Let's work together
If you are interested in partnering with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department to promote physical activity and improve the health of patients and the general public in Palm Beach County through our Park Rx initiative that connects your patients with public parks to engage in outdoor physical activity to create a healthier, happier community, please contact us
at pbcparks@pbc.gov
Creating a healthier, happier community– one walk in the park at a time
Across the United States, parks, healthcare providers, public health agencies, and other entities have successfully facilitated physician-patient conversations about active living through “park prescription” programs, connecting individuals and families to free opportunities for physical activity close to their homes.
The goal is to increase the prescription of outdoor physical activity to prevent or treat health problems resulting from inactivity and poor diet. Park prescriptions increase the amount of time patients spend enjoying physical activity and provide physicians and other healthcare providers with a new set of tools to inspire them to improve their health.
Public parks and recreation agencies are an underutilized healthcare resource. We create healthy communities and play a fundamental role in enhancing the physical environment in which our residents live. Through facilities, outdoor settings, and services provided, we support good health for everyone.
Parks provide a connection to nature which studies demonstrate relieves stress levels, tightens interpersonal relationships and improves mental health. They provide opportunities for patients to reduce obesity and incidence of chronic disease by providing opportunities to increase rigorous physical activity in a variety of forms. And they foster overall wellness and healthful habits, such as becoming tobacco-free and engaging in enrichment opportunities that add balance to life.
Facilitating health and wellness opportunities is a core service of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. Countless miles of paved multi-use pedestrian pathways and fitness trails, many with exercise stations, can be found throughout the park system.
Creating healthier residents is a day-by-day, collective effort that involves our dedicated healthcare providers. The next time you reach for your prescription pad, consider adding one more item—an outdoor physical activity in a local park or public land.
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