The Health Values of Parks a presentation to the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association and the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administrators by Paul Allison

1. THE HEALTH VALUES OF PARKS
Presented to the
by
Paul Allison
October 24th 2013
© 2013

2. Goals of this session:

3. Goals of this session:
1.Expand awareness of the health
values of parks and green spaces.

4. Goals of this session:
1.Expand awareness of the health
values of parks and green spaces.
2. Explore ways to promote these
values.

5. Goals of this session:
1.Expand awareness of the health
values of parks and green spaces.
2. Explore ways to promote these
values.
3. Inspire and provide resources.

7. You Are Very Special People!

8. YOU make a difference to:

9. YOU make a difference to:
• The Economic Value of Public Space

10. YOU make a difference to:
• The Economic Value of Public Space
• The Biodiversity of Nature

11. YOU make a difference to:
• The Economic Value of Public Space
• The Biodiversity of Nature
• The Health and Wellness of People

15. “There is nothing more profitable in
our lives than communing with nature.
Human beings are originally members
of nature, therefore it is after we blend
ourselves with nature that we are able
to feel the joy of living”.
-Tomitaro Makino
1936

21. “Healing is a matter of time
it is also a matter of opportunity”
- Hippocrates
340 BC

27. LONELINESS

28. LONELINESS
DEPRESSION

29. LONELINESS
DEPRESSION
BOREDOM

37. “I have been in the hospital quite a bit in my life and with the
pain it is hard to stay positive. In a room filled with tubes,
electronic equipment and all the testing it is very easy to become
depressed.
After gaining the strength to get around myself I started to visit
the Dr. Inazo Nitobe garden. I have been to the other spots
available around the hospital, but I am drawn to the garden. I
sit there as long as I am allowed. First week about 1 to 2 hours
a day, then 2 to 5 hours every day”.
- Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient

40. - RJH Emergency Nurse

41. “The gardens have
become an important
part of patient care
and provides a place
for patients, families
and staff to sit quietly,
enjoy the beauty, and
reflect”.
Vancouver Island Health Authority Board
General Meeting Minutes of May 31, 2006

42. “A park in the East end of
London would probably
diminish the annual deaths
by several thousands, prevent
many years of sickness, and
add several years to the lives
of the entire population”.
- Timothy H Lister
1839

43. “I shall never forget the rapture
of fever patients over a bunch of
bright-coloured flowers.
I remember (in my own case) a
nosegay of wild flowers being
sent me, and from that moment
recovery becoming more rapid”.
- Florence Nightingale
1859

44. “It is one great purpose of the
Park to supply to the hundreds
of thousands of tired workers,
who have no opportunity to
spend their summers in the
country, a specimen of God’s
handiwork that shall be to
them, inexpensively, what a
month of two in the White
Mountains, at great cost, to
those in easier circumstances”.
- Frederick Law Olmsted
1866

48. 1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. Do you have a story of the
restorative qualities of nature?

49. Group Workshop
(50 minutes total)
Each table to choose a note taker, a spokesperson and a time keeper.
Each table brainstorms and discusses the following questions:

50. Group Workshop
(50 minutes total)
Each table to choose a note taker, a spokesperson and a time keeper.
Each table brainstorms and discusses the following questions:
Q1. What are the health values of parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)

51. Group Workshop
(50 minutes total)
Each table to choose a note taker, a spokesperson and a time keeper.
Each table brainstorms and discusses the following questions:
Q1. What are the health values of parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)
Q2. How can we utilize the idea of health values to
protect and develop parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)

52. Group Workshop
(50 minutes total)
Each table to choose a note taker, a spokesperson and a time keeper.
Each table brainstorms and discusses the following questions:
Q1. What are the health values of parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)
Q2. How can we utilize the idea of health values to
protect and develop parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)
Q3. What kind of actions are you going to take?
(10 minutes)

53. Group Workshop
(50 minutes total)
Each table to choose a note taker, a spokesperson and a time keeper.
Each table brainstorms and discusses the following questions:
Q1. What are the health values of parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)
Q2. How can we utilize the idea of health values to
protect and develop parks and green spaces?
(10 minutes)
Q3. What kind of actions are you going to take?
(10 minutes)
Group report back by spokespersons.
(4 minutes per group)

54. http://benefitshub.ca

55. Parks don’t create themselves
– people sow their seeds, and
people keep them alive.
Developing a park system
and sustaining it requires
numerous political skills,
including coalition building,
publicizing, advocating,
fundraising, partnering,
speaking and listening.

57. http://loveparksweek.org.uk

59. THANK YOU KINDLY!

60. THANK YOU KINDLY!
APPLAUSE

61. THANK YOU KINDLY!
APPLAUSE………………….MORE PLEASE!

62. THANK YOU KINDLY!
APPLAUSE………………….MORE PLEASE!
Please contact:
paulcallison@shaw.ca