Pathways to Happiness

for recreation

Pathways to Happiness are ways

to strengthen our satisfaction with our access to recreation

Communities scores for

satisfaction with lifelong learning, arts & culture and recreation are in the range of indifferent

100= happiest

Our scores in 2014 went from mild satisfaction to indifference about our access to sports & recreation, then climbed a bit.

a score below 40 means we are dissatisfied, below 60 means we feel indifferently

Policies

Courageous

Expansion of Parks and Fields

Investment into open spaces and parks

Increase access to nature and opportunities for recreation

Renovate brownfields, preserve greenfields

Emphasis of parks and natural open spaces in area master plan

Resources for Parks and Fields

City Parks Alliance: http://www.cityparksalliance.org

Parks Associations:

National Parks and Recreation Association: https://www.nrpa.org

Master Plan: City Park 2018 (New Orleans) http://neworleanscitypark.com/info/master-plan-city-park-2018

Master Plan Examples:

Santa Monica Parks & Recreation Master Plan:https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/CCS/Places_Parks_Beach/Parks/Parks_and_Recreation_Master_Plan.pdf

Whitepaper: The Benefits of Parks by Paul Sherer http://www.eastshorepark.org/benefits_of_parks%20tpl.pdf

Expand use of parks and open space

Increase use and types of uses of parks and recreation

Encourage child and youth use of parks in activities that connect them to nature.

Incentive adults to develop habits that incorporate use of parks and yield long term health benefits

Resources for expanding use of parks & open spaces

Saint Paul Minnesota Parks & Recreation: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/parks-recreation

Park Use Programs:

NYC Parks Opportunity Program: https://www.nycgovparks.org/opportunities/jobs/pop

Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity a review of qualitative research by McCormack, Rock, Toohey, Hignell: http://www.med.upenn.edu/beat/docs/McCormack2010HealthPlaceparkuseandPA.pdf

Park Use Information:

Improve Public Health by American Planning Association: https://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/physicalactivity.htm

Build up a bank of land in conservation easements

Preserve land not yet developed in perpetuity

Protect natural resources – water, air, soil, land…

Ensure future generations have access to nature

Protect habitats for animals, fish and all critters

Resources for government driven conservation easements

Boulder Colorado Conservation Easement program: https://bouldercolorado.gov/osmp/conservation-easements

Example City’s Conservation Easement Program

NYC Conservation Easement Program: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/conservation_easements.shtml

All About Conservation Easements from The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/about-us/private-lands-conservation/conservation-easements/all-about-conservation-easements.xml

Information about Conservation Easements

National Conservation Easement Database: http://conservationeasement.us/reports/easements

What’s it going to take?

Seeing ourselves as the earth

Understanding we are not on our planet, we are of this planet

Early education including time spent in nature and gardening

Increase awareness of the importance of nature for our well-being

Increase informal competitive and non-competitive sports, recreation and artistic movement opportunities

Spending time doing informal activities outdoors

More informal engagement in sports, recreation and movement arts

Moving at 30 minutes a day

Walk, dance, play, be active at least 30 minutes a day.

Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool seriesCampaign finance reformGuaranteed basic income

Media reformMassive public transportation

Local food relianceVillage living (cities and rural)

Multi-use zoningPublic spaces

Political festivalsParticipatory governance

Participatory budgetingAnti-corruption policies

Transparency in governmentCompassion training for policeCommunity-based monitoring

Sousveillance Vote holiday

Vacation lawsFamily & Sick leave laws

Flex time and job share lawsTelecommuting policiesBabies at work policiesIntergenerational care

Department of NeighborhoodsVolunteer programs

Mindfulness practice in schoolsSocial justice awareness raising

Mental health –priority counselingSame Sex Marriage Laws

Public child careAge-friendly cities

Loneliness awareness campaignHeritage Programs

Rural CollegesArts & Culture Policy

Lifelong Learning ProgramsWar on Adult illiteracy

Low Cost & Tuition Free CollegeConservation Easements

Expansion of ParksAdult & Kid Park Programs

We envision a world where all beings can thrive.

Can you envision it too?happycounts.org