Studies Contested: Suburban Communities

[MontroseNeighborhoodCafe]

IN DEPTH: RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

From the November 19, 2004 print edition

Studies contested: Suburban communities foster healthy life styles

Tina Berry

Special to Houston Business Journal

A couple of recent studies suggest that people who live in suburbs weigh more and generally are not as healthy as some of their urban counterparts -- suggesting that suburban dwellers are more likely to use their cars for even the shortest trips, while urbanites opt to make trips by foot or bicycle.

A new RAND Corp. study concludes that somebody who lives in an area with a high degree of "suburban sprawl" will have a health profile similar to someone four years older -- but otherwise similar -- who lives in a compact urban area such as Manhattan or Seattle. A 2003 study by researchers at the University of Maryland finds that suburbanites weigh about six pounds more on average than people living in densely populated cities.

True, many older suburbs these researchers may have studied lack basic amenities such as sidewalks and were developed so that homes are far removed from shopping, schools and other services, making it inconvenient as well as unsafe to go anywhere on foot or by bicycle.

However, a study comparing the waistlines and health profiles of urbanites with residents of new generation master-planned communities such as Cinco Ranch, Summerwood and many more in Houston and other parts of the country would likely have different conclusions.

In these new communities, greenbelts are busier than streets at certain hours, neo-traditional "Main Street" areas bustle with pedestrian activity, and new technologies such as community Intranets encourage active lifestyles for all ages.

Greenbelts

There will always be a certain small percentage of die-hard exercisers who will use greenbelt trails no matter what. But if these trails are done right -- attractively landscaped, made easily accessible to residential villages and designed to link major amenities -- they will motivate many more residents to get out of their cars and enjoy their Nikes and bikes.

During greenbelt "rush hours," children make their way to and from on-site schools, using trail underpasses and other safe crossings. Before and after work, miles of greenbelts are filled with joggers, walkers and bikers. Unlike other automobile traffic, greenbelt traffic is a very positive force, providing much of the glue that helps bind a community together.

Sports and recreation

Many of Houston's communities also have major sports and recreation facilities that promote physical activity for residents of all ages.

For example, the 15-acre Athletic Club and Sports Complex in Eagle Springs, connected to the community's greenbelt system, offers sports fields for soccer and baseball, with large pavilions for pre- and post-game celebrations. There is also a swim complex with a competition pool, a sand volleyball court and playgrounds. The 3,800-square-foot clubhouse includes a fitness center with cardio and resistance training equipment. An activities director helps coordinate resident groups created for interests as diverse as running, walking and Ultimate Frisbee.

At Grayson Lakes, more than 30 acres of usable lakes draw residents out for healthy activities such as canoeing, kayaking, or simply running or walking around a soothing, scenic lake.

Many other communities have greenbelts and lakes that encourage residents to enjoy outdoor activities or golf courses, which are great resources for physical activity. The average person burns about 300 calories an hour playing golf -- and much more if carrying his own clubs.

Master plan benefits

In addition to recreational amenities created by the developer, some of the larger master-planned communities offer modern fitness facilities operated by private companies and non-profit groups. With these services located on-site, residents are much more likely to take advantage of them at all hours of the day.

Often, the developer helps attract a very valuable resource to the community, such as in the case of Cinco Ranch, where a prime site was donated for the Katy Area YMCA, which now operates a 40,000-square-foot facility with 5,000 square feet devoted to cardio and weight training.

The YMCA also offers more than 75 classes, including some in partnership with Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Life Time Fitness is also building a 110,000-square-foot fitness facility near the center of the Cinco Ranch master plan, easily accessible to all homes. Planned to open in mid-2005, this facility will be open 24 hours, accommodating busy schedules with over 400 pieces of state-of-the-art cardio and weight training equipment, along with rock climbing walls, an aquatics center, a spa, a healthy caf

[tamtagon]

New study proves it: individuals in a committed relationship are overweight and sluggish, singles are slimmer and healthier.

-or-

New study proves it: individuals in a committed relationship are happier and get more sleep, singles drink too much and are unfulfilled.

I havent read one of these suburbs v. urban dweller profiles which presents useful observations. Compare all the parameters of several studies, and I'm sure criteria will be different, neighborhood characteristics will be different or both. These 'studies' are almost always advertisorial in nature, with funding coming from an entity with a stake in the favorable results. The only benefit I can see coming from this stream of studies is giving sceintific practice/education so researchers can move on to more productive work.

[The Great Hizzy!]

Like Men's Health's bogus "Fattest City" rankings?

Agreed.