Nature For All

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Did you know that a growing number of scientific studies show that spending time in nature provides numerous health benefits – not just physical but mental as well?  The Business Insider lists 11 of them, including improved short-term memory, reduced inflammation, and an immune system boost, to name a few.  Portland is a city that prides itself in its green spaces, but in fact, many barriers exist when it comes to access to nature for communities of color, low-income, and other underserved communities.  Cost, location, cultural needs, and safety are all some of the barriers facing these communities.  Fortunately, more and more, park planning agencies are recognizing the importance of making nature accessible to all and they are making a concerted effort to better understand and provide the tools needed to overcome these barriers.

Metro (Portland’s regional government and manager of 17,000 acres of parks, trails, and natural areas) is one of these agencies.  Five years ago, it began an effort to collaborate with organizations that serve specific cultural groups through their program called Partners in Nature.  Today Metro is working with more than a dozen organizations to provide guided opportunities for communities to enjoy the outdoors and introduce young people to careers in conservation. 

In addition, Metro has invested in Nature in Neighborhood grants.  These grants support community projects that connect people to nature.  The program is especially designed to support communities of color and other communities who have experienced barriers to access to funding from Metro.  Some amazing projects have been funded by Nature in Neighborhood grants, including Access Trails, by Access Recreation, an online map of 24 regional trails with photos and videos that provide trail information for people of all abilities. The maps are available at accesstrails.org, and give folks the valuable information they need to plan their visit.

As we continue to understand the benefits of making nature a bigger part of our lives, let’s remember that not everyone has access to nature.  Support your local community organizations and agencies that help bring nature closer to home, and if you are new to the call of nature, find your perfect park and get going!



 http://www.businessinsider.com/scientific-benefits-of-nature-outdoors-2016-4

https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-partners/grants-and-resources/partners-nature

https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-partners/grants-and-resources/nature-grants

http://www.accesstrails.org/

http://www.yourperfectpark.org/






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