Page 75 - Illinois Association of Park Districts Benefits of Membership 2017 - 2018

POSITION OF THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF PARK DISTRICTS
Healthy living – the role of park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies
The issue
Healthy living is fundamental in improving one’s physical and emotional health and social well-being. Parks and recreation services play a vital role in encouraging people to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles by providing the programs, the facilities and the protected environment that allow people to be physically and socially active.
Background
Research shows that one way to increase the population’s level of physical activity is to provide easy access to nearby parks, playgrounds, greenways or trails.1 A study by the National Recreation and Park Association found that, in terms of overall health, local park and recreation users reported fewer visits to a physician for purposes other than check-ups than did non-park users, even when controlling for the effects of age, income, education level, health status and other possible influences.2
Physical benefits
Active people have longer life spans and are at less risk of developing diseases. Active lifestyles decrease the risk of obesity and heart attacks.3 Maintaining a healthy body weight is easier on the heart and joints, which enables a more agile lifestyle as one ages. Physical activity also helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol, which can decrease the chance of heart attack and stroke.
Inactive people have a greater risk of developing some cancers, have more chance of developing diabetes, have a higher risk for osteoporosis and are more prone to injuries and accidents than physically active people.4
Emotional benefits
1 Parks for People, A Healthier America? It’s a Walk in the Park, 2004
2 Ho, ChingHua, Laura Payne, Elizabeth Orsega-Smith and Geoffrey Godbey, “Parks, recreation and public health: parks and recreation improve the physical and mental health of our nation-research update.” Parks & Recreation, April 2003.
3 Overweight and Obesity: What You Can Do, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/).
4 NHS Health Scotland and The Scottish Executive, http://www.healthyliving.gov.uk/physicalactivity, 2005
75