An ‘active living' movement is developing throughout the country to combat the negative health affects associated with community design and physical inactivity and to increase opportunities for active transportation. In response to this growing health issue, a number of organizations and individuals have taken up the challenge to strive for an active community. The Humboldt Partnership for Active Living (HumPAL) began meeting in 2003 and started receiving funding from The California Endowment in 2005.
The partnership came together with an understanding that community design and the built environment have a direct impact on public health and that collaboration of diverse disciplines is critical to encourage active living community-wide. The brief history belows follows HumPAL's path with this national movement.
2003
Community members began noticing connections between health, equity and historical land use patterns and began meeting to discuss the situation locally.
2004
A small grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was awarded to build capacity around the emerging Active Living by Design movement in Humboldt County. The project finds a home with the Natural Resources Services Division of the Redwood Community Action Agency.
2005
The Humboldt Partnership for Active Living is formed and assembles a Steering Committee to complete a Strategic Plan with funding from The California Endowment.
HumPAL brings Dr. Dick Jackson to a packed crowd in Eureka's Wharfinger Building to discuss the connections between the obesity epidemic and the way we build our communities.
HumPAL begins holding Walkability Audits of neighborhoods to assess barriers to active transportation.
HumPAL holds a Defining Healthy Community Design in Humboldt County event with local community members and national experts.
2006
HumPAL awarded a building capacity grant from The California Endowment to do policy work in regards to the built environment and its impacts on health and equity.
2007
HumPAL hosts a Policy Charrette with local elected officials, planners, engineers and stakeholders to craft Active Living by Design policy.
2008
HumPAL works with Human Impact Partners and the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Branch to create the Humboldt County Healthy Development Measurement Tool and the Health Impact Assessment of the Humboldt County General Plan Update.
HumPAL works with committee members to create a rural Healthy Development Checklist.
HumPAL holds a Safe Routes to School Summit to bring together schools, law enforcement and local jurisdictions working towards creating active transportation options near schools. A Humboldt County Safe Routes to Schools Toolkit is created.
The Active Living by Design movement gains national attention with the release of the award winning Unnatural Causes DVD's played on Public Television Stations both locally and nationally.
2009
HumPAL receives funding from The California Endowment to continue work in Active Living by Design movement with particular focus on Transportation Demand Management and Safe Routes to Schools.
HumPAL begins to update their 2005 Strategic Plan.
To learn about other HumPAL efforts, refer to Reports, Tools and Presentations pages.