An Exploration of Perceived Health Outcomes of State Park Visitors in Oklahoma.

In order to document state parks' health benefits, the study examined the relationship between state park visitors' physical activity level and perceived health outcomes. Using a convenience sampling method, visitors to Oklahoma State Parks were invited to respond to an online survey (N = 412). The results showed: (1) positive psychological experience was the highest perceived health outcomes, and (2) the more active visitors were in the park, the more likely they were to experience the health benefits parks provide. State parks should be a venue for health promotion and attract visitors from the general public, particularly underserved and rural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]