I was encouraged by the recent PBS documentary on the value of outdoor exercise (PBS documentary sheds light on importance of outdoor play, April 22) which was recently shown in Sutter Creek. It's no secret that we have a child obesity problem in this country. You don't have to be a doctor to know that kids need exercise. When I was a kid, we spent all day during the summers and after school outdoors. These days, kids spend all day texting or playing video games.

As a parent and a grandparent, there are other steps that we can take as well by promoting outdoor play. Parents need to get their kids involved in baseball or other sports. They can also take their kids for hikes at some of the most amazing forests in California that are in and around Amador County.

We also need to make sure outdoor recreation opportunities are designed into the future of our community. I am encouraged that this has been a high priority for the city and the Gold Rush Ranch partners. My understanding is that the project will provide a place for the Amador High golf team to play and that there will be new public tennis courts and hiking trails. These are just the kinds of new recreational amenities that we need to get our kids out the door and on their way to healthier lifestyles.