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Newly released studies reveal compelling evidence for the benefits of Parks and Recreation.  Our Mothership, The National Recreation and Park Association(NRPA Magazine – December 2010) has released the findings of five new studies regarding the merits and benefits provided by parks both local and national as well as advantages and positive effects gained through community recreation programming.  The cited benefits; local economic impact, improved health due to providing programs and places for physical activity, youth and adolescent development, Green environments creating healthy social behavior and less social dysfunction as well as  improved air quality via urban trees.  The Studies were conducted through Penn State University, the University of Illinois, the USDA Forest Service and Texas A & M University.

I will nutshell the findings of each study below and provide a link to the actual study for those who are interested.

Study #1

Measuring the Economic Impact of Parks and Recreation Services

In regards to the economic impact of local parks and recreation, the study basically purports that tourists’ desire to travel to any location is stimulated by attractions.  Many communities’ primary attractions are sports tournaments, festivals, parks, and major recreation facilities operated by parks and recreation departments.  Parks and recreation organizations can calculate actual monetized benefits through economic impact studies.  It is more than likely that  parks and recreation agencies are actually economic stimulators because of the money spent by tourists in that locality while visiting park and recreation attractions.

At times parks and recreation departments are thought of as a financial drain because operation costs exceed revenues.  The view is short-sighted as it fails to recognize the economic return on investments to residents in the form of health and other benefits that are hard to monetize (For Stantonians: think about summer bandstand events, our numerous athletic tournaments in our park facilities not to mention parks amenities themselves like the Duck Pond, mini-train, playgrounds, trails or the disc golf course).

Study #2

The Benefits of Physical Activity provided by Parks and Recreation Services

Did You Know?

  • In an era of economic downturn, surveys show that people are more dependent on public park and recreation services for physical activity.
  • Park and recreation services provide opportunities for physical activity during leisure hours.
  • About four out of five Americans used local government park and recreation services.  Recreation programs and recreation centers add to the physical activity benefits of parks.
  • The necessity of moving one’s body in daily life has declined dramatically, helping produce an epidemic of obesity.
  • There is evidence that small additional investments would provide substantially more health benefits.
  • The relationship between investment in parks and recreation and the amount of exercise by boys and girls was very clearly identified in a nationwide study.
  • There is a strong relationship between how much money is spent to provide such services and the amount of physical activity health benefits people receive.

Of all the scientific evidence linking parks to physical activity, the strongest evidence is the relationship between close access (proximity) to parks and physical activity.  Close-to-home park and recreation resources result in more physical activity and better health for citizens. Improving access to known park opportunities could focus on better transit connections by creating connector routes (dedicated paths, sidewalks, trails) to parks. Public parks are critical resources for physical activity in minority Communities.  Another obstacle to park use, especially in the minority community is awareness.

The evidence is also clear that the public supports additional spending for park and recreation services and that such additional spending results in higher levels of physical activity health benefits. While many people experiment with forms of physical activity that are good for them but not pleasurable, they tend to stay with activities that they enjoy, often for decades. All these activities are commonly provided by park and recreation services at little or no direct cost to users park features and supports is linked with higher use levels.

Study #3

The Rationale for Recreation Services for Youth: An Evidence Based Approach

And the Study says…..Park and recreation departments are ideally situated to supply the supports, opportunities, programs, and services to facilitate adolescents’ development into healthy and fully functioning adults. Recreation services provided by park and recreation departments need to both help reduce problem behaviors, as well as increase pro-social attitudes and skills.

Crimes by and against children soar from 3 to 6pm, including car accidents, abuse of illicit substances, and sexual assault. Protecting youth during this critical time of day safeguards not only their welfare, but also that of the greater community. According to a recent study for every dollar invested in afterschool programs, taxpayers save an average of $6 in crime costs. Properly designed and conducted after-school and summer programs can reduce negative behaviors, exposure to violence, health care costs, parental stress and lost job productivity.

Study #4

Parks and Other Green Environments:  Essential Components of a Healthy Habitat

From the researcher: In greener settings – rooms, buildings, neighborhoods, and larger areas with more vegetation, studies find that people are more generous and more desirous of connections with others; we find stronger neighborhood social ties and greater sense of community, more mutual trust and willingness to help others; and we find evidence of healthier social functioning in neighborhood common spaces.  In less green environments, we find higher rates of aggression, violence, violent crime, and property crime – even after controlling for income and other differences. We also find more evidence of loneliness and more individuals reporting inadequate social support. Access to nature impacts psychological, as well as social functioning.

Greater access to green views and green environments yields better cognitive functioning; more proactive, more effective patterns of life functioning; more self-discipline and more impulse control; greater mental health overall; and greater resilience in response to stressful life events. Less access to nature is linked to exacerbated attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, more sadness and higher rates of clinical depression. Greener environments enhance recovery from surgery, enable and support higher levels of physical activity, improve immune system functioning, help diabetics achieve healthier blood glucose levels, and improve functional health status and independent living skills among older adults.  Environments with less green are associated with greater rates of childhood obesity.  People of the same socioeconomic status who have greater access to nature have better physical health outcomes.

Science tells us that Green Environments play a central role in human health and healthy human functioning.

Study #5

Air Quality Effects of Urban Tress and Parks

Why Trees are good…….Tree transpiration and tree canopies affect air temperature, radiation absorption and heat storage, wind speed, relative humidity, turbulence, surface albedo, surface roughness and consequently the evolution of the mixing-layer height. These changes in local meteorology can alter pollution concentrations in urban areas. Reduced air temperature due to trees can improve air quality because the emission of many pollutants and/or ozone-forming chemicals are temperature dependent.

Trees remove gaseous air pollution primarily by uptake via leaf stomata, though some gases are removed by the plant surface. When placed correctly trees reduce building energy use by lowering temperatures and shading buildings during the summer, and blocking winds in winter. Trees shield humans from ultraviolet radiation.  Trees absorb carbon emissions.  One acre of park-tree coverage can store an average of 40 tons of carbon and removes about 1.2 tons of carbon.

This Staunton Parks and Recreation blog was posted by Jennifer Jones, Superintendent of Recreation.

Try these expressions to find us quickly on Google: parks and recreation + “parks and recreation blogs” or    Staunton Parks and Recreation  or    [:Staunton/.*]

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