Parks and Recreation is Essential: A Journey to Well-Being
Written by: Jacob Oswald, Director of Parks and Recreation
Date: September 29, 2024
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has been a leader in the parks and recreation field for nearly 60 years, with over 60,000 members and a presence in more than 10,000 agencies across the U.S. The organization provides training, advocacy, grants, research, and other resources to help parks thrive and support healthier, more equitable communities. According to NRPA, 90% of U.S. adults believe that parks and recreation are essential local government services and vital to a thriving community.
NRPA's framework for well-being includes seven interconnected dimensions: cultural, economic, emotional, environmental, intellectual, physical, and social, with equity at the core. This commitment to equity addresses historical injustices in park systems, ensuring that the benefits of parks are accessible to all. As we move toward the end of the year, we want to highlight these seven dimensions of well-being during our Sunday Spotlights and explore how parks and recreation support each one:
· Cultural
o Culturally responsive programs, community events and celebrations
o Visual and performing arts
o Spiritual connections
· Economic
o Jobs, increased property value, and capital and operational expenses
o Mentoring and workforce development
o Connections to social services and resources
· Emotional
o Mindfulness programming and calming spaces
o Staff training and workplace well-being
o Partnerships with mental and behavioral health service providers
· Environmental
o Stewardship in green spaces and natural habitats
o Environmental resilience and sustain practices
o Access to the outdoors
· Intellectual
o Accessible, high-quality out-of-school time and older adult programs
o Educational and enrichment programming
o Lifelong and multi-generational learning and experiences
· Physical
o Safe spaces for physical activity and recreation
o Healthy food, chronic disease management and health education
o Healthcare services
· Social
o Inclusive and welcoming spaces
o Social and intergenerational connections
o Connection to community
Through this lens, we aim to show how parks and recreation are essential to the health and vitality of our community.
