Parks, Public Health, and Partnerships Kathy J. Spangler, CPRP NRPA Marketing Director NCPPA President

Imagine the Synergy What historical figure is considered by many as the father of Urban Planning, Public Health, and the American Park Movement? What historical figure is considered by many as the father of Urban Planning, Public Health, and the American Park Movement? The apparent unnatural alliances that are promoted when parks and health are spoken in the same breath have a true heritage in the building of our American way of life. The apparent unnatural alliances that are promoted when parks and health are spoken in the same breath have a true heritage in the building of our American way of life.

Environment and Behavior We have engineered activity out of our lives We have engineered activity out of our lives Parks are perceived as unsafe Parks are perceived as unsafe Unintended barriers to physical activity abound Unintended barriers to physical activity abound Satellite schools Satellite schools Communities without sidewalks Communities without sidewalks Urban design emphasizes travel by car Urban design emphasizes travel by car Neighborhoods access has been reduced Neighborhoods access has been reduced Our lifestyles are hectic with little room for leisure – we are stuck in perpetual rest and relaxation! Our lifestyles are hectic with little room for leisure – we are stuck in perpetual rest and relaxation!

Public Health and Urban Planning have taken different paths Urban Design since World War II has become progressively automobile oriented and sprawl has resulted Urban Design since World War II has become progressively automobile oriented and sprawl has resulted Public Health has served individually oriented health education and health promotion efforts while regulatory and policy approaches have been limited outside of food and environmental safety Public Health has served individually oriented health education and health promotion efforts while regulatory and policy approaches have been limited outside of food and environmental safety

Renewed Natural Alliance Public Health has adopted ecological, inter- sectorial approaches to policy and environmental efforts. Public Health has adopted ecological, inter- sectorial approaches to policy and environmental efforts. Urban Design has started to focus on health benefits and the harm that urban design and transportation investments can have on livability and quality of life. Urban Design has started to focus on health benefits and the harm that urban design and transportation investments can have on livability and quality of life.

Public Health Alerts Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity President’s Report on Better Health for Youth through Physical Activity and Sport President’s Report on Better Health for Youth through Physical Activity and Sport Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Obesity Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Obesity Healthy People 2010 Healthy People 2010 Memorandum of Understanding Memorandum of Understanding National Park Service & Centers for Disease Control National Park Service & Centers for Disease Control National Recreation and Park Association and US Dept of Heath and Human Services National Recreation and Park Association and US Dept of Heath and Human Services

The Facts of Barriers and Lifestyles Walking rates are declining while the number of overweight adults is climbing Walking rates are declining while the number of overweight adults is climbing Children are walking less and more are becoming overweight Children are walking less and more are becoming overweight Physical activity and overweight/obesity are at the top of Leading Health Indicators Physical activity and overweight/obesity are at the top of Leading Health Indicators Onset of Type II Diabetes among Children growing Onset of Type II Diabetes among Children growing

Strategic Positioning Parks and Recreation represent the only public sector resource that contributes both access to environments for activity and behavioral opportunities for physical activity on such a grand scale Parks and Recreation represent the only public sector resource that contributes both access to environments for activity and behavioral opportunities for physical activity on such a grand scale Parks are destinations, weekend getaways, and where we live, work, and play…they are ubiquitous to the American Way of Life Parks are destinations, weekend getaways, and where we live, work, and play…they are ubiquitous to the American Way of Life

Why Health and Parks It is about livability and quality of life…it is also about pay me now or pay me later in health care costs. It is about livability and quality of life…it is also about pay me now or pay me later in health care costs. The benefits of a healthy environment, individuals, communities, and economy are directly tied to how active our lifestyles are and to what extent these public resources contribute and we must be willing to measure our impact. The benefits of a healthy environment, individuals, communities, and economy are directly tied to how active our lifestyles are and to what extent these public resources contribute and we must be willing to measure our impact. It is reflected in everything we do and we must rise to support engaging populations with limited access and extend opportunities strategically across jurisdictional boundaries. It is reflected in everything we do and we must rise to support engaging populations with limited access and extend opportunities strategically across jurisdictional boundaries.

A Partner in the Process Active Community Environments and NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Programs Active Community Environments and NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Programs Hearts N Parks with National Institutes of Health Hearts N Parks with National Institutes of Health State Health Department Block Grant Funding for Promoting Physical Activity State Health Department Block Grant Funding for Promoting Physical Activity

Parks as Health Promotion The US Secretary of Health has called for more parks and playgrounds to promote physically active lifestyles. The US Secretary of Health has called for more parks and playgrounds to promote physically active lifestyles. The Call to Action on Obesity and Overweight calls for safe and accessible recreational facilities for all age groups The Call to Action on Obesity and Overweight calls for safe and accessible recreational facilities for all age groups The President’s Report on Better Health for Youth calls for increased opportunities for non-school recreation The President’s Report on Better Health for Youth calls for increased opportunities for non-school recreation The #2 reason the public visits government websites is to obtain recreation information The #2 reason the public visits government websites is to obtain recreation information

Connecting the Dots 1.The Park and Recreation Industry must position itself as a collective asset for health 1.The Park and Recreation Industry must position itself as a collective asset for health 2.All venues must engage in added-value strategies for programming, promotion, and performance objectives to improve health 2.All venues must engage in added-value strategies for programming, promotion, and performance objectives to improve health 3.Partnering for Health- serving as a catalyst and facilitator for policy and performance shifts 3.Partnering for Health- serving as a catalyst and facilitator for policy and performance shifts 4. Re-connecting with our core values and benefits and engaging our systems in change 4. Re-connecting with our core values and benefits and engaging our systems in change

Incremental Advancement Existing parks can do a better job of informing, inviting, and engaging casual users to increase healthy behaviors Existing parks can do a better job of informing, inviting, and engaging casual users to increase healthy behaviors Signage can offer cognitive connections to health and further inform, educate, and engage Signage can offer cognitive connections to health and further inform, educate, and engage Concessions can offer more healthy choices Concessions can offer more healthy choices Showcase pleasure, purposeful, playful aspects of parks to describe health benefits Showcase pleasure, purposeful, playful aspects of parks to describe health benefits Leadership- rangers can be role models/messengers Leadership- rangers can be role models/messengers Birdwatching Scenario Birdwatching Scenario

Policy Advocates Capitalizing on critical mass efforts for policy change- NCPPA efforts Capitalizing on critical mass efforts for policy change- NCPPA efforts Reversing unintended barriers to physical activity for populations with low rates of activity Reversing unintended barriers to physical activity for populations with low rates of activity Increasing the adoption of activity-friendly community models (community indicators due soon) Increasing the adoption of activity-friendly community models (community indicators due soon) Implementing active lifestyle incentives for worksite, community, and school settings Implementing active lifestyle incentives for worksite, community, and school settings

Our Infrastructure is World Renowned Our public parks and recreation resources must rise to the challenge of improving America’s health Our public parks and recreation resources must rise to the challenge of improving America’s health It only takes leadership and fortitude It only takes leadership and fortitude This is not about US it is about stewardship This is not about US it is about stewardship ……”It is about distant effects” ……”It is about distant effects” Frederick Law Olmsted

Making it Happen State Park systems can benefit from collaboration with State Health Departments State Park systems can benefit from collaboration with State Health Departments State Tourism Departments depict parks in advertising- influence the health aspects State Tourism Departments depict parks in advertising- influence the health aspects Economic Development in the future will be tied to healthy environments for business Economic Development in the future will be tied to healthy environments for business