"Park prescriptions" is a concept that links the healthcare system and public lands, such as local parks, to create healthier people. NRPA is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Institute at the Golden Gate in California, to convene leaders from across the country to elevate the concept of park prescriptions to a best practice in preventive health. The goal of this effort is to create a national agenda for implementing park prescriptions more widely by further understanding and defining "park prescriptions," identifying successful models from across the country, and developing standardized measurement and data collection methods that define effectiveness of these programs.

Supporting Local Programs

NRPA, with support from the National Recreation Foundation, has funded five local park and recreation agencies to implement a park prescriptions program in their communities. Grantees will identify and enhance innovative programs that link the healthcare community to local park and recreation agencies as a means of increasing physical activity to improve the health of children in disadvantaged communities. Agencies will work with their local healthcare providers to prescribe outdoor exercise at local parks to improve the health and mental well-being of children in their communities.

Grantees will support programs that: (1) strengthen relationships with the healthcare community and other community partners to advance park prescription programs, (2) implement the park prescription programs, and (3) conduct activities that evaluate the effectiveness of programs. Communities selected for this year are:

• Baltimore, MD;
• Greenville, SC;
• Portland, OR;
• San Diego, CA; and
• Washington, DC.

To learn more about communities who have successfully implemented a park prescriptions program listen to NRPA's archived webinar:

• Doctors in Parks: A Prescription for Health (1 hour, 28 minutes)

For more information please contact Kellie May.