National Seashore Celebrates “Park Prescription Day”

WELLFLEET – The Cape Cod National Seashore is celebrating “National Park Prescription Day” today.

The event envisions physicians prescribing a patient to walk a certain distance, or time, or from one park feature to another.

“We’re just really inviting people to come out and enjoy the outdoors on their own, whether it’s a bicycle ride, walk, a hike, or coming down to the Salt Pond Visitor Center and walking on the Nauset trail,” said Seashore Superintendent George Price.

At the Cape Cod National Seashore, staff recommend walking the 1.3 mile Nauset Marsh Trail, other trails or beaches, or taking part in ranger-guided programs to get outside and get fit.

Since 2011, the NPS has been working to promote parks as places where people can walk to improve cardiac health.

The Healthy Parks, Healthy People initiative between the Seashore and Cape Cod Healthcare was introduced last year and has introduced visitors to the outdoors to experience natural and cultural wonders of the parks, while becoming healthier.

“Get outside, walk around, get some cardiac health, get some connection with the outdoors and we believe that will really help you out in the long-term,” said Price.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter