Activity-Friendly Communities

Every person in Central Alabama deserves safe, clean places to walk, play, and get around.

What is an activity-friendly community? An activity-friendly community is a neighborhood designed so people of all ages and abilities can safely walk, bike, roll in a wheelchair, or push a stroller to everyday destinations. These communities feature:

  • Safe, connected sidewalks and brightly painted crosswalks.
  • Shaded parks, schools, and grocery stores located close to homes.
  • Streets designed to slow down traffic and protect pedestrians.

On This Page

Safe, Active Streets for Every Neighborhood

When our streets have smooth sidewalks, bright crosswalks, and safe parks, it is easier for all of us to stay healthy and active. The Wellness Coalition works alongside neighbors like you in Montgomery, Macon, Lowndes, Elmore, and Autauga counties to make our streets safer for everyone.

What Makes a Neighborhood Activity-Friendly?

An activity-friendly neighborhood makes moving around feel safe, easy, and pleasant. You do not need an expensive gym membership to stay healthy when your own street gives you room to move.

Three things make a community activity-friendly:

  • 1

    Safe Walking Routes: Sidewalks without cracks or drop-offs, curb ramps for wheelchairs and strollers, and bright crosswalks so drivers see people crossing.

  • 2

    Everyday Places Close to Home: Neighborhoods where homes connect to parks, clinics, churches, grocery stores, and bus stops.

  • 3

    Streets Built for People: Good street lighting, shade trees for hot Alabama afternoons, and roads designed to keep cars driving at safe speeds.

On This Page

Why Safe Streets Matter to Your Family

Safe streets do more than just look nice. They change our everyday lives.

Better Health

Just 20 to 30 minutes of walking a day strengthens your heart, lowers high blood pressure, and helps control diabetes.

Saving Money

Safe sidewalks and bike routes mean you can walk or bike to nearby shops or work, saving money on high gas and car repairs.

Safety for Children and Seniors

Kids can walk to school or play outside without fear of speeding cars. Older adults can walk safely without tripping over broken concrete.

Access for Everyone

Curb ramps and wide pathways allow neighbors using wheelchairs, canes, or strollers to move freely without getting stuck.

See It in Action: Oak Park Montgomery

The streets around Oak Park connect local families to Jackson Hospital, Alabama State University, River Region Trails, and the Montgomery Botanical Gardens. But for years, walking there was dangerous. Sidewalks were broken or ended suddenly. Crosswalk paint was faded away. Neighbors pushing strollers or using wheelchairs were forced into the road.

The Wellness Coalition stepped in to help. Working with neighbors, the City of Montgomery, River Region Trails, and the Montgomery Botanical Gardens—with funding from the CDC—we made a real difference:

  • Walk Audits: Neighbors and city leaders walked the streets together to map out hazards.

  • Bright Crosswalks: Crews repainted crosswalks in clean white paint so drivers take notice.

  • Curb Ramps: Workers added smooth ramps from sidewalks to the street for strollers and wheelchairs.

  • Shade and Bike Routes: Plans were made for shade trees and dedicated bike lanes to keep riders safe.

Watch the video below to see how we did it:

Today, families in Oak Park have a safer place to be active. You can bring these same fixes to your neighborhood too!

4 Steps to Improve Your Street

You do not have to fix broken streets alone. Follow these four steps to start making changes where you live: 

  • 1

    Plan a Safety Walk (Walk Audit): Invite neighbors, church members, and city leaders to walk your neighborhood together. Carry a notebook or take pictures on your phone.

  • 2

    Point Out the Dangers: Look closely at your route. Write down where sidewalks are broken, where streetlights are out, where crosswalks are faded, or where traffic moves too fast.

  • 3

    Pick the Biggest Problems First: Review your notes with your group. Decide which hazards need fixing right away (like an unpainted crosswalk near a school) and which can wait a little longer (like new benches).

  • 4

    Partner with Local Leaders: Share your list with your city council representative, county commissioner, and The Wellness Coalition. Working together makes sure street plans get funded and finished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Street and sidewalk repairs on public roads are paid for by city or county governments, often using state and federal transportation or public health grants. When communities complete walk audits, local governments can use that information to apply for grants that pay for repairs at no cost to neighborhood residents.

According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Community Guide, communities that combine safe street design (like sidewalks and bike lanes) with local activities see an average 35% increase in physical activity. Regular physical activity cuts down the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression.

Yes. In rural communities across the River Region, safe activity might look like walking tracks around community centers, paved trails at county parks, or safer school drop-off zones. Walk audits can be done anywhere people want to walk or move safely.

A neighborhood walk audit usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes. You only need to walk a 4-to-6-block loop around your neighborhood, school, or church to identify the main street safety concerns.

Still have questions? Call The Wellness Coalition at (334) 293-6502 to speak with a wellness navigator and to access more local resources.