June 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Taking a Holistic Health Approach
In my April column, I stated: " Park and recreation professionals are at the
core of transformation that is helping to build a healthier, more resilient future. "
We transform communities by acting as Community Wellness Hubs by providing
trusted places for each member of the community to connect to essential programs,
services and spaces that advance health equity (tinyurl.com/y3atkant).
At the core of our health and wellness work is equity. In the feature article,
titled " Community Wellness Hubs in Practice, " on page 34, authors Allison Colman,
Maureen Neumann and Liliana Ruiz Fischer write, " Community Wellness
Hubs are grounded in a recognition of unfair systems - including practices,
policies, norms, relationships, power structures and environments - and how
these systems have primarily benefited dominant social groups while burdening
others who have been disenfranchised by those with power, privilege and social
status. To advance health equity, Community Wellness Hubs must be developed
by and with the people most impacted by inequity, and they must focus on systems
change approaches, including changing practices, policies, power structures,
norms and environments to achieve transformational change. "
Thanks to NRPA research, we know that many park and recreation agencies
across the country already are serving as public health leaders by implementing these practices.
According to NRPA's 2021 Parks and Recreation: Advancing Community Health and Well-Being report
(nrpa.org/HealthReport), nine in 10 park and recreation agencies take specific actions to ensure
their health and wellness programs and services promote health equity. Additionally, more than
half of all park and recreation agencies have specific initiatives in place to support community
engagement to build trust and ensure equitable representation.
Another concept that is addressed within the pages of this issue is that of blue zones - places
where people have proven to live longer due to the implementation of holistic health and wellness
practices (tinyurl.com/nhe74mk3). These communities show us that health and well-being are a culmination
of many different aspects of wellness, including physical fitness, nutrition, sense of purpose,
social connectedness, mindfulness and more. In order to cultivate truly healthy communities, we must
advance all the various facets of health for all community members. In what ways is your agency cultivating
health and well-being in your community? What resources and partnerships could your agency
leverage to advance new aspects of health or bring greater wellness benefits to your community? What
new stakeholders can you engage to ensure the programs and policies you promote are the right fit
for your community?
By taking a holistic approach to health and wellness and leveraging our myriad resources and connections,
we can create happier and healthier communities by acting as an integral part of our local
public health systems to advance equitable health and wellness solutions.
CAROLYN F. MCKNIGHT-FREDD
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
8 Parks & Recreation | JUNE 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
http://www.tinyurl.com/y3atkant http://www.nrpa.org/HealthReport http://www.tinyurl.com/nhe74mk3
June 2022 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2022 - Parks & Recreation
