Malden launches “Outdoor Rx” pilot program for Mass. residents & individuals with disabilities

Mayor Gary Christenson joined First Seed Sown and Molina Healthcare (Molina) to announce the launch of The Great Malden Outdoors Rx, a first-in-the-nation pilot program that connects a city-owned asset, a state’s outdoor recreation office, and health care for the well-being of people with disabilities at no cost. Launching in spring 2026, the four-week pilot program will offer participants a choice of four professionally led outdoor activities: outdoor art, forest bathing, birding and adaptive hiking. All activities will take place in and around Malden, with all necessary equipment, specialized adaptive gear and instruction provided.

The program is made possible through a $25,000 grant from the Molina Healthcare Foundation — in collaboration with Molina — and the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR), as part of a growing movement to treat outdoor recreation as a form of preventive healthcare. The initiative follows in the footsteps of nationally recognized models, such as Art Rx, Food as Medicine, and Social Prescribing.

“Cities and states across the country are still figuring out how to meaningfully connect outdoor recreation to healthcare,” said First Seed Sown CEO Darren “DJ” Josey, who created The Great Malden Outdoors. “This program removes cost, equipment, and access barriers so people can experience the proven mental health benefits of being outside, together.”

“Molina believes in a holistic approach to health, by connecting members with high-quality care as well as community resources which address overall well-being,” said Molina Healthcare Plan President Bill Graham. “This initiative aligns with that approach, and we are proud to support it.”

Each activity was selected based on research demonstrating its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression and social isolation. Participants will be asked to anonymously complete the World Health Organization’s WHO-5 Mental Wellbeing Survey, helping contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting outdoor recreation as an effective public health intervention.

“Time recreating in nature is critical for our mental, physical, and emotional health, and Massachusetts is striving to be a national example of how cities and states can partner with the private sector to improve the well-being of their residents,” said Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Paul Jahnige. “The Great Malden Outdoors Rx Program demonstrates how collaboration between healthcare providers, government at state and local levels, and nonprofits can result in imaginative approaches to health equity and outdoor access that serve communities.”

To further expand access, local healthcare providers will partner with The Great Malden Outdoors to offer zero-cost “Outdoor Rx prescriptions,” helping individuals enroll directly in the program. One local community healthcare partner is Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). “CHA is pleased to partner with the Great Malden Outdoors to connect our patients to GMO’s exciting outdoor activities and help further our patients’ health goals,” said Deputy Chief Community Officer Roberta Turri Vise. “CHA community health workers and providers will share these resources which complement and align with our efforts to support patients’ mental health, hypertension control, and overall well-being.”

To ensure the program is trauma-informed, equitable, and grounded in mental health best practices, First Seed Sown has partnered with And Still We Rise (ASWR), a liberation-focused mental health and consulting collective. ASWR will provide on-call clinical consultation throughout the pilot and lead the synthesis of participants’ well-being data into an insights and learning report to inform future Outdoor Rx models. “This program recognizes something mental health providers have long known – healing doesn’t only happen in clinical settings,” said ASWR Founder/CEO Dr. Natasha Holmes. “By pairing outdoor access with trauma-informed support, this pilot models what equitable, preventive mental healthcare can look like at the community level.”

The pilot is open to participants with disabilities from across Massachusetts. Malden residents will receive a two-week priority registration window before enrollment opens statewide. For more information or to follow program updates, visit TheGreatMaldenOutdoors.com.