A new program is giving healthcare providers a chance to prescribe park time to patients to improve their health and well-being.
A kick-off event was held recently at Mountain View Park for the ParkRx pilot program, which will encourage doctors and other healthcare providers to prescribe time in parks to patients. The program also will support park improvements (submitted photo).
The Arizona Community Tree Council received a $124,700 Innovation Grant from Vitalyst Health Foundation for a ParkRx pilot program. The program will encourage doctors and other healthcare providers in two communities to prescribe park time to patients, as well as support park improvements including trees and benches.
HonorHealth Cardiac Rehab Clinic patients will receive prescriptions to spend time in Sunnyslope Park or another park that is closer to them. The participants’ blood pressure, moods, behavior and mental health will be evaluated to determine how effective the ParkRx program has been.
A kick-off event for the program was held last month at Mountain View Park on North 7th Avenue, where a mayoral proclamation was made and the new FitPhx sign was unveiled. A community walk also took place then. To learn more about the ParkRx program, visit ParkRXArizona.org.
