Previous Grants & Initiatives

Previous Grants & Initiatives

The Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade has undertaken a wide range of grants, projects, and other initiatives over it’s 17 year history. Please see below for a chronological list of work, including year of completion, description of the work involved, and links to further information.

In September 2016, Miami Center for Architecture and Design, in collaboration with the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade Health and the Built Environment Committee, completed the first edition of Active Design Miami. Active Design is a set of policy and design strategies for creating healthier streets, open spaces, and buildings, and was inspired by New York’s Active Design Guidelines. For more information, please click here.

In an effort to foster healthy communities through built environment, the Miami Center for Architecture and Design (MCAD), and the Health & Built Environment Committee coordianted FitNation exhibitions around Miami-Dade County. FitNation is an exhibition that presents local and national examples of architecure, policy, grassroots action and improvements that contribute to healthier lifestyles for communities. The exhibition highlights strategies that make the built environment more conducive to healthier living. Examples include visible stairways, designing inviting streetscapes for pedestrians to walk, while creating quality spaces and engaging environments.

In 2011, the Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation Department and the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade collaborated to update the Park department's vending machine policy. Per an article describing the initiative:

"The policy involves the installation of healthy vending machines in which the food must meet predetermined criteria for nutrition. The vending machines were installed in phases at parks in underserved neighborhoods identified as having high rates of chronic disease and obesity. Two target groups include Miami’s Hispanic population and large Haitian population.

As of late 2011, 26 sites were operating the machines, serving more than 10,000 children between the ages of 5 and 17. Altogether, 52 healthy vending machines—26 for snacks and 26 for beverages—were installed at the park sites."

Healthy Snack Options in Miami Dade Support Improved Nutrition 410

Access the adopted policy document here

Article Source.

The Urban Design Manual: Volume I - Private Development, and The Urban Design Manual: Volume II - Civic Development, both illustrate urban design principles which can significantly improve the quality of physical development in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. The manuals provide criteria to be used by designers, developers and County staff, all of whom are responsible for aspects of physical development in the County.

Both volumes incorporate includes “Great Streets Planning Principles” and “Complete Streets” design elements, thanks to input by members of the Health & the Built Environment Committee members at the time. You can access Volume I here and Volume II here.

The purpose of the Park Access and Equity analysis and report was to optimize accessibility of open/park/recreational spaces for the community. Access to of green and walkable spaces is a continuing goal of the Health & Built Environment Committee, which had input on the study. The study was considered to be a companion to the the Open Space Master Plan (OSMP) from the Parks Department, since Equity and Access were two of the guiding principles for the OSMP. The full Park Access and Equity report can be accessed here.

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Valerie TurnerPrevious Grants & Initiatives