NPS Advisory Board Health and Recreation Committee Final Report

ATTACHMENT B: NPS Advisory Board Health and Recreation Committee Final Report

The following report of the National Park System Advisory Board
Committee on Health and Recreation was adopted unanimously by
the Board on March 21, 2006.
MEMBERS PARTICIPATING
Douglas P. Wheeler, Chairman
John Francis
Jerry N. Hruby
Jay Parmer
Daniel Ritchie
Larry Rivers
William Walters
George Willeford III
MEMBERS ABSENT
William Baker
Marie Greene
Michael Kammen
LaJuana Wilcher

i

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iii

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Committee on Health and Recreation
NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM ADVISORY BOARD

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Contents
FOREWORD—page 1

BACKGROUND—page 3

FINDINGS—page 5

RECOMMENDATIONS—page 9

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS—page 13

APPENDIX A
Health and Recreation Pilot Project Concept Plans

APPENDIX B
Program Descriptions

vii

viii

Foreword
Increasingly, scientific evidence points to the fact that the American public needs to increase
their level of physical activity to improve overall health and well being. Recreational attributes
inherent to national parks play a vital role in what now is emerging as a powerful prescription
for our nation’s health: physically active outdoor recreation.
In 2004, the National park System Advisory Board formed a Committee on Health and
Recreation to consider how the National Park Service can through its park units and programs
address this national need. This report is in response to these needs and supportive of
President Bush’s HealthierUS Initiative and Executive Order 13266, which calls on federal
agencies to seek to improve the flow and use of information about personal fitness and
increase the accessibility of resources for physical activity.
Two goals focused the work of an interdisciplinary team comprised of 10 people representing
recreation, conservation and the health community and the National Park Service staff who
assisted them in this effort—

#

To identify how the National Park Service might increase public awareness of recreation
opportunities available through the National Park Service that promote individual health
and wellness;

#

To strengthen the National Park Service’s commitment to outdoor recreational
opportunities in a manner that does not compromise the agency’s mission of stewardship.

This Committee has carefully examined these issues and heard from a wide array of experts
and leaders in the field of recreation and health, as well as the staff of the National Park
Service. We have taken seriously the importance of this national health need and balanced
this with the mission of the National Park Service “. . . to preserve unimpaired the natural and
cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and
inspiration of this and future generations . . . to help extend the benefits of natural and cultural
resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country. . . .” We believe this
report will provide a framework for the National Park Service to promote healthful recreation
activities while at the same time helping park visitors understand the importance of protecting
the wide array of natural, cultural and historic resources which are to be preserved unimpaired
for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.
This vision and set of recommendations are intended to encourage the National Park Service
to manage and promote parks as places for people to take part in physically active experiences
and not just to “see the parks,” thus contributing to a healthier nation. Moreover, the
Committee sees extensive opportunities for the National Park Service to work with existing
partners and an exciting array of new partners in the health, medical and research
communities.
Sincerely,
Dr. George Willeford III, Chair
Committee on Health and Recreation

Ernest Quintana, Vice Chair
Committee on Health and Recreation

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“Combining
inherently
enjoyable and
readily accessible

Background

recreational

The National Park Service has a rich history of preserving special
places that inspire and enrich our lives. National parks provide
opportunities for improving America’s intellectual, physical and
spiritual well being. An original idea that has been emulated world
wide, the National Park Service is prepared to continue its
leadership role as a premier conservation and recreation agency into
the 21st century.
Recreation in natural settings provided by parks is becoming
increasingly important as our lives become dominated by built
environments and indoor activities. Pursuing recreation in a park
setting enables people to develop a clearer understanding of their
relationship to nature, which can influene their everyday lives.
Natural park settings alone have quite a powerful effect as a form
of a health intervention.
A recent survey by the Outdoor Industry Foundation found that
human-powered outdoor activities are popular and span age and
gender. The longevity of outdoor participation is rooted not only
in the functional health benefits, but also in the emotional
benefits of actual participation. Over three-fourths of participants
agree that participating in outdoor activities gives them a feeling of
accomplishment, an escape from life’s pressures and a connection
with themselves (Outdoor Industry Foundation’s Exploring the
Active Lifestyle survey, 2004).
In 2001, the National Park System Advisory Board issued a report,
Rethinking the National Parks for the 21st Century, which included among
its recommendations that the National Park Service should:

#

#

Be an energetic advocate of outdoor recreation and open space
conservation, and of the considerable public benefits they
provide.
Serve as a catalyst to encourage collaboration among public and
private park and recreation systems at all levels—to build a
national network of parks and open spaces across America.

In 2005, NPS Director Fran Mainella established a National Park
st
Service Legacy Initiative and 4-year goals: Doing Business in the 21
Century, which recognizes the critical responsibility of the NPS
to provide appropriate outdoor recreation and to contribute to the
physical and mental well-being of all Americans by promoting
a seamless network of parks and continuing to link ongoing
recreation opportunities at national parks to health and fitness.

activities such as
hiking and biking
with simple,
effective, healthrelated messaging
may serve as a
gateway to better
health.”
(American Journal
of Law and
Medicine, Norton
and Suk, Vol 30,
no. 2 and 3,
2004.)
“A widening
circle of
researchers
believes that the
loss of natural
habitat, or the
disconnection
from nature even
when it is
available,
has enormous
implications for
human health
and child
development . . .

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Consistent with these key issues, the National Park System Advisory
Board established a Committee on Health and Recreation in late
2004 to explore and prepare a report on “The National Park Service’s
role in increasing public awareness of recreation opportunities to
help address the nation’s health needs.” Following are the results
of the Committee’s work.
The findings and recommendations of this report address the goals
of the President’s HealthierUS Initiative and Executive Order 13266
and are consistent with the National Park Service Mission Statement:

“The National Park Service is dedicated to conserving unimpaired the natural and
cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment,
education and inspiration of this and future generations . . . to help extend the
benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation
throughout this country . . . .”

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the quality of
exposure to
nature affects our
health at an
almost
cellular level.”
(Last Child in the
Woods, Louv,
2005)

Findings
Health and Physical Activity
# Physical activity is a proven means to combat chronic disease and early mortality.
# Parks and trails provide opportunities for convenient and accessible venues for regular physical
activity.

A report of the Surgeon General in 1996 identified the importance of physical activity and
the health benefits that such activity provides if undertaken on a regular basis. According
to this report, just 30 minutes of brisk walking, bicycling, or even working around the
house or yard most days of the week will reduce an individual’s risks of developing heart
disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Regular physical activity also reduces
anxiety, negative mood and depression, and improves self-esteem and cognitive
functioning.
In June 2002, President Bush established the HealthierUS Initiative and issued Executive
Order 13266, which have as their objective the improvement of individual personal health
through simple improvements in physical activity and behavior. Public lands and
programs at the federal, state and local level provide a significant venue for recreation and
physical activity opportunities. Public parks, recreation areas, trails, and open space that
are accessible to public use are underutilized resources in addressing the nation’s needs
in health and wellness.
Recreation is a means through which physical activity
opportunities can be provided, especially for key target groups.

Healthful Recreation
# Parks and trails provide a desirable, proven means to improving health and wellness.
# Many NPS areas already provide venues for outdoor recreation through resource-based
activities, such as hiking, walking, paddling, biking, camping, fishing and other activities.

# National Park Service areas and programs provide an opportunity to assist Americans in
improving their personal health and well-being.

Participation in outdoor recreation provides a range of well-documented benefits. These
include mental and spiritual well-being, an increase in self-esteem, an appreciation for the
natural and cultural environment in which the activity is taking place, and health benefits
derived from involvement in physical activities.
The National Park Service is well suited and situated to provide opportunities that
positively influence physical activity behavior with a focus on better promotion and

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encouragement of healthful recreation activities. Physical activity in parks can be increased
through existing recreational opportunities and by taking into consideration such factors
as access, convenience, safety, and aesthetics.
The National Park Service through its parks and park-related programs provides an array
of recreation opportunities, including hiking, walking, paddling, jogging, bicycling,
snowshoeing, and skiing, and other forms of healthful physically active recreation
activities.
We find that many parks already are providing and promoting opportunities to participate
in recreation activities that have direct health benefits, and many parks have unrealized
potential to achieve these same ends. What we lack is solid data that quantifies and, in
turn, validates the value national parks provide in promoting a healthier America through
appropriate recreational activities.

Understanding Our Role
# NPS is a public land managing agency and is not a public health authority; however, NPS can and
should be more effective in the facilitation and evaluation of our contribution to healthy lifestyles
of the American public.

# National parks are public health assets that are uniquely situated to provide opportunities for
outdoor, physically active recreation activities and should be pro-actively communicating the health
benefits of such participation.

# NPS can increase its capacity by developing multi-disciplinary partnerships that include the health
and medical communities.

Validating Our Role
Before considering any full-scale servicewide initiative, the NPS should first implement and
evaluate a set of pilot projects. The implementation and evaluation of health and recreation
pilot park initiatives (one per region) can help the NPS further explore and understand the
opportunities to incorporate a culture of health and wellness into existing recreational
activities that are widely accepted in the national parks. Pilot parks can serve as models
for encouraging healthful participation in the outdoors.

# Pilot parks can validate the connection parks have to visitor health and wellness through the
application of consistent, objective evaluation measures.
Public health specialists use the term “intervention” when they propose to take action in
the attempt to change health behaviors. A set of seven health and recreation pilot park
intervention concept plans (one for each region) have been developed and should be
implemented in tandem with the application of consistent performance indicators to
determine and hopefully demonstrate the validity of the NPS to promote and provide
opportunities for healthful recreational activities. Pilot park concepts will be developed
using a “logic model approach,” as advised by the Centers for Disease Control.

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Relying on an Evidence-based Approach
Implementation strategies to improve visitor health by promoting physical activity should
rely on scientific evidence. The Task Force on Community Preventive Services, with the
review of interventions that promote physical activity. On the basis of strong evidence of
effectiveness, the Task Force recommends: creation of or improved access to places
for physical activity, combined with distribution of information (outreach) that increases
public awareness of these places. What has not been studied or determined is the
effectiveness of implementing this intervention strategy in national parks. Additionally,
scientific evidence suggests the following:

# The active living and leisure sciences can provide a means for NPS to measure and report outcome
measures that have a direct connection to health.

# The National Park System offers outstanding opportunities for healthful and appropriate activities
that contribute to the physical well-being of visitors.

# Through appropriate design and programming interventions, the NPS could increase the number
of visitors who use parks for healthful recreation.

# Measurement of active visits could be achieved through the use of: pedometers, infra-red
counters, visual observation, surveys, on-line self-reported log of activity (including use of existing
opportunities such as the President’s Challenge program, offered by the President’s Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports), a passport program, GPS monitoring, wearable radio frequency
identification (RFID) tags similar to those used for marathons and other events and other creative
means.

# Communications effectiveness in raising the awareness of park visitors to the health benefits
derived from outdoor recreation can be measured in terms of efficiency (numbers reached) and
effectiveness (impact on behavior and knowledge).

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8

Committee recommendations
Committee members embrace a collective vision for the National Park Service to address
the topic of Health and Recreation, as follows:
The National Park Service conveys health benefits to the American public by providing
places for healthful, physically active recreation in the great outdoors.
The National Park Service is uniquely suited and situated to:

#

Promote parks as fun, attractive, accessible places for people to be active;

#

Encourage increased physical activity among park visitors; and

#

Influence park visitors to become more physically active via outdoor recreation activities
in their home communities.

The Committee recommends that the National Park Service undertake seven pilot
intervention projects beginning in 2006. The purpose of the pilots is to test, measure and
validate the premise that parks contribute to healthy lifestyle through active participation
in park based recreational activities.
These pilots consist of three “destination” parks—Sitka National Historical Park, Zion
National Park and Acadia National Park, and four “urban” parks—Cuyahoga Valley National
Park, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Point Reyes National Seashore
and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Each of these pilots (detailed in Appendix
A—Health and Recreation Pilot Park Concept Plans) will focus on the following key
outcomes in undertaking their pilot intervention projects:

Outcome 1:

Increase awareness of health benefits by park visitors derived from participation in
recreation in National Parks.

Outcome 2:

Increase healthful recreation/physical activity behavior in national parks.

Outcome 3:

Increase healthful recreation/regular physical activity behavior as a lifestyle at home.

The minimum threshold for healthful recreation activities for National Park Service
communications, evaluation and reporting purposes is 30 minutes of activity
(walking, biking, paddling, etc.) per day visit. This corresponds to the Surgeon General's
endorsement of the physical activity recommendation for adults to engage in a minimum
of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the
week.

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Summary Table. Pilot Park Intervention Concepts

SITKA

4

4

4

4

Trail, Park
and
Community
Destinations

“Parks to the People” enabling
legislation to provide recreational
open space necessary to the urban
environment.

Trail, Park
and
Community
Destinations

Park goals to provide authentic,
relevant, quality interpretive and
education programs and products
for a broad range of visitors and
stakeholders; and to develop and
maintain effective working
relationships with internal and
external partners to achieve the
park mission.

Trail, Park
and
Community
Destinations

Enabling legislation to develop the
potential of the canal for public
recreation.

St. Johns
River,
Atlantic
Ocean, Park
Destinations

Park goals to improve water-based
recreational and interpretive
access, improve non-motorized
(less resource impacting) access to
Preserve resources, and increase
public appreciation of cultural and
natural resources of the Preserve.

4

Trail, Pacific
Ocean

Enabling legislation to save and
preserve for purposes of public
recreation, benefit, and inspiration,
a portion of the diminishing
seashore of the United States that
remains undeveloped.

4

Trail, Park
and
Community
Destinations

Park goals to provide park visitors
educational and recreational
opportunities that foster an
appreciation of Zion and its
resources, and ensure that visitor
impacts do not impair resources.

4

Trail, Park
and
Community
Destinations

Park goals to improve nonmotorized access to the Park;
avoid adverse impacts on currently
undisturbed species and habitats.

PARK VISITORS

3

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS

2

LOCAL MINORITY

1

4

RESOURCE

PARK GOALS/
GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN
ADDRESSED

TARGET
AUDIENCE

LOCAL YOUTH

PADDLING

4

NATIONAL PARK

GOALS1
ADDRESSED

LOCAL COMMUNITY

CUYAHOGA VALLEY

CYCLING

WALKING

PARK NAME

RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITY

4

4

4

NATIONAL HISTORICAL
PARK

CHESAPEAKE

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

AND OHIO CANAL
NATIONAL HISTORICAL
PARK

TIMUCUAN

4

4

ECOLOGICAL AND
HISTORIC PRESERVE

POINT REYES

4

4

4

4

NATIONAL SEASHORE

ZION

4

NATIONAL PARK

ACADIA

4

4

4

4

NATIONAL PARK

1

GOAL 1—Increase awareness of health benefits by park visitors derived from participation in recreation in National Parks.
GOAL 2—Increase healthful recreation/physical activity behavior in national parks.
GOAL 3—Increase healthful recreation/regular physical activity behavior as a lifestyle at home.

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The communications strategy should accomplish the following objectives:

# Convey the findings of the seven pilot projects so that parks can replicate successful intervention
strategies and apply findings to NPS performance measurements;

Each Health and Recreation Pilot Park Concept Plan proposes an intervention strategy
aligned with the Committee’s vision statement that seeks to address one or more of the
three outcome measures. Each of the concepts details the specific resource, the audience,
the activity, the goals, a measurement tool, a list of partners, and a realistic timeline
(see Summary Table—Pilot Park Intervention Concepts, page 10).

# NPS should consider various opportunities for funding both within NPS and through various partner
and external sources. An implementation strategy should be developed working with the National
Park Foundation to identify and explore funding opportunities.

# NPS should rely on a collective team effort among NPS Interpretive staff, Rivers and Trails Program
staff and the staff from NPS Social Science Program and Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units in
order to implement recommendations of this Report effectively. (See Appendix B—Program
Descriptions)

# NPS should designate a staff person to provide technical assistance and oversight of the
interventions in tandem with a principle investigator to lead the evaluations.
The Committee believes that outcomes from the pilot projects will lead to NPS employing
health and recreation interventions servicewide. However, this assertion needs to be
scientifically demonstrated. The Committee further believes that the results derived from
the pilot projects will provide an irrefutable means for NPS to affirm its role in contributing
to our nation’s health through interpretive based messaging interventions. Therefore, we
recommend that NPS, through its Interpretive and Social Science Program, work with the
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) system to design and implement a set of
evaluation methods for each of the pilot projects to:

# Develop a methodology for measuring active visits in NPS park areas;
# Improve its internal capacity to measure participation in outdoor recreation activities at the national
and park level to determine use patterns and identify trends and use characteristics; and

# Consider examining other key issues related to health including mental well-being and nutrition as
they relate to NPS.
The Committee recommends a deliberate and detailed approach to sharing the results and
possibilities generated by this Report and the pilot projects. A Health and Recreation
Communications Plan will facilitate success, both in the short and long term, by
proactively engaging and informing specific audiences. The Communications Plan should
define the boundaries, clarify expectations, and customize messages to create greater
potential for shared commitment at many levels. By undertaking a purposeful effort to

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communicate with all staff, volunteers, concessions employees, recreationists, and
partners the NPS can foster informed messengers to the public. References to widely
accepted forms of recreation (walking, biking, paddling) and the long tradition of these
types of recreation in parks beginning with John Muir, links a rich history to a healthy
future.

The Committee suggests the Health and Recreation Communications Plan be

developed upon completion of the pilots and evaluation of the intervention strategies.

# Encourage park visitors to actively participate in outdoor recreation activities while visiting NPS areas
and to continue participation by making use of local park and recreation lands when they return
to their home communities both directly and in cooperation with such partners as concessioners,
gateway communities and permittees; and

# Utilize NPS interpretive skill sets to communicate the benefits of healthful participation in outdoor
recreation in the national parks to the public (as well as to NPS employees, who are critical
messengers for reaching the public);

# Provide consistent information about where recreation opportunities exist in park units and
adjacent public lands;

# Integrate outreach and communication messaging that encourage physical activity in tandem with
visitor safety information;

# Use all tools available to incorporate health and recreation messaging throughout the national park
system, to communicate with visitors as well as NPS staff and partners.

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Acknowledgements
Committee Members
Dr. George Willeford III

National Park System Advisory Board, Committee Chair

Ernest Quintana

NPS Midwest Regional Director, Committee Vice Chair

Dr. David M. Buchner, MD, MPH

Chief, Physical Activity and Health Branch, Division of
Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control

Derrick Crandall

President, American Recreation Coalition

Tod Hull, Judy Bassett

National Park Hospitality Association

Melissa Johnson

Executive Director, President’s Council on Physical
Fitness and Sports
Superintendent, North Cascades National Park
President, The Conservation Fund
Director, National Partnerships, National Recreation and
Park Association

William F. Paleck
Larry Selzer
Kathy J. Spangler
Dr. Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH

White House Fellow, University of Florida, School
of Medicine

Key NPS Staff Support to the Committee
D. Thomas Ross

Assistant Director, Recreation and Conservation

Diana Allen

NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

Alan Turnbull

NPS Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Program

Dr. James Gramann
Linda Wright

NPS Chief Visiting Social Scientist
NPS Organization Specialist

Health and Recreation Pilot Park Projects
John Debo, Jennie Vasarelyi
Greg Dudgeon, Liz Roberts
Barbara Goodman, Dan Tardona
Kevin Brandt, Bill Justice,
Kathy Kupper
Don Neubacher, John A Dell’Osso
Jock Whitworth, Tom Haraden
Sheridan Steele, Charlie Jacobi

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Sitka National Historical Park
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Point Reyes National Seashore
Zion National Park
Acadia National Park

Other NPS Staff who provided consultation assistance
Loran Fraser, Jim Gasser, Corky Mayo, Jennifer Mummart, David Barna, Carol Anthony,
Elaine Sevy, Shirley Sears Smith

Other Agencies and Organizations
John Librett
Dr. Myron Floyd
Dr. Ross Brownson

Centers for Disease Control
North Carolina State University
University of St. Louis

Unilever Lipton/Healthy Parks–-Healthy Living
Outdoor Industry Foundation
National Park Foundation

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Appendices
Appendix A—Health and Recreation Pilot Project Concept Plans
Appendix B— Program Descriptions

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appendix a

#

CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

#

SITKA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

#

CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK

#

TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC
PRESERVE

#

POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE

#

ZION NATIONAL PARK

#

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

appendix b

NPS INTERPRETATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The National Park Service Interpretive Development Program encourages the stewardship of park resources by facilitating meaningful, memorable visitor experiences. The
program is based on the philosophy that people will care for what they first care about. This
is accomplished by aiming for the highest standards of professionalism in interpretation.
The Interpretive Development Program provides NPS mission-based training and
development curriculum, field-developed national standards for interpretive effectiveness,
peer review certification program, developmental tools and resources. The Interpretive
Development Program is designed to foster accountability and professionalism in
interpretation in the NPS, facilitate meaningful, memorable experiences for all visitors, result
in a higher level of public stewardship for park resources, and facilitate learner-driven skill
development.

NPS RIVERS, TRAILS AND CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) implements the natural
resource conservation and outdoor recreation mission of the National Park Service in
communities across America. The vision of the program is a network of parks, rivers, trails,
greenways and open spaces that promotes quality of life and links people to their natural and
cultural heritage. RTCA has a demonstrated facility in bringing together partners to
implement health and recreation projects all across the country and consulting with NPS
Superintendents and potential partners in communities and states around NPS areas to
identify and conduct projects.

NPS SOCIAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
The objectives of the NPS social science program are to conduct and promote state-of-the-art
social science related to the mission of the National Park Service and deliver usable
knowledge to NPS managers and to the public. The role and functions of the Social Science
Program are to: provide leadership and direction to the social science activities of the NPS,
serve as a liaison with other programs of the NPS and the Department of the Interior, provide
technical support to parks, park clusters, support offices and regional offices, and support a
program of applied social science research related to the national research needs of the NPS.

COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNITS
The national network of Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) was created to provide
research, technical assistance and education to federal land management, environmental,
and research agencies and their partners. They also provide support in the biological,
physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address natural and cultural resource issues
and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context. Each
CESU consists of several federal agencies, a host university, and partner institutions that bring
additional expertise to the CESU to complement the skills of the host university. Participating
agencies include the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the USGS
Biological Resources Division, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Energy, and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.