IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 941 
Recognizing the importance of public park and recreation facilities and activi-
ties and expressing support for the designation of the month of July 
as ‘‘Park and Recreation Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 14, 2018 
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania (for himself and Ms. TSONGAS) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources 
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 Recre-
ation Month’’. 
Whereas Federal, State, and local public parks and recreation 
systems are dedicated to conservation efforts and to en-
hancing the quality of life for all residents in commu-
nities 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 941 IH 
(3) generate opportunities for people to come to-
gether and experience a sense of community; 
(4) pay dividends to communities by attracting busi-
nesses and jobs and by increasing housing value; 
(5) connect citizens to the outdoors, creating a re-
spect and understanding of nature; 
(6) lower chronic disease risk by improving access to 
physical activity opportunities reducing stress and depres-
sion, and improving environmental conditions; and 
(7) bolster environmental and community resilience, 
allowing people and places to more quickly recover from 
natural disasters; 
Whereas public park operations and capital spending in the 
United States generate nearly $154,000,000,000 in eco-
nomic activity each year and support almost 1,100,000 
jobs; 
Whereas 90 percent of people in the United States agree that 
public park and recreation facilities and activities are im-
portant 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 activi-
ties is important; 
Whereas the most economically sound communities are those 
with ample and healthy public park and recreation facili-
ties and activities; 
Whereas a key factor in business expansion and location deci-
sions is the quality of life for employees, with a premium 
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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 commu-
nities, and people who use public parks and open spaces 
are three times more likely to achieve the recommended 
levels of physical activity than nonusers; 
Whereas many parks provide green infrastructure that reduce 
the heat island effect in urban areas and reduce storm 
water impacts by as much as 90 percent; 
Whereas 84 percent of park agencies invest in sustainability 
activities and practices for their environmental benefit; 
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 vet-
erans and those with physical disabilities opportunities 
for physical activity, encouraging communities to promote 
outdoor activities in order to prevent and manage symp-
toms related to chronic diseases, working with local 
school systems to develop science-based curricula to edu-
cate children on nutrition and activity, connecting chil-
dren 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 obe-
sity; 
Whereas older adults engage in over 3.5 times more physical 
activity when they have access to a walking loop or trail 
at a local public park; 
Whereas the positive impact of outdoor play on a child’s 
brain has been well documented; 
Whereas, of the people in the United States— 
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(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 phys-
ically active, opportunities for social-emotional learning, 
and academic enrichment activities that greatly assist 
working families with childcare services and help to re-
duce at-risk behavior such as substance use and gang in-
volvement; 
Whereas nutrition education provided at public park and 
recreation facilities results in a 20 percent increase in 
fruit and vegetable knowledge for youth; 
Whereas local parks serve as important transportation hubs 
for a community, providing access to walking, running 
and biking pathways; 
Whereas 73 percent of adults believe parks, trails, and open 
spaces are an essential part of the healthcare system; 
Whereas residents in low-income areas with more tree canopy 
and street level vegetation had a 37 percent reduced risk 
of depression; and 
Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities 
reduce fuel costs and commute times by providing a place 
close to home to relax, exercise, and reduce stress: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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(1) recognizes the great societal value of public 
park and recreation facilities and activities and their 
importance in communities across the United States; 
(2) recognizes and honors the vital contribu-
tions of employees and volunteers for public park 
and recreation facilities and activities; and 
(3) supports the designation of a ‘‘Park and 
Recreation Month’’. 
Æ 
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