November 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR' S LETTER
Research and Nature's Direct
Link to Good Health
Since the early days of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic when
shelter-in-place orders were slowly being lifted in communities across
the country, NRPA and the park and recreation field at large were
sounding the alarm about the importance of getting children outside
for the good of their overall mental and physical health. But, what if
the amount of time children spend in nature could also directly impact
the health of their lungs? In a recent study published in the European
Respiratory Journal (tinyurl.com/2p8x2b54), scientists in Portugal
found that children who reside near nature have better lung function
compared to children who live further away from green environments.
" We looked at factors like physical activity and air pollution, but the
link between lung function and moving closer to green space remained,
even after we took these into account, " Dr. Diogo Queiroz Almeida of
the University of Porto states in the journal's news release. A common
thread found throughout the pages of this month's issue is how research continues to show why
access to nature is critical to maintaining our health.
For some people living in underinvested urban communities, access to nature may seem like a
pipedream. However, in the cover story, " Seeing the Urban Forest Through the Trees, " on page
34, authors Paul Stewart and LaDonna Baertlein share practices currently used in U.S. cities to
support more equity-driven tree canopies. What's more, they explain how inter-agency and external
partnerships could potentially reinforce and enhance roles and responsibilities for these urban
forestry programs.
Next, contributor Alan Reed discusses how interpretive centers, known to most as visitors centers,
can bring individuals new perspectives and clarity during these times of social change in
the feature article, " Building Memory, " on page 30. According to Reed: " The challenge of inclusion...makes
it all the more important to create interpretive centers...that guarantee different
points of view and provide spaces for events and programming to bring in outside speakers who
can broaden the center's scope and invite further participation from the audience. "
Lastly, NRPA's Maureen Neumann offers a process framework for minimizing barriers to
health and well-being in the article, " Creating a Community Wellness Hub, " on page 46. " While
Community Wellness Hubs will look different in every neighborhood, city and county, they are
united by their shared goals of advancing health equity, improving health outcomes and enhancing
quality of life for all people, " she writes.
As more studies about the pandemic and the long-term health impact on the global population become
available, I'm sure much of the data will confirm what park and recreation professionals have
been telling their community members for decades: nature is directly linked to good health.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
MANAGER OF ONLINE
CONTENT
Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen
jnguyen@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 | NOVEMBER 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.tinyurl.com/2p8x2b54 http://www.Dreamstime.com
November 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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