Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook: A Tool for Planners, Parks and Recreational Professionals, and Health Practitioners

Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook cover

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Community Design Initiative and the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program have a new tool to assist communities in designing parks and trails that promote physical activity, reduce stress, and provide environmental benefits.

The Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook: A Tool for Planners, Parks and Recreational Professionals, and Health Practitioners is quick guide for incorporating public health considerations in the development and improvement of a park or trail. This tool can help start collaborative discussions about the health benefits of parks and trails and prepare for a health impact assessment (HIA).

The tool includes information to help users find health data and learn about completed HIAs that included parks, trails, or greenways. It also includes case studies that pilot its use in Whatcom County, Washington, and a Mescalero Apache tribal area in New Mexico. The workbook consists of five sections:

  • Community health profile.
  • Site information.
  • Site planning (includes subsections on physical health and social and mental wellness).
  • Park and trail system planning.
  • Monitoring and evaluation.
Top