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Minimum Criteria

Award Guidelines and Entry Rules

To be considered for an award, the activity described in the application must embody, result in, or encourage development that addresses:

At least one of the following ten principles of smart growth:

  1. Mix land uses.
  2. Take advantage of compact building design.
  3. Create a range of housing opportunities and choices.
  4. Create walkable neighborhoods.
  5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place.
  6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas.
  7. Strengthen and direct development toward existing communities.
  8. Provide a variety of transportation choices.
  9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective.
  10. Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in development decisions.

AND at least one of the following ten contributors to active aging: see http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/index.htm

  1. Have a written community goal statement for increasing levels of physical activity among older adults.
  2. Establish a community coalition or community advisory group with representation from a variety of community, aging and health sectors to promote active aging programs and opportunities for older adults.
  3. Conduct a community assessment of rates of older adult participation in community-based physical activity programs or opportunities.
  4. Assess the availability and accessibility of physical activity programs and opportunities for older adults in your community.
  5. Develop a community plan to address barriers to, and enhancements for, increasing older adults’ participation in physical activity programs or opportunities.
  6. Create a community resource listing of physical activity programs and opportunities appropriate for older adults.
  7. Initiate a community campaign to educate older adults about the different ways they can achieve recommended levels of physical activity.
  8. Increase the variety of accessible and appropriate group-based physical activity programs as well as self-directed opportunities within the community for those 50+.
  9. Establish physical activity programs and opportunities in multiple locations and populations throughout the community with attention to ensuring cultural appropriateness and inclusion.
  10. Institute community-wide planning and policies to sustain community-based physical activity programming and opportunities for older adults over time.

The application must include a letter of endorsement by the local Area Agency on Aging ADD and a letter of endorsement from the local planning department or regional planning organization (See section III).

Successful applications will likely address several of the smart growth principles and several of the contributors to active aging.

All applicants must submit Sections I and II of the attached entry form.

Section I asks for general information on you and your entry.

Section II asks you to describe why your entry merits a National Award for Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging

Section III asks for one letter of endorsement from the local Area Agency on Aging, one letter of endorsement from your local planning department or regional planning organization, and two other independent references for your entry

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