On November 22, 2013 the Open Space Council convened a Gathering on the importance of protected land to so many issues facing our region today. More about the Gathering can be seen here: http://openspacecouncil.org/upload/page.php?pageid=62

1. Bay Area Open Space Council
“Harvest Gathering”
November 22, 2013
Santa Clara County Health Element
Bill Shoe, Principal Planner
Santa Clara County Planning Office

2. Purpose/Overview
• Land, open space and community/public
health
• Long range planning for open space –
General Plan and others
• How subject to be addressed in Health
Element
• Why it matters on a variety of levels

3. Open Space in General Plan
Countywide Growth Management/Land Use &
Vision Statement
Parks and Recreation
& Trails Master Plan
Element
Resource
Conservation/
Open Space Elements
Safety
Element
Land Use
Element

4. Health Element in a Nutshell
• New element (chapter) for County General
Plan, part of incremental updating process
• Housing Element, Circulation Element in
process
• May be a first for a county in CA, serves as
“model” element for cities, other
counties, non-profits, others
• Collaborative effort w Public Health
Dept., other
agencies/departments, organizations

5. Purposes – What we “Sow”:
• Establish goals/major strategies, policies, and
recommended actions re: community health
• Elevate discourse, emphasize health as a
mainstream subject in general plans
• Promote “health in all policies”
• Touches on many, but not all, connections
between planning for physical environment
and health

6. Topics/Sections
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Urban Design, Land Use, Planning
Active, Sustainable Transportation
Physical Activity & Recreation
Healthy Eating, Food Access, Food Systems
Environmental Health and Climate Change
Mental/Behavioral Health (incl. violence)
Healthy Housing

7. Physical Activity, Recreation & Health
• Health, safety and welfare – origins of planning
• What Olmstead, others, always knew
• The obvious connections – access, climate,
opportunity, safety = active use and exercise
*******
• Sidewalks, greenways, trails
• City parks, school sites, urban public spaces
• Regional parks, preserves, and wilderness

8. Why it Matters - health in all forms
• Physical – exercise, conditioning, etc.
• Mental – intellectual, creative functions
• Spiritual – restorative aspects, reflection,
wisdom, and the care of the soul
• Civic – the “body politic”

9. “In wildness is the
preservation of the world.”

10. “The mass of men lead lives of quiet
desperation. What is called resignation is
confirmed desperation. From the desperate
city you go into the desperate country, and
have to console yourself with the bravery of
minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but
unconscious despair is concealed even under
what are called the games and amusements
of mankind. There is no play in them, for this
comes after work. But it is a characteristic of
wisdom not to do desperate things.”

11. Much being done…but…
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•
•
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Innovative – our best ideas
Inspiring – our best values, motivations
Inclusive – our full attention and participation
Implementable – our most practical, effective,
doable efforts
********
• Equity, environment, economy considerations
all important (3 E’s of Sustainability)

12. …and what we might “reap”:
• Improved individual and public health
• Enhanced urban / rural connections
• Appreciation of nature and its ecosystem
services
• A “cornucopia of co-benefits”
• Coordination and collaboration
• Champions ?
• An enduring vision

13. Bay Area Open Space Council
Finis. Thank you!
Bill Shoe, Principal Planner
Santa Clara County Planning Office