Working across silos to address Bogotá’s food deserts through public space improvements

Creating a healthy neighborhood pilot with many actors

The pilot was built on an eight-month assessment and engagement process supported by Cities for Better Health, where community leaders evaluated neighborhood food environments and residents’ lived experiences. After the assessment was completed, Gehl facilitated a process to align stakeholder priorities for action. Gehl facilitated roundtables, inter-departmental workshops, and masterclasses with city agencies and experts to align priorities and uncover cross-sectoral solutions to Bogotá’s Food Rights challenges.

The San Luis Chapinero neighborhood was selected as a pilot site due to its diverse community, active health-related organizations, and Monteverde School engagement. Public life studies revealed that the bus stop and sidewalks outside the school were highly active spaces, which presented a opportunity to foster healthier routines.

Gehl led a visioning process with students, teachers, and the community board to codesign the pilot, which local partners implemented. The intervention included a wooden shelter, seating, an educational mural, and a vertical garden. The goal was to improve public space to encourage health, physical activity, and social interaction.

The pilot successfully promoted healthy eating, created a safer, more welcoming space, and increased pedestrian activity. Importantly, it also drew city and built environment agencies into a collaborative effort to address health risks and develop a shared impact framework.