National Initiative Launched to Support Public Parks and Recreation in America

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America’s Backyard is about empowering and educating people of all backgrounds, interests and professions to support parks and recreation in the U.S.

Ashburn, VA (Vocus) November 23, 2010

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is pleased to announce the launch of America’s Backyard, a new program to engage the American public and showcase the value of public parks and recreation in communities throughout the U.S.

Within America’s local communities are hundreds of thousands of public park and recreation areas, which provide essential services for millions of Americans. Through America’s Backyard, NRPA will draw attention to the important role of public parks and recreation in American life—for health, physical fitness, economic development, social interaction, conservation and community vitality.

(Vocus) November 23, 2010 -- Through a new interactive Web site, http://www.americasbackyard.org, the public can access valuable information, resources and fun facts about public parks and recreation. In addition, NRPA will use the Web site to provide resources for citizens on how they can advocate for, and support parks and recreation in their local communities. America’s Backyard will also engage regularly with individuals through social media, including Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ourbackyard and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Our_Backyard.

Individuals are encouraged to make tax-deductible donations, which will support NRPA’s initiatives to further public parks and recreation in the U.S., related to national advocacy, education, health, youth programming and community revitalization. By donating, individuals become “Friends of America’s Backyard,” which entitles them to the bi-annual America’s Backyard Newsletter, monthly e-alerts on parks and recreation, and a free America’s Backyard decal.

“America’s Backyard is about empowering and educating people of all backgrounds, interests and professions to support parks and recreation in the U.S.,” said Barbara Tulipane, CEO of NRPA. “Ultimately, America’s Backyard will further expand and strengthen the park and recreation movement—in local communities, on Capitol Hill and in the national public eye.”

The reach of public parks and recreation in America:

•     105,000: Estimated no. of public parks in the U.S., serving more than 300 million people
•     12,000: Approximate no. of local and state public park and recreation agencies in the U.S.
•     $730 billion: Amount that parks, beaches and other recreation facilities generate each year for America’s economy, according to an Outdoor Industries Association study on “Active Outdoor Recreation”
•     6.5 million: No. of jobs supported by parks, beaches and other recreation facilities, according to the Outdoor Industries Association
•     1.1 million: Estimated no. of children that receive healthy meals each year from park and recreation agencies

“Our nation’s public parks and recreation areas are the roots of local communities,” said Tulipane. “They are our green space, our trails, our ball fields, our playgrounds, our gardens, our beaches, our waterways, our imaginations and our cultural heritage. They are our legacy.”

NRPA’s mission is to advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Founded in 1965 through the merger of five national organizations dedicated to the same cause, NRPA is a voice for the park and recreation movement and a service to the profession.

NRPA’s reach in America:

•     122 million: Estimated no. of people across America who benefit from programs and opportunities provided by NRPA member agencies
•     7.5 million: Estimated no. of children who benefit from the dozens of sports, nature-related, nutrition and cultural-arts programs sponsored by NRPA
•     5.5 million: Estimated no. of seniors that participate in programs provided by NRPA members

For more information on America’s Backyard, go to http://www.americasbackyard.org, or contact Jackie Wallenstein at 703.858.4731 or friends(at)nrpa(dot)org.

About America’s Backyard
America’s Backyard was launched in 2010 by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to draw major public attention to the powerful and essential role of parks and recreation in America—impacting the lives of 300 million people. The initiative seeks to educate citizens on the American park and recreation landscape, support and encourage national advocacy for the field, and leverage funding and resources for national programs that benefit local communities. For more information, go to http://www.americasbackyard.org.

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