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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY SENATOR BROOME
A RESOLUTION
To recognize the importance of park and recreation facilities, express support for the
designation of July as "National Park and Recreation Month" and declare July as
"Park and Recreation Month in Louisiana".
WHEREAS, public parks and recreation systems are dedicated to enhancing the
quality of life for residents in communities around the country through recreation
programming, leisure activities, and conservation efforts; and
WHEREAS, parks, recreation activities, and leisure experiences provide
opportunities for young people to live, grow, and develop into contributing members of
society; create lifelines and continuous life experience for older members of the community;
generate opportunities for people to come together and experience a sense of community;
and pay dividends to communities by attracting businesses, jobs, and increasing housing
value; and
WHEREAS, parks and recreation services play a vital role in creating active and
healthy communities, and the majority of older adults who visit parks report moderate or
high levels of physical activity during their visit and fifty percent of older adults who
participated in light to moderate aerobic park activity report being in a better mood after
visiting parks; and
WHEREAS, parks and recreation facilities foster a variety of activities that
contribute to a healthier United States, such as introducing injured military veterans and
those with physical disabilities to physical activity, mobilizing urban communities to use
chronic disease prevention practices, 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; and
WHEREAS, the creation of places for physical activity, combined with information
outreach, produced a 48.4 percent increase in the frequency of physical activity; and SR NO. 146 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, more than seventy-five percent of United States citizens use park and
recreation facilities to maintain fitness and to remain socially interactive, which are critical
to maintaining community cohesion and pride; and
WHEREAS, community recreation programs at park and recreation facilities provide
children with a safe refuge and a place to play, which helps to reduce at-risk behavior such
as drug use and gang involvement; and
WHEREAS, sixty-nine percent of the United States population believes in local park
and recreation services, which supports the idea that such parks and services should be
funded by taxes and user fees; and
WHEREAS, public parks and recreation facilities create enormous economic value
through increased partnership, which improves the job base and the economic viability of
the local economy, including business relocation and expansion in the community and
increased tourism; and
WHEREAS, parks and recreation facilities reduce fuel costs and commute times by
providing a place close to home to relax, exercise, and reduce stress.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
recognizes the great societal value of parks and recreation facilities and their importance in
local communities across the United States, recognizes and honors the vital contributions of
employees and volunteers in park and recreation facilities, and supports the designation of
July as "National Park and Recreation Month".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
hereby declares the month of July as "Park and Recreation Month in Louisiana".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the BREC Foundation.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE