NATURE HEALS NYC

The last few years, New York City has been through a lot—and it’s taken a toll on us all. Stress, anxiety, and depression are on the rise. And 1 in 5 New Yorkers are experiencing some form of mental illness.

Now, more than ever, our city needs to heal. Luckily, we have something so incredible, it has the power to ease our minds and improve our mental health— it’s our local parks.

This Mental Health Awareness Week (Oct 2-8), let’s find a few moments to get outside and do our part to share an important message: #NatureHealsNYC

A text logo for the Parks and Open Space partners coaltion.

LEARN WHAT VISITING YOUR LOCAL PARK CAN MEAN FOR YOU

THE BENEFITS OF NATURE ON MENTAL HEALTH

Nature is truly amazing. Green spaces help purify the air we breathe and reduce the effects of climate change. But did you know all the ways nature can also improve your mental health?

Research has shown that spending time in a green space like your local park can:

Improve mood
Reduce anxiety & stress
Treat mild and moderate depression
Help with grieving
Combat feelings of loneliness

Improve mood

We all go through periods where we may be feeling down and not like ourselves. Nature can remind us how wonderful our world is. Research has shown that being in nature can effectively improve your mood and focus and make you feel happier.

Reduce anxiety & stress

The traffic. The sirens. The crowded subways. New York City can be a very stressful place. Taking a moment to experience nature has been proven to lower feelings of stress and anxiety, and even reduce blood pressure and heart rate.

Treat mild and moderate depression

The lasting effects of COVID-19 have caused more people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless. Connecting with nature has been shown to help treat mild and moderate depression, and it’s free of cost—that’s something every New Yorker can appreciate.

Help with grieving

Sometimes, things happen in our lives that can cause emotional and mental pain. But there is growing evidence that nature can help people move beyond grief and toward emotional and mental well-being.

Combat feelings of loneliness

Loss of human connection is a growing mental health concern that affects New Yorkers of all ages. One study shows that contact with nature can help us build a stronger connection to the world around us and significantly lower feelings of loneliness.

Start each morning with a healing moment in nature and stop by your local park.

A map of New York City with green circle icons over parks throughout the city.

NATURE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

New York City may have the densest population of any US city. But hidden behind our city’s hustle and bustle, there are:

An illustrated circle graphic with trees and a sun icon in green.

More than 30,000 acres of parkland—that’s about 14% of New York City

An illustrated circle graphic of a swing and a a tree icon in green.

More than 5,000 individual parks and playgrounds across the 5 boroughs

An illustrated circle graphic of a trail in a park in green.

Over 100 scenic trails to hike through and get a new view of the city

An illustrated circle graphic with tree icons, the center with a heart inside it, in green.

About 5 million trees to hug across our parks

There’s free healing right outside your doors. Get out to your local park today.

Need Help Finding a Park?

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Help Us Spread the Word

Nature is good for your mental well-being!

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Give Back to Our City Parks

With the COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers relied more on parks than ever before. Overnight, people needed more space for exercise, fresh air, socializing, and mental well-being. While park usage increased, private and public funding to maintain our city’s green spaces have continued to dry up.

To address this issue, more than 20 open space focused organizations came together to form the Parks and Open Spaces Partners – NYC coalition. This coalition works as a support network to local parks—sharing insights and resources to advance New York City’s public spaces.

Since the Parks and Open Space Partners – NYC coalition formed, it has boosted awareness of the fundraising challenges facing our parks, leading to the creation of the NYC Green Relief and Recovery Fund. Today, the coalition continues our push to support green spaces and help heal our city. #NatureHealsNYC

Donate to support the NYC Green Fund—a pooled fund that funds stewardship organizations to help keep our parks and open spaces clean and green.

The Parks and Open Space Partners – NYC coalition includes but is not limited to:

References: 1. Joni Sweet. Very Well Mind. Updated November 23, 2020. Nature can Improve Mental Health During the Pandemic, Study Finds. 2. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES 2013–2014); public use dataset accessed September 2019. 3. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. N.d. Immerse Yourself in a Forest for Better Health. Accessed July 7, 2022. 4. American Heart Association – Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms. N.d. Spend Time in Nature to Reduce Stress and Anxiety. Accessed July 7, 2022. 5. Tacy Lambiase. American Forests – U.S. Forest Service. Published April 19, 2013. Nature Heals. Accessed July 5, 2022. 6. Andre Claudio. Route-Fifty. Published January 12, 2022. Interacting With Nature in Cities Can Reduce Loneliness. Accessed July 5, 2022.