Greenbelt Is a 2011 Playful City USA

For the fifth consecutive year Greenbelt is a Playful City USA, among the heady elite who have won recognition every year since the inception of the program in 2007.

Only four cities in Maryland were selected as honorees, including Greenbelt, Laurel, Takoma Park and Chevy Chase.

Despite the benefits of play for children and adults, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a report stating time for free play has been markedly reduced for some children. It lists factors that have contributed to this including:

• a hurried lifestyle,

• changes in family structure, and

• increased attention to academics and enrichment activities at the expense of recess or free child-centered play

"Play is essential to development, because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth," according to the AAP report.

As a 2011 Playful City USA honoree, Greenbelt has demonstrated to KaBOOM! that it is making a statement that play is not a luxury but a necessity for children. KaBOOM! stated Greenbelt was selected for its outstanding dedication to play and it also made mention of Get Active Greenbelt as a city-wide initiative that encourages citizens to be physically active.

Only 20 percent of today's children live within walking distance of a playground or park, spending less time outside than previous generations, according to KaBOOM!, which has a vision of every child being within walking distance of a great place to play.

This year, 19 cities out of 151 have brought home the award five times, and Greenbelt is one of the annual winners. KaBOOM! stated Greenbelt is committed to the well being of children and serves as an outstanding role model for the rest of America.