People agree, providing affordable out-of-school time care is important
Ashburn, Va. (Oct. 1, 2019) — Nine in 10 adults believe it’s important for park and recreation agencies to provide affordable before- and after-school care to children and young adults, according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. These services include tutoring/homework help, fitness and/or play opportunities, and the availability of healthy snacks.
Regardless of age, income, education or the presence of children in the household, people agree, providing affordable before- and after-school care for our nation’s youth is important:
- Parents (94 percent) and non-parents (89 percent)
- Females (92 percent) and males (88 percent)
- Millennials (93 percent), Gen Xers (89 percent) and baby boomers (88 percent)
- Household income less than $35,000 per year (91 percent) and household income more than $100,000 per year (90 percent)
“Park and recreation agencies play an integral part in the lives of many families — especially when it comes to childcare,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of professional development, research and technology. “Before- and after-school programs hosted by the local park and recreation agency allow kids to have a place to learn, socialize and have fun. Park and recreation agencies provide working parents peace of mind because their children have a safe, positive environment where they can thrive.
This poll is part of NRPA’s Park Pulse, a continuing series of monthly surveys that gauge the public’s opinion on topics relating to parks and recreation. To explore previous Park Pulse survey results, visit www.nrpa.org/park-pulse.
View the interactive charts with the survey results.
View the full-size infographic.
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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.