Parks: The Healthiest Place in Town

by The Trust for Public Land

Pop quiz: Where do people go to get fit? We’ll give you a hint: this place is fun, free, and you probably have a couple favorites right in your own neighborhood. 

We’re talking about public parks. If you live near a great park, you already know the vital role it plays in the health of your whole neighborhood. According to a recent study in Preventive Medicine, parks are America’s preferred destination for breaking a sweat; for people who live nearby, they're the place where 50 percent of vigorous exercise occurs. 

This animated short video will give you eight reasons to love—and visit—your local park.

Created by The Trust for Public Land and supported by a grant from the Active Living Research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, it spotlights eight surprising ways that parks improve your health. 

If the video leaves you wanting more, you can download "Eight ways that parks improve your health,” a booklet featuring the latest research demonstrating the connection between parks and health. Download booklet.

Source: http://www.tpl.org/blog/ways-parks-improve-your-health

Update August 4, 2014: The Eight Ways Parks Improve Your Health brochure has been transformed into a digital ebook, complete with links to even more articles, reports and videos.