Even a February blizzard, snow, wind and ice couldn’t keep more than 300 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) members from going to Capital Hill and participating in the National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation. Dedicated members attended the forum to fight for pressing national and local issues that affect our parks, families and children.

State delegations met with lawmakers to ask for their commitment and support on national issues that have impact on a local level. Minnesota delegates, including representatives from Landscape Structures, met with Rep. Michelle Bachman (R-MN) and asked for her support on park and recreation-related issues. 

This forum also featured a launch event announcing a new coalition called Partnership for Play Every Day in partnership with the NRPA, YMCA, the National Association for Sport and Physical Activity and corporate partners including Landscape Structures and General Mills.
 
During the event, Dr. Bill Haskell of Stanford University School of Medicine presented a science-based report focused on the national crisis of childhood obesity calling for development of a Community Play Index that would identify local barriers that limit or prevent children from being able to play. According to his statistics, one out of every five children ages 2 to 16 is obese because of insufficient physical activity and too much access to calorie-dense foods.
 
“We need to create a Generation Play," he said. “If we don't get behind this Generation Play, we are going to have Generation XXL: extra, extra large."
 
To jumpstart this initiative on the legislative side, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) also introduced a bill that is co-sponsored by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) called the Promoting Lifelong Active Communities Every Day Act.  The bill focuses on increasing quality play opportunities, acquisition of spaces for play and raising voices in support of opportunities for play.
 
NRPA also held its annual congressional awards ceremony on Capitol Hill to honor legislators for their hard work in support of parks and recreation.