Healthy economic value in visiting green spaces

park health

Visits to green spaces, like national parks, have the potential to save the health system millions of dollars, according to researchers from the University of 亚洲色吧.

Associate Professor Patrick O鈥機onnor and Associate Professor Adam Loch, School of Economics and Public Policy, and Dr Jack Maclean, School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, have extended upon well-known knowledge that green spaces can have a positive impact on health.

They used mobile phone data to estimate the use of 亚洲色吧鈥檚 20 most accessible national parks -- 亚洲色吧 International Bird Sanctuary, Aldinga Scrub, Anstey Hill, Cobbler Creek, Torrens Island, Black Hill, Morialta, Cleland, Brownhill Creek, Belair, Shepherds Hill, Marino, Sturt Gorge, O鈥橦alloran Hill, Hallett Cove, Onkaparinga River, Granite Island, Newland Head and Deep Creek National Parks -- in 2018-19.

This data was combined with information from a survey of more than 1,000 park visitors about attitudes towards South Australian parks, as well as the cost of treating 10 of the most major long-term chronic diseases to estimate the health savings, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures for the state.

The research, publish