Why You Should Visit Your Local Parks

Fresh air, warmer weather, plants beginning to bloom – spring is just around the corner, which means that the cold winter temperatures will be going away! Soon local parks will be filled with activity and buzz due to the warmer weather. More people will hike the trails, ride bikes, and spend time in nature than during the winter months.

While it’s great to enjoy spending time in parks during warmer seasons, local parks offer great spaces, programs, and opportunities year-round! No matter where you live, these are some examples of the benefits that local parks have for communities.

Space outdoors

Parks offer space outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty of your community. Each neighborhood has its own kind of environment. Parks protect the natural environment and create spaces for the community to spend time outside. Whether it’s hiking on trails or taking a moment to pause and take in a beautiful landscape, you can take advantage of the natural spaces at local parks during all seasons.

Our highlights: the gardens at Brincka Cross, the prairie at Sunset Hill, the woodland trails at Sunset Hill, fishing at Brookdale.

Mental health benefits

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, spending time at parks has major benefits on your mental health and helps your body fight against stress, anxiety, and depression. Making time to be outside in nature has direct benefits on personal growth and mental health. Plus, getting enough vitamin D is crucial to a person’s well-being!

Programming

Along with providing these outdoor spaces, parks offer different programs and facilities for the public to utilize. From art to enrichment to athletic – there are so many programs out there for you to take advantage of through local parks departments. Many programs and classes are low-cost or sometimes free to the public.

Facilities and venues

Looking for venues to host a birthday party, wedding, family reunion, or other type of gathering? Many people don’t realize that local parks often have facilities that can be rented out for gatherings and classes at affordable rates. Many parks have facilities of different sizes for different kinds of events.

One of our most popular facilities at Sunset Hill, the Program Center, is perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, and other kinds of events like these. Another popular space we offer for rentals is the house at the serene Brincka Cross Gardens, where many people host small weddings and parties in the peaceful environment.

Beneficial for kids

Giving kids the opportunity to spend time outside and enjoy nature benefits their health. The programs that parks offer can also be beneficial for children and their development, whether it’s summer camp or a youth art program. In a time when many kids spend large portions of their days staring at screens, spending time outside in nature and with other children is important for their development and mental health. According to the research in this NPR article, children who grew up near greenspaces and vegetation are less likely to have mental health disorders as adults.

Brings community together

Parks are open spaces that bring people in a community closer together. Whether it’s through programs and events or walking the trails, parks are public places that encourage health, wellness, and community.

Articles like this one show some research on the different ways parks directly benefit communities economically and environmentally, including increasing the value of properties and bringing more tourism into areas.

Healthy lifestyle

Local parks offer places to exercise outdoors, whether it’s running, walking, hiking, or enrolling in the athletic programs. Many people prefer to exercise or train in spaces where they can also enjoy nature around them. Local parks are hotspots for this kind of activity for those wanting to exercise outside in the open air or just take advantage of the trails and pathways at many local parks.

These are just some examples of why visiting and supporting local parks is so important. These spaces in your community are there for you to enjoy year round! Learn more about our parks here.