Active Living

Active Living is integrating physical activity and sustainability into daily routines by making it easier for people to bike, walk and move around our community.

Active Living in Hopkins

The City of Hopkins creates opportunities that are safe and enjoyable. We want to make it easy for people to be active in their everyday lives.

Regional Trails - Hopkins has five regional trails
End of Trip Facilities Plan - Hopkins' guiding document to help implement bike racks and secure storage lockers over time
Complete Streets Policy - Hopkins' roadways are designed to be safe and accessible for all transportation users
17th Avenue Improvement Project - We're working with residents to explore options for people to walk, bike, and move around our community
11th Avenue Corridor Study - We're analyzing the roadway to improve safety and mobility for all users
Pedestrian and Bike Plan - Seeks to create conditions that make it easy to walk, bike and move in Hopkins

Why Active Living is Important

Provides an environmentally sustainable way to get around town
Improves physical and mental health
Decreases risk of chronic disease and associated medical costs
Reduces transportation costs
Builds safer, stronger communities
Improves quality of life

Hopkins' Active Living Projects

The City of Hopkins works in partnership with Hennepin County, other local cities, businesses, nonprofits and community to improve access to healthy choices and active transportation options for all people walking, biking and rolling in the city. Previous initiatives funded by this grant included:

End of Trip Facilities Plan
An Earn-A-Bike program for Hopkins residents to participate in a bike safety and maintenance program and receive the bike they worked on.
Education from the Hopkins Police Department to increase awareness of bicycle and pedestrian laws for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Temporary Artery Experiment held on July 10 to 12, 2015, to seek feedback on how pedestrians and bicyclists move between Downtown Hopkins Life Rail Transit Station at 8th Avenue and Excelsior Boulevard to get to Mainstreet. View the Artery Page.
Strengthen the City’s Complete Streets Policy
Shady Oak incorporated principles into master plan for the Shady Oak LRT Station. View Shady Oak LRT Station Page.

These projects were funded by Hennepin County through the Minnesota Department of Health’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). This grant works to reduce health disparities by targeting populations, including low-income residents, seniors, persons with disabilities, youth, and people of color, who have been identified as having higher rates of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. View the Hennepin County Website to learn more.

Active Living Guiding Principles

Daily physical activity improves health and can reduce levels of obesity or chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
Build environments with accessible destinations, integrated transportation networks and inviting design, promote physically active and safe options
Programs and policies inclusive of all cultures and abilities can help reduce health disparities
Public participation and awareness of the benefits and opportunities related to active living are increased through effective communication strategies