Trenton Transformation: A Safe & Healthy Corridor

ABOUT

This collaborative initiated a “Safe & Healthy Corridor” along Brunswick Avenue, coordinating and building on existing and planned activities to improve the environment within that section of Trenton’s North Ward. The goal is to create a public space where people feel safe—where residents and visitors are comfortable walking, biking, exercising, and interacting with others—thereby improving physical and mental health and generating a sense of community well-being. Aligning with the City’s Trenton250 Master Plan, current aims include city revitalization and development of green spaces, fostering nutrition and active living in local schools, and supporting healthy food access through a new farmers market within the corridor.

Targeted Impact

Selected strategies aim to positively impact the physical environment, health, and culture of target neighborhoods. Partners seek to advance health equity for the population of Trenton–through research, innovation, and engagement.

BUILD PRINCIPLES

BUILD and its communities apply bold, upstream, integrated, local, and data-driven (BUILD) approaches to improve health in communities that are adversely affected by upstream factors.

Bold

This collaborative focuses on creating the vital conditions for population health and wellness and serves as a model for further improvement across the city. Establishing a corridor where a coordinated effort results in dramatic and vital change represents a bold vision for transformation.

Upstream

As residents shared their health narratives, it was clear that the barriers they faced went beyond the purview of traditional health care. Many were environmental and social, (e.g., pest infestations, lead paint, homelessness, and crime). Therefore, all strategies focus on root, upstream causes, to improve the built environment, foster healthy lifestyle choices and access to resources; improve education and health literacy; and build community engagement.

Integrated

The project team comes from public, private, clinical, educational, and faith-based organizations, with a history of collaboration that reaches across sectors and takes a holistic view to the critical factors for creating a culture of health.

Local

To meaningfully engage the community, the collaborative is working with longstanding partners and faith-based organizations, schools within the corridor, and residents from the neighborhoods to participate in the team’s Health Steering Committee and to provide ongoing feedback and share their concerns.

Data-Driven

This team has made a data-driven approach to coordinated health care a centerpiece of its health improvement strategies. They are utilizing a wide variety of primary data sources, including the unified community health needs assessment; infrastructure mapping; the City Profile Report, and the Trenton250 planning process to inform their understanding of health outcomes at the population level.