Category: Benefits of Parks

Welcome back to the final Benefits of Parks post! So far, we have covered the benefits of parks from elders to young children. If you’d like to read those posts, you can find them on our website, cv-prd.org, under the “District News/Events” page. CVPRD is committed to bringing parks to Columbia Valley. With that, they want to make sure that Columbia Valley has various parks that serve everyone in the community. Today, we’re looking to bring this series full-circle by looking into the intergenerational benefits of parks. 

Benefits children bring to elders. 

When elders have parks to spend time with children, they report greater feelings of joy and friendship. Elders have specifically said that using parks for intergenerational activities boosts their self-esteem and confidence. When parks are accommodating for everyone in the community, elders are more likely to feel appreciated and valued. There is something about consistent family bonding that also positively affects elders’ memory and decision-making skills. Finally, elders have also reported that they believe they’re playing a part in encouraging the younger generations to make a difference in society by bonding so closely. 

Benefits elders bring to children.

Children also report more feelings of joy and friendship when they have parks to spend time with their elders. Their parents and elders serve as mentors, which can improve academic performance. Children also feel more loved and receive greater attention when they spend days at the park with the entire family; this can help improve self-esteem and confidence in children. On top of all this, children are far less likely to develop negative stereotypes about older generations when spending quality time with them. 

By providing parks that serve everyone, Columbia Valley will become more age-inclusive. With busy lives and differing schedules, it can be hard to find times to plan intergenerational activities. However, when neighborhood parks are close by, it becomes easier to plan family events. What better way to spend a warm summer day than playing and picnicking in your local neighborhood park with your entire family? Imagine too, a snowy winter day having a park you can walk to with kids who had school canceled. This can be a game changer for everyone when the community gets snowed in and driving is hazardous.

We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about the benefits that parks will bring to Columbia Valley. If you’d like to learn more about the intergenerational benefits of parks, feel free to visit the links below. The information from this blog post also comes from the links below. 

Six Benefits of Intergenerational Parks and Rec Activities 

Intergenerational Playgrounds Unite the Young and Old 

How to take advantage of existing city parks’ infrastructure to promote intergenerational programmes?

Welcome back to this week’s Benefits of Parks post! Last week, we looked into the benefits of parks for children ages 5-12. This week, we’ll be looking at the benefits that parks bring to children younger than 5. If you’d like to see all of the posts from this series, they can be found under the “District News/Events” page on our website, cv-prd.org. 

Parks encourage adventure and imagination for young children. 

Young children are naturally curious. Parks provide a safe and beautiful place for young children to let their imagination run wild. Playgrounds often hold various new sensory experiences for young children; woodchips, grass, soil, plastic, rubber. These materials tend to be new experiences for children, and exploring them can promote brain development and their sense of adventure. All of the young children in Columbia Valley deserve the experience of growing up near a park where they could have fun and gain new experiences. 

Parks promote social development in young children. 

It’s good for young children to be familiar with other children before they are sent to kindergarten. Families can take advantage of parks to socialize with their children. When children play with one another in parks, they learn important lessons about social norms—for example, getting along with one another, being patient and taking turns, overcoming shyness, and building friendships. Having these experiences bring positive emotional impacts to children and can even boost their self-esteem. It’s important that children in Columbia Valley have access to parks to have the opportunity for these experiences. 

There are so many other benefits that parks bring to young children; to learn more, feel free to visit the links below. The information from the post came from the links below. 

The Importance of Playgrounds for Children

Get Outside and Play! The Benefits of Parks for Children 

Welcome back to this week’s Benefits of Parks post! Last week we covered the benefits parks bring to teenagers. Visit our website, cv-prd.org, to view all of the parks’ benefits under the “District News/Events” page. This week we are looking at the benefits that parks have on children between the ages of 5 and 12. 

Parks benefit children’s mental health. 

For children to thrive, their mental health needs consideration. Studies have shown that access to parks has significant benefits for treating and coping with ADD and ADHD in children. Children with ADD/ADHD are more capable of focusing in school if they have green space to play in.

As any parent will tell you, children have so much energy! Public parks are a safe and fun outlet for all of their energy. If children have a designated place to get outside and play with their friends, their stress levels may also decrease. 

Parks promote healthy development in children. 

Climbing around and swinging on the monkey bars at a playground undoubtedly promotes muscle strength and coordination in kids. Researchers have found that playing helps children develop skills that they will need to thrive later on in life. One compelling study linked running in children to increased memory functions; Researchers found that the more children were able to run, the better they could remember facts or unique situations. Parks provide a safe place for families to bring their children to play and support their development as they grow. 

There are so many different benefits that parks bring to children; to learn more, feel free to visit the links below. The information from this blog post also comes from the following sources:

Get Outside and Play! The Benefits of Parks for Kids

The Health Benefits of Parks 

Mental Health Benefits of Interactions with Nature in Children and Teenagers: A Systematic Review

Welcome back to this week’s Benefits of Parks post, where we will be covering the benefits parks will bring to Columbia Valley’s teenagers. Last week we looked into the benefits of parks for young adults. You can find all of the posts from this series on our website, cv-prd.org, under “District News/Events.” Each blog post is also being posted to our Facebook page on Sundays! For the purposes of this blog post, we are considering teenagers to be between the ages of 13 and 17. 

Parks encourage teenagers to stay out of trouble.

Teenage rebellion is typically fueled by boredom; parks can decrease the chances of teens getting into trouble. Teens need a safe and fun place to hang out with their friends. When other park-goers are present, youth are more likely to be accountable for their actions. Instead of finding trouble, teens could rather play a game of basketball at the community park. Parks encourage fun social spaces for everyone, including teenagers. 

Parks encourage teens to get active.

Our teenagers have been through a lot over the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic. While we always want youth to get active outside, we’ve had to encourage them to stay inside and keep their distance. As more vaccines become available to community members, the days of getting outside and being active are becoming more of a possibility. However, with the severe lack of parks in Columbia Valley, where will the teens play? CVPRD is hoping to provide more parks for everyone in the community. When youth have access to parks, they are more likely to be active. Being more active not only increases teenager’s physical health but their social and mental health as well. Getting outside has become more important than ever for teenagers, and they need a safe park place to do so. 

The information from this blog post comes from the sources linked below. We encourage community members to check them out if they are looking to learn more about the benefits of parks. 

Exploring Children’s Views on Important Park Features: A Qualitative Study Using Walk-Along Interviews. 

Windy City Hoops Gives City Youth Basketball Outlet

We’re back with another Benefits of Parks post for Columbia Valley’s residents! So far, we’ve covered the benefits of parks for elders and adults with no children. If you haven’t already checked those posts out, they are on our website, cv-prd.org, under “District News/Events.” Each blog post is also being posted to our Facebook page on Sundays! This week we will be covering the benefits of parks for young adults. For the purposes of this blog post, we are considering young adults to be between the ages of 18 and 24. 

Parks can reduce stress and increase one’s ability to cope. 

Most young adults face new stressors in the journey of growing up and becoming independent. This time in life is typically filled with new experiences, personal growth, conflicts, and stress that can sometimes be overwhelming. Stress from major life changes such as paying bills, getting a job, and providing for yourself can lead to chronic mental fatigue. Luckily, community parks can help relieve stress and increase the capacity to cope. Researchers have found that when stressed young adults have access to green space, they are less likely to procrastinate and more likely to feel like their issues were less severe and easier to handle. When life can be so overwhelming, getting outside into a community park to breathe and enjoy the scenery is just what young adults need. 

Parks provide opportunities to find new passions. 

CVPRD is looking to bring a variety of different kinds of parks to the community. Numerous types of parks opens unique opportunities for young adults to find new passions. One example would be to start a community garden. Gardening is a great way to reduce stress and provide fresh produce. Growing your food is rewarding; young adults may feel an increase in self-confidence from this experience. Other types of parks with paving or trails may invite young adults to try running, biking, roller skating, or skateboarding regularly. Regardless of what passion they choose, young adults will undoubtedly benefit mentally and physically from having a designated space to get outside in your community. 

The information from this blog post comes from the source link below. If you’re looking to learn more about some of the health benefits of parks, feel free to check it out!

The Health Benefits of Parks

Welcome back to our series on the benefits of parks within the Columbia Valley community. Last week, we covered the benefits that parks bring to our elders. This week, we’ll be taking a look into the benefits parks bring to adults without children in our community. We hope to highlight that parks are not just places for families and children; CVPRD is working to create comfortable park environments for everyone!

Parks promote community wellness.
Getting outside and being active has become increasingly important nowadays since so many people have transferred their day-to-day activities inside. Having a park in the community provides a safe, comfortable, and convenient place for people to get fresh air and exercise. Spending time outside, enjoying the scenery, and connecting with neighbors boosts mental health. Having a park in your neighborhood also increases physical activity. Studies have found a 25% increase in people exercising outdoors weekly when a park is added near their neighborhood. Maintaining regular physical exercise is a great way to promote mental health wellness and reduce the chances of health problems later in life.

Parks are great for everyone’s environment. 
Columbia Valley is well-known for having a beautiful forest landscape, but there is always room for improvement! Whether you’re walking, biking, or taking a short drive in Columbia Valley the impacts of development are obvious; so much of our area’s green space is being cleared for new homes. Loss of green space and habitat presents a unique opportunity for preservation in our community. Parks are a great way to preserve the native plants and animals that residents care about in the community and help restore the impacts of development. When habitat is preserved for animals, such as native birds, residents are more likely to engage in other preservation activities since they can enjoy their presence. This opportunity to preserve natural beauty for ourselves, future generations, and wildlife by creating parks in our neighborhood will likely not come again. More information on the importance of preservation in our community will be coming soon in a future blog post!

Parks also provide an excellent opportunity to plant more trees in the community. A study about the air quality effects of trees in urban parks showed that one acre of trees drastically reduces the amount of pollution in the air. Adding more parks to the community truly brings new meaning to a “breath of fresh air.” 

The information from this blog post comes from the sources linked below. If you’re looking to learn more about how parks can bring you benefits, check them out!

Benefits of Parks in Your Community
The Benefits of Parks
Air Quality Effects of Urban Trees and Parks

CVPRD is working to create comfortable park environments for everyone in the Columbia Valley community. This is the beginning of a series of blog posts describing the benefits of parks for all age ranges within our community. This week, we’re diving into what kinds of benefits parks bring to elders. For the purposes of this blog post, we will be using the term “Elders” for anyone ages 55 and older. 

One of the biggest benefits parks bring to everyone in the community is access to fresh air and beautiful nature. The following list includes park benefits that are specific to our community’s elders. 

1. Parks boost self-esteem and mental health.

Since public parks are community-based spaces, they present many opportunities to connect with your neighbors, build new relationships, and strengthen existing ones. Becoming more connected with one’s community through public parks has been found to help improve self-esteem and mental health for elders. Whether it’s meeting up with old friends or making new ones, parks are the perfect place to gather and enjoy each other’s company.

2. Parks provide a place for light exercise.

Parks can come in various shapes and sizes that can be modified to include different features for everyone to enjoy. CVPRD is looking into including walking paths and trails in future park designs. Walking paths provide an excellent opportunity for elders to engage in some light physical activity. CVPRD is also researching ways to make paths ADA accessible to ensure everyone in the community is accommodated.

3. Parks can strengthen one’s sense of security. 

When there are more members of the community out enjoying parks, then there are more eyes on the street. More eyes on the street can deflect any undesirable behavior or activities. Plus, knowing that CVPRD is working to make park spaces accessible and safe for everyone also helps increase the sense of security. 

This blog post highlights the most significant benefits parks bring to elders. If you’d like to learn even more about the benefits parks have for elders, feel free to visit these links below:

What do Seniors Need in Parks?

The Benefits of Public Parks for Seniors.

The Importance of Nature in Older Populations.