National Recreation and Park Association and
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Working for the Nation’s Wellness

Washington, D.C., February 26, 2002

Even though more than 300,000 people die each year in the United States from conditions related to dietary factors and an inactive lifestyle, many Americans still find it hard to get moving and to be even moderately active for the recommended 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes for children. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) joined forces with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to get Americans moving for health.

A non-profit organization, NRPA represents over 108,000 outdoor public park and recreation facilities and 65,000 indoor facilities. By forming a strategic partnership, HHS and NRPA will promote community-based health education and activity programs aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing overweight and obesity, a serious health risk for all Americans.

"Our communities' parks are truly national treasures and have long been recognized as places of beauty and green spaces for recreation. Today the NRPA and HHS affirm that our parks will also be a place of health, where community members can come to not only exercise but to learn about and participate in other ways to make a difference in their success and well-being," said Dr. Eve E. Slater, Assistant Secretary for Health, whose office established Healthy People 2010 and the Leading Health Indicators, the nation’s disease prevention and health promotion goals and objectives for this next decade. "Physical activity tops the list of Leading Health Indicators. A sedentary lifestyle contributes to serious chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and overweight and obesity. Public-private partnerships involving communities are essential to improving the health of our children, families, neighbors, and nation. "

The partnership commits Dr. Slater and other agencies within HHS to work with NRPA leaders and staff over the next year to develop programs, products, and services aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing overweight and obesity nationwide.

Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the partnership were Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Eve E. Slater and Marvin F. Billups, President of the National Recreation and Park Association. The other signatories from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were: Dr. Woodie Kessel, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Lisa Oliphant, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS); Dr. Claude Lenfant, Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (National Institutes of Health) (NIH); Dr. Allen Spiegel, Director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)(NIH); and Mr. Donald Shriber, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Washington Office (for Dr. James S. Marks, Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

[Left to right: seated, Lenfant, Billips, Slater, Kessel; standing, Spiegel, Oliphant, Shriber. Download high-resolution image.]

NRPA’s broad constituency places the organization in a unique strategic position to promote the objectives of Healthy People 2010 and the Leading Health Indicators. “Our unique blend of grassroots support, from local government agencies to nonprofit advocacy foundations, from state and national parks to private citizens, educators, and recreation professionals, has made a resounding impact on the health and fitness of all Americans,” said Marvin Billups, NRPA President. “We are delighted to coordinate our ongoing efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services and its various agencies to further NRPA’s mission to improve the quality of life for all Americans.”

The purpose of the partnership is to improve public health by encouraging physical activity, reducing overweight/obesity, and improving the health of communities including children, families, and seniors through programs, products and services that aim to:

• Prevent chronic disease risk factors associated with physical inactivity and obesity;
• Reduce environmental barriers to physical activity at the community-level nationwide, including barriers for the disabled;
• Enhance access and opportunities for increased physical activity;
• Increase levels of physical activity among youth and adults; and
• Reduce levels of overweight and obesity in youth and adults.

Woodie Kessel, MD, MPH, Assistant Surgeon General and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, applauded the recognized the value of our parks and said, “We all lead busy hectic lives. Time saving devices seems to lead to more work and less time. One place that has been a constant in our lives overtime has been the park – community and neighborhood parks. Parks and recreation centers are special places. They not only provide a place to throw a ball, toss a frisbee, ride on a swing, chase a butterfly, and be physically active, but they also provide a haven, a refuge, a healthy environment to play with our children, our families, and friends. Key among the ten Leading Health Indicators is physical activity because of the tremendous benefits that being active provides for preventing a range of diseases, reducing the severity of suffering, and promoting health. Another added benefit is that these are special places to improve our mental health as well.”

NHLBI Director Claude Lenfant, M.D., said, "We welcome the opportunity to formalize what has been a long-standing working relationship with NRPA. For almost 10 years, NHLBI has collaborated with NRPA on the Institute's Obesity Education Initiative. More recently, we have worked together on the Hearts N' Parks program, a national community-based program which strives to reduce the growing trend of obesity and the risk of heart disease by encouraging all Americans to aim for a healthy weight, adopt a heart-healthy eating plan, and engage in regular physical activity. The program is now in 50 magnet center sites across the country."

Allen Spiegel, M.D., Director of NIDDK, NIH, said, "The results of large-scale clinical trials are showing that relatively modest increases in physical activity can produce major benefits to health. Partnerships among federal agencies and the private sector are effective ways to bring that message to the American public to stem the epidemic of type 2 diabetes and obesity in the U.S."

Lisa E. Oliphant, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, said, “The health benefits of adopting and maintaining a physically active lifestyle are profound. The President's Council is pleased to be part of this partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association aimed at creating enhanced access to physical activities and sports for all Americans.”

"CDC is pleased to be part of this interagency effort to encourage Americans of all ages to reduce their risk of the leading causes of death and disability--heart disease and stroke, cancer, and diabetes--by being more physically active. Our nation's parks and recreation centers play a crucial role in ensuring a wide variety of indoor and outdoor options for physical activity," said James S. Marks, Director of CDC's Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

The development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Recreation and Park Association and organizations within the Department of Health and Human Services supports President George W. Bush's initiative to develop private/public partnerships to help achieve government objectives. The partnership obligates no funds from either party and may be renewed after one year by common consent of both.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has formed partnerships with the American Heart Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association, each of which support the goals and objectives of Healthy People 2010 and Leading Health Indicators. The ten Leading Health Indicators include: physical activity; overweight and obesity; tobacco use; substance abuse; responsible sexual behavior; mental health; injury and violence; environmental quality; immunization; and access to health care.

For more information about Healthy People 2010 and the Leading Health Indicators, visit the Healthy People 2010 Web site at www.healthypeople.gov.