Get outside this summer
7/6/2026 by Muse Absi, M.B.B.S., B.BiomedSc, M.P.H., and Brian Lynch, M.D.
Summer is one of the best times to enjoy the parks, trails and outdoor spaces that make Rochester and Olmsted County in Minnesota such a great place to live. Whether you're taking a walk, attending a park program, spending time near the water or exploring a new trail with family and friends, spending time outdoors can be good for both physical and mental health.
Many people spend much of their day indoors, often sitting in front of a computer or moving from one obligation to the next. Taking time to get outside, even for a short walk, can help you slow down, be active and reconnect with the people and places around you. That's one of the reasons why the Park Prescription (Rx) program encourages healthcare professionals and community organizations to promote nature as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Explore Chester Woods Park
Chester Woods Park in Olmsted County offers a variety of opportunities to go outside this summer. Programs include:
- Guided nature hikes.
- Full moon hikes.
- Beginners kayaking.
- Children's pond studies.
- Outdoor story times.
- Live music at the Chester Woods amphitheater.
Whether you're trying kayaking for the first time or joining a guided hike, these activities offer a fun way to be active while enjoying one of Olmsted County's beautiful parks.
View upcoming Chester Woods Park events.
Visit Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo in Olmsted County continues to be a favorite destination for families. This summer's schedule includes:
- Wildlife programs.
- Feeding demonstrations.
- Nature walks.
- Educational classes led by park naturalists.
These programs provide opportunities to learn about local wildlife while spending time outdoors with family and friends.
View upcoming Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo events.
Recreation opportunities across Rochester
Rochester Parks & Recreation is celebrating the 51st year of its AccessABLE Recreation Program, which provides recreation opportunities for children and adults with diverse cognitive abilities. The program continues to offer camps, sports, adaptive swimming lessons and social activities that help people stay active and connected.
Looking for ways to cool off this summer? Rochester's outdoor aquatic facilities are open for the season, including Foster Arend Beach, Cascade Lake Beach, Lincolnshire Splash Pad, Soldiers Field Aquatic Center and the newly renovated Silver Lake Pool and Splash Pad.
A simple prescription: Spend time outside
The goal of Park Rx is simple: help people discover enjoyable ways to spend more time outdoors. You don't need special equipment or a detailed plan. A walk around the neighborhood, a visit to a local park, an evening concert or an afternoon at the zoo, all can be a good place to start.
We hope you'll take advantage of the many opportunities available this summer and find time to enjoy the parks, trails and natural spaces that make our community unique.
Muse Abdi, M.B.B.S., B.BiomedSc, M.P.H.., is a population health specialist and Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) strategist with Olmsted County Public Health Services. He supports the development and coordination of population health strategies that integrate nature-based approaches into public health practice. Through Minnesota’s SHIP program, he leads initiatives including Park Rx, Exercise is Medicine and the Healing Forest initiative, working with healthcare, public health and community partners to support the use of parks and natural spaces as part of health and wellbeing. He facilitates the Southeast Minnesota Park Rx Coalition, which brings together regional partners to advance nature-based approaches in clinical and community settings. He also supports community engagement and health improvement efforts through SHIP’s Community Leadership Team.
Brian A. Lynch, M.D., is a primary care pediatrician at Mayo Family Clinic Northwest in Rochester. He co-chairs the Primary Care Work Group of the Mayo Clinic Obesity Council and chairs the Primary Care Obesity Task Force. Dr. Lynch works closely with the Southeast Minnesota Park Rx Team to promote the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in nature with his patients and colleagues.