Introduction

PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNA PUFFER, WEST ALLIS-WEST MILWAUKEE RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Flowers are sold through the West Allis (Wisconsin) Farmers Market Mini Marketers program.

At the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), we believe parks and recreation is vital to community health and well-being. Access to these spaces, programs and services remains essential to community vitality and is a key factor in advancing health equity, improving individual and community-level health outcomes and enhancing quality of life. Park and recreation professionals are uniquely positioned to create, in partnership with community members and key collaborators, the people-centered Community Wellness Hubs needed to address public health threats and harness the full potential of community to ensure all people can thrive.

NRPA strives for a future where all people have access to the benefits of quality parks and recreation, and we see parks and recreation as a pathway to advance health equity. It is critical for park and recreation professionals to create more equitable access to high-quality spaces, programs and services, where all people can experience the benefits that parks and recreation uniquely provides. This vision demands a dedicated commitment to intentionally advancing health equity within all operations, planning and programming by applying a health equity lens.

The purpose of the Health Impact Evaluation Framework: Measuring the Process and Outcomes of Health and Wellness Programs is to help local park and recreation agencies better measure the impact of their health and wellness programs and initiatives, by connecting agencies to a multitude of existing evaluation tools, data sources, data analysis, data collection tools and other resources. The framework will help agencies better evaluate the impacts of park and recreation health interventions and communicate them more effectively to local-elected officials, members of the public and philanthropic supporters.