Get Your Community Walking! Walking is the best method of overcoming our nation's physical inactivity epidemic. Park and recreation agencies can play a major role in improving our nation's health by designing safe walkable communities, and promoting programs and policies that support walking. Parks Promote Walking People living within a 10-minute walking distance of a park have higher levels of physical activity and lower rates of obesity. Group walking in nature can significantly lower depression, stress and enhance mental well-being. Resources Now Available to help you create safe routes to parks and walkable communities Visit www.nrpa.org/Walking-Initiatives to view the infographics and watch the video