February 20, 2020

“Park Rx Utah” Urges Providers to “Prescribe” Time in Parks to Patients

What: Park Rx Utah Stakeholder Retreat 

When: Friday, February 21, 8:30am to 1:00pm

• 9:15am: Keynote speaker Jo Burns
• 12:30pm: Salt Lake County Deputy Mayor Erin Litvack

Where: Element Event Center, 5658 Cougar Lane in Kearns

Who:

• Salt Lake County Health Department
• Jo Burns, Colorado Public Health/Parks & Recreation Collaborative
• Parks and recreation staff from municipalities in Salt Lake County
• Healthcare systems
• Higher education researchers

Why: Park Rx Utah is the local coalition of a national movement to encourage physicians and other health care providers to “prescribe” time in parks to their patients.

Community park spaces are a convenient, accessible place for residents to improve their physical and mental health at no cost to them. Parks accommodate individual ability levels and provide opportunities for regular engagement.

Proven benefits of time in parks include:

• Improved mental health
• Decreased blood pressure
• Reduced risk of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, respiratory, neurological and digestive diseases
• Increased physical activity levels and improved blood sugar levels among diabetic patients

For more information about the national Park Rx movement, visit ParkRx.org.