AHN, county create 'ecotherapy trail' in North Park

Sometimes doing things to stay fit helps with bit of encouragement.

So, Allegheny County is teaming up with Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to help give visitors to North Park a little mindful motivation by creating an “Ecotherapy Trail.”

The project, announced at an unveiling earlier this month at the park, aims to promote healthy lifestyles, wellness and fun by educating visitors about the health benefits of time spent in nature, said Ebony Montgomery, a spokesperson for AHN.

“Each sign along the trail inspires guests to use their senses to form deeper connections with nature, underscoring the scientifically proven health benefits of doing so,” she said.

Those benefits include lowering stress levels; improving concentration, memory and cognition; lowering blood pressure and the risk of stroke; boosting energy levels; creating a stronger immune system; and reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

“The health of our communities is dependent on healthy lifestyles and environments that promote healthy living,” Dr. Allan Klapper, president of AHN’s Wexford Hospital, said during the May 4 ceremony. “Parks offer individuals and families the opportunity to participate in healthy activities and decompress from daily stresses. We are excited to partner with the county in this exciting initiative to help park goers tap into their senses outdoors and benefit from a little ecotherapy.”

Rather than creating a separate trail, 10 different signs were placed along existing and walkways and paths in the more than 3,000-acre park to mark the ecotherapy trail. The signs contain simple inspirational messages such as “A path to lower stress and better health, thanks to nature.”

Visitors can leave it to chance and walk the park to discover the location of each sign, or use their smartphones to scan a QR code on any of the signs to access a map of their locations.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who was on hand to unveil the project, said the county is happy to partner with organizations such as AHN “to bring even more activities to our county parks.”

“We’re extremely proud of the fact that we have continued to invest in our parks system and see it grow,” he said. “And we are also fortunate that partnerships like this one allow us to continue providing more services and amenities for residents and visitors alike.”

The county also is working with AHN and Highmark on an “interactive experience” in South Park that ties into its “Because Life” branding platform. That project is expected to launch later this spring, according to health network officials.