Investment in Bicycling and Walking Will Save Billions
from Rails to Trails
"Active Transportation for America" makes the case and quantifies the national benefits—for the first time—that increased federal funding in bicycling and walking infrastructure would provide tens of billions of dollars in benefits to all Americans. More

NRPA’s Dirty Dozen: A Checklist for Safe Playgrounds
from NRPA
NRPA’s National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) has identified twelve of the leading causes of injuries on playgrounds, and published The Dirty Dozen - A Checklist for Safe Playgrounds. The Dirty Dozen Online Guide is now available for FREE and is an excellent service to share with employees and park advocates, parents, educators and the general public. More

KaBOOM! Announces the 2008 Playful City USA Communities
from KaBOOM!
Sixty-seven communities in the United States have been designated as “Playful Cities” by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization that wants every child in America to have a place to play within walking distance of their home. Playful City USA is a national recognition program honoring cities and towns across the nation committed to taking action for play. More

No Ban on Nudity in Seattle Parks
from the Seattle Times
The Seattle Parks and Recreation board has decided the city is large enough and diverse enough to include those who like to bare it all in public. Parks commissioners have dropped an effort to have those who go nude in the parks charged with criminal trespass, The Seattle Times reported. They even said they will ask officials to consider making one of the public beaches clothing optional. Bob Morton, the Texas-based executive director of the Naturist Action Committee, which advances and protects the rights of naturists, applauded the parks board. More

America's Best Healthy Places to Retire
from U.S. News & World Report
Think of it as retirement reinvented. As Americans live longer and in better health, all those old retirement clichés seem evermore removed from reality. U.S. News traveled the country and selected 10 editors' picks. These are places way ahead of the healthy living curve—they provide numerous places to exercise, promote strong social support, and encourage healthy lifestyle habits. More

Hot Park Equipment No Child's Play
from ABC News
Every summer, dozens of children across the country end up in the emergency room with serious burns because of overheated playground equipment. Kids and parents who have spent any time on a playground during the hottest months know how hot it can feel, but the actual temperature of the equipment is startling. More

Outdoor Educators Pushing for 'No Child Left Inside' Funding
from The Associated Press via USA Today
Outdoor and environmental educators across the nation are ramping up pressure on Congress and their state lawmakers to add funding for nature learning. The effort dubbed "No Child Left Inside" could mean millions more for environmental education — and a major windfall for nonprofits hoping for more federal help getting kids outside. More

Video: New Skate Park Aims to Protect Young Texans
from KWES-TV
What began as a tragedy is creating an opportunity for folks in Odessa, Texas. A skating accident took a young man's life several years ago and his family is committed to building a safe place for kids to skate. "We want our kids safe," Susana Pier, The mother of a skateboard accident victim, said. A mother's mission, born out of a tragedy. More

L.A. Mayor Says Summer Anti-gang Programs Decreased Violence
from the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa credited a new summertime anti-gang program, which included special community events and extended nighttime hours at eight city parks, with a measurable drop in crime in some of the city's most violent neighborhoods. According to the mayor's office, the communities surrounding the eight parks involved in the program had a 17 percent drop in violent crime during the summer, compared with the year before. More

Children's Fitness Event in D.C. Emphasizes the Fun Parts of Fighting Obesity
from the Washington Post
Hundreds of children danced, kickboxed and performed other exercises last weekend at Fort Davis Recreation Center in Southeast Washington, D.C., to have some fun and to learn about the dangers of obesity and the benefits of healthful eating and living. The District has the highest childhood obesity rate in the country, according to a study released last year by the Trust for America's Health, a D.C. nonprofit organization. The event, called Recess by the River, offered children ages 8 to 14 and their parents an opportunity to learn about fighting obesity while participating in activities designed to make the lessons enjoyable. More