In 2021, the Legislature directed the Department of Health (DOH) to convene a task force focused on developing a parks Rx health and wellness pilot program. The Washington Parks Rx Legislative Task Force (Task Force) was required to provide recommendations on a three-region pilot program, in the Puget Sound, Eastern Washington, and Southwest Washington regions, and create three regional advisory committees (RACs) to represent each region. The Task Force was directed to develop:
The Task Force convened between August 2021 and June 2022, and the three RACs convened between January 2022 and June 2022. The Task Force recommended:
DOH reported findings and recommendations from the Task Force to the Governor and Legislature in September 2022.
PRO: Prescribing outdoor experiences could be another tool to address mental health challenges, and increase physical activity. These parks Rx pilot programs are a really good asset and opportunity to invest in the community and to see the return in that investment. This would provide an opportunity for employers and insurers to offer outdoor incentives so that their employees can earn wellness points, providing an opportunity to lower the cost of health care in the long run. Last year we received wonderful recommendations back from the Task Force. The Task Force was successful through collaborating with local communities, gathering information from other states, and developing recommendations for the pilot program phase. This is really exciting work and has incredible potential to show us an innovative way to make a health impact in our communities.
PRO: Parks RX could provide health providers the option to prescribe access to nature to help address an underlying health condition. This is a low-cost way to improve health outcomes, especially for underserved lower income and historically marginalized populations.
The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: The bill is meant to increase opportunities for outdoor activities to support mental health. This bill would increase access to outdoor activities for underserved and lower income communities. The task force researched existing programs and determined that initial public investment is essential for success. All of the pilots will be designed to address equity and will include a process to track health outcomes.