Health, Social Equity, and Economic Impact Study and Tools

February 2, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm

NVRC held a webinar on February 2, 2022 that highlighted the impacts and benefits of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, a recreational, scenic trail that includes 140 miles of existing and planned trail in Northern Virginia.  NVRC commissioned a study which was conducted by BBC Research & Consulting to analyze the health, social equity, and economic impacts of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) in Northern Virginia. The study was funded by a grant from the National Park Service. The study’s release date was January 27, 2022.  Learn the full extent of the study’s findings, including extraordinary findings such as how much use the trail gets today, which we have discovered is over ten million miles walked in our region annually.  Learn about the health, economic, social, and transportation impacts and benefits to the region, including the cost benefits ($$$), for the existing trail and for missing, undeveloped segments of the trail.

The webinar was open to stakeholders, land managers, and anyone interested in the trail.  During the webinar, the study’s findings were presented in detail. Products associated with the study were also highlighted, including the final report, dashboard, and infographic handouts.

Presentation: Webinar presentation from February 2, 2022.

Report and Materials: For equity study details and materials see the equity study website.

Recording of the Webinar:

How Park Prescriptions can Improve Public Health and Wellbeing 

Aug. 25, 2020 from 3:00 - 4:30

NVRC held a webinar on August 25, 2020 on how individuals suffering from ailments including obesity, depression, anxiety, stress, chronic disease, and inactivity may benefit from spending time outdoors in their local parks. Learn about the tools that public health officials and medical providers have developed to prescribe "Parks" and promote health and wellness. Recording of the webinar coming soon.

Featured Speakers:

Sheila Hautbois, PA-C, MPH

Sheila Hautbois (“Oh-BWAH”) is a native northern Virginian practicing medicine as a PA in an outpatient cardiology office, where she focuses on disease prevention and reversal. She also gives health seminars for Inova Health System, local corporations, and Prince William County employees. Sheila is Adjunct Faculty at the local satellite campus of Shenandoah University’s PA program and is actively involved in local, state, regional and national health advocacy, including Park RX America.

Melicent Miller, Health Improvement Supervisor, Virginia Department of Health

Melicent earned a Master’s of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and is currently working to complete her Doctor in Public Health degree from Georgia Southern University. She has over a decade of experience in the public and non-profit sectors in program development and management, grant writing, health communication, and evaluation. Melicent is currently the Health Improvement Supervisor at the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) where she works to reduce chronic disease burden across the lifespan and in all sectors to ensure that Virginians have the opportunity to learn and grow to become healthy, thriving, and resilient adults. Ultimately, her work at the VDH provides opportunities to build multi-sectoral partnerships in an effort to reduce health inequities and health disparities.

Recording of the Webinar:

Activities

2021-2022: NVRC commissioned a study which was conducted by BBC Research & Consulting to analyze the health, social equity, and economic impacts of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) in Northern Virginia. The study was funded by a grant from the National Park Service. For equity study details and materials see the equity study website.

2020: In August 2020, hosted the webinar, How Park Prescriptions can Improve Public Health and Wellbeing 

2018: NVRC held a meeting in December 2018 to discuss planned 2019 activities including additional scenic assessments, developing a regional public water access plan, familiarity tours, and revising the original 2014 Memorandum of Agreement for the Potomac Heritage Trail in Northern Virginia.