Collaborative school planning and active schools: a case study of Lee County, Florida

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning and Public Health
• Environmental Policy and Children's Health

Background:

• Understanding the relationship between urban planning, school siting, and physical activity is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has not fully explored the impact of mandated collaborative planning on these factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the extent of state-mandated collaboration between school boards and county governments in Lee County, Florida.
• To investigate how this coordination influences the integration of land-use and school facility planning.
• To assess the potential impact on children's physical activity.

Main Methods:

• Case study of Lee County, Florida.
• Examination of state-mandated coordination processes between the Lee County School Board and county departments (Planning, Smart Growth, Parks and Recreation).
• Analysis of the integration of land-use and school facility planning.

Main Results:

• The study details the process of mandated collaborative school planning in Florida.
• It identifies both the potential benefits and challenges of this top-down legislative approach.
• Insights into how such coordination affects planning integration are provided.

Conclusions:

• Mandated collaboration in school planning presents both opportunities and obstacles for effective urban planning.
• This approach can inform other governments seeking to improve local planning and promote physical activity in children.
• Effective integration of land-use and school facility planning is key to positively influencing children's activity levels.