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SoloReImagining Series EP3: Outdoors & Green Space as a Place for Wellbeing

ReImagining Community with Garland

Release Date: 09/08/2025

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ReImagining Community with Garland

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Green space isn’t decoration—it’s medicine. In this solo episode of Reimagining Community, Garland Fuller explores how outdoor and nature-rich “third spaces” restore wellbeing, invite belonging, and spark creativity. From morning walks to community gardens, we unpack why designing with nature is not a nice-to-have—it’s a leadership mandate for healthier teams and communities. Research on social connection, mental health, and wellbeing backs it up , , . Key Conversation Highlights Why Nature Matters for Belonging How outdoor third spaces (parks, trails, gardens) counter...

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More Episodes

Green space isn’t decoration—it’s medicine. In this solo episode of Reimagining Community, Garland Fuller explores how outdoor and nature-rich “third spaces” restore wellbeing, invite belonging, and spark creativity. From morning walks to community gardens, we unpack why designing with nature is not a nice-to-have—it’s a leadership mandate for healthier teams and communities. Research on social connection, mental health, and wellbeing backs it up , , .

Key Conversation Highlights

  • Why Nature Matters for Belonging
    How outdoor third spaces (parks, trails, gardens) counter isolation and strengthen social connection , .

  • Wellbeing > Just Productivity
    Nature time supports mental health and life satisfaction, a cornerstone of any credible wellbeing strategy , .

  • Place as a Silent Communicator
    Lighting, shade, sound, seating, wayfinding, and views of nature shape stress and nervous-system regulation long before anyone speaks.

  • Community Gardens = Community Glue
    Food growing spaces build pride, intergenerational connection, and access to healthful routines—especially meaningful in underserved neighborhoods (aligned with social connection priorities ).

  • Program Outdoors, On Purpose
    Walking meetings, “curiosity walks,” and outdoor offsites reduce digital fatigue, deepen trust, and turn nature into a built-in facilitator.

  • People–Place–Program (PPP) Outdoors

    • People: Design for access (mobility, shade, restrooms, transit, cultural cues).

    • Place: Use sensory design intentionally (views, plants, water, materials).

    • Program: Plan rituals and flows (arrival, movement, reflection, food) that make connection inevitable.

Resources & Mentions

  • Loneliness & Social Connection

    • U.S. Surgeon General Advisory: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation — policy and design levers for connection.
      Read → HHS (2023)

  • Mental Health Context

  • Wellbeing & Work

  • Wellness Macro Trends

Connect & Keep the Conversation Going

What’s your favorite outdoor third space—and why does it matter to you?
Share in the comments or tag Garland on LinkedIn. Want a deeper dive into People–Place–Program for outdoor activations? Join the Community Impact Collective and subscribe at garlandfuller.com.

Stay Inspired

“Outdoors isn’t a backdrop—it’s a living facilitator of belonging, wellbeing, and creativity.” — Garland Fuller

Building legacies, together.