06/14/2021

Ohio State Parks Open to All

Spending time outdoors benefits both physical and mental health

Spending time outdoors benefits both physical and mental health, Ohio Department of Natural Resources  (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz said at a University of Findlay presentation Friday morning. The talk, part of the “Fridays at Findlay” series, was livestreamed on the university’s YouTube channel.

Before the pandemic, ODNR started conversations with the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) and the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) about the health benefits of being outdoors. COVID-19 put that collaboration on hold, but the plan is to resume these talks, Mertz said.

But if Ohioans want to spend time outdoors, they may have questions about their options. So, Mertz said, ODNR revamped its website and recently launched the “DETOUR” app. The app features more than 7,000 miles of trails, including not just state parks but some local parks systems.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Courier.