Active RVA Announces New Development Certification for Planned Commercial, Residential, or Multi-Use Communities
RICHMOND, VA – Active RVA, a program of Sports Backers, today announced the addition of a Development Certification to the Active RVA Awards. The Active RVA Certification and Awards program highlights and recognizes organizations throughout the Richmond region that create a culture of daily physical activity and encourage active lifestyles. Certifications for Development and Early Childhood Education are new in 2017, and they join Workplaces and Schools as areas that can be Active RVA certified for supporting physical activity. The first recipient of the Active RVA Development certification will be announced at the Active RVA Awards on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at 5:00 pm at the Omni Richmond Hotel.
As part of the Development Certification, planned commercial, residential, or multi-use communities can become Active RVA Certified if they include criteria that demonstrate their commitment to physical activity in their design details. The criteria for the Development Certification was created by Active RVA with a team of experts in development, public health, active transportation, and planning. Organizations represented include the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, Alta Planning, Bike Walk RVA, Cite Design, Virginia Department of Health, HHHunt, and Chesterfield County. Criteria are evaluated along five fundamental areas: space, connectivity, signage, amenities, and buildings.
“Some of the greatest influences on active living are the places where we live, work, and play,” said Jeff McIntyre, Director of Active RVA for Sports Backers. “The Active RVA Development Certification for new residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects has been created to support and promote developments that prioritize active living in their design. Our communities and workplaces can inspire physical activity through the built environment and support active living with a better design.”
The Active RVA Development Certification has been created to reinforce the link between active living, development, and better health outcomes for all populations, including urban, suburban, and rural. This certification will leverage Sports Backers’ long history of supporting physical activity for all populations in the Richmond region with the knowledge provided by the area’s top planners, developers, and health experts to inspire and support active living.
During the 2016 awards ceremony, 99 schools and 68 companies received Active RVA Certification for their efforts to encourage daily physical activity. 2017 will bring the inaugural Active RVA Development certification and the first Active RVA-certified Early Childcare Providers. More information about the Active RVA Awards can be found at www.activerva.org.
The Active RVA Awards ceremony will take place in conjunction with the inaugural Movement Makers: The National Active Living Summit (May 17-19) and Dominion Riverrock, the nation’s premier outdoor sports and music festival at Brown’s Island and Historic Tredegar (May 19-21).
At home, at work, at play—everyone is encouraged to join the movement!
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