Seminar: “Reclaiming Streets for Students: The Open Streets for Schools Program”, by Kathryn Burford
Event details
- Start: 26 May 2026 15:00
ICTA-UAB will host a new seminar organised by GEMMOT research group. It can also be followed online.
Title: “Reclaiming Streets for Students: The Open Streets for Schools Program”
Speaker: Dra. Kathryn Burford (North Carolina State University / Columbia University).
- Date: Tuesday, 26th May 2026
- Time: 15h
- Venue: Sala Montseny (Z/022 & Z/023) ICTA-UAB & online
- Inscripción: https://lnkd.in/epXjXc4F
In New York City, many schools lack outdoor space for play, learning, sports, and safe active commuting. As a response to this issue and the COVID-19 pandemic, NYC’s Open Streets for Schools program launched to reclaim the streets in front of schools during recess, physical education, or pick-up and drop-off periods. The program has expanded to 78 schools across all five boroughs. While the city appears to provide more resources to implement, support, and sustain the Open Streets for Schools program in underserved neighborhoods, there are no evaluations of health equity in the program by measuring who has access to the program, and who is benefiting (or not benefiting). This is a common evidence gap in public space and active transportation plans and programs, which results in persistent physical activity disparities among low-income children and children of color. This talk will present on our ongoing efforts to evaluate health equity and physical activity impacts of the NYC Open Streets for Schools program. The talk will also discuss future directions for advancing this work to support the expansion and sustainability of the program.
Dr. Katie Burford is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at North Carolina State University, and she also holds a Postdoctoral position at Columbia University in New York City where she lives. Her research is broadly focused on how urban policy and design impact physical activity and injury outcomes related to active transportation. Check out my website here! https://katiegrayburford.github.io/site/