Everyone’s Parks and Trails: A Universal Access Plan for CRD Parks
- Author(s): Capital Regional District (http://www.crd.bc.ca/)
- Organization: Capital Regional District (http://www.crd.bc.ca/)
- Date Published: January 1, 2003
Ensuring that all visitors to regional parks and trails have equal opportunity to experience their natural and cultural heritage is the goal of accessibility and universal design for CRD Parks.
CRD Parks has developed Everyone’s Parks and Trails, a Universal Access Plan to better accomplish its vision of providing opportunities to experience regional parks and trails. The plan identifies an integrated approach to establishing facilities and services for the widest possible range of park and trail visitors, including visitors with disabilities.
Healthy parks, healthy people: The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context. (2nd ed.)
- Author(s): Cecily Maller, Claire Henderson-Wilson, Anita Pryor, et al.
- Organization: Deakin University and Parks Victoria www.deakin.edu.au
- Date Published: January 2, 2008
This report highlights that “there is a clear message for park managers to join public health fora, as not only
do parks protect the essential systems of life and biodiversity, but they also are a fundamental setting for health promotion and the creation of well being, that to date has not been fully recognized.” This report also provides recommendations to government departments, planners, park management bodies, and health policy makers to support further research; encourage and facilitate the re-positioning of parks; and develop ways of integrating parks and nature into public health.
Outdoor Recreation, Health, and Wellness: Understanding and Enhancing the Relationship
- Author(s): Geoffrey Godbey www.geoffreygodbey.com
- Organization: Resources for the Future: Outdoor Resources Review Group
- Date Published: May 2, 2009
The research literature on outdoor recreation as it relates to human health is vast and growing. To help policymakers take new and emerging findings into account when designing recreation and park services and initiatives for the 21st century, this paper summarizes the salient issues and identifies research gaps. It considers how being outside in natural surroundings may improve health and how outdoor physical activities benefit participants. Particular attention is given to children’s health problems that can be mitigated through outdoor play, sports, and nature study. The paper describes approaches to measuring physical activity and recent trends in park visitation and outdoor activity participation. It looks at variables that affect participation in outdoor activities and considers the projected demographic changes that will affect policy making in this arena. The findings of this literature review point to potential new directions for outdoor recreation policy, as well as new policy questions to be explored.
Position on the Environment as a Context for Health
- Author(s): Margot Parkes, Courtney LaBourdais, Lindsay Beck, et al.
- Organization: Northern Health Authority
- Date Published: July 1, 2012
This paper outlines the position of Northern Health regarding the environment as a context for health. Health is tied to social, economic and personal development and these can be determined by the settings where we live, work, learn and play. This paper highlights that these settings are embedded in the physical environment. Using a population-health approach, we will engage with communities and individuals to move toward increased health and wellness for people and their environments. This will be accomplished by supporting and promoting that the health and well-being of (current and future) populations depends on healthy environments. We will work with community partners to improve the health, well-being and quality of life of those living, working, learning and playing in Northern BC.
Reporting on the Pan Canadian Survey RE: Children and Nature
- Author(s): Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
- Organization: Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
- Date Published: July 1, 2012
This work, lead by the ARPA (Alberta Recreation and Parks Association), came to the attention of Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC), who is also a partners in the BC initiative. Discussions resulted in a grant from MEC to the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), an alliance of provincial/territorial recreation and Parks Associations, to conduct a Pan Canadian survey and identify opportunities for future action. ARPA was subsequently asked to lead the Pan Canadian assessment. The Pan Canadian survey was prepared using Survey Gizmo web survey technology. It was translated into French, and both versions were posted on the web in February 2010. By mid-March 169 surveys had been completed, all using the English language version. The results of the survey to that point were prepared into a presentation for a CPRA National Strategies Workshop held in conjunction with the annual conference of Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) in early April 2010. At that workshop, there were 47 participants – see Appendix 1 for National Strategy Workshop materials. After the PRO conference, the survey was reposted on the web, and between April and June a further 172 surveys were received (three using the French version). The combined survey results (341 total respondents) are summarized in this report.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.arpaonline.ca/Children-Nature-Survey-Report.pdf