Healthy Built Environment

The built environment refers to the places, spaces, and physical settings where people live, work, and play that are human-made or changed.

A healthy built environment means having safe roads for walking and biking, easy transportation choices, and parks for outdoor activities. It also means having clean air and water, a place to live for everyone, and goods, services, and healthy food close to where we live and work.

Health and the built environment

The built environment affects your health in many ways. For example:

• level of physical activity,
• choices for healthy food,
• risks for injury,
• mental health,
• social well-being.

Many decisions about the built environment take place at the local level. Residents, community groups, health professionals, municipal councils and planners all have a role to play. It is important for everyone to work together when designing a community.