[standardUser]

Agreed. The closest parks to me do not offer serene nature. They offer a diverse mix of people (and dogs) engaged in all kinds of different activities. It's entertaining and stimulating but I doubt it provides the benefits the author is talking about.

Especially since they keep mentioning forests and there is nothing remotely like a "forest" in walking distance from my home in NY. Nor was there was I lived in SF, and not even in the suburbs where I grew up.

[cogman10]

I live in Boise Idaho. While there are forests, none of them are within walking distance.

Having a forest in walking distance is a rarity.

[standardUser]

True, but if you live near Presidio in SF or Prospect Park in Brooklyn (as examples) you can totally walk to a forest! And in many places where people own cars you and just drive 5 or 10 minutes. But clearly these circumstances are far from universal. Most people are lucky to have a half-decent park within a 10 minute walk.