"National Parks are a great place to be able to go out and enjoy some active recreation, but as well, they’re a terrific place to be able to rekindle your spirits, to work on the mental well-being that’s so important to all of us."
-Steve Whitesell, Director, National Capital Region National Park Service

Healthy Parks Healthy People is a global movement that harnesses the power of parks and public lands in contributing to a healthy civil society.

The National Park Service’s Healthy Parks Healthy People US program was established in 2011, to reframe the role of parks and public lands as an emerging, powerful health prevention strategy. With this renewed focus on health, the program hopes to bring about lasting change in Americans’ lifestyle choices and their relationship with nature and the outdoors.

The Healthy Parks, Healthy People program:

• harnesses the power of parks and public lands in promoting the health of people and the environment;
• advances the fact that all parks - urban and wildland are cornerstones of people’s mental, physical, and spiritual health, and social well-being and sustainability of the plane; and
• connects people to parks through health promotion, fosters society’s understanding and appreciation for the life-sustaining role of parks, and creates the next generation of park stewards.