Park Prescriptions

Park Prescription programs are designed in collaboration with public land agencies, health care providers, and community partners to improve individual and community health. While these programs can be as diverse as the communities for which they are designed, often, they include some type of referral or “push” from a healthcare or social service provider and “pull” from a park system that connects participating individuals with local outdoor activities.

The Institute has supported the growth of this concept since 2010, working with partners nationwide to understand how park and health agencies can work together to promote time in nature as a health intervention. We have created a suite of tools and resources to generate knowledge and promote learning. This includes a Park Prescription Program toolkit and ParkRx.org, which we are building into the leading knowledge sharing platform for information on Park Prescriptions.