The Path to Wellness Starts in Our Parks

By: Christopher Korbelak | www.pbcparks.com | IG: @PBCParks

Active lifestyles are critical to a healthy mind and body, but many people don’t get out and don’t move as much as they should. For over 50 years, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department (PBC Parks) has provided diverse, safe, affordable recreation services and opportunities for healthy, happy living for its residents and visitors. The department is committed to offering various options to help you and your loved ones find balance and stay fit.

Public parks and recreation agencies are becoming vital healthcare resources. They play a fundamental role in creating healthy communities and enhancing the physical environments in which we live. They support good health for people of all abilities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, and ethnicities through facilities, outdoor settings, and services provided. For example, numerous studies have shown that a connection to nature helps relieve stress levels, tightens interpersonal relationships, and improves mental health. Additionally, public parks provide opportunities for patients to reduce obesity and the incidence of chronic disease through increased rigorous physical activity in various forms. And they foster overall wellness and healthful habits, such as becoming tobacco-free and engaging in enrichment opportunities that add balance to life.

Across the United States, parks, healthcare providers, public health agencies, and other entities have successfully facilitated physicianpatient conversations about active living through “park prescription” programs, connecting individuals and families to free opportunities for physical activity close to their homes. The goal is to increase the time patients spend enjoying physical activity to prevent or treat health problems resulting from inactivity and poor diet and provide physicians and other healthcare providers with new tools to inspire them to improve their health.

Cardio activities like swimming at our pools and aquatic centers help you de-stress while helping reduce your chances for preventable diseases like obesity, heart disease, and stroke. Playing sports at our facilities can help improve essential skills like attentiveness, handeye coordination and team-building skills. Run and play on our sports fields to create healthy lifestyles and life-long bonds with friends and teammates. Countless miles of paved multi-use pedestrian pathways and fitness trails, many with exercise stations, can be found throughout the park system. PBC Parks enable people to experience adventure and challenge their minds and bodies. They also make fitness fun and offer unique and equitable physical activity opportunities.

PBC Parks enhances the lives of over 5,000 persons with disabilities annually through various affordable and often free recreational services and socially inclusive programs. Access to safe, fun, innovative, and accessible places to play is an ideal embraced wholeheartedly by Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation staff through inclusive playgrounds and wheelchairaccessible facilities to adaptive sports programs and various leisure pursuits.

Facilitating health and wellness opportunities is a core service of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. Regardless of age, gender, or ability, the path to wellness starts in our parks. Discover healthy, happy living at www.pbcparks.com and follow @PBCParks and #pbcparks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and WordPress.

Beyond The Couch highlights non-traditional mental health outlets and resources in Palm Beach County. To contribute, send your article ideas to thewell@bewellpbc. org with “Beyond the Couch” in the subject line.

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