Why We Should Treat Outdoor Recreation as Public Health Infrastructure

How do you get the health benefits of exercise without feeling like you're exercising? That's the question that drives our work in outdoor recreation. We're not doctors or public health officials—we're the people who build and maintain the trails, parks, and waterways that make outdoor activity possible. But we've learned that what we do is as much about health as it is about fun. The data backs us up: spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and high wellbeing, with benefits peaking between 200 and 300 minutes (University of Exeter). That's a weekly target that's achievable for most people, and it's a powerful argument for why outdoor recreation should be treated as essential public health infrastructure.

The Case for a Two-Hour Weekly Prescription

Imagine you're a park manager or a community recreation planner. You've got a limited budget, and you're trying to decide whether to invest in a new trail, a playground, or a swimming program. The natural instinct is to focus on the immediate demand—what will get the most visitors. But if you look at the health data, the choice becomes clearer. The 120-minute threshold is a concrete, evidence-based target that you can design around. It's not about getting people to run marathons; it's about getting them to walk, bike, or paddle for about 20 minutes a day. That's a realistic goal for most people, and it's supported by a study of nearly 20,000 people (University of Exeter).

In our experience, the people who benefit most from outdoor recreation are often the ones who aren't already active. The World Health Organization reports that 31% of adults worldwide are physically inactive, and that inactivity increases the risk of death by 20% to 30% (WHO). That's a huge population that we could reach with the right programming. And the benefits aren't just physical—a 2026 umbrella review of 63 studies found that exercise significantly reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, with effects comparable to or better than medication (Munro et al.). So when we build a trail or open a fishing pier, we're not just providing entertainment; we're providing a health intervention.

What Actually Gets People Outside

So, what activities should we promote? The answer, according to participation data, is simpler than you might think. Hiking was the most popular outdoor activity in 2024, with about 63 million participants (OIA). Walking accounted for 57% of all outdoor recreational activities in one study (Oregon State University). And in 2023, the top five activities by participation were hiking, fishing, running/jogging, camping, and bicycling (OIA). The common thread is that they're all low-barrier, low-cost, and accessible to a wide range of ages and fitness levels.

But there's a catch: participation drops off dramatically after childhood. About 85% of current fishing participants started before age 12, and participation drops sharply after age 18 (RBFF). That's a pattern we see across outdoor activities. So if we want to build a lifelong habit, we need to reach kids early. The good news is that households with children reached a record 66% outdoor participation rate in 2024 (OIA), so families are getting out there. But we also need to address the barriers that keep older adults and minority groups from participating. In 2024, participation grew fastest among Black Americans (up 12.8%) and Hispanic Americans (up 11.8%), and among adults 65 and older (up 7.4%) (OIA). That's encouraging, but it's from a lower base—we still have work to do to make outdoor recreation truly inclusive.

How to Build a Plan That Works

Let's walk through a concrete scenario. Say you're a recreation director for a mid-sized city. You have a park with a lake, a few miles of trails, and a community center. Your goal is to increase physical activity among residents, especially those who are currently inactive. Based on the evidence, here's what we'd recommend:

• Focus on walking: It's the most accessible activity, and it's the most popular. Build or improve walking paths that are safe, well-lit, and connected to neighborhoods.
• Create a 120-minute challenge: Use the Exeter threshold as a marketing hook. Encourage residents to aim for 120 minutes a week in nature—that's about 20 minutes a day. Make it a community-wide goal with a tracker or events.
• Offer low-cost, family-friendly programs: Since households with kids are a growth area, plan family hikes, fishing clinics, or nature walks. Remember that fishing participation drops after age 18, so start early.
• Provide swim lessons: Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4, and formal swim lessons are associated with an 88% lower risk of drowning (CDC). Water safety is a critical part of outdoor recreation.

Quick tip: Don't just build it—program it. A trail that's unused is not public health infrastructure. Schedule guided walks, nature talks, or fitness classes to get people in the habit.

Overcoming the Barriers: Safety and Equity

Of course, there are barriers. One of the biggest is safety, especially around water. In 2024, U.S. recreational boating fatalities fell to 556, the fewest in more than 50 years, but about 87% of boating drowning victims were not wearing life jackets (U.S. Coast Guard). That's a simple fix: promote life jacket use. Similarly, alcohol remains the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents (U.S. Coast Guard). Education and enforcement can save lives.

Another barrier is the perception that outdoor recreation is a luxury. The data says otherwise: the outdoor recreation economy contributed $696.7 billion to U.S. GDP in 2024, about 2.4% of GDP (BEA). It's a major economic driver, and it's accessible to everyone—you don't need expensive gear to walk in a park. But we need to ensure that parks and trails are located in all neighborhoods, not just affluent ones. The fact that only Oregon and the District of Columbia meet national recommendations for physical education time in schools (SHAPE America) shows that we can't rely on schools alone to get kids active. Parks and recreation departments are essential partners.

Sources

• University of Exeter (White et al., Scientific Reports) - https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Spending_at_least_120_minutes_a_week_in_nature_is_associated_with_good_health_and_wellbeing/29757599
• World Health Organization (WHO) - Physical activity fact sheet - https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity
• Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) - Outdoor Participation Trends Report 2025 - https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/outdoor-recreation-hit-an-all-time-high-in-2024-report-finds
• Oregon State University (PLOS One, 2025) - https://health.oregonstate.edu/research/publications/101371journalpone0321278
• Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) - 2025 Special Report on Fishing - https://www.takemefishing.org/corporate/resource-center/research/fishing-boating-research/
• U.S. Coast Guard - 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics - https://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/