Assembling a Healthy City : Perspective from Flen

The research field regarding healthier cities and how to promote and enable possibilities for physical activity is considered to be one of the most important research fields in current urban planning research. In academic research, there is a research gap when it comes to how urban characteristics that promote and enable possibilities for physical activity are treated in practice, as well as how municipalities are working with questions regarding creating healthier cities. This is related to the societal challenges of increasingly sedentary lifestyles that are currently considered a global health crisis. In this context, the concept of a healthy city only regards aspects connected to physical activity. The thesis aimed to investigate how the municipality of Flen works to enable and create possibilities for physical activity and how these processes assemble to make the vision of a healthy city. The study conducted semi-structured interviews with planners in the municipality of Flen from different departments and analyzed relevant strategic documents. The challenges identified were perspective congestion, limited spaces, budget, what attracts, and challenges connected to the citizens. The result shows that the municipality of Flen works with seven processes: strategic documents, maintenance, safety, attractive and social environments, available and accessible environments, knowledge and encouragement, and future developments. The studies conclude that the urban characteristics identified and acknowledged in previous research are considered from different perspectives when considered in practice.