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CHALLENGE
Empowering Healthier Living through Participatory Urban Planning and Policy
Like many U.S. cities, there is growing momentum in the Lehigh Valley’s major cities to transform a built environment hardwired for automobiles. Blue Zones launched in the Lehigh Valley to help create communities where healthy choices are easy and residents live longer, higher-quality lives through policy and urban planning While working at Gehl, I served as Blue Zones' subject matter expert on the built environment across active mobility, 15-minute cities, housing, and social infrastructure for Easton and Bethlehem, to translate this ambition into a specific, fundable list of things
Client
Blue Zones
Location
Easton, PA and Bethlehem, PA
Year
2025
With Blue Zones' local directors, I led the process to identify the policy and place improvements that centered community needs, while balancing implementation capacity & budget. The team is implementing solutions like a safe routes to school program, inclusive playgrounds, and expanded access to quality social gathering places through 2026.
THEMES
social infrastructure · parks activation · 15 minute cities · missing middle housing · active mobility · stakeholder focus group facilitation · community engagement · urban design advisory · urban research · policy research · healthy communities · policy advisory · mobility · strategic planning
HIGHLIGHTS
01
Socio-Spatial Research
I conducted background policy and planning research, virtual listening sessions, and site visits where I led focus groups, interviews, and workshops with cross-sector stakeholders to identify the city’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities.
02
Consensus Building
To help position this work locally & build buy in, I developed policy and planning strategies, pilot projects, and capacity building initiatives that were aligned with existing efforts by the city's active ecosystem of CBOs, public sector agencies, and community members.
03
Project Selection
In partnership with the Blue Zones local team, I facilitated stakeholder workshops to identify a shortlist for implementation over the following 2+ years.
Through regular engagement meetings and workshops, we built buy-in from government officials such as the Mayor and agency leaders, community organizations, advocacy groups, local business owners, and residents
Testimonial
I’m honored that they included the residents of Easton in this worthwhile community program that explores health and longevity.
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