Archives Index / Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Daytona Beach Walking Tour (posted: 04/30/12)

Source: Volusia County Health Department
Conact: Stefany Strong, Public Information Officer

Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Daytona Beach Walking Tour

Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Turie T. Small Elementary School, 800 S. Street, Daytona Beach, 32114

Purpose: Leaders from the Volusia County Health Department, Volusia Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and the City of Daytona Beach are touring the neighborhood as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance program. The purpose of the tour is to work with EPA to identify ways to improve the community. Daytona Beach is receiving assistance from EPA in the development of this walking audit, which will help form a vision for short and long-term strategies to enhance the built environment to support more walking, biking and active lifestyles.

Walking route- includes portions of South Street adjacent to Turie T. Small Elementary School turning onto Keech Street by Campbell Middle School walking northward to Orange Avenue and traveling eastward to the Dickerson Center ~1.4 miles.

The following persons are taking the walking tour and will be available for media interviews:

Anne E. Keller, Ph.D.
Senior Sustainability Advisor
Regional Administrator's Office
USEPA Region 4 from Atlanta, GA

Commissioner Edith Shelley
City of Daytona Beach

Dr. Celeste Philip
Assistant Director of Public Health
Volusia County Health Department

Stephan C. Harris
Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Volusia Transportation and Planning Organization

Background info:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Daytona Beach, FL will receive technical assistance through the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program. Nationally, 56 communities in 26 states will each receive the assistance from EPA-funded private-sector experts. The technical experts will work with the communities on actions they can take to improve the economy, the environment, and quality of life.

Some examples may include improving pedestrian access and safety, incorporating green infrastructure, or conducting an economic and fiscal health assessment.

Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities among EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The interagency collaboration coordinates federal investments in infrastructure, facilities, and services to get better results for communities and use taxpayer money more efficiently. The partnership is helping communities across the country create more housing choices, make transportation more efficient and reliable, reinforce existing investments, and support vibrant and healthy neighborhoods that attract businesses.

This announcement marks the second round of Building Blocks assistance. Thirty-two other communities were named in the first round in April 2011. EPA selected the 56 communities from 350 applicants through a competitive process in consultation with EPA’s regional offices, HUD, DOT and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

More information on the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/buildingblocks.htm

More information on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities: http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov.