Amended in Assembly June 5, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 130

Introduced by Assembly Member Rendon

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Fong, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, and Yamada)

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April 2, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 130—Relative to “Parks Make Life Better!” Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 130, as amended, Rendon. 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 2014 as “Parks Make Life Better!” Month.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, A 2009 public opinion research study, conducted
by the California Park and Recreation Society, revealed that 98
percent of California’s households visit a local park and 50 percent
of California households participate in an organized recreation
program annually; and

WHEREAS, California’s residents value their local parks and
recreation services, as they provide access to the serenity and
inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces, and places for play and
exercise; facilities for directed and self-directed recreation;
activities that facilitate social connections, human development,
the arts, and lifelong learning; and positive alternatives for youth
that help lower crime and mischief; and

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

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

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

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

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

WHEREAS, California’s 10 Step Vision for a Healthy California
is a call to action to transform the state so that all Californians can
enjoy healthy eating and active living, resulting in all of the
following:

(a) Every day, every child will participate in physical activity.

(b) California’s adults will be physically active every day.

(c) Neighborhoods, communities, and buildings will support
physical activity, including safe walking, stair climbing, and
bicycling; and

WHEREAS, The Governor, Legislature, and citizens have
prioritized efforts to increase physical activity, access to nature,
spaces for play and exercise, the arts, lifelong learning, and social
connections among children and adults through the approval of
statewide park bond programs; and

WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society promotes
the positive personal and community benefits of parks, open space,
trails, recreation facilities and programs, nature education, and
sports for able and disabled children, teens, adults, and seniors;
and

WHEREAS, Participation in physical activities can lower a
citizen’s risk of developing chronic health problems, such as high
blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes, and also help
children grow up to be healthier adults; and

WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society has
released a statewide public awareness campaign, “Parks Make
Life Better!” to inform citizens of the many benefits of utilizing
parks, facilities, programs, and services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the importance
of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities such as
swimming pools, skate parks, dog parks, tennis courts, nature
centers, and museums, for the health and development of all
Californians; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature declares the month of July 2014
as “Parks Make Life Better!” Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.