Pathways to Happiness are tools for communities and governments seeking to increase access to nature. They include model statutes, ordinances, reports and other resources. The full set for every domain of happiness can be found at http://www.happycounts.org/happiness-policies.html

1. Pathways to Happinessinthedomainofour
access to nature
environment

2. Pathways to Happiness are ways
increase access to nature
a city, town or region can

3. We are
relatively in
the domain of
environment .
100= happiest

4. Let’s look at one aspect of environment:
access to nature

5. On average,
we feel
satisfied with
our access to
nature
A score between 40- 60 means indifference, a score between 60- 80 means satisfied, a score between 80-100 means very satisfied

6. Courageous
Policies

7. Urban Growth Boundary Ordinances
High Density Cities and Stemming for Urban Sprawl
-Encourage nature on the boarders of cities – streams, forest,
farms and fields. Increases health, life satisfaction and property
values
Increase urban densification within the context of access to
nature

8. Resources for Urban Growth Boundaries
Urban Growth project- Oregon Metro Urban Growth Boundary:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/urban-growth-boundary
Article- Drawing a Hard Line against Urban Sprawl:
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/30/us/drawing-a-hard-line-against-urban-sprawl.html
White paper-Urban Sprawl by Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve:
https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/17657/PDF/1/

9. Urban Stream Daylighting
Increases access to nature in the urban environment
Connects city people with behavioral impacts on nature
Encourages care and preservation of nature

10. Resources for Urban Stream Daylighting
Case Studies:
Switch’s Case Study Brief; The restoration of the river Cheonggyecheon, Seoul
http://www.switchurbanwater.eu/outputs/pdfs/W6-1_GEN_DEM_D6.1.6_Case_study_-_Seoul.pdf
European Center for River Restoration’s Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project
http://www.ecrr.org/Portals/27/Cheonggyecheon%20case%20study.pdf
American Rivers Report -Daylighting Streams: Breathing Life into Urban
Streams and Communities:
https://www.americanrivers.org/conservation-resource/daylighting-streams-breathing-life-urban-streams-communities/
TED talk - Aziza Chaouni: How I brought a river, and my city, back to life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4UFlldZuKk

11. What’s it
going to
take?

12. Awareness Raising about a City’s Natural Systems
Informed people about the streams and water systems that
run under the concrete, roads and structures in a city
Investigate online, with your local government natural
resources /parks department and other agencies

13. Changes in perceptive
Change in perspective to viewing cities as homes for humans and critters
Increase or open dialogue with farmers, fisheries, and others whose
livelihoods directly depend upon natural resources
Change in perspective from urban environments as separated from nature
to part of the regional ecosystem

14. Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool series
Campaign finance reform
Guaranteed basic income
Media reform
Massive public transportation
Local food reliance
Village living (cities and rural)
Multi-use zoning
Public spaces
Political festivals
Participatory governance
Participatory budgeting
Anti-corruption policies
Transparency in government
Compassion training for police
Community-based monitoring
Sousveillance
Vote holiday
Vacation laws
Family & Sick leave laws
Flex time and job share laws
Telecommuting policies
Babies at work policies
Intergenerational care
Department of Neighborhoods
Volunteer programs
Mindfulness practice in schools
Social justice awareness raising
Mental health –priority counseling
Same Sex Marriage Laws
Public child care
Age-friendly cities
Loneliness awareness campaign
Heritage Programs
Rural Colleges
Arts & Culture Policy
Lifelong Learning Programs
War on Adult illiteracy
Low Cost & Tuition Free College
Conservation Easements
Expansion of Parks
Adult & Kid Park Programs
Parent Support Program
Self-Discovery Programs
Job Placement Programs
Urban Growth Boundary Ordinances
Urban Stream Daylighting

15. We envision a world where all beings can thrive.
Can you envision it too?
happycounts.org