Spending time outdoors and experiencing green spaces and nature has multiple benefits. For human health, it can improve mental and physical well-being. There are advantages for our neighborhoods and community, creating spaces to gather and interact. Also, developing and creating more green spaces helps keep our planet and climate safer.
Spending time in nature is good for the body:
Experiencing time outdoors in nature is good for the mind:
Parks and green spaces benefit communities:
Green spaces and nature help the environment:
The Urbana and Champaign Park Districts, in addition to being committed to nature conservation, provide recreation, environmental, and cultural programs for youth and adults to enrich the community.
The Urbana Park District is committed to providing diverse, free and low-cost opportunities for everyone to engage in activities and programs related to the eight dimensions of wellness (physical, social, emotional, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, occupational, and financial). Simply visiting a local park provides a wealth of benefits. Check out this list of the 21 public parks in Urbana, and plan your next visit: https://www.urbanaparks.org/parks/
The Champaign Park District is here to connect you to a vibrant community of people and opportunities. Our 62 parks total over 700 acres of green space! Between paths, trails, and the free fitness trails at Douglass and Human Kinetics Park, the opportunities abound to stay active and enjoy nature.https://champaignparks.com
Websites for Frances E. Kuo, Director, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Landscape and Human Health Laboratory
Websites about the impact of nature on health
CCMS project interns, Samia Abdul-Qadir and Imadh Khan, collaborated with the Champaign and Urbana Park Districts to create the interpretive sign describing the health benefits of being outdoors in nature and links to this page.