The Walk With Ease Program was developed by the Arthritis Foundation and is beneficial for anyone looking to engage in physical activity, but especially for those suffering with arthritis.
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The Park District of Forest Park decided to implement the Walk with Ease (WWE) program to give their residents the opportunity to better their health through a structured program. Walk with Ease is an evidence-based, six-week exercise program developed by the Arthritis Foundation and designed and proven to reduce arthritic pain and improve overall health.
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On Saturday, January 16, Baseball Hall of Fame member Mike Schmidt and the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, in partnership with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, unveiled Palm Beach County’s first BrightGuard™ Sunscreen Dispenser at the South Florida Fair and encouraged fairgoers to protect themselves from the sun's harmful UV rays.
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Almost 70 percent of Henderson, Nevada residents live within a half-mile of a park or recreation amenity—the equivalent of just two laps around a track. With so many parks and trails within walking distance, Henderson residents have a unique opportunity to participate in outdoor experiences right in their own neighborhoods.
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LiveWell Greenville in South Carolina is a coalition of more than 100 public and private partners actively exploring solutions that “make the healthy choice the easy choice in Greenville County.” In 2013 via the Greenville County Health System New Impact program, the coalition developed a clinically focused park prescription effort to reduce obesity in underserved youth and encourage healthy lifestyles through increased connections to parks and recreation.
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Portland, Oregon’s Rx Play park prescription program has served as a powerful tool for strengthening conversations about exercise between physicians and patients. To expand Rx Play in 2013, the Portland Parks and Recreation Department focused on making simple system changes to the program—leveraging key strengths and addressing key challenges—in order to build stronger relationships with disadvantaged families and eliminate access barriers to parks and recreation.
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In San Diego County, California's unincorporated Lakeside community, engaging in physical activity is a challenge for many families due to a lack of resources and negative perceptions of nearby parks. In 2013, the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation (County) launched a coordinated effort in Lakeside to: 1) assist local healthcare providers in connecting overweight youth to opportunities for exercise; and 2) address cost, information, and perception barriers to park and recreation programs. Through the Rec Rx initiative, the County hoped to help more children attain their fitness goals and adopt lifelong healthy behaviors.
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Leading by example is an important strategy in promoting better health in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2013, through its novel Docs in the Park (DITP) program, the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP) and a number of regional partners united residents in three major parks to promote lifelong outdoor engagement and demonstrate—through hands-on experience—the large menu of recreation programs and activities available to children and adults.
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Since its inception, the DC Park Rx program has helped disadvantaged youth throughout the District of Columbia create powerful connections to the outdoors. In 2013, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DCDPR) and the D.C. health community expanded the program to Ward 1 in Northwest D.C. to address significant barriers to parks and improve health outcomes in the city’s most diverse region.
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A collaborative group of local leaders in Pierre implemented a program for physicians to provide “wellness prescriptions” to their patients – children, adults, and the elderly. One tangible part of this program was a physical map of all outdoor recreation activities available in and around the city.
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When it comes to public parks, the District of Columbia (DC) boasts a layout enviable to many U.S. communities. In fact, regardless of neighborhood or socio-economic background, a majority of DC’s residents live within walking distance of a park, recreation center, or swimming pool—giving rise to an environment conducive to physical activity. And yet, obesity is still prevalent.
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Physical fitness is just what the doctor ordered for kids in Annapolis, thanks to an innovative program backed by local pediatricians. A local health collaborative that includes the parks and recreation department and the public health department worked closely with two area medical groups to launch a program which involves prescriptions for physical activity through summer sports camps that can be filled free of charge or at a steep discount.
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A mom watches as her eight year old daughter is weighed and measured at the pediatrician’s office. She knows that her child is “heavy” and she feels helpless. Where should she start?
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The tiny city of McMinnville (population 18,000) is making efforts to shrink its citizens. In a region where obesity is a prevalent health concern, this community has targeted nutrition as a key area in need of improvement. A collaborative was formed between McMinnville Parks and Recreation, Warren County School System, and River Park Hospital to reverse local obesity trends.
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