Palm Beach County’s Park Rx program wins national award

Park Rx reimagines how health care and parks can work together to promote community well-being. [Photo by Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation}

The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s efforts to integrate outdoor wellness into public health were honored with the 2025 Marketing Award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. NACPRO recognized the Park Prescriptions (Park Rx) initiative, which connects residents with nature through the health care system.

Representing 132 agencies across 35 states, NACPRO is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the National Association of Counties and the National Recreation and Park Association. NACPRO’s awards program recognizes innovative achievements at the county and regional levels.

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“This award is a reflection of the department’s ongoing commitment to improving lives through parks,” says Jennifer Cirillo, the director of Palm Beach Parks and Recreation. “By connecting residents to outdoor activity through the health care system, we are creating healthier, happier people in Palm Beach County.”

Park Rx reimagines how health care and parks can work together to promote community well-being. Through collaboration with local health care providers, the department distributed co-branded prescription pads, translated into multiple languages, that physicians can use to prescribe outdoor activity. Each prescription includes a list of nearby parks and encourages patients to use these public spaces for physical activity, stress reduction and social engagement.

According to the Florida Recreation and Park Association’s Impact Calculator, the preventive health benefits of Palm Beach County’s parks provide an estimated $5.2 billion in annual health care savings.

“Our goal is to facilitate physician-patient conversations about active living through park prescriptions, connecting individuals and families to free opportunities for physical activity close to home,” says Chris Korbelak, who manages the department’s Office of Public Engagement.

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The department launched a public awareness campaign to promote Park Rx. In partnership with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, the department produced a short video emphasizing the health benefits of outdoor recreation. The campaign complements other county wellness initiatives, including the Fall Prevention Program, which hosts workshops in public parks to reduce the risk of injury among older adults.