June 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR' S LETTER
Elevating Our Physical and
Mental Well-Being
An annual report released by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(tinyurl.com/mrxs27xz) found that " out of 6 million veterans who served in
fiscal year 2021, about 10 out of every 100 men (or 10 percent) and 19 out of
every 100 women (or 19 percent) were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). " However, a PTSD-related study (tinyurl.com/yckj2b82) released
in November 2020 found " that exposure to nature and outdoor recreation
can improve attention and cognition, memory, stress and anxiety, sleep
and quality of life. " This month's Health and Wellness issue highlights parks
and recreation's critical role in providing services that enable all community
members to elevate their physical and mental well-being, and address debilitating
health conditions, like PTSD and depression, through recreation.
Our cover story, " Leading the Way to Health and Well-Being, " on page
32, drives this point home. Associate Editor Alex Reynolds and Allison Colman, NRPA's director
of health, take a closer look at the recreation opportunities that Morale, Welfare and Recreation
(MWR) departments are providing our U.S. service members and their families to enhance their
health and well-being as well as mission readiness. " Recreation is now part of a bigger picture
and is being used as a tool in a long-term holistic plan that considers domains of wellness, what
we call Comprehensive Airman Fitness, through mental, physical, social and spiritual wellness, "
says Shandy Scott, GS-13, business and recreation branch chief for the Air Force Installation and
Mission Support Center, Air Force Services Center. The authors offer insight into some programs
that MWR professionals offer military members, but also stress the importance of partnerships for
securing much-needed funding for current and future recreation programming.
Next, in the article, " Parks and Recreation: A Public Health Solution, " on page 38, Colman
provides an overview of NRPA's work and accomplishments in support of advanced health and
wellness for all communities. Such initiatives have been part of our 2021-2023 strategic plan for
reframing " our organizational vision to focus on a future where the full power of parks and recreation
is recognized for its role in building strong, healthy and resilient communities. "
Lastly, Managing Editor Lindsay Collins and Maureen Neumann, NRPA's senior program
manager, shine a light on an Illinois city that has used the Community Wellness Hub model to
improve the lives of community members in the article, " Increasing Food Access in Peoria, " on
page 44. What's more, the authors profile Peoria Grown, a local nonprofit, and Peoria Park District,
which have partnered to tackle the food insecurity problem by providing access to affordable
healthy food options in underserved neighborhoods.
Park and recreation professionals don't hesitate to encourage their patrons to make health and
wellness a priority, but often they forget about their own well-being. With that said, we should all
lead by example by making time to relax, reflect and recharge.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS
AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER
Clarissa Garcia
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Alexandra Reynolds
areynolds@nrpa.org
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Chris Brummett
cbrummett@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
703.858.4635
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN
REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
703.858.2174
psemple@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP - Chair
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Michele Lemons
Sarah Lisiecki
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Amelia Storer
10 Parks & Recreation | JUNE 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
http://tinyurl.com/mrxs27xz http://tinyurl.com/yckj2b82 http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
June 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2023 - Parks & Recreation
