Landmark Randomized Controlled Trial Shows Park Prescriptions Boost Physical Activity in Youth - A Scalable, No Cost Tool for Clinicians Nationwide

Image via Park Rx America

Park Rx America:

A newly published randomized controlled trial (RCT) - the first to rigorously test the impact of Park prescriptions on children's health - shows that a simple, three minute conversation between a clinician and a child can meaningfully increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among youth. The Park Rx RCT: Impact on Physical Activity Among Youth offer pediatric, public health, and environmental advocates rare evidence based research that sits at the intersection of clinical care, health equity, and nature access.

Conducted from 2020 to 2024 in a federally qualified health center in Washington, DC, the study followed 514 youth ages 6-16, most of whom were Latinx or African American and managing chronic health conditions. Providers issued park prescriptions approximately every three months using Park Rx America's virtual platform, which includes more than 160,000 parks nationwide.