MetroFuture will enable residents to be more active, through clustered land use and improved bicycle and pedestrian connections. Complete sidewalk networks would allow more students to walk to nearby schools. The region would have completed 200 miles of off-road multi-use trails, and residents would use this regional network for commuting and recreation. Seniors who live in new housing near city and town centers will be able to stay active by walking to nearby shops and services. Along with increased access to healthy food, increased activity will contribute to lower incidence of the region’s major killers: obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Currently, in 61 municipalities, fewer than 10% of students live within a half mile of school and could walk there safely. As of 2004, nearly half (47%) of residents in the MAPC region do not get regular physical activity

Objectives:

• All public school students will have physical education classes at least once per week.
• All public and private schools will be accessible by sidewalk for children living with in one mile.
• An increasing proportion of adults will have at least one 30 minute sessions of physical activity per week, across all Community Types.