Ogden Outdoor Healthcare & Green City Initiative
“We are not just treating symptoms — we are rebuilding health systems. Outdoor Healthcare stands for every individual’s right to heal in freedom, in community, and in connection with nature.”
Ogden Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare℠ & Green City Initiative
A 24-Month Pilot for Health, Nature, and Economic Renewal
Branded under Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare Research Organization℠
1. Executive Summary
The Ogden Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare℠ & Green City Initiative is a two-year pilot designed to demonstrate how health systems, insurers, and environmental agencies can work together to build healthier communities through Outdoor Healthcare. Under the Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare℠ brand, this project integrates nature-based interventions, urban reforestation, and value-based healthcare delivery.
Core Goals
Improve community mental and physical health outcomes through outdoor interventions.
Expand Ogden’s green infrastructure and urban canopy for long-term climate resilience.
Create and sustain 120+ green healthcare jobs.
Build a scalable model for CMS and HHS adoption within value-based reimbursement frameworks.
2. Local Context: Ogden, Utah
Ogden’s unique geography and demographic diversity make it an ideal test bed for Outdoor Healthcare. The city faces:
Rising rates of chronic disease and mental health challenges.
Unequal access to green spaces — 40% of residents live beyond 300 meters from a park.
Air quality and heat island effects linked to urban density.
By aligning healthcare, forestry, and federal partners, Ogden will serve as a living laboratory to measure health outcomes, equity impacts, and economic value derived from nature-based care.
3. Governance & Partners
Lead Partner: Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare Research Organization℠
Proposed Health Partners: Intermountain Healthcare, Ogden Regional, Common Spirit Health
Federal & State Partners: U.S. Forest Service, CMS, HHS, Utah Division of Forestry
Community Partners: Weber County Health Department, City of Ogden, Weber State University, Utah State University and local nonprofits
Governance Structure:
Executive Steering Committee: provides oversight on policy, finance, and outcomes.
Implementation Task Force: manages operations, workforce, data systems, and evaluation.
Community Advisory Council: ensures inclusion, equity, and cultural representation.
4. Implementation Timeline (24 Months)
I. Planning & Design: 0–3
Form coalition, secure funding, baseline canopy & health data Oak Mountain + Forest Service + Hospitals
II. Workforce Development: 4–6 Train 50 Forest Therapy Guides & 20 Clinical Champions Oak Mountain + Universities
III. Pilot Launch: 7–12 Launch ParkRx in 10 clinics, plant 2,000 trees, enroll 500 patients Hospital Systems + City of Ogden
IV. Evaluation & Scale-Up: 13–18 Add 3 new sites, midline data review, adjust programs Research + Payers
V. Institutionalization: 19–24 CMS ILOS/1115 integration, publish outcomes, scale statewide Oak Mountain + CMS + HHS
5. Two-Year Budget Overview (USD)
Category Description
Year 1: Total Workforce Development Certifications, stipends, supervision $350,000
Year 2: Program Delivery ParkRx, Green Prescriptions, community sessions $550,000
Green Infrastructure Tree planting (2,000), park restoration, maintenance $800,000
Research & Evaluation Outcomes, health equity, ROI analysis $300,000
Administration Project management, steering committee, communications$300,000
Data Systems EHR integration, dashboards, GIS & Tree Equity mapping $175,000
Community Outreach Engagement, education, marketing $150,000
Total: $2.825M
Funding Mix
35% Hospital community benefit programs
25% USDA Forest Service & IRA funds
20% CMS/ILOS/1115 Innovation Pilots
10% City/County ARPA & sustainability grants
10% Philanthropy & academic partnerships
6. Evaluation Dashboard
Access & Equity% residents within 300 m of green space 60%70%80% GIS / Tree Equity Score
Urban Canopy Tree Equity Score 556575 Forest Service
Physical Health Avg systolic BP135130125 EHR Data
Mental Health PHQ-91297 Clinical Surveys
Wellbeing WHO-5 Index526575 Participant Data
Utilization ER visits per 100 participants201714 Claims Data
Economic ROI Savings-to-Cost Ratio–1.2×1.8×Evaluator
Job Creation Direct & indirect jobs060120 Workforce Board
Climate Impact CO₂ sequestered (tons)0150400City Forestry
Engagement Volunteer hours 03,0006,000 Reports
7. Policy & Reimbursement Integration
CMS Innovation: Align through In Lieu of Services (ILOS) & 1115 Waivers for nature-based group therapy, navigation, and prescriptions.
Forest Service: Use IRA and Community Forestry funds to co-finance canopy & health outcomes.
Hospital Incentives: Integrate Outdoor Healthcare into community benefit and value-based care contracts.
HHS Alignment: Coordinate with Healthy People 2030 and climate resilience objectives.
8. Long-Term Vision
By 2027, the Ogden Oak Mountain Outdoor Healthcare & Green City Initiative will serve as a replicable national model for integrating climate, community, and care delivery systems.
Projected Outcomes:
30% reduction in depression (PHQ-9)
8% average reduction in blood pressure
120+ jobs created in green & healthcare sectors
10% canopy increase in underserved neighborhoods
$3.5M in healthcare cost savings
Next Steps
Secure Year-1 funding and finalize contracts.
Approve governance charter & evaluation protocols.
Launch workforce training cohorts by Q2 2026.
Begin program delivery and real-time data monitoring.