Читать книгу The Outdoor Citizen. Get Out, Give Back, Get Active онлайн

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From courtyards and vegetable gardens to walking and cycling paths, easily accessible outdoor community spaces can go a long way toward helping people with physical limitations and people who need more space for being active. Local outdoor community spaces should be the norm, even for people living in affordable housing. They not only offer healthy sunshine, fresh air, and exercise, but also give people easy access to places outside their homes where they can be away from toxic people or activities that might otherwise be unavoidable.

There’s no doubt that many cities need to reinvent themselves, and that cities with high-quality affordable housing will be better positioned, with a more ecologically and economically sustainable structure in place, to do so—but we need to convince city officials and developers that this is the case. To receive funding, a positive expected return on investment will need to be shown. City officials need to be assured that high-quality affordable housing can be built with eco-friendly construction practices, which will include the use of sustainably harvested materials and energy-efficient utilities; generate a limited amount of waste; lower heating and water usage expenses; support a healthier indoor environment (particularly important for children’s development); and have less carbon emissions than low-quality affordable housing. They also need to be convinced that an investment will lead to stronger long-term resale values.