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EPA Launches Active Aging 'Healthy Communities' Awards
 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced an award program to recognize outstanding community planning and strategies that support active aging.
The Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging awards will be presented to communities that demonstrate the best and most inclusive overall approach to implementing smart growth and active aging at the neighborhood, municipality, county and regional levels.
Two types of awards will be offered:
- The Commitment Award recognizes communities that have developed and begun to initiate a specific plan to implement smart growth and active aging principles.
- The Achievement Award will be given for overall excellence in building healthy communities for active aging.
Active aging refers to maintaining regular physical activity after age 50. Communities can promote active aging by implementing an array of accessible physical-activity programs, and by helping to make more accessible, self-directed physical-activity opportunities for people 50 years and older.
Smart growth development practices support national environmental goals by preserving open spaces and parkland and protecting critical habitat; improving transportation choices, including walking, bicycling and transit, which reduce automobile emissions; promoting brownfield redevelopment; and reducing impervious surfaces, which improves water quality.
Applicants must be public-sector entities and coordinate with their local Area Agency on Aging. Public-sector entities include all levels of elected governments, from city councils to state legislatures and their subdivisions such as planning departments and other executive branch divisions.
Applications are due Oct. 17.
Winners will be announced at the New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities Conference in Washington, D.C. in February.
For applications, award guidelines and entry rules, visit www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/awards. For more information, e-mail aging.info@epa.gov.
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