December 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 18

Community Center

Notable News
n Through a partnership of the
NFL, NFL Network and NRPA, local park and recreation sites in eight
designated NFL markets may apply
for the opportunity to receive funding support and/or equipment to
complement their after-school physical activity/health and wellness
education programs. One local park
and recreation site in each of the
eight markets will be selected to receive an NFL PLAY 60 grant valued
at $7,500 to provide new equipment,
curriculum, refurbished play spaces,
additional staff to run physical activity-based programming, or support
the start or growth of an NFL PLAY
60 program. Grant applications for
the NFL PLAY 60 After-School
Kickoff Grant Program are being
accepted now through January 15,
2016. For more information about
this grant and to apply, visit www.
nflfoundation.org/applications/
programs/view/NRPA.

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16 Parks & Recreation

n Some teachers and occupational
therapists say an increasing number of
children are showing up for kindergarten without the fine motor skills needed to grip a marker, hold their paper
still while coloring or to cut and glue
shapes. Some therapists believe the
Back to Sleep campaign, which promotes placing infants on their backs
to sleep, has delayed muscle development. Others attribute it to the fact
that today's children spend less time
outside, where they might have more
opportunities to explore how their
bodies move through space, learn to
balance and figure how to handle toys
and tools in relation to one another.
n Senators Richard Blumenthal (DCT) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) have

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called on the Consumer Product
Safety Commission to lead an " independent investigation into the health
risks of crumb rubber " turf, recycled
tires used as surface cover on playgrounds and athletic fields across the
country. They are the latest congressional officials to call for research on
crumb rubber since news reports on
the playing surface began more than
a year ago. To date, no studies have
definitively linked crumb rubber to
cancer or any disease, and the turf
industry says that dozens of studies
have shown there is no health risk.
However, the industry and some experts believe more tests are needed
to determine the product's safety and
that the federal government should
take a clear position.
n For its annual meeting and trade
show, the Georgia Recreation and Park
Association featured former NBA superstar, now VP for the Atlanta Hawks,
Dominique Wilkins, as the keynote
speaker. His message centered on the
theme of investing in individuals as a
way to have a greater impact on the
community. Wilkins, one of eight children of a single mother, credits his local parks in Baltimore for contributing
to his upbringing. Specifically, he credits his local park director who he says is
the man who " turned him from being
just a clumsy tall guy " and taught him
how to play basketball. The lessons
about basketball, life and respecting
those who offer their time to teach
you something is what Wilkins says allowed him to have a successful career.
For more news from around the industry, visit www.parksandrecreation.
org/2015/December/Notable-News.

December 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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