Healthy parks, healthy people: The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context - A review of relevant literature (2nd Edition)

Parks Victoria has adopted 'Healthy parks, healthy people' as its key message to the community of Victoria. Over recent years, other state-based park management bodies have adopted a similar message, and the Parks Forum (the peak body for park management agencies within Australia and New Zealand) has established as one of its Standing Committees a National Coordination Group for 'Healthy parks, healthy people'. The availability of up-to-date information is essential if these agencies are to increase their understanding of what the 'Healthy parks, healthy people' message means, and to have the capacity to communicate the importance of parks and nature for human health and wellbeing to governments and the community at large. This project is the result of a joint initiative between Parks Victoria and the NiCHE (Nature in Community, Health and Environment) Research Group of Deakin University. This revised review updates research compiled and published in an earlier edition (completed in 2002 with funding provided by Parks Victoria and the International Park Strategic Partners Group) and aims to provide key information for park and open space managers, health professionals, researchers, and others with an interest in this area, while retaining its status as a platform for future research. The significance of the health and wellbeing benefits from interacting with nature, including in park settings, the implications for public health, and the need for collated up-to-date information on this topic cannot be over-estimated.