National Parks RX Day is good medicine
City of Bellingham and Recreation Northwest to offer a dose of nature at Fairhaven Park
Melissa Bianconi, Recreation Manager
Bellingham Parks and Recreation and Recreation Northwest are collaborating to offer a variety of guided walks at Fairhaven Park in celebration of National Park RX Day, on April 29. The two organizations are partners in the successful Whatcom County Parkscriptions pilot program, which launched in 2017 and is based on the Parks RX America Program.
Partnering with doctors and other healthcare providers to prescribe time outdoors, Parkscriptions connects patients with positive outdoor experiences for healthier lifestyles and improved mental and physical health. There is a growing consensus that nature has many health benefits, from increased physical activity to mental, emotional, and community health benefits.
National Park Rx Day is a day celebrated across the United States to promote the growing movement of prescribing parks and nature to patients to improve human health. Additionally, National Park Rx Day encourages everyone to start seeing visits to parks and public lands as very important parts of their health.
The April 29 event at Fairhaven Park begins in the Upper Park Shelter at 10:00 a.m. and is suitable for all ages. Please dress for the weather and leave dogs at home. A $10 suggested donation is appreciated.
Three separate walks will be offered: Awake in the Wild-A Mindfulness Walk with Rene Laventure, Forest Bathing with Carolyn Watson, and Exploring the trails of Fairhaven Park with Todd Elsworth. For more detailed event and walk information, please visit the Recreation Northwest website, or follow Bellingham Parks and Recreation on Facebook.
Media Contact:
Melissa Bianconi, Recreation Manager
Parks and Recreation Department
(360) 778 – 7000
mrbianconi@cob.org
Media Contact:
April Claxton, Co-Executive Director
Recreation Northwest
(360) 223-5262
April@RecreationNorthwest.org
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