Local parks and recreation agencies provide affordable out-of-school programs

Ashburn, Va. (Oct. 8, 2018) — According to a recent poll conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), 9 in 10 (93 percent) of Americans believe affordable out-of-school time programs at local parks, recreation centers and libraries to families of all income levels should be a goal of their local government. Currently 9 in 10 (93 percent) of park and recreation agencies nationwide administer or manage out-of-school time programs.      

Both households with children (94 percent) and without children (91 percent) agree that local governments should focus on increasing affordable out-of-school time programming. Availability of affordable out-of-school programs is especially popular among millennials (97 percent), as well as baby boomers (92 percent) and Gen Xers (89 percent) who agree local governments should increase the offering to families of all income levels. 

“Access to affordable out-of-school programming is a vital service many park and recreation agencies provide,” said Barbara Tulipane, CAE, NRPA president and CEO. “Whether it is after school care or summer camps, it is important local governments meet the needs of their communities and provide quality and affordable out-of-school time programs for our nation’s youth.”

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.   

To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.

To view the full-size infographic, click here.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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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 Americans 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.