Study Examines How Green Space, Air Quality, and Transit Affect Veteran Health in U.S. Cities
A new Sierra Club report finds that at least one in five U.S. veterans live in neighborhoods without easy access to parks or natural spaces. The findings come from “Roots of Resilience: Veteran Access to Nature,” a study that examines how more than 1.3 million veterans across eight metro areas experience nature access and environmental conditions.
The report concludes that nearly 300,000 veterans do not have a park or natural area within a 10-minute walk of home.
“Veterans have already risked their lives in service to this country. When veterans return home to cities that fail to provide access to the healing power of nature, the U.S. is breaking an implicit promise,” said Sherman Neal II, deputy director of the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors program.
How the Study Measured Veteran Access
Researchers combined veteran population data with mapping tools to evaluate access to parks and natural spaces. The report defines access as a 10-minute walk, or roughly a half mile, to a public green space. Parks that require memberships or are heavily built up were excluded, so the study focused on natural areas instead of recreation complexes.
Cities were graded on several factors:
- Veteran access to nearby parks and natural spaces
- Air quality ratings from the American Lung Association
- Walkability, bikeability, and public transit scores from WalkScore
- Distribution of park space between neighborhoods
Metro areas where less than half of a census tract fell inside a 10-minute walk zone were marked as “lacking nature access” for the veterans who live there.
Where Veterans Face the Biggest Gaps
Across all eight cities, 20.6 percent of veterans lack nearby nature access. The share varies widely, revealing big differences in city design, environmental conditions, and transportation systems.
Veteran Access to Nature by Metro Area
(All data comes from the report’s VAN table.)
| Metro Area | Total Veterans | Veterans Lacking Nature Access | Percent | VAN Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | 210,133 | 6,684 | 3.2% | B+ |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul | 116,635 | 1,289 | 1.1% | B |
| Denver | 143,370 | 2,873 | 2.0% | C |
| Philadelphia | 168,713 | 35,507 | 21.0% | C |
| Detroit | 166,317 | 34,926 | 21.0% | D |
| Jacksonville | 119,736 | 51,304 | 42.8% | D |
| Las Vegas | 133,806 | 40,813 | 30.5% | D minus |
| Atlanta | 266,083 | 115,140 | 43.3% | F |
Atlanta received the lowest grade. More than 43 percent of local veterans do not have a park or natural area nearby. The report notes that park access in Atlanta varies sharply between neighborhoods and that poor air quality added to the low score.
Jacksonville scored almost as low, with 42.8 percent of veterans lacking access. The metro area has more than 80,000 acres of park and recreation land, but those spaces are unevenly distributed, and public transit is limited.
Cities With the Best Access Still Face Pollution Challenges
Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis earned the highest grades for nature access. Only 3.2 percent of veterans in D.C. and 1.1 percent in Minneapolis live outside a 10-minute walk to a park. Both cities have strong transit access and dense networks of parks.
Even so, each city still received poor marks for air quality. Pollution can make outdoor activity difficult, especially for veterans with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
Why Nature Access Matters for Veteran Health
Veterans experience higher rates of chronic conditions than the general population. Between 2002 and 2015, 58 percent of veterans treated by VA had a diagnosed mental health disorder. Veterans also have physical disabilities at nearly twice the rate of civilians.
The report cites research showing that time outdoors can:
- Reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
- Improve respiratory health
- Strengthen cognitive performance
- Speed up recovery after injury or surgery
“Failing to ensure access to quality greenspaces and natural public lands breaks an implicit promise that those who served the country will return to one that safeguards their health and dignity,” the report states.
How Pollution and Transportation Limit Daily Access
Air quality was a concern in every metro area studied. Several cities, including Denver, Las Vegas, Detroit, and Atlanta, received poor air quality grades from the American Lung Association due to ozone and particle pollution.
Walkability and transit also played a major role. Jacksonville and Las Vegas are classified as highly car-dependent, which makes it harder for veterans without reliable transportation to reach green spaces, even if large public lands exist nearby.
Equity gaps were found in several metros. In Minneapolis, neighborhoods of color have 58 percent less access to nearby parks than white neighborhoods. In Detroit, neighborhoods with the highest share of residents of color have 38 percent less park space per person.
Budget Cuts Could Deepen the Problem, Report Warns
The report argues that proposed cuts to the National Park Service and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, along with efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act, would make it harder for veterans to access healthy outdoor spaces.
It calls for:
- Full funding for VA, DoD, and Interior programs that connect veterans with outdoor recreation
- New investment in parks and trails in underserved neighborhoods
- Protection of public lands and reduced maintenance backlogs
- Better accessibility features in parks, including ADA-compliant trails
- Defending environmental laws that reduce pollution
- Support for community programs such as the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors
“Until every veteran in America can walk or roll to a safe and clean place of natural beauty, the Sierra Club will continue its efforts to improve nature access for veterans and their families,” the report concludes.
What Veterans Should Know Now
The full Roots of Resilience report includes detailed maps, local data, and resource information that veterans and families can use to understand outdoor access in their area. Veterans interested in outdoor recreation programs can explore opportunities through the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors initiative and local community groups.
Sources
- Roots of Resilience: Veteran Access to Nature Report Card (Sierra Club)
- Sierra Club press release
- American Lung Association
- WalkScore methodology
