Amended in Assembly May 14, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 18


Introduced by Assembly Member Gordon

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O’Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, and Wood)

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February 4, 2015


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 18—Relative to “Parks Make Life Better!” Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 18, as amended, Gordon. Parks Make Life Better! Month.

This measure would recognize the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health and development of all Californians and would declare the month of July 2015 as “Parks Make Life Better!” Month.

Fiscal committee: no.

P2    1WHEREAS, A 2009 public opinion research study, conducted
2by the California Park and Recreation Society, revealed that 98
3percent of California’s households visit a local park and 50 percent
4of California 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

13WHEREAS, The Outdoor Industry Association reports that
14outdoor recreation, both passive and active, generates more than
15eighty-five billion dollars ($85,000,000,000) in economic activity
16in California, supporting nearly 800,000 jobs and representing a
17business and economic sector that surpasses the aerospace and
18insurance industries in the state; and

19WHEREAS, The 2010 California Obesity Prevention Plan states
20the following:

21(a) One in every nine California children, one in three teens,
22and over 50 percent of adults are already overweight or obese, and
23obesity affects virtually all age, income, educational, ethnic, and
24disability groups.

25(b) Research has shown that where people live, work, and play
26impacts obesity. For example, in Imperial County, 73 percent of
27adults are overweight or obese, while only 43 percent of San
28Francisco City and County adults are overweight or obese.

29(c) California’s costs attributable to physical inactivity, obesity,
30and excess body weight in 2006 were estimated at forty-one billion
31two hundred million dollars ($41,200,000,000). In contrast, a
325-percent improvement in each of these risk factors could result
33in an annual savings of nearly two billion four hundred million
34dollars ($2,400,000,000).

35(d) To address obesity, the state must ensure that all California
36residents have access to safe places to play and be active; 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 2015
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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