Loneliness and social isolation are widespread in the United States, according to the first report from Social Connection in America, a new 25-year, evidence-based, national survey on the state of social connection across the United States (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2025).

Forty-one percent of adults say they feel lonely at least some of the time. Meanwhile, nearly 75 percent of Americans get together with close friends just twice a month or less, and 29 percent rarely or never talk with them on the phone.

This is sobering news since robust social connections are associated with better physical and mental health and longevity.

While social isolation and disengagement may now be the norm in our society, there are also reasons to be hopeful, according to leading social connection expert Julianne Holt-Lunstad, who developed the survey.

Holt-Lunstad and colleagues see hope and a path forward in American neighborhoods and communities. Nearly three-quarters of respondents feel a sense of belonging where they live. And nearly 60 percent get along with their neighbors.

How can we further boost that sense of belonging and help people actively engage with their neighbors? One way may be to take advantage of a natural resource in our own backyards: our local and national parks.

Our local parks serve as a much-needed oasis, providing green space, calm, and the opportunity to connect with our neighbors in a safe and healthy way.

In fact, visiting parks is........

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