Active Living by Design is a way of life that integrates physical activity into each day.  Individuals may achieve this by walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure.  Our mission is to provide leadership in promoting environments that offer choices for Active Living. 

Isanti County is one of only 25 communities in the United States to receive this prestigious grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  

Some of our key activities include implementing safe routes to school, creating biking and walking maps throughout our community, and planning and promoting programs and events.

Our primary areas of focus are Parks, trails, greenways, bicycle/pedestrian and land use. 
Isanti County Park Maps:  Springvale County Park ; Wayside Prairie Park; Dalbo Memorial Forest; Becklin Homestead Park; Vegsland Family County Park

Our goal is to create a multi-use trail corridor for transportation and recreation which connects the towns of Isanti and Cambridge with a future extension to the city of Braham .  

Isanti County – Who we are  

13^th fastest growing county in the nation

Retired from industry/farming
Moving into our communities – closer to services

Commuters

Need something to do
Growing schools – recent elimination of bussing

68% of our citizens are sedentary

Community Description
Isanti County, Cambridge, Isanti and Braham

Population:
31,287

Demographics:
White – 97.6%
Black – 0.3%
Asian – 0.4%
Other – 1.7%
Hispanic – 0.8%
Poverty – 5.7%

The Bottom Line

The “human” costs of physical inactivity….

Diabetes

Poor mental health

Some cancers

Premature disability and death
(being overweight is associated with shorter life expectancy)

There is hope…

Small changes in a individual’s life do matter

Losing 10 pounds decreases your risk of acquiring type 2 diabetes

Several studies show that even modest activity improves mental health

Activity-Friendly Communities are Part of the Solution

Communities around the country are building and restoring neighborhoods that encourage physical activity, where:

Jobs and apartments are close to business centers so people can bike and walk to work

Safe routes to school programs keep children safe as they walk and bike to school

Neighborhood parks are safe and well maintained so children and adults can play outdoors

Key Partners:

Cambridge-Isanti Bike/Walk Trail Committee
Isanti County Health Department
Isanti County Parks & Recreation 
City of Braham
City of Cambridge
City of Isanti
Isanti County Environmental Coalition 
Cambridge Medical Center  
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota
Cambridge-Isanti School District
Chambers of Commerce: Isanti, Cambridge , Braham
Drs. Susan Blom & Rob Lininger – Psychologists
Isanti JayCee’s
Rotary Club
Grandview Christians Ministries
Isanti County Commission on Aging
Be Active Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota Department of Transportation
John Schlagel

Contact Information:

Bill Carlson – Project Director
Lisa Perlick – Project Coordinator
Isanti County Active Living
Phone: 763-552-3254
Cell: 763-639-1236
Email: wcarlson33@aol.com
lisaperlick@cs.com

For more information, visit:
www.activelivingbydesign.org

You will find:

Links to Active Living programs
Facts, publications, presentations and tools about Active Living
Ways to get involved