; Whereas a key factor in business expansion and location decisions is the quality of life for employees, with a premium placed on adequate and accessible public parks and open space; Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities play a vital role in creating active and healthy communities, and people who use public parks and open spaces are three times more likely to achieve the recommended levels of physical activity than nonusers; Whereas many parks provide green infrastructure that reduce the heat island effect in urban areas and reduce storm water impacts by as much as 90 percent; Whereas 84 percent of park agencies invest in sustainability activities and practices for their environmental benefit; Whereas public park and recreation facilities and activities foster a variety of activities that contribute to a healthier United States, such as providing injured military veterans and those with physical disabilities opportunities for physical activity, encouraging communities to promote outdoor activities in order to prevent and manage symptoms related to chronic diseases, working with local school systems to develop science-based curricula to educate children on nutrition and activity, connecting children with nature, and combating obesity in youth; Whereas people living within a 10-minute walk of a park have higher levels of physical activity and lower rates of obesity; Whereas older adults engage in over 3.5 times more physical activity when they have access to a walking loop or trail at a local public park; Whereas the positive impact of outdoor play on a child’s brain has been well documented; Whereas, of the people in the United States— (1) 70 percent go to their local park; (2) 83 percent say they personally benefit from local parks; and (3) 92 percent say their community benefits from local parks