[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 569 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 569

Recognizing the importance of public park and recreation facilities and 
activities and providing for the designation of the month of July 2018 
                   as ``Park and Recreation Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 9, 2018

 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Feinstein, 
  Mr. Carper, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Hirono, and Ms. Harris) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the importance of public park and recreation facilities and 
activities and providing for the designation of the month of July 2018 
                   as ``Park and Recreation Month''.

Whereas Federal, State, and local public park and recreation systems are 
        dedicated to conservation efforts and enhancing the quality of life for 
        all residents in communities across the United States;
Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities--

    (1) provide opportunities for young people to live, grow, and develop 
into contributing members of society;

    (2) create lifelines and continuous life experience for older members 
of a community;

    (3) generate opportunities for people to come together and experience a 
sense of community;

    (4) play a vital role in creating active and healthy communities;

    (5) pay dividends to communities by attracting businesses and jobs and 
increasing housing value;

    (6) connect people to the outdoors, creating a respect for and 
understanding of nature;

    (7) lower the risk of chronic disease by improving access to 
opportunities for physical activity, reducing stress and depression, and 
improving environmental conditions; and

    (8) bolster environmental and community resilience, allowing people and 
places to more quickly recover from natural disasters;

Whereas public park operations and capital spending in the United States 
        generate nearly $154,000,000,000 in economic activity each year and 
        support 1,100,000 jobs;
Whereas 92 percent of people in the United States agree that public park and 
        recreation facilities and activities are important government services, 
        displaying a base of support that spans across all people in the United 
        States, regardless of race, income, gender, or political party 
        affiliation;
Whereas 77 percent of people in the United States agree that ensuring all 
        members of a community have equitable access to public park and 
        recreation facilities and activities is important;
Whereas the most economically sound communities are those with ample and healthy 
        public park and recreation facilities and activities;
Whereas a key factor in business expansion and location is the quality of life 
        for employees, with a premium placed on adequate and accessible public 
        parks and open spaces;
Whereas people who use public parks and open spaces are 3 times more likely to 
        achieve the recommended levels of physical activity than nonusers;
Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities foster a variety of 
        activities that contribute to a healthier United States, including--

    (1) providing injured veterans of the Armed Forces and individuals with 
physical disabilities opportunities for physical activity;

    (2) encouraging communities to promote outdoor activities to prevent 
and manage symptoms related to chronic diseases;

    (3) working with local school systems to develop science-based 
curricula to educate children on nutrition and activity;

    (4) connecting children with nature; and

    (5) combating obesity among youth;

Whereas many parks provide green infrastructure that reduces the heat island 
        effect in urban areas and reduces storm water impacts by as much as 90 
        percent;
Whereas 84 percent of park agencies invest in sustainability activities and 
        practices for the benefit of the environment;
Whereas people living within a 10-minute walk of a park have higher levels of 
        physical activity and lower rates of obesity;
Whereas the positive impact of outdoor play on the brain of a child has been 
        well documented;
Whereas, of the people in the United States--

    (1) 70 percent go to local parks;

    (2) 83 percent personally benefit from local parks; and

    (3) 92 percent say that communities benefit from local parks;

Whereas community recreation programs at public park and recreation facilities 
        provide children with--

    (1) a safe place to play;

    (2) access to healthy foods;

    (3) opportunities to be physically active;

    (4) opportunities for social and emotional learning; and

    (5) academic enrichment activities that greatly assist working families 
with childcare service and help reduce at-risk behavior among youth, such 
as substance use and gang involvement;

Whereas nutrition education provided at public park and recreation facilities 
        results in a 20-percent increase in fruit and vegetable knowledge among 
        youth;
Whereas local parks serve as important transportation hubs for communities, 
        providing access to pathways for walking, running, and biking;
Whereas 73 percent of adults believe parks, trails, and open spaces are an 
        essential part of the healthcare system;
Whereas residents in low-income areas with more tree canopy and street level 
        vegetation had a 37-percent reduced risk of depression; and
Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities reduce fuel costs 
        and commute times by providing a place close to home to relax, exercise, 
        and reduce stress: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the great societal value of public park and 
        recreation facilities and activities and the importance of 
        those facilities and activities in communities across the 
        United States;
            (2) recognizes and honors the vital contributions of 
        employees and volunteers for public park and recreation 
        facilities and activities; and
            (3) designates the month of July 2018 as ``Park and 
        Recreation Month''.
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