ACR 50, as amended, Gordon. Parks Make Life Better! Month.
This measure would declare the Legislature’s recognition of the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health and development of all Californians. This measure would also declare the month of July 2013 as “Parks Make Life Better!” Month.
Fiscal committee: no.
P2 1WHEREAS, A 2009 public opinion research study, conducted
2by the California Park & Recreation Society, revealed 98 percent
3of California’s households visit a local park and 50 percent of
4California households participate in an organized recreation
5program annually; and
6WHEREAS, California’s residents value their local parks and
7recreation services, as they provide access to the serenity and
8inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces, and places for play and
9exercise; facilities for directed and self-directed recreation;
10activities that facilitate social connections, human development,
11the arts, and lifelong learning; and positive alternatives for youth
12that help lower crime and mischief; and
13WHEREAS, The 2010 California Obesity Prevention Plan states
14the following:
15(a) One in every nine California children, one in three teens,
16and over 50 percent of adults are already overweight or obese, and
17that obesity affects virtually all age, income, educational, ethnic,
18and disability groups.
19(b) The state’s childhood obesity epidemic and related health
20conditions and associated costs are expected to increase unless
21concerted and coordinated efforts are made to increase
22opportunities for children and youth to engage in age-appropriate,
23high-quality physical activity programs during nonschool hours.
24(c) Research has shown that where people live, work, and play
25impacts obesity. For example, in
Imperial County, 73 percent of
26adults are overweight or obese, while only 43 percent of San
27Francisco City and County adults are overweight or obese.
28(d) California’s costs attributable to physical inactivity, obesity,
29and excess body weight in 2006 were estimated at forty-one billion
30two hundred million dollars ($41,200,000,000). In contrast, a
315-percent improvement in each of these risk factors could result
32in an annual savings of nearly two billion four hundred million
33dollars ($2,400,000,000).
34(e) To address obesity, the State of California must ensure that
35all California residents have access to safe places to play and be
36active; and
37WHEREAS, California’s 10 Step Vision for a Healthy California
38is a call to action to transform the state so that all Californians can
39enjoy healthy eating and active living, resulting in all of the
40following:
P3 1(a) Every day, every child will participate in physical activity.
2(b) California’s adults will be physically active every day.
3(c) Neighborhoods, communities, and buildings will support
4physical activity, including safe walking, stair climbing, and
5bicycling; and
6WHEREAS, The Governor, Legislature, and citizens have
7prioritized efforts to increase physical activity, access to nature,
8spaces for play and exercise, the arts, lifelong learning, and social
9connections among children and adults through the approval of
10statewide park bond programs; and
11WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society promotes
12the positive personal and community benefits of parks, open space,
13trails, recreation facilities and programs, nature education, and
14sports for able and disabled children, teens, adults, and seniors;
15and
16WHEREAS, Participation in physical activities can lower a
17citizen’s risk of developing chronic health problems, such as high
18blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes, and also help
19children grow up to be healthier adults; and
20WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society has
21released a statewide public awareness campaign, “Parks Make
22Life Better!” to inform citizens of the many benefits of utilizing
23parks, facilities, programs, and services; now, therefore, be it
24Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
25thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the importance
26of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities such as
27swimming pools, skate parks, dog parks, tennis courts, nature
28centers, and museums, for the health and development of all
29Californians; and be it further
30Resolved, That the Legislature declares the month of July 2013
31as “Parks Make Life Better!” Month; and be it further
32Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
33of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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