Five Years of PaRx: A Prescription for Wellness

Five years ago, PaRx—short for Park Prescriptions—launched with a simple idea: time in nature is good for our health, and access to nature should be part of how we care for one another.

On the day of the launch, Dr. Andrew Day, CEO of BC Parks Foundation, reminded us that the benefits of wellness extend far beyond individuals: “Health expenditures to treat chronic diseases and mental illness now outpace our economic growth,” he said. “We need to change that, pronto, and it means focusing on wellness, not just illness.” 

Day argued that enhancing our park system and helping more people spend time in it would become an effective and efficient strategy for improving health, reducing healthcare costs, and stimulating the economy. 

Since then, PaRx has grown from a collaboration between physicians and park professionals into a national movement connecting medicine, conservation, and community wellbeing. 

More than 19,000 healthcare providers have now registered as prescribers, collectively issuing an estimated 1.5 million prescriptions for time in nature. Each one represents a conversation between a healthcare provider and a patient that helps broaden how we define care in Canada.

For Jillian, a PaRx patient from Brandon, Manitoba, that conversation became a small but meaningful shift. 

“Our society is prone to busy schedules, too much screen time and not enough green time,” she said. “I was definitely feeling the lack of quality time outside in nature. Getting a prescription for nature from a medical professional made me think more seriously about it.”

Research continues to show the profound health benefits of spending time outdoors, including lower stress, better mood, improved immune function, and reduced blood pressure. These findings support the idea of nature as a “fourth pillar of health,” alongside nutrition, exercise, and sleep.

For many prescribers, this approach has simply become part of good medicine. 

“The opportunity to provide evidence-based recommendations rooted in nature adds a unique dimension to managing chronic illness,” says Dr. Jake Zamora, an endocrinologist and PaRx advocate in Ontario. “PaRx makes it easier for patients to step outside, improve their health, and value the green spaces that sustain us all.”

Patients feel that impact in very personal ways. 

Ontario author and PaRx patient Misty Pratt remembers filling her first nature prescription by standing barefoot in a hospital butterfly garden, focusing on the feel of the grass and the movement of the wind. 

“Her instructions were very specific,” Misty recalls of her prescriber. It felt unfamiliar at first, but over time those moments outdoors became, in her words, “a very grounding moment,” and eventually a regular part of caring for her mental health.

Healthcare leaders across the country echo these experiences. 

“Time in nature has proven, measurable benefits for both mental and physical health,” says Dr. Nichelle Desilets, President of Doctors Manitoba. “By prescribing nature, we’re giving patients a simple, evidence-based tool to reduce stress, boost mood, and improve overall well-being.”

What was once considered a niche idea is now recognized across sectors, from public health and environmental stewardship to community planning and education. PaRx is endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association, supported by Parks Canada, and recognized by the World Health Organization for advancing planetary health.

National leaders have taken notice as well. 

“Healthcare providers play a vital role in encouraging individuals to engage in healthy behaviours that reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve overall wellbeing,” said The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, former Minister of Health. “Programs like PaRx help make these behaviours more accessible.”

Across Canada, partnerships continue to help patients access nature more easily. 

In British Columbia, organizations such as the Van Dusen Botanical Garden, UBC Botanical Garden and the Bloedel Conservatory offer free or discounted admission to PaRx participants. These relationships broaden the definition of “nature,” from forests and shorelines to gardens, cultural landscapes, and green urban spaces.

As conversations about mental health, community resilience, and climate continue to intersect, PaRx shows how deeply our wellbeing is tied to the natural world. A written prescription may seem small, but multiplied across thousands of clinicians and millions of patients, it becomes a shared commitment to a healthier future for people and for the planet.

To everyone who has shaped PaRx over the past five years—prescribers, researchers, patients, partners, and park supporters—thank you. This movement continues because of you, and its impact will ripple forward for years to come.

Learn more about PaRx today