IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 406 

Recognizing the importance of public park and recreation facilities and activities and expressing support for the designation of the month of July 

as ‘‘Park and Recreation Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2017 

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania (for himself and Ms. TSONGAS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of public park and recreation 

facilities and activities and expressing support for the 

designation of the month of July as ‘‘Park and Recreation Month’’. 

Whereas Federal, State, and local public parks and recreation 

systems are dedicated to conservation efforts and to enhancing the quality of life for all residents in communities around the United States; 

Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities— 

(1) provide opportunities for young people to live, 

grow, and develop into contributing members of society; 

(2) create lifelines and continuous life experience for 

older members of the community; 


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•HRES 406 IH 

(3) generate opportunities for people to come together and experience a sense of community; and 

(4) pay dividends to communities by attracting businesses and jobs and by increasing housing value; 

Whereas public park operations and capital spending in the 

United States generate nearly $140,000,000,000 in economic activity each year and support almost 1,000,000 

jobs; 

Whereas 90 percent of people in the United States agree that 

public park and recreation facilities and activities are important government services, a figure that displays a base 

of support that spans across all people in the United 

States, regardless of race, income, gender, or political 

party affiliation; 

Whereas 74 percent of people in the United States agree that 

ensuring all members of their community have equitable 

access to public park and recreation facilities and activities is important; 

Whereas the most economically sound communities are those 

with ample and healthy public park and recreation facilities and activities; 

Whereas a key factor in business expansion and location decisions is the quality of life for employees, with a premium 

placed on adequate and accessible public parks and open 

space; 

Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities 

play a vital role in creating active and healthy communities, and people who use public parks and open spaces 

are three times more likely to achieve the recommended 

levels of physical activity than nonusers; 


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•HRES 406 IH 

Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities 

foster a variety of activities that contribute to a healthier 

United States, such as providing injured military veterans and those with physical disabilities opportunities 

for physical activity, encouraging communities to promote 

outdoor activities in order to prevent and manage symptoms related to chronic diseases, working with local 

school systems to develop science-based curricula to educate children on nutrition and activity, connecting children with nature, and combating obesity in youth; 

Whereas people living within a 10-minute walk of a park have 

higher levels of physical activity and lower rates of obesity; 

Whereas, of the people in the United States— 

(1) 70 percent go to their local park; 

(2) 83 percent say they personally benefit from local 

parks; and 

(3) 92 percent say their community benefits from 

local parks; 

Whereas community recreation programs at public park and 

recreation facilities provide children with a safe place to 

play, access to healthy foods, opportunities to be physically active, and enrichment activities that greatly assist 

working families with childcare services and help to reduce at-risk behavior such as drug use and gang involvement; 

Whereas 73 percent of adults believe parks, trails, and open 

spaces are an essential part of the healthcare system; and 

Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities 

reduce fuel costs and commute times by providing a place 


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close to home to relax, exercise, and reduce stress: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the great societal value of public 

3 park and recreation facilities and activities and their 

4 importance in communities across the United States; 

5 (2) recognizes and honors the vital contribu6 tions of employees and volunteers for public park 

7 and recreation facilities and activities; and 

8 (3) supports the designation of a ‘‘Park and 

9 Recreation Month’’. 

Æ 


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