A strategically built public park has many health benefits. It creates a safe gathering space, promotes community welfare and enhances mental well-being. Scientists at University of Illinois say that adding more green spaces to urban surroundings can help reduce criminal activities by 50% which ensures peace of mind for citizens. Breathing in fresh air and basking in the sun make people happier and more productive as well. In short, a park is a fun place for individuals of all age groups! Here are a few ways to make communities more wellness-focused.
Outdoor Fitness Space for Families
Family Fit Zones are multigenerational destination play, sporting and fitness areas. These will include traditional playground equipment, fitness stations, GT Challenge obstacle course activities, and Yalp Interactive play and sports equipment. There is something for every generation.
Outdoor fitness spaces can ensure adults maintain active lifestyles and children can prevent obesity.
- Children need at least one hour of physical activity per day. Creating play and outdoor fitness spaces that incorporate playground and fitness equipment make this easier for parents and children to get daily physical exercise. Parents can work out while children play and be active outdoors, rather than at a gym. Also saving families money.
- Senior therapeutic items for elders who need balance and flexibility can also be added to outdoor fitness areas or adjacent to playgrounds. This is vital since Americans aged 65 and older are expected to double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million. The older age group share will rise from 16% to 23%.
Inclusive Playground
Inclusive playgrounds are ideal for community members of all ages and abilities and offer everyone a chance to play together in a safe and accessible environment. These designs include sensory and musical components, surface grips, wider platforms, safety belts and accessibility and encourage multigenerational play.
- Inclusive playground design based on the 7 Principles of Inclusive Play will insure your playground addresses all ages and all abilities.
- Sensory stimulating and developmentally appropriate for children with varying degrees of cognitive abilities should be addressed.
- Safety surfacing like poured-in-place rubber will accommodate all users with varying mobility devices.
Trails
The best pathways are made from pockets of play and fitness stations along a trail. The will encourage families to go outdoors and be active together. Visitors can even jog or cycle between stations, encouraging safe transportation options that ensure body fitness.
- Trails are an ideal way to encourage strolls and walks that help lose fat, strengthen muscles, reduce pressure and boost energy.
- Studies have found that only 48% or about half of all adults get enough aerobic physical activities to improve their health. So, a trail would be a good idea to encourage fun, relaxation and exercise at the same time.
Dog Park
Try to introduce a dog park with agility courses, off-leash areas and obstacles. It can act as a social gathering space for humans while allowing our four legged friends to socialize. This can reduce the odds of troublesome and destructive behavior at home.
- About three-quarter (75.8%) of dog owners indicated that having a dog gave them a good reason to walk in their suburb more frequently.
- Dog parks can prove beneficial since over 23 million American households, which is nearly 1 in 5 nationwide brought home a pet during the pandemic.
Water Play
Spending time at public water parks develops hand-eye coordination, builds social skills and allows sensory exploration for kids. Add plenty of dumping buckets and water cannons in bright colors that also ensure minimum standing water.
- Children may also enjoy splashing in water, floating in pools and rolling on wet floors which are quite entertaining during summers.
- No wonder the market size of the water park sector in the US reached $2.33 billion in 2021, which is growth over the previous year’s $1.67 billion dollars!
Sources:
https://meetingoftheminds.org/5-ways-cities-make-parks-health-friendly-11057
https://www.prb.org/resources/fact-sheet-aging-in-the-united-states/
http://www.outdoorplayequipments.com/blog/the-benefits-of-inclusive-playgrounds/
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/playground-injuries/playgroundinjuries-factsheet.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/walking/index.html
https://www.playcore.com/news/social-and-community-benefits-of-dog-parks
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/07/covid-dogs-return-to-work/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1176583/water-park-industry-market-size-us/
