SOURCE: National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
Ongoing initiative provides children with access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities during out-of-school time
Ashburn, Va. (March. 5, 2019) — Thanks to the National Recreation and Park Association’s Commit to Health campaign, nearly 500,000 youth nationwide have improved access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities annually. Now in its fifth year, more than 2,000 park and recreation sites nationally have signed on to the campaign, which utilizes the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards first adopted by the National AfterSchool Association, exceeding the campaign’s original goal set forth in 2014.
“NRPA is proud to lead this effort that is making a positive impact on the health and wellness of youth across the country,” said Kellie May, NRPA director of health and wellness. “Now more than ever, we have to teach children the importance of healthy living. Thank you to our member agencies for their commitment to this cause.”
NRPA works closely with its 60,000 members to ensure children everywhere have access to healthy foods and physical fitness opportunities during out-of-school (OST) time. Since 2016, the number of agencies offering nutrition education in OST programs has doubled. In fact, nearly all 50 states have sites that are part of Commit to Health. Of these sites, 96 percent are meeting the daily physical activity recommendations. Additional highlights are included in this infographic.
Developed in partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Partnership for a Healthier America, Commit to Health aims to improve childhood nutrition and increase physical activity through local parks and recreation. To learn more about this campaign, watch this video. To join the more than 2,000 sites across the country that are inspiring youth, families and communities to eat healthy and move more, click here.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
