TSET Hosts Virtual Panel on the Impact of Active Infrastructure in Oklahoma Communities

Well-designed environments support physical activity, community engagement, and quality of life.

OKLAHOMA CITY  — As Oklahomans look forward to getting outside this spring, TSET held a virtual panel on active infrastructure and how to create public spaces that encourage activity and social interaction for all Oklahomans.

In the panel, three expert panelists shared their perspectives on the critical importance of active infrastructure during a forum hosted by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). The event provided insight on the role of built environments in developing healthy communities, and how TSET and its partners are advocating for a more active future for all Oklahomans.

“Active infrastructure is foundational in creating environments that support physical activity, community engagement, and improved quality of life,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director and moderator of the panel. “Our built environments directly impact the health of our communities, and it’s essential to prioritize movement and connection in order to foster a healthier Oklahoma.”

The event covered key topics related to how active infrastructure impacts underserved communities, youth, and the general public in Oklahoma.

Event panelists included:

• Vanessa Morrison, member of the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Quality Communities and Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design, who focused on the impact of active infrastructure on community placemaking within underserved populations.
• Julio Badin, executive director of GGP Parks, who discussed the role of Gathering Place in supporting youth with spaces that encourage physical activity and social interactions.
• Jason Olsen, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Norman, who highlighted the benefits of parks and recreation programs in enhancing community quality of life.

“Our panelists provided insight and expertise to build understanding of how our environments shape our choices and health,” said Bisbee. “By hosting convenings like this, TSET seeks to drive conversations about how to invest in initiatives that create vibrant, connected communities for everyone.”

A full recording of the panel discussion is available online on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

To learn more about TSET and some of its programs, please visit ok.gov/tset. Or, to learn more about the work of the three expert panelists, check out iqc.ou.edu, gatheringplace.org/ and normanok.gov/residents-visitors/parks-recreation.

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The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.  

TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health