Creating Healthier Places

National Recreation and Park Association

2018 Progress Report

Visit National Recreation and Park Association

Year Committed: 2014

Length of Commitment: 5 years

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Encourage 2,000 park and recreation sites to join the national effort to create healthier environments for children in out-of-school time programs. This includes encouraging sites nationwide to adopt established guidelines based on The National Afterschool Association Standards for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity that address healthy eating, physical activity, and youth and parent education.

Verified Results

Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
NRPA will encourage 2,000 sites to join in the national effort to create healthier environments for children in out-of-school time programs.
Progress To Date

1,424 sites submitted inventory for 2018. NRPA is still considered "in progress."
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve a fruit or vegetable at every snack and/or meal.
Progress To Date

89% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing a fruit or vegetable at every meal. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve only foods with no artificial trans fats
Progress To Date

79% of sites said they were fully demonstrating prohibiting trans fats in their snacks and meals. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve only whole grain-rich products.
Progress To Date

83% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing only whole grain-rich products at snacks and meals. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve only non-fat or reduced fat yogurt and cheese
Progress To Date

90% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing only non-fat or reduced fat dairy products at snacks and meals. Based on the document audit, we are somewhat confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve only lean meat, skinless poultry, seafood, beans or legumes or eggs.
Progress To Date

78% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing only lean protein, beans/legumes, and eggs at snacks and meals. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve only packaged snacks or frozen desserts that meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
Progress To Date

86% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing only packaged snacks that meet Smart Snacks. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports. 71% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing only frozen desserts that meet Smart Snacks. Based on the document audit, we are somewhat confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Provide plain potable water at all times at no cost to youth and staff.
Progress To Date

95% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing drinking water at no cost. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Serve only water, plain low-fat milk, plain or flavored nonfat milk or milk alternative; 100% fruit or vegetable juice with no added sweeteners or 100% juice diluted with water with no added sweeteners
Progress To Date

95% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing low-fat plain, or plain or flavored non-fat milk at snacks and meals. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports. 90% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing only 100% fruit or vegetable juice. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports. 86% of sites said they were fully demonstrating prohibiting full-calorie sodas, sports drinks, or juice drinks. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports. 85% of sites said they were fully demonstrating prohibiting diet/low-calorie beverages for elementary students. Based on the document audit, we are somewhat confident in the accuracy of these reports. 93% of sites said they were fully demonstrating serving only non-caffeinated beverages. Based on the document audit, we are somewhat confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Dedicate at least 20% or at least 30 minutes of morning or afterschool program time to physical activity and 60 minutes for a full day program
Progress To Date

96% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing 30 minutes of morning/afterschool or 60 minutes total of physical activity a day. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Provide physical activities in which youth are moderately to vigorously active for at least 50% of the physical activity time.
Progress To Date

94% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing activities that are moderate to vigorous. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Ensure physical activity takes place outdoors whenever possible
Progress To Date

96% of sites said they were fully demonstrating ensuring physical activity takes place outdoors. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Do not permit access to television or movies.
Progress To Date

57% of sites said they were fully demonstrating that no access to TV or movies was allowed. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Limit digital device time to less than one hour per day and digital device use is limited to homework or activities that engage youth in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity.
Progress To Date

87% of sites said they were fully demonstrating limiting digital device time. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Offer evidence-based nutrition education to youth
Progress To Date

84% of sites said they were fully demonstrating providing evidence-based Nutrition Education. Based on the document audit, we are highly confident in the accuracy of these reports.
Implementation Date
August 2018
Reporting Date
August 2018

Commitment Element
Offer education materials about nutrition and physical activity to families through pamphlets, newsletters, email blasts or other means.
Progress To Date

62% of sites said they were fully demonstrating sharing nutrition education materials with parents. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports. 69% of sites said they were fully demonstrating sharing educational materials on physical activity with families. Based on the document audit, we are confident in the accuracy of these reports.

Partner Statement

“Park and recreation agencies are leading the way to healthier communities across the country. As accessible and welcoming institutions located in nearly every community, parks and recreation play a critical role in addressing the childhood obesity epidemic and improving health outcomes. Since 2014, over 1,750 local park and recreation sites have implemented the Healthy Eating Physical Activity standards in their out-of-school time programs, impacting over 318,000 children annually with increased access to nutritious foods and increased opportunities for physical activity. In nearly five years, agencies have successfully changed their menus to offer healthier foods. Based on recent verification data, 89% of all sites are ensuring that there is a fruit and vegetable at every meal, 83% of sites serve only whole-grain rich products, and 95% of sites ensure that water is available to program participants. 96% of park and recreation sites have modified their program and activity schedules to make sure that kids are meeting the daily requirements for physical activity, ensuring that activity is moderate to vigorous and that it’s taking place outdoors. 87% of sites are limiting digital device time and 84% of sites are providing evidence-based nutrition education, leading to a 20% increase in healthy living knowledge and creating healthy eating and physical activity behavior changes. From increased fruit and vegetable consumption to families reporting that they are enjoying getting active and cooking healthy meals together, communities of all shapes and sizes are experiencing the benefits of local parks and recreation and their commitment to health.”