WHEREAS, Sport, play, and movement are essential to ensure positive youth development. Research has shown that sport and play improve mental and physical health, increase cognitive performance, build self-esteem, cultivate leadership skills, and lead to higher academic and career achievement; and

WHEREAS, Access to sport, play, and movement varies across race and socioeconomic status. Those at greatest risk for poor health and wellness outcomes often have the least access to opportunities for physical activity; and

WHEREAS, According to the 2020 Los Angeles County Youth Sports Participation Survey for Play Equity commissioned by the LA84 Foundation, children from households with annual incomes greater than $150,000 had a 93-percent sport participation rate. However, only 68 percent of children from households with annual incomes below $35,000 participate in sports; and

WHEREAS, Additional data from the Play Equity Fund established by the LA84 Foundation confirm the deep inequities that exist for youth of color, including that Black and Latino youth are two times as likely to reside in areas with subpar park space, Black and Latino youth have higher rates of stress, anxiety, and depression, totals which have only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, Latinas have the lowest participation rate in sport, and 80 percent of youth, many low income, do not currently meet federal guidelines for daily physical activities; and

WHEREAS, Access to sport, play, and movement is not equitable. Known as the play equity gap, children across the country miss out on these benefits due to barriers they face, such as the high cost of youth sports, the lack of facilities or safety in their neighborhoods, a lack of trauma-informed coaches, or exclusion based on disability; and

WHEREAS, Achieving play equity means removing barriers and ensuring access to sports and play; and

WHEREAS, The State of California must close the play equity gap so all children can build social and emotional skills for pathways to lifelong well-being regardless of their race, gender, ZIP Code, sexual orientation, or ability; and

WHEREAS, The LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund are issuing a call to action to fortify the spirit of our state’s youth with Play Day on June 29, 2024. This national celebration annually promotes the lifelong benefits of sport, play, and movement for children in the neighborhoods where they live; and

WHEREAS, This year, the LA84 Foundation is celebrating its 40 years of impact as a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, a triumphant sporting event for the City of Los Angeles and the world that, in addition to being the stage for unforgettable athletic feats, also ushered in a new era of inclusion, technology, media, and culture to the sports landscape; and

WHEREAS, The Play Day Block Party at the LA84 Foundation headquarters in the neighborhood of West Adams, in the City of Los Angeles, will include music, art, sports, and food to recreate the spirit and community that defined the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. In addition, there will be 84 satellite Play Day sites across the country that will promote the joy of the shared experience of playing together as a community; and

WHEREAS, We must support more equitable experiences in youth sports and play programs. Play Day celebrates our shared goal to help children thrive, helps build community on a national scale, and shows that sports and the joy of play have the power to connect us, help us better understand each other, and build more promising futures for young people; now, therefore, be it