The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49730

Neil P. Korostoff, MLA, Department of Landscape Architecture, The Pennsylvania State University, Room 210 Engineering Unit D, University Park, PA 16802, 814-863-8134, npk1@psu.edu

Environmental design and planning has historically been a significant response by human communities to collective health challenges. Anthropological and archaeological evidence indicates that modern human beings have shaped their environment to address community health issues since the species’ emergence one to two hundred thousand years ago. As the structure of human societies and environments have changed over time, so to have community health issues and environmental design responses. This paper will broadly review the history of environmental design responses to community health issues as they have changed over time. It will examine more closely current and future public health issues and the potential of environmental design and planning to respond to emerging public health challenges.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the role of environmental design and planning in addressing public health issues.
• Develop a historical perspective on the changing role of environmental design in response to public health challenges.
• Anticipate future public health challenges and the potential of environmental design and planning to improve public health and community well being.

Keywords: Community Health, Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.