Pathways To Happiness are Policies for Areas with Low Happiness Scores in Satisfaction with Sports and Recreation

1. Pathways to Happiness
for recreation

2. Pathways to Happiness are ways
to strengthen our satisfaction with
our access to recreation

3. Communities
scores for
satisfaction
with lifelong
learning, arts
& culture and
recreation are
in the range
of indifferent
100= happiest

4. 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

5. Policies
Courageous

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. What’s it
going to
take?

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool series
Campaign finance reform
Guaranteed basic income
Media reform
Massive public transportation
Local food reliance
Village living (cities and rural)
Multi-use zoning
Public spaces
Political festivals
Participatory governance
Participatory budgeting
Anti-corruption policies
Transparency in government
Compassion training for police
Community-based monitoring
Sousveillance
Vote holiday
Vacation laws
Family & Sick leave laws
Flex time and job share laws
Telecommuting policies
Babies at work policies
Intergenerational care
Department of Neighborhoods
Volunteer programs
Mindfulness practice in schools
Social justice awareness raising
Mental health –priority counseling
Same Sex Marriage Laws
Public child care
Age-friendly cities
Loneliness awareness campaign
Heritage Programs
Rural Colleges
Arts & Culture Policy
Lifelong Learning Programs
War on Adult illiteracy
Low Cost & Tuition Free College
Conservation Easements
Expansion of Parks
Adult & Kid Park Programs

17. We envision a world where all beings can thrive.
Can you envision it too?
happycounts.org