The Hill News

Growing up in the borough of Queens in New York City, our idea of a park was a concrete pad where we played stickball with our friends. My mother and father, however, understood the importance of connecting my brother and me to nature. So every year, even though they couldn’t afford it, they would send us to a summer camp in upstate New York or in Maine. That was where I developed my love for the great outdoors â€" a place to escape, to appreciate the environmental wonders that surround us, and to play in a natural way.
 
My experience is not unique. Through the work of our family foundation, I’ve witnessed the benefits of protecting community parks and ensuring children and families have safe, close-to-home places to play. At a time when so many of our youth are facing health risks and other challenges associated with a sedentary lifestyle, parks can contribute to a healthy future for our families. These places also offer protections for our drinking water! , clean air and wildlife habitat, and enhance the economic viability of rural and urban communities.
 

Read more...