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Park Pride 2013
Park systems can significantly improve public health by influencing key determinants like physical activity, air quality, and access to nature. The document discusses case studies of park system plans in Cleveland, Prince George's County, and Philadelphia that aim to maximize these public health benefits. The Cleveland plan focuses on connecting urban parks and restoring ecosystems. The Prince George's plan partners with health organizations to reduce obesity and disease through trails, programs, and policy. Philadelphia's plan expands the definition of open space to more components of the urban fabric.
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Park Pride 2013
- 1. Park System Planning and Public Health David Rouse Principal, WRT Park Pride Annual Conference March 25, 2013
- 2. What I WillCover 1. The Public Health Perspective 2. How Park Systems Can Improve Public Health 3. Case Studies • Cleveland Metroparks Strategic Plan • Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Plan • GreenPlan Philadelphia 4. Discussion
- 3. The mission ofthe public health profession is to… fulfill society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy. (Medterms Medical Dictionary)
- 4. Key Determinants ofPublic Health • Behavioral: Tobacco use, exercise, diet, alcohol consumption, etc. • Environmental: Exposure to toxic substances and other hazards in the built (and natural) environment. • Social-economic-cultural: Education, income, and occupational status. Action to address public health issues must be EVIDENCE-BASED. How can park systems influence the key determinants of public health? What EVIDENCE supports this connection?
- 5. Connections Between PublicHealth and Park Systems Triple Bottom Line Benefits • Environmental: Parks improve air and water quality, which directly impact human health. • Economic: Parks promote physical activity and other healthy behavior, resulting in reduced healthcare costs. • Social: Parks (and the contact with nature they provide) alleviate mental stress and can help reduce health disparities.
- 6. Environmental Connection: ImprovedAir Quality Temperatures in Baltimore City Parks were as much as 5o F. cooler at 2 pm and 13o F. cooler at 9 pm than in center city; cooling effects outside the parks averaged 36% of park diameter during the day and 78 % of park diameter during the night (Heisler et. al, 2007) Vegetation in Philadelphia parks removes the equivalent of $1.5 million in air pollution annually (Trust for Public Land, 2008)
- 7. Economic Connection: ReducedHealthcare Costs Protected open space in SE Pennsylvania yields $577 million in annual recreation benefits for residents This recreational activity reduces medical costs by $795 million and lost productivity costs by $485 million, for a total of $1.3 billion savings annually provided by protected open space (Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, 2011)
- 8. Social Connection: ImprovedMental Health Exposure to natural environments improves the mental health of residents In Philadelphia, regular interactions with nature could result in 13,000 fewer cases of mood disorders such as depression (Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, 2007)
- 9. Park System Planningand Design to Improve Public Health How can park systems create conditions in which people can be healthy? • Develop walking connections and access between and to parks from neighborhoods • Provide facilities within parks to promote health (exercise trails, community gardens, etc.) • Offer programs and services focused on health and wellness (fitness, nature education, etc.) • Maximize parks as green infrastructure to improve environmental quality (land acquisition, tree planting, stormwater management, etc.) • Ensure equitable access to parks and green infrastructure for poor/underserved communities
- 10. Cleveland Metroparks: GreenInfrastructure for the Urban Community Northeast Ohio’s Emerald Necklace: 21,315 acres in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Traditional mission focused on nature conservation, education, and recreation (in that order) New directions set by Centennial Strategic Plan: • Restore urban ecosystems • Connect Cleveland Metroparks to the urban core • Promote community health and wellness
- 11. Cleveland Metroparks: GreenInfrastructure for the Urban Community The region’s natural life support system, green infrastructure refers to a network of parks, greenways, trees, wetlands, and other green resources that provide essential environmental, economic, and community benefits and ecosystem services for the people of Northeast Ohio. Environmental Benefits Economic Benefits Community Benefits • Preserve habitat • Attract businesses and workers • Enable recreation • Mitigate stormwater/flooding • Generate revenue • Improve public health • Improve watershed health and • Provide access to local businesses • Promote equity and access water quality • Increase property values • Foster community • Improve air quality • Lower energy costs • Provide gathering spaces • Regulate climate • Lower healthcare costs • Connect people with nature • Sequester carbon Leads to a greater return on investment over traditional “gray” infrastructure
- 12. Cleveland Metroparks: GreenInfrastructure for the Urban Community Cuyahoga County ranks 69th of 88 Lyndhurst 88.5 Ohio counties in health outcomes Hough 64.0 • 81st in physical environment • 78th in morbidity • 67th is socioeconomic factors • 57th in mortality Most health disparities affect underserved groups (socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, etc.)
- 13. Cleveland Metroparks: GreenInfrastructure for the Urban Community Traditional conservation Hough mission focused on preserving the Emerald Hough Necklace through suburban parts of Cuyahoga County
- 14. Cleveland Metroparks: GreenInfrastructure for the Urban Community Strategic Plan sets new direction to address health disparities of underserved groups: • Greenway/trail network inward from the Emerald Hough Necklace • Programs focused on health and wellness, nature education for urban youth • Environmental restoration of vacant lands Partner with universities, healthcare institutions, etc. in the above
- 15. Prince George’s County:Building Partnerships for Public Health • Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan led by the Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) • DPR manages 27,000 acres of parkland in the County and provides a broad range of facilities, programs, and services • Plan adopts a comprehensive view of the county’s park and recreation resources with a focus on health and wellness to improve health outcomes Photos courtesy of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation
- 16. Why Focus onPublic Health? Prince George’s County has poor health behaviors and outcomes when compared to other Maryland counties and national averages • Ranks 17th out of 24 Maryland counties for overall health outcomes • Exceeds state and national averages in: • Premature deaths • Low birth weights • Adult obesity • Teen births • Sexually-transmitted diseases
- 17. Prince George’s County:Building Partnerships for Public Health Master Plan Goals CONNECTIVITY Connect Prince George’s County residents to quality parks, trails, recreational facilities and programs, and schools. HEALTH AND WELLNESS Improve the health (physical, mental, environmental) of Prince George’s County residents and promote a wellness ethic for the community as a whole. $ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Contribute to Prince George’s County economy and the financial sustainability of the community. Photo courtesy of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation
- 18. Prince George’s County:Building Partnerships for Public Health Master Plan Targets Increase the trail network from 134 miles to 400 miles to meet the needs of the projected 2040 population Include a health and wellness component in at least 75 percent of DPR’s programs Reduce the percentage of the county population that is obese by at least 10 percent over the next 10 years Photos courtesy of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation
- 19. Prince George’s County:Building Partnerships for Public Health “Chronic diseases – specifically diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, asthma, and cancer – are the health conditions most amenable to improvement…in Prince George’s County.” (UMD School of Public Health, Public Health Impact Study) Prince George’s County (with DPR as catalyst) is partnering with the UMD School of Public Health on a county health improvement initiative
- 20. Prince George’s County:Building Partnerships for Public Health Potential Partners • PGC Health Department • PGC Healthcare Action Coalition (responsible for implementing the PGC Health Improvement Plan) • PGC Department of Parks and Recreation • PGC Planning Department • PGC Public Schools • Institute for Public Health Innovation • UMD School of Public Health
- 21. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Expands the definition of open space beyond parks to components of the city fabric and the benefits they provide • Green elements and places • Network of benefits: environment, economy, quality of life Philadelphia will be a “greene Country Towne which will never be burnt, and always be wholesome.” - William Penn
- 22. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Physical Framework ELEMENTS OF GREEN PLACES GREEN PLACES Trees Parks and Recreation Spaces Stormwater Management Tools Green Schoolyards Meadows Vacant Land Opportunities Trails and Bikeways Waterfronts Wetlands Green Streets Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens Green Development High Performance Surfaces Plazas and Auxiliary Spaces Renewable Energy Rail and Utility Corridor Enhancements
- 23. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Network of Benefits ENVIRONMENT ECONOMY GREEN QUALITY OF LIFE Clean Air Efficient Energy Use Fresh, Local Produce Healthy Watersheds Valuable Properties Convenient Recreation Access Robust Habitat Productive Land Use Healthy Residents Hospitable Climate Competitive Economy Strong, Safe Neighborhoods How many of these benefits improve public health?
- 24. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Equitable access based on level of service • % of people living within half mile of a park or playground • Parks serving over 500 people per acre of park within the half mile radius Served Area Underserved Area
- 25. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Street
- 26. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Green Street
- 27. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Schoolyard
- 28. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Green Schoolyard
- 29. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Neighborhood
- 30. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Green Neighborhood
- 31. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Alley
- 32. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Green Alley
- 33. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders City
- 34. GreenPlan Philadelphia: ParksWithout Borders Greene Country Towne
- 35. Where’s the Money? GOVERNMENTALSOURCES CDC Community Transformation Grants – MaineHealth received $220,000 to implement no- or low-cost recreational programs for overweight youth and to develop a media campaign to encourage advocacy for recreational programs and facilities HUD Sustainable Communities Planning Grants – Shelby County, TN is funding a Greenways and Green Infrastructure Health Impact Assessment as part of a $2,619,999 grant for the Mid-South Regional Greenprint & Sustainability Plan EPA Green Infrastructure Technical Assistance Grants – The City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management received $50,000 to help develop conceptual designs for potential greenspace in two neighborhoods
- 36. Where’s the Money? GOVERNMENTALSOURCES Stormwater Utility Fees – Philadelphia, PA uses stormwater billing to fund green street and other green infrastructure projects ($18.5 million projected in FY 2014) – The Lenexa, KS Rain to Recreation program uses stormwater utility fees and other funding sources to implement projects that manage stormwater and create greenspace NONPROFIT & PRIVATE SOURCES National Foundations/Grant Programs – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Program supports investments in parks and green infrastructure projects to reduce childhood obesity (41 communities received a total of $33 million under this program in 2012)
- 37. Where’s the Money? NONPROFIT& PRIVATE SOURCES Local Health Care Systems/Institutions – North Central Health Services in Wabash, IN contributed $500,000 to help fund the Wabash River Corridor environmental, economic, and recreational enhancement project – Heart Clinic Arkansas raised $2.1 million to help the City of Little Rock fund the Medical Mile (part of the Arkansas River Trail) Local Foundations – The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham raised more than $17 million to help fund the City’s Three Parks Initiative, which will develop two new parks and enhance a nature preserve (the Foundation has a major initiative called People Can Lead Healthy Lives) Local Businesses – In Cary, NC, Greenways, Inc. donated its services and partnered with local businesses to use their waste products to develop the Swift Creek Recycled Greenway
- 38. Discussion How can weleverage the value of parks in improving public health? How can the parks-public health connection be demonstrated by evidence?