The Healthy Parks, Healthy People: Bay Area collaborative was initiated in June 2012 by leaders representing parks, open space, healthcare, and public health agencies. The program was intiated because of growing evidence that spending time in nature improves both physical and mental health. The goal of the collaborative is to improve the health and wellbeing of all Bay Area residents, especially those with high health needs, through regular use and enjoyment of parks.
In order to achieve this goal, the Healthy Parks, Healthy People collaborative is trying to increase the utilization of parks by communities that are historically suffering from high risk chronic disease, and ensuring that park facilities and programs encourage physical activity and social connection. The agencies involved are committed to a long-term collaboration between counties and various sectors- parks, open spaces, healthcare, and public health agencies.
To implement long-term goals into a regional effort to improve the health of Bay Area residents, the parks agencies propose a multi-county program of monthly activities that would introduce visitors to safe, low-impact walking, and physical activity in nature. Health and social service providers will refer their patients to regularly scheduled programs in every Bay Area county.
First Saturday Program Objectives
Enhanced Programming to Promote New Physical and Social Activity: On the first Saturday of every month, selected parks in each county will welcome new visitors with group stretching exercises, encouragement to meet other participants, an orientation to the natural features of the trail, the health benefits of the activity, and guided group walks.
Simple Schedule to Encourage Initial Participation: To encourage first-time visitors to parks, the schedule and location of the Saturday programs will be simple and consistent.
Regional Consistency to Maximize Support and Outreach: A consistent regional effort would facilitate the support of organizations with a multi-county presence or collaboration, including healthcare systems, media outlets, transit authorities, and potential funders.
Contributing Partners as of June 1, 2013
Bay Area Open Space Council
Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland
Crissy Field Center
East Bay Regional Parks District
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, NPS
Greater Vallejo Recreation District
Institute at the Golden Gate
Marin County Parks
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District
National Park Service, Pacific West Region
Network for a Healthy California
Point Bonita YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of San Francisco
Point Reyes National Seashore Association
Point Reyes National Seashore, NPS
San Francisco Bay Trail Project
San Francisco Department of Public Health
San Francisco Parks Alliance
San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department
San Mateo County Parks
Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation
Santa Clara County Open Space Authority
SF State University, (Department of Recreation, Parks, & Tourism; Department of Kinesiology)
Solano County Department of Health and Social Services
Solano County Parks and Recreation Division
Sonoma County Parks
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region
URS Corporation
