WalkMassachusetts Strategic Plan

Achieving a Commonwealth where all people can walk safely on our streets and sidewalks – no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience – requires a steadfast commitment to our values and a clear strategy for building our movement and driving change. Our Strategic Plan has three key goals:

Goal 1: Advocate for inclusive, safe and enjoyable places for people to walk

To achieve this we will:

• Embrace a more inclusive definition of walkability that accounts for the lived experiences of all people no matter their race, identity, age, or ability.
  • Advocate for related causes that affect walkability and pedestrian safety.
  • Include broad representation of safe walkable environments in all materials.
• Form authentic, trusting relationships with community groups and BIPOC-led organizations with justice-oriented missions.
  • Find synergies among shared priority issues.
  • Dedicate the time and resources needed to nurture connections.
  • Pursue funding opportunities that benefit partners and WalkMassachusetts alike.
• Support local partners so that they may identify, lift up, and speak out for needed improvements that promote walkability in their own neighborhoods.
  • Recognize and place value on the expertise of the people we work with.
  • Compensate partners for their time and effort.
  • Create avenues for participation with fewer barriers (e.g., meeting location, language).
• Diversify our Board, staff, and supporters to reflect the multiple perspectives of walkability and safe, accessible public spaces.
  • Ensure Board recruitment and staff hiring practices are inclusive.
  • Design communication strategies to reach more diverse audiences.
  • Host events and programs that attract more diverse participation.

Goal 2: Work in places where people walking have the greatest need

To achieve this we will:

• Focus on neighborhoods designated as environmental justice areas (based on race, income, language) throughout Massachusetts.
  • Prioritize people living in environmental justice areas over those located in more affluent municipalities.
  • Pursue funding opportunities for the benefit of environmental justice populations and others who have experienced historic disinvestment.
• Identify neighborhoods where traffic violence is prevalent.
  • Use crash data to make the case for change.
• Recognize areas vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
  • Recommend strategies to ensure a year-round resilient public realm (e.g., heat mitigation, flooding/puddling reduction, snow removal).
• Listen to partner organizations and individuals to determine where our help is needed.
  • Identify priorities in collaboration with community partners.
  • Implement solutions that reflect community input.
• Build local capacity to sustain pedestrian safety and walkability efforts once our active participation ends.
  • Continue to provide strategic support and engage people about walkability.
  • Foster relationships between community members, municipal staff, and partner organizations.

Goal 3: Achieve policy and built environment change that is noticeable, replicable and impactful

To achieve this we will:

• Address walking issues in rural, suburban, and urban settings with the understanding that solutions will look different in each context.
  • Identify common barriers to pedestrian safety and walkability locally, regionally, and statewide.
  • Use trends analysis, best practices, and evidence-based research to develop solutions.
• Advocate for policy and legislative change that improves walkability, supports mode shift, and addresses pedestrian safety concerns.
  • Continue fighting for policies and funding that promote complete streets, access to transit, speed management, and rural walking safety.
  • Support legislation that promotes safer, people-centered streets for everyone no matter their race, identity, age, ability, or lived experience.
• Work in coalition with other groups to amplify our collective voice.
  • Grow the WalkMassachusetts Network to include more local organizations, community groups, residents, municipal staff, and committees.
  • Form additional partnerships with groups and organizations working in related fields (i.e. housing, climate, crisis resilience, etc.).
• Create programs and materials that are effective, consistent with best practices, and replicable.
  • Develop training materials for others to use for independent walking advocacy efforts. 
  • Expand our archive of online resources to include walk audit tutorials and other issue-based guidance or curricula.
• Evaluate our work to achieve better results.
  • Document and collect data on all projects and programs.
  • Survey participants and community members.
  • Follow up on project outcomes and analyze trends over time.
  • Adapt our approach, programs, and guidance to reflect findings.