Willard, Collin G2023-10-092023-10-092023https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/33436While walking has been a predominant form of transportation for humans since pre-history, shifts in community design preferences and land development laws and regulations transformed the United States into a predominantly suburban nation during the 20th century, accessible largely to affluent, white families who relied upon automobiles (Lewis, 2013; Rothstein, 2017; Kunstler, 1993; Fischler, 1998). Research suggests that there are several specific types of land use associations with walking, and the topic of walkability has increased research focus in an attempt to mitigate negative externalities of driving (Lo, 2009; Ewing and Cervero, 2010; Cao, Handy, and Mokhitaryan, 2006). This study uses New Castle County, Delaware as a geographic point of interest to analyze (1) the relationship between walkability and socioeconomic indicators and (2), the presence of walkability-related comprehensive (n=11) and sub-area plan (n=11) recommendations from the past 10 years, to determine the degree to which recommendations reflect best practices from literature. The study finds that statistically-significant demographic and socioeconomic differences exist relative to the Walkability Index Score of a census block group in New Castle County (n=365). The study also finds limited recommendations that emphasize best practices from the literature, but concludes that most of the plans evaluated in this study neither prioritized the elements most conducive to walking behavior, nor provided detailed policy prescriptions that would aid implementation efforts.Comprehensive planNational Walkability IndexNew Castle CountyWalkabilityThesis14141799542023-09-20en