Parks and Recreation Month
Individuals experience things differently, and the activities that the Parks and Recreation month provide are no exception. There are many benefits of Parks and Recreation month including: increasing physical activity, relaxation of the mind, bringing people closer together, and fostering collaboration. Parks and Recreation month encourages fun through the use of a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.
Parks are good for your health
NRPA Research reports that parks are the places that people go to get healthy and stay fit. Parks and recreation programs can contribute to the overall health and wellness of children, youth, adults, and seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the creation, improvement and promotion of places, like parks, to be physically active can improve individual and community health. This may also result in a 25% increase of residents who exercise at least three times per week. A study by Penn State University showed significant correlations to reductions in stress, lowered blood pressure, and perceived physical health to the length of visits to parks.
Parks are good for your community
Parks and protected public lands are proven to improve water quality, protect groundwater and prevent flooding. In addition, they also improve the quality of the air we breathe; provide vegetative buffers to development; and produce habitat for wildlife, while providing a place for children and families to connect with nature and recreate outdoors together.
We encourage everyone, regardless of age or ability, to get out to your local parks and recreation centers and bond with others in your community.
Here are several Missouri Resources to help you get started:
Parks and Recreation St. Louis County – www.stlouisco.com/parksandrecreation
Missouri Department of Conservation – https://mdc.mo.gov
Conservation Federation of Missouri
Missouri Park Association
Missouri Bicycle Federation
Open Space Council of St. Louis
Great Rivers Greenways
Ozark Greenways
Missouri Municipal League
Missouri Council on Activity and Nutrition
Ozark Trails
Missouri State Parks
Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative