We know that increased time outdoors improves physical and mental health, yet the average American still spends 93% of their day indoors. Doctors have been telling patients to spend more time outdoors for decades, but now, some doctors are going as far as writing prescriptions for outdoor time. 

The Park Rx America program, created by Robert Zarr, M.D, is a digital database of outdoor spaces which doctors can use to prescribe more time outdoors to their patients. Over 70 clinics now use the program, and some communities are adapting the idea to fit their individual needs.

Birmingham Parks Rx was created in a collaboration between the city’s YMCA, the county’s Department of Health, Parks and Recreation Department, and the University of Alabama Birmingham. Their program includes an online database of city parks, diet and exercise tips, and physical signs in local parks with health tips and tricks. So far, local doctors have written 9,580 prescriptions to adults and 7,368 to pediatric patients. 

Community parks are convenient locations for boosting exercise and time outdoors, but they are also vital for connecting with neighbors and hosting community events. Public outdoor spaces provide communities with a space to bring members together and share a love of the outdoors. We encourage you to check out a local park near you this weekend and plan a walk, eat a picnic, or just sit and enjoy your natural surroundings.