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The East Bay Regional Park District, in partnership with the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and the Regional Parks Foundation (RPF), is bringing residents living in the San Francisco Bay area park prescriptions, through the Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative.
According to a July-August 2014 East Bay Regional Park newsletter, the partnership took shape in late 2013, when the groups came together to discuss a way to improve the health of children living in the East Bay area.
The goal was to find the “best way to weave nature into the clinical experience,” according to the regional park’s newsletter.
In addition to connecting patients to the outdoors through park prescriptions, the RPF is providing transportation for patients from clinics to parks. The RPF also plans to decorate clinics with images from nature to help inspire patients and their families to spend time outside.
According to one physician involved in the project, Dr. Nooshin Razani, “Getting outdoors benefits physical and mental health, and encourages families to get to know and love the place where they live.”
Learn more about park prescriptions in the San Francisco bay area at the links below:
East Bay Regional Park newsletter
Regional Parks Foundation
Doctor’s Orders: More Outdoor Time For Kids
Park Prescriptions: Healthcare and recreation services collaborate
By The Numbers
33
percent
of Latinos live within walking distance (<1 mile) of a park
