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HEALTHY BEGINNINGS: Impacts of School Location and Design Jay Renkens, AICP,
| Date post: | 18-Dec-2014 |
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HEALTHY BEGINNINGS: Impacts of School Location and Design
Jay Renkens, AICP,
Decline in Walking/Biking to School
48%
13%
1969 Today
Decline in Kids Living within 1 mile of School
41%
31%
1969 Today
Reasons for Less Walking
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Distance Traffic Danger
Weather Crime School Policy
Other
Larger School Sites, Less Walkable Schools
School sites today are 41% larger than 20 years ago
Increased site size = fewer schools = decline in number of students who walk/bike to school
Reason: Distance!
Reasons for Large Schools on Edge of Communities
Out-of-date Council of Educational Facilities Planners (CEFPI) recommendations
Parking requirements
Demand for recreation/sport spaces
Land values
School funding formulas
Disregard for transportation costs
School consolidation
Existing land use patterns
Impacts
Smaller schools integrated into neighborhoods contribute to:
Reduction in traffic
A 13 percent increase in walking and biking
At least 15 percent decrease in emissions
Higher test scores
More parent and neighborhood involvement
Higher likelihood of passing bond issues
Lewis and Clark High School (Spokane, WA)
Lewis and Clark High School (Spokane, WA)
Bush Elementary School (Salem, Oregon)
Bush Elementary School (Salem, Oregon)
Hood River Middle School (Hood River, Oregon)
Banks Middle School (Banks, Oregon)
Banks Middle School (Banks, Oregon)
Lessons Learned
Engage local jurisdiction early in the conversation
Explore partnership opportunities
Involve community members in evaluation and decision making
Consider full cost of capital investment, O&M and transportation
Don’t forget fencing, entries and end-of-trip facilities
Resources
Oregon Transportation and Growth Management Program’s Cool Planning: A Handbook on Local Strategies to Slow Climate Change
EPA’s Travel and Environmental Guide to School Siting
CDC’s Adolescent and School Health
Jay Renkens, AICP
Director of Urban Planning Services
MIG, Inc.; Portland, Oregon
www.migcom.com
