Incorporating Health Needs in Outdoor Recreation Planning

Building healthy communities by conserving areas and expanding access to outdoor recreation opportunities is what many National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA) projects are about.

The Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook: A Tool for Planners, Parks & Recreation Professionals, and Health Practitioners is a resource to assess the local and regional health needs of residents. Using the workbook to complete health assessments, project planners can develop strategies that will help improve the health of residents through close-to-home parks, trails and conservation areas.

The workbook was developed through a collaboration between NPS-RTCA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – used early in the planning process, the assessment can help guide public discussions about how to achieve community health goals. The outcome is to assist communities in expanding outdoor recreation opportunities and designing parks to promote physical activity, support mental health, foster social interactions and provide environmental benefits.

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For more than 30 years, the National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program  has been moving the needle on conservation and outdoor recreation in communities across America. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.