“Take in two parks and call me in the morning” – Perception of parks as an essential component of our healthcare system

Abstract

As a feature of the built neighborhood environment, parks have been associated with a range of positive health outcomes. Recognition of these contributions has prompted advocates to suggest parks are a part of our healthcare system. Despite these developments, park investments have declined over the past decade nationally, lagging behind expenditures on other community services such as health. Perhaps the idea of parks as a solution to the nation's health concerns has not diffused across the population. To date, however, public perception of parks' role in healthcare has not been documented. This study responds to this gap by assessing whether parks are perceived as an essential part of the healthcare system. Self-administered surveys were completed by a statewide sample of Pennsylvania adults (2014) and by a sample of primary care clinic visitors in Hershey, Pennsylvania (2015). Participants from both studies were asked the extent they agreed with the following statement: Parks, trails, and open space are an essential component of our healthcare system. Response was also compared across demographic characteristics to assess whether this belief was universally held. Findings indicate 73% of the statewide sample and 68% of the clinical sample agreed parks, trails, and open space are an essential element of the healthcare system. Males, those with lower levels of educational attainment, and rural residents were statistically less likely to agree with this statement. Results indicate widespread belief in parks as an essential part of the healthcare system, suggesting consideration of health-sector investments in these settings.

The relationship between self-rated health and local government spending on parks and recreation in the United States from 1997 to 2012

“…Given the possible diminishing returns of increased levels of traditional forms of healthcare spending, evaluating the impacts and efficacy of alternatives is essential for evidence driven public health policy. The consistent relationship between spending and self-rated health in our models suggests prior research characterizing government funded parks and recreation services as a part of the health care system may be appropriate (Mowen et al, 2017). These findings add further credibility to the efforts of groups pushing for local park use as a form of preventive medicine (e.g.…”

“…Parks and recreation services have been linked to lower levels of obesity across the United States and within West Viriginia (Rosenberger et al, 2005; Rosenberger et al, 2009), higher levels of physical activity in California and across the United States (Cohen et al, 2015; Cohen et al, 2007; Mullenbach et al, 2018), and higher levels of self-rated health in Pennsylvania and South Carolina (Pitas et al, 2017a; Hughey et al, 2016). Additionally, there is evidence that many individuals view parks as an essential component of the healthcare system (Mowen et al, 2017). Given the demonstrated association between parks and recreation services and health outcomes, we extended previous research by examining the direct relationship between local government parks and recreation spending and individual level self-rated health.…”

The relationship between parks and recreation per capita spending and mortality from 1980 to 2010: A fixed effects model

“…When considering the topic of healthcare spending, we view parks and recreation as an indirect form of healthcare spending. Evidence suggests that many individuals view parks and recreation as an essential component of the healthcare system (Mowen et al, 2017). Our results suggest this may be an accurate characterization.…”

“…Given this, there have been mounting concerns among researchers and the public regarding the possibly diminishing returns of increased spending on public health, as well as interest in other, possibly more effective ways, of improving health outcomes (Murphy and Topel, 2003). Given that continued direct investment in healthcare is not the only form of investment with public health related outcomes, our study focused on the efficacy of an indirect form of ‘healthcare’ spending—parks and recreation—and its influence on a common measure of overall public health, all-cause mortality, from 1980 to 2010 (Mowen et al, 2017; Thacker et al, 2006). Considering the large economic value attributed to even modest decreases in mortality, a robust understanding of the impacts of indirect forms of healthcare spending, such as parks and recreation, on mortality is necessary for informing future policy (Murphy and Topel, 2006).…”

Implications of the Great Recession for Higher Education in Leisure Studies

“…These public service agencies, with their focus on enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities, were at the heart of the early growth of leisure studies as an academic field (Dunn, 2000). Indeed, many early faculty members were drawn from the practitioner ranks, as there were not enough qualified academically trained faculty to meet the rapid growth in such positions during the 1960s and 1970s (Dunn, 2000;Parr & Schmalz, 2019). Although tensions have long existed regarding the "fit" of parks and recreation in a higher degree program in leisure studies (e.g.…”