A prescription for going to the park? Legislature considers funding pilot programs to get people outside

A national movement to connect doctors, patients, and local parks is making moves in Washington state which could mean funding for three pilot programs across the state.

SB 5095, sponsored by Sens. Twina Nobles (D–Fircrest) & Liz Lovelett (D–Anacortes), creates the Parks Rx Health and Wellness Pilot Program Advisory Committee and tasks the committee with funding three two-year pilot programs in the Puget Sound, Eastern Washington, and Southwest Washington regions.

Parks Rx programs provide no- and low-cost interventions using existing park systems to influence positive health outcomes. The goal of the programs is to connect doctors and patients to local park resources to influence positive health outcomes. Using this program, a doctor could discuss a patient’s interests, use a searchable database for information on parks and programs in their zip code, and then write the patient a prescription for a specific activity. This could include taking a 10-minute walk three times a week in a local park, reading a book while sitting next to a body of water, or taking part in a local parks and recreation yoga class once a week. Parks Rx programs already exist in several states across the country.

The committee created under SB 5095 would be tasked with connecting with local Parks & Recreation agencies to determine what resources and programs exist around the state. Additionally, the committee would be required to develop a program to solicit and launch three pilot programs across the state. Calls for pilot program proposals would go out by or before February 1, 2024.

SB 5095 passed through the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee in late January and now awaits executive action in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.