First Lady Obama Urges National Action on Childhod Obesity

First lady Michelle Obama appealed to the nation's governors today for help in reducing childhood obesity, telling them that they have a moral and financial imperative to act.  Obama seeks support from leaders of both parties and expressed respect for the influence of the states.

The first lady has chosen what she hopes will be her legacy for the nation--the "Let's Move" campaign to curb childhood obesity. About two-thirds of American adults, and about a third of American children, are overweight or obese.

As articulated over the past several months, the first lady's campaign has four parts:

1. Helping parents make better food choices;
2. Serving healthier food in school vending machines and lunch lines;
3. Making healthy food more available and affordable; and
4. Encouraging children to exercise more.

The National Campaign for Play, organized by national non-profit KaBoom! and supported by the Columbia Play Commission, has been endorsed by Obama as a partner dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of America's children. Play makes children happier, fitter, smarter, and more socially adept and creative both here and now and in the future.

 

Become a Park Pal!

One legacy of Columbia's first Play Day is a new group for kids of all ages--Park Pals!

Anyone can become a Park Pal--all they have to do is read and agree to the Park Pals Pledge, then register. Registration will be available at upcoming events in Columbia's parks and also online at the City's website.

Here is the Park Pals Pledge:

1. I will read the park rules posted at each location;
2. I will obey the park rules at all times;
3. I will help to control litter whenever possible;
4. I will call 281-4264 to report park abuse or park safety issues;
5. I will have a great time when visiting the City of Columbia's parks;
6. I will proudly wear my Park Pal wrist band when visiting the City of Columbia's parks!

The Park Pals concept was created by Columbia Alderman Mary Ellen Niemietz and the logo was developed by Play Commission member Bill Seibel with assistance from the folks at Marketicity.

It's Saturday---It's Play Day!

Saturday afternoon is the launch for Columbia's first annual Play Day event. A scavenger hunt discovering Columbia’s parks, a variety of games, and kids’ art projects are just a few of the hands-on interactive activities planned for the event in Bolm-Schuhkraft Park (known to many residents as the “city park”). The 44.5-acre park is bordered by Parkview Dr., Temple St., the Parkview Elementary School campus and the Columbia High School campus.

Events run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free and this will be a rain or shine event.

The event is designed to discover the fun, education and recreation available in the city’s many public recreational areas and playspaces. Envisioned as “A Day to Play” by organizers, the event will feature interactive stations that will introduce visitors to the themes and activities found in Columbia’s parks, many of which are little known--or completely unknown--to many residents.

Created and hosted by the Columbia Play Commission in collaboration with KaBOOM!, this year’s inaugural event is supported by Commerce Bank, Columbia Market, the Columbia Rotary Club, Pam Keevan Photography, the Kiwanis Club of Columbia, the Monroe County YMCA, Moonwalkers, Radio Disney, the Monroe County Economic Development Council, Traube Tent Company and the City of Columbia.

“It’s really just a fun afternoon to get out and discover our parks,” states John Traube, Chair for the Play Commission. “Our hope is that families and kids of all ages will come for the fun and leave with a better appreciation for where to spend unstructured afternoons year-round.”

KaBOOM! recognized Columbia this year as a “Playful City USA,” a national recognition honoring cities and towns across the nation committed to taking action for play. Columbia was the only community in the St. Louis metropolitan area so honored this year.

Have a question or urgent need the day of the event? Call the Play Day Hotline at (618) 410-0051.

Mayor Proclaims Sept. 19th as 'Play Day'

Last evening, Columbia Mayor Keven Hutchinson proclaimed Saturday, September 19th, as "Play Day"--making the municipal government an official sponsor of the first annual event celebrating play.

The proclamation read as follows:

• Whereas, play is a crucial factor in the overall well-being of children;
• Whereas, children who play are healthier and suffer less obesity and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease;
• Whereas, children who play do better in school and develop cognitive skills that are linked to learning and academic performance;
• Whereas, children who play learn the social skills that help them become happy and well-adjusted adults;
• Whereas, research proves that recreation and exercise are important to the physical and mental health of citizens of all ages;
• Whereas, a diverse and dynamic parks and recreation program is considered a key element of local quality of life; and
• Whereas, the City of Columbia has previously endorsed the National Campaign for Play, established a Play Commission and been designated a “Playful City USA”;
  
  NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kevin B. Hutchinson, Mayor of the City of Columbia, proclaim the 19th of September 2009 to be “Play Day” in Columbia and invite our citizens to participate in activities recognizing that day.

John Traube, chair for the Play Commission, and other members of that group were on hand to receive the proclamation along with applause from the City Council and other citizens present at the meeting. After that moment in the limelight, the group retired to another meeting room in City Hall to finish their next-to-final planning meeting prior to the big event.

Making Space for the Entire Community

One of the Play Commission's goals--and one of the elements in this year's Action Plan--is to create gathering places for the entire community that offer areas and activities engaging for multiple generations and areas of interest. Most of Columbia's playspaces are tot lots or play structures designed with only the youngest kids in mind, lacking elements that attract older children or other members of the community.

A recent blog post by Bethe Almeras (DIY Online Community/Communications Manager for KaBOOM!) defines a true community space like this:

[It] should entice folks to stop by throughout the day and evening (prior to closing time), and be a space where people spend extended periods of time engaged in play and social interaction--not simply a quick stop to get the kids out of the house for a few minutes.

Beth continues with some concrete (in some cases, perhaps literally) examples of improvements that help community spaces more closely match the aforementioned goal:

• An asphalt game area for Hopscotch, Four Square, and more;
• A community or children’s garden;
• Benches and conversation pits for parents/grandparents, book clubs, senior citizens social groups, and gardening clubs to meet;
• Tables with checker & chessboard tops;
• A bulletin board for people to announce upcoming special events, clean-up days, etc.;
• A basketball court (can be used for other old-school playground games, too!);
• A shade structure to give folks a place to cool off.

Is the Downturn Helping Spur Play?

While the economic downturn is bad in many ways, it may be making play--at least in local venues--more popular and even less expensive.

The Chicago Tribune reports that municipal parks and other attractions are attracting booming crowds eager to find an inexpensive place close to home for relaxation. "This is good news for scores of Chicago-area municipal parks, which have attracted visitors like ants to egg salad during this coolish summer," the Tribune opines.

Many parks are hosting larger than normal turnouts, officials say. Evanston and Des Plaines report surges in picnic-area rentals. Naperville is adding new programs for budget-conscious locals, while Aurora is seeing big crowds at a popular--and free--tram ride. Low fees for daily use of pavilions and nearby basketball, baseball and beach-volleyball courts, plus a playground for the youngsters amount to a "reasonably priced" day out for many. Naperville park officials aren't shy about catering to the new austerity and promote "staycations" on the City website.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that some governments in the area are experiencing an upside to the economic downturn in the form of cheaper parkland. In Maryland, Montgomery County officials last month decided to buy a 53-acre ecological refuge at a deep discount from a developer who had long turned away government suitors. They are paying $8.75 million, roughly half of the $16.35 million price appraised in December. In Virginia, officials "were able to knock $2 million off what they paid for 1,100 acres of forested waterfront land in Stafford County, believed to be near the spot where Pocahontas was said to have been abducted by Jamestown settlers.

According to Judy Pedersen of the Fairfax County, VA, park authority, "We're finding people coming to us, particularly lending institutions, that are anxious for us to look at their properties...for us, it's a good time to buy." The Post notes that Fairfax officials sell long-term bonds to buy parkland, making parks less vulnerable during budget debates.

National Effort Cites City as a Leader in Making Play a Priority

Columbia has been recognized as one of 39 new communities across the nation to achieve the status of a “Playful City USA,” the non-profit organization KaBOOM! announced today. The city was one of three cited in Illinois and the only designee this year within the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Like other designees, such as Indianapolis and San Antonio, Columbia was selected for its dedication to play. Columbia used the Playful City USA application process to identify facilities, assess local resources, develop an action plan and create a citizen group—the Play Commission--to help direct activities. Excited about the opportunity to be nationally recognized, the Play Commission is using social network media such as a Facebook group and this blog to help gather public input and encourage involvement from the community.

“We’re excited about this prestigious designation and the serious work that the Play Commission is accomplishing to make our community a better place to live,” said Columbia Mayor Kevin Hutchinson. Support from local government is a key element for winning the Playful City designation.

Each of the 2009 Playful City USA communities demonstrated creative commitments to the cause of play in the areas of quantity, quality and access. Quality relates to the number of usable, open playspaces. Quality involves subjective factors that encourage repeated use and make playspaces engaging, exciting, interesting and fun. Access entails the ability to get to a playspace (roads, trails) and a lack of barriers to the playspace (cost, safety, traffic, locked gates, and equity).

“Our country is facing two monumental deficits: a lack of unstructured play among children and a lack of resources to address this very issue,” said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and Co-founder. “Columbia took a stand and determined that the future of the community—its children—deserve a commitment to the cause of play. This is an investment in the future, and cities and towns across the country can replicate initiatives from this and other Playful City USA communities so that they too can bring play back into the lives of their children.”

KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since 1995, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-build model to bring together business and community interests to construct more than 1,600 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America. KaBOOM! also offers a variety of resources, including an online community, free online trainings, grants, publications and the KaBOOM! National Campaign for Play, which includes Playful City USA and Playmakers – a national network of individual advocates for play.