Kristine Stratton, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), issued the following statement in response to the Meta lawsuit settlement:

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is encouraged to see many of the programs and services that local park and recreation agencies provide recognized among the approved uses of funding through the Meta settlement. The $17 billion settlement is intended to address the impact of social media on youth mental health. Specific actions outlined in the settlement included after-school and summer programs, outdoor activities, youth sports, and overall mental health programming. This acknowledgment reinforces the critical role that parks and recreation plays in addressing some of the most pressing concerns facing young people today, including mental health challenges, social isolation and more.

Each year, parks and recreation serves more than 50 million youth, making it one of the nation’s largest — and most overlooked — youth development systems. No other public service is as uniquely positioned to advance youth well-being while strengthening families, communities and the next generation of environmental stewards and civic leaders:

• 84% of park and recreation agencies offer summer camps.
• 71% offer teen programs.
• 56% offer after-school programs.

A 2026 NRPA survey of 1,000 youth ages 3 to 18 examined how outdoor play shapes youth well-being today and in the future. Their message is clear: parks and recreation is critical to young people’s health, happiness and development. Additional findings in the survey include:

• 92% of youth feel better after spending time outdoors.
• 97% of youth believe playing outside now will positively impact them in the future and see themselves engaging in outdoor activities as adults.
• Youth ages 7 to 18 report feeling happy (81%), getting stronger/healthier (55%) and feeling calm (52%) after outdoor play.

Ensuring that all people have access to parks, green spaces and quality recreation programs is one of the easiest and most effective ways communities can promote positive youth development and improve quality of life. Research consistently shows that access to parks and green spaces reduces stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression while improving mood, attention and overall well-being.

NRPA looks forward to working alongside partners, communities and policymakers to advance these recommendations and invest in solutions that help young people lead healthy, connected and successful lives.

###

About the National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 68,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and supporters — the catalysts for positive change in service of parks for all, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.