Mariposa Healthy Living Initiative

Intentional Design for Health Outcomes

Mariposa Healthy Living Initiative

Denver, CO

Applied Research with Design Thinking

The Mariposa Healthy Living Initiative is a strategy initiated by the Mariposa Redevelopment, where health is part of all decisions—from planning to property management. Using design thinking, Mithun translated public health research and methods into an accessible, integrated process for developers and designers to baseline indicators, prioritize, and implement project strategies for wellbeing. Mithun applied this at Mariposa, creating a district-wide strategy to coordinate investments (Campaigns for Action), conducting an evaluation of community health after two phases of redevelopment (Get the Facts Evaluation) and developing an evidence-based guide to integrate health into real estate for broad application (Mariposa Healthy Living Toolkit).

The Good Life

Mariposa’s intentional health-promoting design elements and programs are dramatically improving residents’ quality of life. The community health evaluation found community members have logged thousands of hours in walking groups, activities, and nutrition education, and describe a sense of belonging. Since moving in, they report losing significant weight and no longer needing maintenance medication.

A Game Changer

The Toolkit, available online here, is an open-source best practice published by Center for Active Design, CDC, and HUD. It transformed Denver Housing Authority’s practice, and is also inspiring developers and designers nationally.

The Initiative focuses decision-making and action around health determinants, such as access to parks (public infrastructure) which are known to improve health outcomes.

The Tool generally follows the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) process, but because it is intended for practitioners, is also includes concrete action steps.

The toolkit includes indicators, strategies, resources and methods for customizing the tool to address specific community needs.

The toolkit includes indicators, strategies, resources and methods for customizing the tool to address specific community needs.

When feasible, the 2009 and 2012 indicators were compared using new data sources such as the 2010 Census. Clear trends were observed for a number of indicators.

Review of Mariposa Redevelopment Plan for response to health.

The Community Garden is also a successful result of the Mariposa Healthy Living Tool's Campaigns for Action.

As a result of the Initiative, art has been integrated into public infrastructure; the Tapiz Mural shown here.

Health is being advanced at Mariposa through targeted campaigns that employ strategies such as community gardening, bike share stations with scholarships, a “walking bus” for students and families, safe neighborhood bike routes, youth education projects, and community health programs.

The toolkit includes indicators, strategies, resources and methods for customizing the tool to address specific community needs.

The Initiative focuses decision-making and action around health determinants, such as access to parks (public infrastructure) which are known to improve health outcomes.

This diagram illustrates six broad health determinant categories that influence the development of healthy communities. The toolkit provides a framework that practitioners can use to integrate health into the design, development and construction of projects.

Intentional Design for Health Outcomes

Mariposa Healthy Living Initiative