The National Park Service publishes trail resources

Adapted from the NPS Community Assistance News

Improving Public Health Through Parks and Trails

The National Park Service (NPS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated to identify eight common measures that can be used to link parks and trails to public health goals.

Common measures can highlight the positive impact that park access and use have on community health which, in turn, emphasizes to community decision makers how important local parks and trails are. These include proximity, walking access, park connectivity, land area, physical activity, visitation, frequency, and duration.

To view this and other NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Publications, visit https://npgallery.nps.gov/RTCA.

Directory of NPS Community Assistance Programs

The NPS also launched its Directory of NPS Community Assistance Programs. The 54 programs outlined in the directory provide funding, technical assistance, and other resources to community groups for historic preservation, investment in historic sites, recreation and improved access to public lands, and education and professional development in and outside national parks.

Community assistance programs of the National Park Service empower local organizations to advance historic preservation and conservation work in rural and urban communities across the United States. These programs serve as economic drivers, transforming underutilized places into community assets that enhance quality of life and boost local economies through tourism and job creation.

To view the directory, visit www.nps.gov/subjects/urban/upload/NPS-Programs_9-18-17.pdf.

Unless otherwise indicated, all material in Pathways Across America is public domain. All views expressed herein are perspectives of individuals working on behalf of the National Trails System and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the Federal agencies.