Healthy Parks, Healthy People

Healthy Parks, Healthy People is a Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) initiative to encourage people to get out and enjoy themselves in parks by promoting the physical, mental and social health benefits of spending time in nature.

Healthy Parks, Healthy People is in response to international research, which shows that parks don’t just protect biodiversity and other essential life systems, but are fundamental for human health and wellbeing. The evidence for the link between contact with nature and health benefits suggests that people may actually be dependent on nature in order to realise their full health potential.

Getting out and about:

Parks are a great way to improve your health and well-being. Visiting a park is one of the simplest and cheapest ways of improving your health. Parks provide space for physical recreation, peace for restoration from urban stress and opportunities to meet new people and socialise with friends and family.

DEC manages 25 million hectares of national parks, marine parks and reserves, State forests, conservation parks and nature reserves, and is the largest provider of outdoor recreational opportunities in Western Australia.

• Why walk on a treadmill when you can stride into some of the world's best sights and sounds in a nearby park?
• Why cycle on a road when you can excite all your senses while pedaling through a park?
• Why do laps in a pool when you can dive into one of Perth's amazing marine parks?
• Why do gym when you can tone and strengthen your muscles by volunteering to help the environment?

Every city and town has a nearby park, so do something positive for yourself and step into nature.

Calendar:
 2009–2010 Park Walks Calendar (553.58 kB)

Grow a Healthy Outlook 

Contact with nature helps us recover from stress and mental fatigue, assists us to relax and puts us in a good frame of mind. Connecting with people in the outdoors by belonging to a community group or volunteering are other ways to contribute to happiness and mental wellbeing. So ready, set, go outside.... and grow a healthy outlook'. Brought to you by Keep Australia Beautiful, DEC's Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative and Mentally Healthy WA's Act, Belong, Commit campaign. 

Download:
 Grow a Healthy Outlook - (991.76 kB 2010-04-29)