H.R. 6245 — PLAY Act

This section states congressional findings on the benefits of playgrounds, including (1) enhancing children’s cognitive functions and building creative thinking and problem-solving skills that contribute to emotional and physical well-being; (2) their criticality to children’s physical and mental health, with every child deserving access to a safe and quality play space; (3) local green spaces’ capacity to reduce surface heat temperatures by 10 to 20 degrees, the leading weather-related killer in the United States; and (4) safe playgrounds as public health infrastructure that promote physical activity, reduce chronic disease risk, support social-emotional development, and strengthen community cohesion.

This section requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish, not later than 180 days after enactment, an interagency Task Force on Child Wellness and Physical Activity Infrastructure (Task Force), co-chaired by the HHS and Interior Secretaries and composed of specified federal officials including the Secretaries of HHS, Interior, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Defense, and Education; the EPA Administrator; the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers; the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service; and others as appropriate by the HHS Secretary. The Task Force must (1) identify opportunities for coordination between HHS, public health and public lands agencies, and partners to promote youth physical activity in outdoor spaces; (2) identify barriers to children's access to nearby outdoor spaces; (3) develop recommendations to facilitate active play for health, well-being, academic learning, and safe community centers; (4) recommend interagency collaboration to address diverse community health, environmental, and resiliency needs through child wellness infrastructure (i.e., community-based environments such as playgrounds and nature play areas designed to support children's physical activity, play, and health); and (5) identify scalable models such as public-private partnerships; all in consultation with relevant health, wellness, and outdoor recreation groups. The co-chairs must submit a preliminary report on findings to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee within 180 days of Task Force establishment and a final report with recommendations one year later. The Task Force terminates one year after the final report.