Healthy Parks Equal Healthy People

If you want to stay heart healthy, then communing with nature at your local park is a good first step. People living near parks have greater opportunities to be physically active by running, walking or participating in other heart happy activities. In fact, studies show that adopting an active lifestyle reduces stress and obesity, and may even lower the risks of heart disease and diabetes—making the case for the great outdoors being a gateway to better health.

Urban parks also support public health by cleaning the air that we breathe. The leaves of trees and plant life improve air quality by removing toxins—such as carbon monoxide and ozone—that are especially prevalent in cities and harmful to your health. These types of pollutants have been linked to respiratory problems in children, the elderly, and people suffering from asthma.

To ensure that everyone in the community is fit and healthy, it's important that cities have a variety of parks to meet the interests of diverse populations. From parks and playgrounds to green-ways and trails, open spaces are critical to helping residents within neighborhoods bond and build stronger, safer, and healthier communities.