National Walk to a Park Day

National Walk to a Park Day was established through the initiatives of the Trust for Public Land, a group of concerned citizens who believe that every human being should have access to the outdoors!

History of National Walk to a Park Day

Fighting for healthy, livable communities, the non-profit organization, Trust for Public Land, thought to raise awareness about the need for accessible green spaces, specifically through their 10-Minute Walk Campaign.

This movement started in 2017 to address mayors from all over the nation, calling on them to ensure that the people in every city in the US have access to a quality park within a ten-minute walk from their home.

This campaign was well-received, with dozens of mayors signing on to the project over the next few years. By 2021, the initiative included founding National Walk to a Park Day, and the date was chosen for the tenth day of the tenth month, reflecting the theme of the 10-Minute Walk Campaign.

How to Celebrate National Walk to a Park Day

Enjoy a delightful time in nature and perhaps make a difference in the life of someone who doesn’t have easy access. Celebrate National Walk to a Park Day with some of these plans:

Walk to a Park

Most people probably know which park is the closest to their home – and hopefully, they visit it regularly. Whether heading to the park to sit on the grass and gaze at the sky, throw a football, walk the dog, or participate in some other outdoor activity, National Walk to a Park Day is just the beginning!

Get the Community Involved

Even better than walking to the park alone, invite some friends, neighbors, or family members along to make a big deal out of National Walk to a Park Day!

Let them in on the purpose behind the day and encourage more people to advocate for green spaces to be located near every person in the nation.

Advocate for the 10-Minute Walk Campaign

For those who live in cities where they don’t have a park that is within a ten-minute walk from their home, perhaps National Walk to a Park Day would be the right time to contact the mayor of the city or some other local representative to make this request.

Consider joining with others and, where appropriate, use a petition to get this collection of voices heard!

Build a Playlist for Walk to a Park Day

Those who live in a busy city might consider having some songs playing on their headphones while they make their ten-minute walk to the park.

Celebrate National Walk to a Park Day by creating a fun playlist on Spotify, Apple, or another platform, to reflect the love of the outdoors.

Here are a few classic park and walking-themed tunes to get started with:

• Walking the Dog by The Rolling Stones (1964)
• It’s a Sunshine Day by The Brady Bunch (1972)
• Walk This Way by Run DMC & Aerosmith (1986)
• Walking Man by James Taylor (1970)