Posted: July 10th, 2007

The accompanying map shows the counties with the highest levels of child obesity, poverty, children, and people of color, and the fewest acres of parks per thousand residents. AB 31 targets Prop 84 funds where parks and recreation are needed most — to alleviate the ravages of obesity, asthma, poverty, unemployment, and youth crime, and to create multi-benefit green spaces that clean water naturally, serve as flood control basins, and improve health, economic vitality, and the quality of life.

64% of Californians say that poorer communities have less than their fair share of well-maintained parks and recreational facilities. While 87% of non-Hispanics nationally reported “there are safe places for children to play” in their neighborhood, only 68% of Hispanics, 71% of African Americans, and 81% of Asians agreed, according to the Census Bureau. Almost half of Hispanic children under 18 in central cities were kept inside as much as possible because their neighborhoods were perceived as dangerous. The same was true for more than 39% of black children, 25% of non-Hispanic white children, and 24% of Asian children. Children involved in sports and extracurricular activities tend to score higher on standardized tests and are less likely to engage in antisocial behavior.

Maximizing public access to parks and recreation while ensuring the fair treatment of people of all colors, cultures, and incomes can transform California into a more livable, democratic, and just place to live and raise children. AB 31 is the next step towards a statewide strategic plan for parks, school fields, and green space based on equitable principles.