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Arts and Leisure: Outdoor and Sports Activities Indicator DuPage County is a great place for people who enjoy active lifestyles.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR The Tapestry 2001 report, with its large question mark in the place of an indicator for number and variety of park district programs, reflected our lack of data and our commitment to create measures that would illustrate our county’s level of physical activity. This year, we present information on the number and types of outdoor and sports activities available in DuPage County. This indicator is important because it demonstrates what our county offers to help promote physically active lifestyles. OBSERVATIONS With more than 20,000 acres of forest preserve and nearly 50 golf courses, DuPage County offers multiple options for outdoor and sport activities. The Illinois Prairie Path, which extends into three counties, and the Great Western Trail offer approximately 50 miles of trail within DuPage County for hiking, biking, walking, or horseback riding. Nearly 60 forest preserves encourage the admiration and exploration of nature, and more than 3,000 park district activities further reinforce DuPage County’s commitment to community. DuPage County also houses a 1,700-acre museum of trees (The Morton Arboretum), a premiere wildlife sanctuary, and numerous seasonal attractions. Other outdoor attractions include 24,000 acres of land and more than 80 miles of nature trails. TAPESTRY DuPage County’s dedication to outdoor and sport activities is evident in the1997 passage of a referendum to purchase $75 million of open space for the forest preserve district. This dedication is good for the health, as well as the beauty, of the county. Outdoor and sport activities positively impact the overall physical and mental health of a society. In fact, DuPage County residents who responded to the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey reported having slightly fewer days of poor physical and mental health than the average resident of the state or nation. After school programs offer another public source of outdoor and sport activities. Some studies suggest that such programs may contribute to lower crime rates. For example, a recent Voices for Children study concluded that recreational activities, leadership opportunities, and other development programs for children and youth help prevent crime. HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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