Sudbury health care providers writing prescriptions for patients to 'go take a hike'

People in Sudbury can now get a prescription from a medical professional to go out and enjoy nature.

It's part of a new two-year pilot program launched by Kivi Park.

More than 100 health-care providers can now write "nature prescriptions" to patients who they feel could benefit from more outdoor activity and they get five free passes to the 480-acre recreational area in the city's south end, where the daily entrance fee is $10.

"We'll talk about how getting outside or exercise is important, but this is really providing a tool and an action that goes with that, which we know increases the likelihood of people doing that and actually actioning it at home," said Shannon Kenric-Rochon, a nurse practitioner and medical director for Move Medicine in Sudbury.

7:12Kivi Park in Sudbury launches Nature Prescription Program to get more people outside

Kivi Park in Sudbury has launched a 2-year pilot program called the Nature Prescription Program, in partnership with over 100 healthcare providers. They can prescribe patients free passes to Kivi Park to get more people active outdoors.

"So there's actually some good data to talk about actually writing it out as a prescription increases the likelihood of it being done."

Athletic therapist Kim Brouzes says she's written several nature prescriptions as well and says patients love the idea of "having something else to do" in their recovery.

"Now we can say, 'Well, actually, here's a prescription,'" she said.

"So for us as providers it gives us an opportunity to extend their rehab or their therapeutic benefit by being part of this prescription."