5P Strategies & Tactics

ALBD has identified 5 “P” strategies: preparation, promotion, programs, policy and physical projects. These strategies represent a comprehensive approach to increasing physical activity in a community. Each strategy comprises specific tactics, which characterize the type of work necessary to create a more active community. See the accompanying Active Living by Design 5 P Strategies and Tactics for more detailed descriptions.

Preparation
	While not limited to the early stages of an active living initiative, preparation is a critical first step in creating a physically active community. Preparation is the deliberate process of getting ready for action. This includes developing and maintaining a community partnership to work collectively. This strategy also entails collecting relevant data to inform program planning and pursuing financial and other resources.
Promotion
	Effective promotion or communications efforts are vital to the success of any active living program. Communications are the means by which the project connects with the public. Specific messages include the benefits of active living and the importance of community environments in promoting healthy living. As part of this process, presentations, news releases, fact sheets, and other forms of communication are evaluated to determine whether they truly connect with the intended audiences. Promotion strategies should also help to ensure that other policy, programmatic and infrastructure goals are successfully achieved.
Programs
	Programs are organized on-going activities that engage individuals in physical activity either directly or indirectly. Active living programs provide direct access to physical activity opportunities; such as walking clubs or bicycle recycle initiatives. Other programmatic approaches reward individuals for adopting more active habits through incentives or other encouragements, such as benefits for employees or students who walk or bicycle to work or school.
Policy
	Policy development is the key to institutionalizing health-supportive environments. Active living partnerships should identify and attempt to influence changes in public policies and standards as well as organizational practices. These efforts will include advocacy, relationship building with policy makers, presentations to policy boards, and influencing employer or school policies. Educating policy makers - as well as citizens, professionals and advocates - about the need for local environments that support active living -- is an essential component of this strategy. In general, policy tactics are those that end with a policy change (e.g., adoption of greenway master plan, pedestrian friendly street design guidelines).
Physical Projects
	Physical projects are strategies to directly impact built environments, removing barriers to physical activity and enhance safety (e.g., trails, pedestrian improvements at intersections). While the built environment is heavily determined by public policies, active living partnerships should also look for opportunities to improve physical spaces that do not rely on a policy decision per se. Physical projects include a wide range of sizes from community trails to sidewalks to signage pointing out active living opportunities on taking the stairs.