Role of Communities
Communities can contribute to making physical activity an enjoyable and accessible option for teenagers. Community members can work together to help teens be more active by implementing some of the suggestions listed below.
Strategies for Communities
1. Improving Access to Places and Programs To Be Physically Active
- Implement 'Complete Streets' policies (Complete Streets is a transportation policy that makes streets safe, convenient and comfortable for users of all ages and abilities)
- Identify safe routes for walking and cycling
- Build new places for physical activity or turn an abandoned or vacant parking lot into a park, multipurpose court, or playground
- Provide access to school gymnasiums, recreation fields, and playgrounds when school is not in session
2. Conduct Community-Wide Campaigns
- Promote physical activity messages to teens and their families through television, radio, newspapers, movie theaters and billboards. Local media could feature stories about young people who have made physical activity a priority
- Include physical activity messages with activities that would engage teenagers, such as health fairs and walking/running events (eg. walk-a-thons)
3. Work with Schools to Increase Teenage Physical Activity
- Colleges, universities, hospitals, health departments, businesses and community groups can work with schools to support physical activity programs. Such support can include donating equipment or money or encouraging staff to volunteer time to lead physical activity programs outside of school hours
- Support 'Safe Routes to School' programs by finding and promoting safe ways to walk and bike to school
- Encourage community organisations to offer after-school physical activity programs for teenagers in school halls/gymnasiums, playing fields, and playgrounds
4. Partner with other Community Groups
- Encourage local media to tell stories about teens participating in physical activity
- Organise a bike rodeo to promote safe cycling practices for adolescents
- Partner with local organisations to host special physical activity events, such as fun runs or field days
- Share resources such as athletic fields, playgrounds and fitness facilities with other community members
- Seek funding from local businesses, community groups and health organisations for physical activity and teenage sporting programs
5. Make Changes that Make it Easier to be Physically Active
- Provide funding to build and link footpaths, pedestrian crossings and bicycle lanes
- Put in curb cuts so that bikes, strollers and wheelchairs can easily cross streets
- Install traffic signals to slow down cars and improve safety
- Provide funding for and promote the use of walking trails or paths in local neighbourhood parks