Campus Park Rx

William & Mary

The PERL Park Rx program was recognized as an innovative best practice in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) report.

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Campus Park Rx (Est. 2015) is a project of the Parks & Ecotherapy Research Lab (PERL) @ William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Campus Park Rx enhances health and well-being on the W&M campus by helping students find and enjoy local greenspace. Abundant scientific research demonstrates that access to and use of parks and other greenspace can play a significant role in the treatment and prevention of anxiety, depression, obesity, and attention disorders.

The PERL team visited and rated over 150 parks in Virginia for access, safety, amenities, and supported activities, and organized this information in an online search tool. Trained Peer Park Ambassadors use our signature database of local parks to refer their fellow students the best outdoors spaces for their interests, needs, transportation options, and schedule. Students can receive a referral during the academic year via an online form, and at scheduled tabling events on campus.

Find out more at parksresearchlab.com

For more information about this program, contact: Dorothy Ibes at dcibes@wm.edu or parksresearchlab@gmail.com