higher rates of obesity. (6) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past 25 years, rates of obesity have more than tripled among adolescents ages 12 to 19 and doubled among adults ages 20 to 74 and children ages 6 to 11. (7) Obesity and related health problems put a strain on our Nation’s economy, as the annual costs of medical spending and lost productivity from individuals in the United States being obese and overweight are estimated to be $147,000,000,000. (8) A study by the Centers for Disease Control found that the creation of, or enhanced access to, places for physical activity, such as parks, led to a 25.6 percent increase in the percentage of people exercising on 3 or more days a week, which improves the physical and mental health of our citizens. (9) There are nearly 23 million veterans in the United States. Many have mental and physical disabilities from injuries sustained during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. (10) Parks and recreation agencies are providing vital programs for veterans, with and without disabilities, and for their families, that provide physical, mental, and social benefits to improve their overall quality of life as they transition to civilian living. (11) According to the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, without structured, supervised activities in the after-school hours, youth are at greater risk of being victims of crime or participating in anti-social behaviors between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The peak hour for juvenile crime is between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the first hour after most students are dismissed from school. Urban parks decrease juvenile delinquency by providing quality after-school programs during these critical hours. (12) Parks also add to the environmental viability of communities. While cities currently spend tens of billions of dollars on treatment of storm water runoff and air pollution, studies have shown that parkland saves cities millions of dollars in storm water management and air pollution expenses by capturing