LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 17, 2016) – Little Rock Parks and Recreation is receiving a $5,000 grant for meeting the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards for the 2015 school year and will hold a Commit to Health fair Thursday, May 19, to mark the milestone.

Participants from Stephens Community Center, Dunbar Community Center, Southwest Community Center, Whetstone Boys and Girls Club and other agencies have been invited to participate.

The fair will take place from 3 – 6 p.m. Thursday at Stephens Community Center located at 3720 West 18^th St. The event is free and open to the public. In addition to vendor booths, the fair will have food, face-painting, and youth activities.

The nearly 20 Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards include serving a fruit or vegetable at every snack and meal and ensuring that physical activity takes place outdoors whenever possible.

NRPA Program Manager, Allison Coleman says “I am excited about this event, the Commit to Health Fair, celebrating the HEPA standards.  I encourage Little Rock Parks and Recreation to submit this story to NRPA of another agency implementing successful strategies to improve the communities in which they play”.

The grant supports the National Recreation and Park Association’s Commit to Health campaign, which encourages the implementation and evaluation of Healthy Eating, Physical Activity (HEPA) standards in park and recreation sites across the country. NRPA’s goal is to have at least 2,000 participating sites in five years.  Within the first two years of the program, 991 sites have pledged to Commit to Health and over 108,000 children now have improved access to healthy foods and increased opportunities for physical activity. 

Vendors at the fair will include: First Security Bank, Club Eco, Game and Fish, Delta Dental, UAMS, CHI St. Vincent-East, ACH, Baptist Health, Little Rock Fire Department, Moncrief Employment & Design, Dr. A. Slater, Arkansas Pediatric Dentistry, Unity Unlimited, OK Program, Good-fellow Barber, Stamp Out Smoking.

The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Out-of-School Time Afterschool Programs serve about 200 children every school year and around 1,500 in the summer.

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