Background

In 2004, the Greater San Diego Recreation and Parks Coalition for Health and Wellness was created as a call to action in response to the alarming rise in childhood obesity and obesity-related diseases. The Coalition is comprised of park and recreation professionals representing 13 cities and the county within the San Diego region.

Mission & Vision

The mission of the GSDRP Coalition for Health and Wellness is to create healthy communities by advocating recreation and park agencies in the greater San Diego area as the first choice for physical activity. The "Live a Healthy Life . . . Recreate" slogan and logo was developed to support the Coalition's mission.

The Important Role of Recreation & Park Agencies

Through a regional effort, the Coalition recognizes it has the ability to affect the lives of thousands of individuals and to create healthier communities through people, parks and programs.

• Parks and recreation agencies are ideally suited as the provider or partner in developing facilities and programs that support physical activity.
• Parks and recreation, as a profession, recognizes its role to educate the public about how they can achieve health and wellness.
• No other organizations are better able to provide the infrastructure, resources, and staff/volunteers to develop, organize, operate, and evaluate programs, services, and facilities to meet the physical activity needs of their communities.

Accomplishments

• The Coalition has developed a marketing strategy to reach out to thousands of San Diego County residents through its Web site, goplaygetfit.com, and the "Live a Healthy Life & Recreate" logo, which is utilized in an estimated 400,000 brochures that are distributed by coalition agencies several times a year. The logo and Web site identify classes, programs, and other recreational opportunities that offer a health and wellness benefit throughout the county.
• The GSDRP Coalition for Health and Wellness offers an annual "Go Play, Get Fit Youth Day" for children in San Diego County. Youth enrolled in coalition agencies' summer day camps experience a variety of fun recreational activities that encourage children to "play their way to a healthy mind and body."
• Coalition members have been actively involved in speaking engagements, trainings, and task force meetings that unite professionals from all segments of the community as well as educate the public about the importance of working together to create healthier communities. In addition, a member of the Coalition is represented on the Leadership Council of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative.

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