This week, we discuss efforts to increase physical activity among youth via private partnerships, state funding opportunities, and federal legislation:

American Heart Association and Nintendo Join Forces to Promote Healthy Living Through Active-Play Video Games (Source:  Businesswire.com)  Concern over children’s health spurs non-traditional partnership between AHA and Nintendo.

Pennsylvania Announces Active Schools Grant Program in Elementary Schools for 2010-11 School Year  (Source:  PRNewswire.com)  Grants assist schools in providing 30 minutes/day of physical activity for students.

Phys. Ed. Legislation Generates Mixed Reactions (Source:  Education Week)  Respondents agree that increased physical activity among students is needed, but disagree on the proposed mandates of the FIT Kids Act.

How can the effectiveness of these approaches be maximized?  Share your ideas!

I’m very pleased to announce the first National Physical Activity Plan for the United States.  The launch on May 3rd represents the culmination of a two-year effort to develop the Plan and the beginning of the long-term effort to implement it.

Through implementation, government, private industry, non-profits, communities and individuals can now work together under a common set of strategies aimed at one thing; getting more Americans to be more physically active.  The Plan’s strategies and tactics provide a framework through which individuals and agencies can rally support for new physical activity-related initiatives and initiatives they may already be pursuing.

As a “living document,” available to the public at www.physicalactivityplan.org, the Plan will be evaluated and updated regularly to accurately reflect its successes and a fluid landscape of physical activity and public health policy.  As such, we welcome on-going feedback on the Plan’s Strategies and Tactics and encourage you and your colleagues to help keep the Plan fresh.  Is there one strategy or tactic of the plan that you endorse?  If so, please say which one and why you believe in its importance.

In light of the recent release of the National Physical Activity Plan, we present a snapshot of stories related to the physical activity environment that are making the news:

More police, fire recruits flunk fitness test  (Source:  USA Today) Local governments around the country express the need for increased physical fitness in the name of citizen safety.

Take a taxicab to work?  More New Yorkers walk (Source:  New York Times) A comparison of the number of New Yorkers engaging in various types of daily commuting. 

Amid debate and trying economic times, Naperville approves sidewalk projects (Source:  Chicago Tribune) An Illinois city moves forward with sidewalk plan, despite lean budget.

What are the top physical activity environment issues in YOUR community?