Passport to Parks: A Collaboration Between Parks and Health

Background

Due to sedentary lifestyle, Americans are at greater risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Healthcare agencies, Parks and Recreation (PR), local government, and community members in San Mateo County, CA, united as a physical activity collaborative to promote physical activity and improve its residents’ physical and mental health, and social connectedness.

Methods

The collaborative is launching a year-long “Passport to Parks” (P2P) campaign in 2015 to send residents on a “treasure” hunt to discover some of their cities’ parks. P2P increases parks’ visibilities and use while it engages residents in active transportation (e.g., walk, bike). Participants find a series of clues about the next destination until they reach the final destination. P2P includes routes and parks that are amenable to families, older adults and people with disabilities.

Results

At least four cities’ Parks and Recreations are participating in P2P. The goal is to have at least 60 residents from each city complete the campaign. The participants’ surveys will help guide the development of public health policies that focus on engaging communities in physical activity at the parks or other public venues. 

Conclusions

In addition to increasing physical activity, this campaign has two additional benefits - increasing collaboration between multiple agencies within a county and improving residents’ connection with local resources. As residents become more active, they become less sedentary, reducing their chances of developing poor health outcomes. The campaign is one of few endeavors to develop collaborative health policies that promote physical activity, social connectedness and health.