The Keene Young Professionals Network (KeeneYPN) wants to thank everyone who advocated for a Keene Complete Streets Resolution, passed by the Keene City Council in August 2011. This resolution empowers the City’s planning and public works departments, in collaboration with other city departments, community groups and committees, to develop a Complete Streets Policy for Keene.
Complete Streets Policies help communities design and maintain roads for all “drivers, public transport riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists of all ages and abilities,“ while maximizing the positive impacts roads can have on our safety, economic development, quality of life, environment and public health.
In support of the Vision 2020 goal to make Cheshire County the healthiest community in the nation by 2020, the KeeneYPN partnered with the Monadnock Region Transportation Management Association to collect pledges of support from about 250 citizens at community events including the Vision 2020 workshops with Mark Fenton, the Monadnock Bike Summit and the Monadnock Earth Festival.
Recent studies have indicated that Complete Streets can boost local economies by increasing residential property values (homeowners are willing to pay more to live in walkable, bikable communities) and retail sales (businesses located along Complete Streets often see an increase in sales).
Also, Complete Streets improve safety and reduce crashes by providing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, such as safe crossings, sidewalks, or on-road bicycle lanes. Complete Streets promote public health by making it safe and convenient for children and families to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives contributing to the goals of Vision 2020 to make our community the healthiest in the nation by 2020.
Interested community members can stay up to date on Keene’s Complete Streets Policy progress by visiting http://monadnocklle.wordpress.com/complete-streets-project.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Risley
Keene Young Professionals Network Community Committee Chair











