Sample Letter to the Mayor Requesting a Play Day Proclamation

Dear NAME OF MAYOR:

We, the concerned citizens, community members, parents, neighbors, friends, and children of CITY/TOWN believe that play is a crucial factor in the overall well-being of children, and playspaces and playgrounds within walking distance of children’s homes are missing from many communities and neighborhoods. We recognize that unstructured, unplanned, spontaneous, and self-motivated play is on the decline and that fewer children spend time outside at parks and playgrounds.

We also see that recess is being shortened or removed from school curriculums, and we know that children who play are healthier and suffer less obesity and obesity-related health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. We also value the fact that children who play do better in school and develop cognitive skills that are linked to learning and academic performance, and children who play learn the social skills that help them become happy and well-adjusted adults.

Lastly, we, as representatives of parents, schools, child care centers, nonprofit organizations, businesses, churches, synagogues, mosques, and all interested parties, wish to raise this community’s children to become healthy, happy, and successful adults.

We ask that you proclaim DAY AND DATE as a “Play Day” for CITY/TOWN and that you urge all citizens to celebrate Play Day and support efforts to build and maintain playspaces and playgrounds not only in their communities and neighborhoods but for this and future generations.

Playfully Yours,
The Committee on Play
Smithville, USA