NE-1962: Multi-State Research Group

Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Other Green Environments: Understanding Human and Community Benefits and Mechanisms

We are a Multi-state Research Group established to provide evidence for the role of and mechanisms by which parks and other green environments support human well-being in three areas (health, environmental literacy, community vibrancy/resilience) and extend the knowledge gained to practitioners and other affected groups.

Our Objectives

Our objectives are to demonstrate and expand the evidence for the role of park and outdoor recreation in services in promoting:

We envision a future where parks and outdoor recreation form the centerpiece of a happy, healthy, and sustainable society.

We expect that our work will lead to improvements in the health of Americans, which will in turn decrease national health care costs due to the prevention of illnesses known to be associated with obesity, lack of physical activity, and diminished contacts with nature. Promoting active and healthy lifestyles and environmental literacy among youth will improve future generations' quality of life. Quality of life will also be promoted from this research by supporting vibrant and resilient communities, in which outdoor recreation opportunities and green infrastructure serve not only to protect and sustain ecosystems but also to provide ecological, economic, social, physical and psychological services upon which human health depends. The efforts of our Multi-state team will have broad positive effects on human, community and ecological health.

Use this website to find out more about us and learn more about the research and projects that help us accomplish these goals.

News & Recent Publications

The Transformative Power

of Parks

Our edited volume will be coming soon. Read more about what's inside and the authors.

Investigating Spatial Heterogeneity of Park Inequity

Published in Applied Geography, Feb 2023, Investigating Spatial Heterogeneity of Park Inequity using three access measures: A case study in Hartford, Connecticut, examines the spatial patterns of park inequity in relation to crime and socio-economic indicators in Hartford.

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