changelabsolutions.org 3 Why Is a Complete Parks System Important? Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that parks and green spaces improve our physical and psychological health, strengthen our communities, improve our economies, and make our neighborhoods more attractive places to live, work, and play. In fact, some researchers use the phrase “Vitamin G” to describe nature’s role as a necessary ingredient for a healthy life.1 Nature, parks, and green space improve physiological and psychological health, social cohesion, and safety for all people, regardless of age, race, or income level. In an increasingly complex world, parks and open spaces can be “sacred spaces” where we find solace and re-energize. Because parks are essential to the core functioning of a community, a parks system cannot be evaluated independently from other infrastructure in a city, county, or region. Many of the elements that make a successful parks system also affect other foundational aspects of a community. For example, creating safe routes to parks will often result in safe routes to other destinations. Creating safer parks will result in safer communities overall and allow public safety resources to be directed elsewhere. Identifying sustainable funding sources for parks can only be done while also assessing the entire budget for a city, county, or special district. Parks are a fundamental feature of community life, just like law enforcement, schools, and libraries. As such, parks are inextricably connected with all other aspects of the community. Community decision makers must recognize this, and weigh the funding and development needs of their parks systems alongside other basic community functions. A complete parks system approach provides not only a comprehensive overview of a parks system but also a basis for making parks-related policy decisions.
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