A Sierra Club analysis found that at least one in five veterans living in major U.S. cities does not have a park or green space within walking distance of home. The report examined eight cities nationwide, including Las Vegas and Denver, and found that how easily veterans can get outdoors often depends on neighborhood design, air quality and income levels.
In Las Vegas, nearly a third of veterans live in neighborhoods without walkable parks, despite the city being surrounded by millions of acres of public land. In Denver, most veterans live near a park, but poor air quality and fewer parks in lower-income neighborhoods still make it harder for some veterans to spend time outside.
Heather Stricker, a co-author of the report, said being outdoors can play a critical role in recovery for veterans returning from combat.
“Being outside helps veterans recover from both the physical and the mental aspects of combat, particularly because traditional forms of therapy aren’t generally things that many veterans will seek out,” Stricker said.
But Stricker said proximity alone doesn’t guarantee that veterans can actually use nearby parks. Many live with service-related injuries that make basic infrastructure essential.
“When you have a lack of sidewalk access, it makes it a lot more difficult to get to those green spaces,” she said.
The report argues that helping veterans get to nature should be part of how the country supports them after service, alongside health care, housing and other reintegration efforts.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between KUNR, Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNC in Northern Colorado, KANW in New Mexico, Colorado Public Radio, KJZZ in Arizona and NPR, with additional support from affiliate newsrooms across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
