Page 80 - Illinois Association of Park Districts Benefits of Membership 2017 - 2018

facilities, which often house health and fitness centers, are not just centrally located; they are also affordable. Dr. Manning Marable, director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University, cites developing public park and fitness facilities as a sociological issue and as a central factor in serving the people.11
Some mistakenly believe that public recreation and fitness centers provide “unfair” competition to privately owned facilities. As a result of this competition, many private clubs claim that they lose significant revenue to the public sector. But, as Athletic Business editor Andrew Cohen writes, “The argument [of unfair competition] is shortsighted and potentially damaging to the recreation and fitness industry.”12
Conclusion
The Illinois Association of Park Districts affirms that all people – regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic status – should have access to affordable recreation and fitness opportunities, which the public sector historically provides. There is room in all communities for both public and private fitness centers and clubs to serve all people in their quest for health and fitness.
The Illinois Association of Park Districts supports the hundreds of fitness facilities under the auspices of public park and recreation agencies. These centers provide health and fitness opportunities to people of all ages and income levels.
More and more, recreation and fitness centers in Illinois are being developed as public/private partnerships between park and recreation agencies and universities, hospitals, schools and others. This trend maximizes the facility’s usefulness, allowing it to cater to underserved groups, as well as to the very specialized demographic group being served by the private-sector partner.
Public recreation facilities are in a position to foster an active lifestyle, which could lead to a population of healthier, more productive citizens. Thus, park district and recreation agency fitness facilities are vital in reaching the people of Illinois with recreation and fitness choices.
11 Marable, Manning, Along Color Lines, Columbus Free Press, 1997. 12 Cohen, Andrew. Athletic Business. June 2002.
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