Hearts N' Parks launches health efforts nationwide.

All over the nation, parks and recreation departments are incorporating the National Recreation and Parks Association's Hearts N' Parks initiative into their programs.

In Montgomery County; Maryland, Hearts N' Parks coordinated The Smoke Out Basketball Tournament on Nov. 20, to encourage high school students to be smoke free for the day to be aware of the effects of smoking on sports performance and to hopefully remain smoke free in their lives. Five teams participated in the tournament, with the winning team receiving trophies, Hearts N' Parks t-shirts and towels. Second and third place winners each received t-shirts and towels; and all other participants received a Hearts N' Parks gym towel. All after-school programs (kindergarten through sixth grade) also received smoke awareness information, a Smoke Out banner and sign-up sheets to pledge to be smoke free. An arts and craft show also took place that month, where parents purchased arts and crafts while their children created their own healthy arts and crafts courtesy of the Montgomery County Recreation Department. Children had the option of making heart healthy people using clothing pins and fabric, jump ropes, apples with foam balls and tissue paper, finger paints with edible art and spin art.

Through creating their master pieces and using the food guide pyramid, children also learned the importance of eating a nutritious and well-balanced diet for their heart and exercising regularly. These goals fit into the Hearts N' Parks outline, which aims to reduce the growing trend of obesity and the risk of coronary heart disease in the United States by encouraging Americans of all ages to work toward a healthy weight, follow a heart-healthy eating plan and engage in regular physical activity.

The community of Glendale, Ariz., worked in the Hearts N' Parks' agenda for the winter season with its "Jingle Bell Hike." Children and their parents enjoyed a one-mile hike up Thunder-bird Park in December. The moderate elevation gave beautiful views of the northwest valley. Once at the top of the mountain, children of all ages had their pictures taken with Santa.

In addition to this recent hike, the Glendale Parks and Recreation Department took the Hearts N' Parks initiative seriously by revamping its activities brochure, including heart symbols next to Hearts N' Parks-approved activities. The department also added classes and incorporated information into its existing programs about healthy eating habits.

"Our goal is to work with the residents of Glendale to make it a fun and heart healthy community," said Stephanie Coronado, Glendale recreation program supervisor.

The parks and recreation department in Springfield, Miss., has an active Hearts N' Parks program, which also distributed physical activity and healthy nutritional information to its community. New programs were also established, which featured both pre-and post-testing, targeting youth with a summer parks program that emphasized healthy nutrition to influence knowledge and behavior.

The program engaged in a variety of events throughout the year, including the KY3 Family Fair, which is a free, day-long, indoor festival sponsored by local businesses. A partnership was formed with the Ozark Greenways Bike to Work Week Challenge and "Family Day on the Greenways" events. Hearts 'N Parks awarded special T-shirts to all participants in the Bike to Work Week Challenge. Participants included anyone in Springfield who commuted to work using a form of alternative transportation: bus, bicycle or foot. The total number of shirts awarded exceeded 60.

Every year, dozens of parks and recreation departments nationwide are adapting Hearts N' Parks initiatives into their community programming to help thwart the impending obesity epidemic that is engulfing the nation. For more information about getting involved in Hearts N' Parks, contact NRPA Community Outreach Specialist Susan Ports at 703-858-2162, or by e-mail, [e-mail].