Healthy Communities
Building Healthy Communities
The Healthy Communities section of the 2035 Prince George’s County General Plan focuses on how land use and community design can improve the health of County residents. The plan addresses the obesity epidemic, the high rate of heart disease, and the rising cost of health care by promoting safe, connected communities with access to healthy food and active lifestyles. The plan also discusses the negative impacts of poor health on the local economy and highlights the importance of creating walkable communities to improve the quality of life for Prince Georgians.
The plan also identifies challenges, such as retrofitting older communities designed around automobiles and addressing the number of uninsured citizens. It also presents opportunities for improving community health, including the Health Enterprise Zone initiative, urban agriculture, and public-private partnerships.
Promoting Community Health in Planning
Main Goal
The main goal of the county is to create safe, connected communities that promote active lifestyles and provide convenient access to healthy foods. The key policies to implement this element include;
- Integrate community health into the master plan and development review processes.
- Improve residents’ access to fresh foods, especially for households in low-income areas with limited transportation options, and promote sources of fresh foods countywide.
- Educate and build awareness of health and wellness initiatives that prevent and control chronic disease.
- Improve access to health services and programs.
Enhancing Urban Living
Urban living in Prince George’s County is being greatly improved through various initiatives that focus on sustainability, health, and accessibility. Here are some key areas being considered:
Health Plans, Studies & Reports
- Healthy Food for All Prince Georgians: An Assessment of Access to Healthy Food in Prince George’s County, Maryland
- Reduce, Recover, Recycle-Food Waste in Prince George’s County, MD – Prince George’s County Planning Department
- Prince George’s County, Primary Healthcare Strategic Plan
- Targeted Economic Development Strategy for Prince George’s County
- Urban Agriculture: A Tool for Creating Economic Development and Healthy Communities in Prince George’s County, MD
