Partnership for Active Communities - Sacramento (formerly Safe Routes Sacramento) is a community driven project led by a variety of parents, public agencies, private, nonprofit and community groups to develop a comprehensive strategy for encouraging more active lifestyles in the community. The project supports the development of walkable and bikeable neighborhoods throughout Sacramento, with a particular focus in the Natomas community. The partnership has achieved very significant improvements throughout Natomas by providing rigorous early review of development projects and working closely with developers and planning staff as commitments and changes are made.

Building on the success of the Safe Routes to School program, this campaign has expanded in the Natomas Unified School District to achieve the following goals: to encourage more people, particularly student and parents, to walk and bicycle safely to school and elsewhere; eliminate safety hazards and create a more pedestrian and bicycle- friendly environments around schools and throughout neighborhoods; to promote increased physical activity and improved fitness among students and the school community; to educate both student and parents, teaching pedestrian, bicycling, and driver safety skills; to reduce traffic congestion and pollution associated with students being driven to school.

Successful ongoing projects are underway at two elementary schools that include identifying and addressing needed improvements to the physical environment (i.e. stop signs, crosswalks, traffic signals) that improve safety and encourage walking and biking. Class activities help students recognize the benefits of walking and bicycling, as well as workshops that teach bike and pedestrian safety.

This organization was one of 25 demonstration projects selected by Active Living by Design, a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).