This paper explores how green space can aid in improved mental health outcomes for individuals who live in rural communities in greater Minnesota. The mental health landscape across the state is complex and layered, complicated by access, insurance, broadband, and employment. At the local level, built and natural policy have the ability to directly impact physical and mental health outcomes for people; positively or negatively. Unfortunately, little literature exists in rural context; shadowed by its urban counterpart. By exploring how broader partnerships and policy can be strengthened, local and county government play a critical role in how communities can support broader mental health interventions. This paper seeks to understand how design, policy, and programming solutions can center parks and green space into the broader conversation of health, and divert away from green space as a “nice to have amenity,” and towards critical infrastructure.