Active living and getting outside

Goal

All Vancouverites are engaged in active living and have incomparable access to nature.

Targets

All Vancouver residents live within a five minute walk of a park
Increase the rate of people meeting Canadian physical activity guidelines by 25%

Overview

Staying active and having access to outdoor spaces is a big part of our health as citizens and communities.

Regular physical activity improves our health and reduces our risk of numerous chronic conditions. As children, it supports our healthy development, and in adulthood, staying active may help to reduce physical and mental limitations.

Natural spaces in an urban setting influence the well-being of entire communities. Accessible green spaces improve social cohesion by providing sites for interaction, and help create a healthy, functioning ecosystem.

Progress we've made so far

Healthy City Dashboard

Check out the latest way to find information about health and well-being in Vancouver. View the status, trends, and graphs of health indicators and export the data to use elsewhere.

Explore the Healthy City Dashboard

ACTIVE LIVING AND GETTING OUTSIDE

Source: Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

How we measure change

We use a number of data sources to monitor trends in the health of the city. We monitor progress toward Active Living and Getting Outside using data from public health surveys, parks inventories, recreation use and land cover data.
Residents who meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines
- 46% of adults exercise for at least 150 minutes each week
  Source: My Health My Community Survey, 2014
Park Board OneCard usage
- In 2014, 162,000 people had a OneCard
  Source: Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Residents living within a 5 minute walk (400m) of a park or other green space
- 92.7% of the city’s land base is within 400 metres of a park or green space
  Source: City of Vancouver, Greenest City Action Plan
Tree Canopy cover
- 18% of the city's land area is covered by tree canopy
  Source: City of Vancouver, Urban Forest Strategy
2015-2018 Priority actions

Actions are being undertaken through the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Strategic Framework.
The Park Board’s mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation to benefit all people, communities and the environment. Its Strategic Framework has four key directions:
1. Parks and recreation for all: accessible, diverse and quality amenities and services that encourage participation and meet current and future needs
2. Leader in greening: demonstrate leading green and horticultural practices and preserve, protect and create green space
3. Engaging people: working openly together to understand and achieve goals and strengthen relationships
4. Excellence in resource management: use existing resources effectively and efficiently, and be innovative in developing additional resources to deliver best value for money and meet community needs
Read the Park Board's 10 Goals to Shape the Next 25 Years