The Creswell Chronicle -

Oregonian's participation in outdoor recreation activities saves the state $1.4 billion annually in healthcare costs, according to a report released recently by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD).

The report, "Health Benefits for Oregonians from their Outdoor Recreation Participation in Oregon," calculates how much energy people expend when engaging in outdoor recreation, and the corresponding reduction in costs related to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, depression, dementia, diabetes and several cancers.

"The report demonstrates that parks and recreation pro...