Have you ever been to a park or public space where there’s just nothing to do? A street that’s sole purpose is to move car traffic and nothing else? A public square that is completely under used?

How can our public spaces be more than just pretty places and actually help Ontarians be healthier and happier?

With funding from the Government of Ontario, 8-80 Cities is delighted to be embarking on Active Places, Healthy People, a two-year project to investigate this question through a participatory, community-led approach.



We know that parks and public spaces play an important role in communities- they create nodes where people meet, relax, play and engage in all types of activities. But many of our parks and public spaces in Ontario are under performing, with very few uses, activities and a lack of management and community participation.

The goal of the Active Places, Healthy People project is to educate and empower communities across the province with the tools to transform under performing parks and public spaces into vibrant and active destinations that promote social interaction, mental health and well being for all.

The Active Places, Healthy People project includes three key components:

• Make a Place for People
• Training and Education Workshops
• Open Source Community Tools and Resources