• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Login
Community Rec
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Community Rec
No Result
View All Result
Home Community Development

Parks Prescriptions: The Science Behind Nature and Health

Brittany Howard by Brittany Howard
May 16, 2022
in Community Development, Wellness & Health
0
Parks Prescriptions
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Parks Prescriptions (PaRx) began as a grassroots movement in the U.S. over a decade ago and has now spread to countries around the world. It’s an initiative of the BC Parks Foundation, driven by health care professionals who want to improve their patients’ health by connecting them to nature. It features practical resources like quick tips and patient handouts, with the goal of making prescribing time in nature simple, fun and effective.

According to the BC Parks Foundation and backed by hundreds of studies over several decades, connecting to nature is one of the best things you can do to improve your health.

“Research tells us that spending time in and around nature is one of the best things we can do for our health,” said Dr. Melissa Lem, the director of PaRx. “Therefore ensuring that community centres – where people already go to connect socially, get active and improve their well-being – have lots of trees and green space nearby is an important public health intervention. And don’t forget to make it a priority to head outside into nature yourself. Studies show that people who are more connected to nature are more likely to protect and champion it, so you might just find yourself more motivated and energized to engage in advocacy when you spend more time in the great outdoors.”

Quick Facts, Courtesy of the BC Parks Foundation

For Adults:

  • Spending time in the forest drops inflammation and stress in adults with COPD and reduces the risk of lung infections.
  • Nature therapy improves psychological well-being of cancer patients and activates tumor-killing cells.
  • Seniors who live closer to walkable green spaces live longer.
  • Spending time in nature boosts memory, creativity and work satisfaction.
  • Increasing nature time reduces risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
  • 90% of people say they’re happier when outside. Stress hormone levels drop significantly after just 15 minutes of sitting in a forest.

For Kids:

  • Children who live on tree-lined streets have lower rates of asthma.
  • Kids who head outside are more likely to hit their physical activity targets and have healthier body weights.
  • A 20-minute walk in a park can improve concentration scores in kids with ADHD similar to prescription stimulant medication.
  • Kids with more green spaces in their neighborhoods, especially near schools, have higher test scores and graduation rates.
  • Youth who spend time in nature are more resilient and experience less anxiety and depression.

Additionally, increasing access to nature helps people and the planet in many ways.

  • Increasing urban green spaces reduces the urban heat island effect and improves the mental and physical health of people living nearby.
  • Green corridors for active transportation reduce carbon emissions and improve the mental and heart health of active commuters.

To learn more about Parks Prescriptions and why connecting to nature is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and the health of your community members, visit parkprescriptions.ca.

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Tags: BC Parks Foundationclimate changecommunity recreationfeaturedgreen spacesmental healthnaturenature and healthnature therapyparks prescriptionsPaRxwellbeing
Previous Post

Providing Goodyear Recreation Unmatched Fitness Equipment and Support

Next Post

Recovery Techniques in Momentum

Brittany Howard

Brittany Howard

Brittany is the editor of Community Rec Magazine. Reach her at brittany@peakemedia.com.

Related Posts

Recovery
Programming

Getting the Most Out of Recovery in Community Rec

July 14, 2025
Wellness
Column

How to Harness Wellness Within Your Organization

July 7, 2025
Youth Fitness
Programming

Youth Fitness Creates Lasting Engagement for Community Rec

June 16, 2025
Central Lincoln County YMCA
Community Development

Food Education Program Promotes Healthy Lifestyles at Central Lincoln County YMCA

June 9, 2025
Todd Tibbits
Community Development

Episode 20: Todd Tibbits on the Cali-Baja Binational Initiative

June 2, 2025
Partnerships
Column

Unconventional Ways to Develop Partnerships

May 27, 2025
Next Post
recovery techniques

Recovery Techniques in Momentum

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Exposure Guide + Media Kit

July/August 2025 Issue

Get Updates in your inbox

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Contact us at info@communityrecmag.com

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us

The Current Issue

The Latest from CO

  • Bath Area Family YMCA Names Amy Vendt as New CEO
  • Getting the Most Out of Recovery in Community Rec
  • YMCA of Western North Carolina President and CEO Paul Vest to Retire
  • Future Energy Solutions Installs No Upfront Cost LED System at Family YMCA of Lancaster & Fairfield County

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Community
    • Facility Development
    • Programming
    • Operations
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Continuing Education
    • Community Rec Leadership Summit
    • Webinars
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
    • Case Studies
  • Podcast
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Community Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.