Designing Environments That Make Physical Activity Part of Daily Life
In the Fall of 2024, I took HPEB 511: Health Promotion, Education and Behavior in a Changing Society for my medical humanities minor. I developed a comprehensive understanding of how the built environment and social conditions influence physical activity through both a Neighborhood Walkability Assessment and a policy brief focused on the relationship between crime and health behavior in Columbia, South Carolina. In my walkability assessment, I applied the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and the Active Neighborhood Checklist to evaluate my neighborhood in Lexington, SC from both subjective and objective perspectives. Through this analysis, I identified that while my neighborhood included some supportive features such as sidewalks and low traffic, it lacked key components necessary for sustained physical activity, including connectivity to destinations, crosswalks, bike lanes, and proximity to essential services, which were often a 20–30 minute walk away. My Policy Brief further expanded my understanding of these issues by focusing on how crime and perceived safety act as structural barriers to physical activity, particularly in low-income communities. In this assignment, I analyzed how high crime rates discourage outdoor movement, leading to reduced physical activity and increased risks for chronic disease and poor mental health. I also evaluated policy solutions, including increased police presence, revitalization of abandoned spaces into safe recreational areas, and community-based programs to promote physical activity. This assignment required me to think beyond individual behavior and consider how environmental inequities and policy decisions shape health outcomes at the population level. Together, these classroom experiences shifted my perspective from viewing physical activity as an individual responsibility to understanding it as a behavior influenced by environmental, social, and structural factors.
Beyond the Classroom: ECHO LAB Mindful Walking Research in Columbia
My coursework in HPEB 511 emphasized that walkability is shaped by the interaction between objective environmental features (infrastructure, accessibility, and connectivity) and subjective perceptions (safety, comfort, and aesthetics). I was able to directly apply these frameworks through my role as a project coordinator in the ECHO Lab, where I was responsible for helping identify and evaluate a site for the African American Mindful Walking Program. In ECHO Lab, we are conducting a research study that evaluates the effectiveness of 30 minutes of mindful walking biweekly on cognitive health of older African American adults that are at risk for Alzheimer's. Using the Active Neighborhood Checklist, I assessed potential locations and ultimately helped select the South Carolina State House grounds due to its strong alignment with walkability principles emphasized in my coursework. Specifically, the State House offered continuous and well-maintained walking paths, clear and connected routes without interruptions, and open green space that allowed for safe and consistent movement. The environment also included key checklist features such as pedestrian-friendly design, strong visibility across spaces, minimal traffic interference, and accessible pathways, all of which support sustained walking. Its close proximity to campus further increased accessibility for participants. From a subjective perspective, the State House also aligned with the safety considerations emphasized in both the NEWS framework and my policy brief. As a highly public space with visible police presence, regular foot traffic, and a clean, well-maintained environment, participants consistently reported feeling safer walking there compared to their own neighborhoods.
This relationship between environment, safety, and behavior is further illustrated through the transformation of Finlay Park in Columbia, which directly reflects the policy solutions I explored in my brief. Prior to its renovation, Finlay Park was widely perceived as unsafe, poorly maintained, and underutilized. Many community members avoided the park due to concerns about crime, lack of maintenance, and an overall uninviting environment, limiting its role as a space for physical activity. However, following a $24 million renovation project by the city of Columbia, the park has been transformed into a safer and more engaging environment. Improvements such as updated walking paths, open recreational areas, water features, pickleball courts, improved lighting, and increased security have made the space more accessible and appealing. Its location near the University of South Carolina campus, along with increased police presence and community activity, has contributed to a significant rise in social interaction, with people walking, exercising, playing sports, and gathering in the space. As our lab considers expanding mindful walking sessions to Finlay Park, these improvements make it a viable location not only because of enhanced infrastructure, but because of increased perceived safety and community engagement. This transformation directly aligns with my policy brief, which emphasized that revitalizing public spaces, increasing security, and improving environmental conditions are critical strategies for promoting physical activity.
Key Takeaways
I have developed a clearer understanding that health behaviors such as physical activity are not solely determined by individual motivation, but are strongly influenced by environmental and social conditions. Through my work in HPEB 511 and my role in the ECHO Lab, I learned how to evaluate environments using tools like the Active Neighborhood Checklist and how factors such as safety, accessibility, and social interaction directly impact whether individuals engage in movement. This has changed how I approach both my academic work and applied experiences, as I now consider not only what people should do for their health, but whether their environment realistically supports those behaviors. In my current role as a project coordinator, I will continue to apply these skills by being intentional in how I evaluate and select environments for mindful walking sessions. For example, as our lab considers expanding to locations like Finlay Park, I can use what I learned in HPEB 511 to assess whether the space supports physical activity through features such as lighting, visibility, accessibility, and active community presence. This allows me to contribute to creating environments where participants feel safe, supported, and more likely to engage consistently in walking and cognitive activities. Looking ahead, I am interested in supporting and contributing to community health programs that focus on increasing physical activity and overall well-being, particularly in communities where environmental barriers limit participation. I hope to be involved in programs that design or implement interventions such as walking initiatives and wellness programs that take into account both environmental conditions and participant experiences. Additionally, this experience has helped me recognize how improving neighborhood environments can directly support cognitive health, especially in older adults. In the ECHO Lab, our research shows that consistent walking, combined with cognitive engagement, can positively impact mood and cognitive functioning. As a future physician, I hope to carry this perspective into my practice by not only addressing individual patient behaviors, by recognizing and advocating for the environmental and community factors that influence their ability to live healthy lives and improve their cognitive health.