Linking Safety Promotion & Crime Prevention to Community Health Improvement

Well designed city parks can provide numerous benefits that positively impact the health of residents such as improving physical and psychological health, as well as offering places of the heart and opportunities for social connections that strengthen community ties.

In disadvantaged communities of color, the health promoting features of parks are often undermined by a variety of negative social and environmental conditions, like crime, drug activity, and dilapidated public facilities, which compromise the safety of residents and park patrons. The Healthy Eating and Active Communities Initiative (HEAC), funded by The California Endowment aims at reducing environmental factors that contribute to the rising problem of childhood obesity.

In Chula Vista, through the HEAC Initiative, a group of students, promotoras, community organizations, city staff, and elected officials embarked on a collaborative effort to revitalize Lauderbach Park by addressing concerns about vagrancy, safety and litter. Through implementation of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) concepts, coordinated by law enforcement, improvements to the physical and social environment of this park were made, thus allowing residents to once again enjoy the health benefits of a community park.