Just one of the presentations from the 2013 Open Space Conference on May 16 at the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio of San Francisco. More information about the day can be found here: http://openspacecouncil.org/community/conference.php

1. Breaking Boundaries,
Working Together
Creating Collective Impact in Bay Area Land Conservation
14th Annual Open Space Conference
May 16, 2013
Health Benefits of
Open Space
Nooshin Razani, MD MPH
Pediatrician, Children’s Hospital Oakland
Curtis Chan, MD MPH
Medical Director of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, SFDPH
nrazani@mail.cho.org
Curtis.chan@sfdph.org

2. Objectives
• Identify major health benefits of open
space
• Present two partnerships between
parks and health
• Discuss opportunities for collaboration

3. Open Space Benefits Health
Bedimo-Rung et al., Am J of Preventive Med, 2005

4. Physical Health Benefits of Nature
• Physical activity
• Obesity
• Benefits of green
exercise
• Vitamin D
• Myopia
• Longevity

5. Mental Health Benefits of Nature
• Byexperiencesin
or nearness tothe park
• Affects wide diversity of
people
• Improve mood
• Reduce stress
• Enhance sense of wellness
• Decrease depression &
sadness
• Decrease anxiety

6. HPHP Mission Statement
To increase opportunities
to improve the health
and wellbeing of all Bay
Area residents,
especially those with
high health needs,
through regular use and
enjoyment of parks.

7. Medical Clinic Approach: Intensive
• Community based design
and implementation
• Give providers tools to
recommend specific
outdoor programs that
promote health
• Welcome new users to
parks in a culturally
appropriate, sustainable
way.

8. Public Health Approach: Diffuse
• Bridging systems: Parks, Healthcare, Communities
• Reducing barriers: Cultural, Literacy
• Prioritizing Disparities: Under-represented in Parks
but over-burdened with chronic disease
• Regionalization: Relationships, media
• Standardization: Name, logo, welcome, benefits,
programming
Public Health Approach: Diffuse

9. Opportunities for Collaboration
• Partnership between parks,
public health, and healthcare
helps agencies achieve their
mission.
• Regionalization is powerful
and effective
• How can public health and
healthcare increase and
improve open space
resources?

10. Join us!
First Saturday of the month
Healthy Parks Healthy People
Nature Walks