Parks Can Help Your Quality Of Life Grow Greater (NAPSA)—When it comes to improv- ing your health and happiness, research suggests thatliving near a park may be more importantthan you think. WhatTheScientists Say “Individuals who move to greener areas have significant and long-lasting improvements in mental health? explained Dr. Ian Alcock of the Univer- sity of Exeter Medical School. Researchers from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital found that womenliving in the greenest areas had a 12 percent lower death rate than womenlivingin theleast green areas. WhyParks Are So Important Research shows that high-quality The more green space in your neighborhood,studies show,the better off you can be. Start by visiting ParkServe.tpl.org, a free online data platform created by the nonprofit The Trust for Public Land. Thesite gives peopleliving in 14,000 parks make cities healthier in nearly every cities across America the ability to meaway. + Proximity to parks makesit eas- tify which neighborhoods need new sity, diabetes and other serious chronic health conditions. see how the added green space would change park access and park equity ier for you and yourfamily to enjoy an active lifestyle, reducing risk for obe+ A park’ pleasant, relaxed envi- ronmentis proven to reducestress and improve mental health. + Parks make it easy to meet your neighbors and create lasting friendships. + Trees andotherplants in parks help clean the air andteach kids aboutnature. + Quality park systems canattract new employers and contribute to eco- nomic growth. Technology ForCreating Green Space Considering all the ways parks boost well-being, you may be glad to learn there's something you can do to get moreparks built in your community. sure local access to parks and to iden- parks most. You can even draw a potential park on the map and immediately measuresfor your city. ‘The organizationbelievesthat everyone deserves to have a quality park within a 10-minute walk (or a half mile) of home, and hundredsofleading U.S. mayors have endorsedthatgoal. With data and custom reports that are easy to download,print and share, ParkServe can help you make the case for park investment to your elected officials. HowTo GetIt Visit www.ParkServe.tpl.org today andput the “science of parks” to work for you!
