September 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 96

2010 NRPA Congress&Exposition

Spotlight on Partnerships
Parks and recreation:
the cornerstone of connecting healthy Americans and communities

T
■■  Health

Innovation and EnVironmental changE (ACHIEVE) through its
network of local park and recreation agencies. The purpose of
ACHIEVE is to implement a coordinated chronic disease prevention and health promotion plan through policy, systems and
environmental (PSE) change strategies. Specific activities are
directed toward community efforts to reduce tobacco use and
exposure, promote physical activity and healthy eating, improve access to quality preventive healthcare services, and
eliminate health disparities in communities. Over a five-year
period, NRPA will offer grant funding to a total of 50 park and
recreation agencies to implement PSE strategies that will promote and sustain healthy lifestyles.

AARP

American Youth Soccer
Organization

he National Recreation and Park Association
(NRPA) represents all park and recreation agencies in America, touching the lives of more than
300 million people in virtually every community,
from rural communities to suburban neighborhoods to urban centers. NRPA and its vast network of park and
recreation agencies are committed to enhancing the quality of
life for all people through innovative partnerships and quality
programs. With support from its partners and funders, NRPA
is focused on creating or expanding opportunities in:

■■  Youth

development and play
and livability
■■  Environmental conservation

AARP and NRPA have teamed up to promote the benefits of
walking for people over the age of 50, utilizing AARP's evaluated 10-Week Walking Program. This walking program is
part of a broader goal to help prevent illness and keep people
well through positive changes to personal behaviors, such as
exercise and diet. The 10-Week Walking Program helps participants find safe places to walk, and provides tools and support to help them take personal responsibility for their health
and to stick with their
exercise plan. Each
participant receives a
free step counter and
guidebook, and is invited to sign-up for a walking group and
weekly education sessions on fitness and nutrition.

ACHIEVE
Park and recreation agencies play a
significant role
i n t he hea lt h
a nd wel l ness
of c om mu n i ties. NRPA was
awarded a fiveyear cooperative agreement
with the Centers for Disease Control's Healthy Communities Program to implement Action Communities for Health

94	 Parks & Recreation

SEPTEMBER 2010

www . N R P A . O R G

NRPA and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) have created a national partnership to provide
a turn-key, child-focused soccer solution for park and recreation departments that can take an in-house
soccer program to the next level or
help start a soccer program from
scratch.
AYSO Soccer in a Box is a collaborative initiative focused on helping
park and recreation departments
keep or expand their program offerings. AYSO brings over 45 years of
soccer-specific management, training, and educational experience that can directly benefit a
park and recreation program.

Communities Putting
Prevention to Work
NRPA was awarded a two-year
cooperative agreement with the
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) as part
of the HHS Communities Putting
Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative, a comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative
f u nded u nder t he A mer ica n
September 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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