Comment from Kelly, FASLA,PLA, Shawn

We must improve and maintain access for pedestrian facilities in public rights-of-way, now more than ever. As our society wrestles with a very turbulent economy, uncertainty in the workplace, and mounting personal pressures this access is critical to the health, safety, and welfare of our population. This effort needs to make accessible more opportunities for the general population to access the environment for respite, for exercise, and for community when these are most needed. Mental health, nature deficit disorder, and the general health of the public require the opportunity to exercise an inexpensive connection with health. By making this available we can approach a more healthy public. This also offers the opportunity for some local economic improvement in terms of maintenance and overall design for limitation of obstacles. My profession of Landscape Architecture is key to the development of planned walkable spaces that can restore the spirits of the participants. The implementation of these plans can be done by other segments of the economy that will also benefit from the work. The net effect is a healthier America. We must join together in our efforts to ensure the opportunity for a healthy, more centered American population with minimal expense to the economy or the environment. This Guideline only makes sense.