A commonly recommended approach to understanding places which are important for social networks and interaction is community asset mapping. Existing community assets can be used to build social capital through a variety of programmes such as befriending schemes and supporting volunteering.
An example of asset mapping for health is from Seattle, Washington, USA. Planners used asset mapping to undertake a Healthy Living Assessment as part of the planning process for a small area plan in the Rainier Beach neighbourhood.(1)
The assessment combined public health data with data collected at the local level by asking residents to map neighbourhood assets and how they commuted to these. The planners then produced maps which showed the community gathering places and how they were connected.
The Healthy Living Assessment included a framework, indicators, a questionnaire and asset mapping.
(1) Ricklin A, Kushner N. Healthy Plan Making – Integrating Health Into the Comprehensive Planning Process: An analysis of seven case studies and recommendations for change. Available from: https://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/legacy_resources/research/publichealth/pdf/healthyplanningreport.pdf.
Image credit: JSeattle