July 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 34

FUTURE LEADERS

The Personal Benefits of Parks
Spreading the word on the importance of parks to vibrant communities
By Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D.

A

s the water flowed softly over the rock falls and the birds began their
evening tunes, I stood there, smiling and listening to nature's beautiful
and engaging song. The painted scene before me enchanted people from
all walks of life, who strolled up and down the boardwalk to view the sights of
Cumberland Falls State Park near Corbin, Kentucky. As I stood there, engulfed
in the wonder of nature, people walked by me, smiling, laughing, huffing and
puffing, and talking to their friends and family. Not a single person had a sour
face, was irritated, or displayed anything negative or contrary. Parks often serve
as place for families and friends to meet and enjoy the unique places set aside
and each other's company. As the sun set on my time at the park for the day, I
thought about the wondrous joys and benefits that parks bring to me and others.
Whether on a national level, where
large tracts of land are set aside to
preserve special places, or a local level, where smaller landscapes serve as
recreation outlets for specific neighborhoods, parks are vitally important
to all of us. As July is Park and Recreation Month, it may be a good time to
reflect on the benefits that parks offer.

32

Parks & Recreation

As mentioned so many times before,
parks have health, economic, environmental and social benefits for all of us.
Access to local parks and open areas
has been linked to increased visitation
and use. As the worsening statistics related to inactivity and obesity continue
to be of concern, parks offer places to
alleviate these issues for everyone. Sig-

| J U LY 2 0 1 3 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

nificant evidence shows that park access
increases exercise of those living close
to the area and reduces many ailments
such as heart disease, diabetes and depression. Visiting a park also increases
your mood, cultivating a healthy mind
as well as body! As research continues,
the health benefits of nature and park
areas are further highlighted, and the
need for such areas is emphasized.
The economic benefits of parks is a
numbers game, as having parks nearby
has been linked to increased property values, whether urban, suburban or
rural in context. Also, creating or cultivating green space has been linked
to revitalization of economically depressed areas, generating inflows of
people seeking to enjoy these spaces.
Furthermore, parks are often factors
included when businesses decide where



July 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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July 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 1
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2010
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