1.

Policy HC 2. Connect residents to affordable, local, healthy food options. See also Policy PF 1.

HC 2.1. Identify opportunities to encourage/incentivize urban agriculture to generate revenue, jobs, and localized food production. Potential locations include undeveloped lots (as an interim use), on larger properties, and within public parks.

HC 2.2. Encourage and support partnerships between small businesses, grocery stores, and local food producers to increase the supply of locally grown foods.

HC 2.3. Support the preservation and implementation of food forests within natural areas through public programming and educational materials.

HC 2.4. Enhance public spaces to allow for fresh food and farmer’s market events. Improvements include temporary vehicle parking/access for vendors, additional seating, and more frequent maintenance of grassy areas.

HC 2.5. Encourage the installation of community gardens on terraces and rooftops of buildings, on underutilized and vacant parcels, and on parkland throughout the sector plan area, including the following locations:

• Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park • Proposed park to be located at 2607

Kirkwood Place • Avondale Gateway Plaza

See also Strategy PF 1.1 and Map 39. FOOD FOREST

“A food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three dimensional designs, with life extending in all directions – up, down, and out.”

Food forests serve a variety of needs, including feeding the hungry, increasing the amount of land used for crop production, wildlife habitat, ecological improvement, and localizing the food system.

For more information about food forests, see https://projectfoodforest.org/. There are two active food forests in Prince George’s County, just outside the sector plan area at 4207/4209 31st Street in Mount Rainier (https://mtrainiermdfoodforest.org/) and 3507 Enterprise Road in Bowie (https://www.forested.us/).

Source: Project Food Forest, accessed May 21, 2022 online at https://projectfoodforest.org/

Policy HC 3. Expand equitable access to quality healthcare programs and services. See also Strategy EP 3.1.

HC 3.1. Work with the County and State Departments of Health and non-profits to identify gaps in healthcare programs and services offered across the sector plan area. Build partnerships and recruit COMMUNITY GARDENS healthcare providers to address these specific needs The sector plan area contains one within the sector plan area. community garden at Hyatt Park, HC 3.2. Evaluate the potential for installing health-based located at the corner of 36th Avenue wayfinding, including bilingual wayfinding to medical and Hamilton Street. Residents are able to utilize plots within the community facilities such as medical office buildings and urgent garden via an annual application care facilities. See Policy HD 1. process. Hyatt Park was also recently HC 3.3. Identify opportunities to locate an urgent care redeveloped with new amenities and activities. The Mount Rainier center in the West Hyattsville Local Transit Center. Community Garden, located HC 3.4. Concentrate healthcare services at or near key immediately south and just outside the locations accessible by transit, on foot, or by bicycle, sector plan area, may also serve including: residents of the sector plan area. • MD 410 (East West Highway) and MD 500 (Queens Chapel Road) • The West Hyattsville Metro Station • MD 500 (Queens Chapel Road) and MD 501 (Chillum Road)

PHOTO COURTESY ISTOCK

Policy HC 4. Provide equitable access to recreation facilities and community spaces.

See also Policy PF 1 and Policy TM 5.

HC 4.1. Establish urban scale community civic spaces in the West Hyattsville Local Transit Center to provide public gathering spaces. See plaza and green recommendations in Table 25 and Map 39.

Recommended Parks, Recreation, and Public Open Space Facilities under Strategy PF 1.1.

HC 4.2. Install a network of outdoor fitness equipment integrated into parks and open spaces along the Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park and Trail system to promote active living.

HC 4.3. Renovate and revitalize existing recreation and community facilities that serve the sector plan area to improve recreation offerings, community programming, and opportunities for residents to gather.

HC 4.4. Work with M-NCPPC DPR, municipalities, UM Shuttle, and others to ensure that sector plan area residents have transit and other non-vehicular access, such as bicycle paths and sidewalks, to the planned Multigenerational facility in or near the Prince George’s Plaza Regional Transit

District.

Policy HC 5. Preserve existing senior housing and assisted living facilities while expanding resource offerings to allow residents to age in place.

HC 5.1. Work with property owners and housing providers to preserve existing senior housing and assisted living facilities.

HC 5.2. Provide space and programming for seniors within newly established civic centers. See

Policy HD 3.

HC 5.3. Work with municipalities and partner agencies to expand senior offerings throughout the sector plan area.