Advancing Physical Activity and Health Equity Through Active Parks! — Episode 130

Parks and recreation is vital to community health and well-being.
Local park and recreation agencies connect every member of the
community to essential programs, services and spaces that enhance
quality of life. And, local parks and recreation provides so many
opportunities for experiencing the benefits of physical activity.


According to the guidance from the Community Services
Preventive Task Force, park and recreation and public health
professionals play a role in ensuring all community members have
equitable opportunities to get active. The Active Parks!
Increasing Physical Activity Through Parks, Trails, and
Greenways recommendation states that combining 1)
essential infrastructure
improvements with 2) additional activities — like
structured programming, community engagement, access enhancements
and more — can increase the use of parks, trails and greenways
for physical activity.


To support park and recreation and public health professionals in
advancing this recommendation, NRPA developed the Active
Parks! Implementation Guide. The guide includes a step-by-step
process professionals can follow to equitably increase physical
activity, plus case studies, sample actions and more. The guide
also supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC) Active People, Healthy
NationSM initiative, which aims to help 27 million
people become more physically active by 2027.


We are so excited to have worked with CDC on this new resource,
and I was thrilled to learn more on today’s episode in my
conversation with Ken Rose, who leads CDC’s Physical Activity and
Health branch and oversees national efforts to increase physical
activity. Tune in to our conversation below to learn:


Why partnerships between public health and parks and
recreation is critical to increasing physical activity and
advancing health equity in communities

The origins of the Active Parks! Implementation
Guide and what inspired this movement

Key considerations for park and recreation professionals
interested in using the guide

Why Ken believes the guide will transform physical activity
in communities

How park and recreation professionals can join the Active
People, Healthy NationSM movement, and much more!

Related links:


Active Parks! Implementation Guide: Increasing Physical
Activity Through Parks, Trails and Greenways


Active People, Healthy NationSM  


Blog Post: Activating Parks, Trails and Greenways for
Physical Activity


Active Parks! Increasing Physical Activity Through
Parks, Trails, and Greenways recommendation