Parks make vital contributions to physical and mental health

This statement comes from a report from the UK Government Communities and Local Government Committee on local parks.

Clive Betts, Chair of the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee  said:

‘Every local authority should have a strategic plan, recognising that parks are much more than grass and tulips. Parks make vital contributions to physical and mental health and bring significant community benefits. They also contribute to biodiversity and climate change mitigation and can assist in local economic growth.

The Committee calls on councils to publish strategic plans which recognise the value of parks beyond leisure and recreation and set out how they will be managed to maximise their contributions to wider local authority agendas, such as promoting healthy lifestyles, tackling social exclusion and managing flood risk. It is hoped these plans will open up parks to support and funding beyond their usual budgets and services areas. The Government should issue guidance to councils to work with Health and Wellbeing Boards and other relevant bodies to publish these joint plans.

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