UB Graduate Planning Students Win Regional Award For "Kid Corridors"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- "Kid Corridors, Taking Steps to School," a 2009 graduate studio project of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, has received the 2010 Outstanding Student Project Award from the Western New York Section of the American Planning Association (WNY APA).

The award will be presented June 29 at the group's annual Awards Dinner at Chef's Restaurant.

The project, directed by Samina Raja, PhD, associate professor of urban and regional planning, was a response to a request by the Town of Amherst to develop materials to encourage and educate children in the Williamsville School District to walk and bicycle to school.

The awards committee said "the submission was of unusually high merit and demonstrated innovative planning methods to address an important topic."

Thomas Maturski, assistant superintendent for finance for the Williamsville Central School District, called the award "well deserved recognition for the students. The final report for the study was thorough and well written, so I am not surprised that they have received this honor."

As part of the Kid Corridors planning process, UB planners held outreach sessions with children and adults in the school district, analyzed the built environment there using Geographic Information Systems, conducted a detailed audit of two case study sites in the district (Country Parkway Elementary School and Heim Elementary and Middle schools), analyzed data from a survey of WCSD students and parents, and reviewed applicable legal regulations.

They also developed materials for parents and children that included Kid Corridor zones, student safety education and detailed maps of safe walking and biking routes.

Raja has received many awards for her work, which focuses on planning and design for healthy communities and the fiscal dimensions of planning. Her research on healthy communities examines the influence of the food and built environments on obesity and physical activity.

Her widespread service to the Western New York community and the planning profession is linked to her research interests. As an active member of the national American Planning Association (APA), she works to bring the importance of community and regional food planning to the attention of practicing planners nationwide

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.