Jul. 14--LAS CRUCES -- Recess at 13 Las Cruces public schools is top notch, according to a non-profit organization that's named the city one of 93 "Playful City USA" communities -- and the only one in New Mexico.

Las Cruces was one of 39 new cities on KaBOOM!'s list, added in recognition of its Recess Before Lunch initiative, which continues through the summer at Valley View, Mesilla Park, Cesar E. Chavez and Conlee Elementary Schools.

About 60 percent of Las Cruces' 24 elementaries have changed their schedules to put recess before lunch since 2002. A "plate-waste" study in February 2007 by LCPS Food Services Director Nancy Cathey and Health and Nutrition Specialist Barbara Berger found the switch increased consumption by 23 percent.

"We found the kids ate a third more of their fruits, vegetables and milk, which are the three categories children don't eat enough of," Cathey said Monday. "They just don't eat as fast, generally, because they're not trying to shovel it all in so they can go outside."

That results in fewer detention problems, less waste and fewer trips to the nurse with headaches and tummy-aches for the 190 children at school at Conlee this summer, said Principal Jennifer Terrazas and school nurse Elisabeth Christeson.

"It's still a small amount of time to eat -- 20 minutes -- but it maximizes that time," Christeson said, because kids aren't "just exploding to get outside."

Terrazas recalls "buckets full of food" going in

the trash before the schedule change: "I would see entrees, the main lunch, going into the trash with a bite taken out of it and milk cartons with a sip or two. It was all about getting to the soccer field first to pick teams."

Now, once kids are back in the classroom after lunch, "That big adrenaline surge of being outside? That's worn off," Terrazas said.

Aside from the schedule switch, all it took was installation of hand sanitizer stations -- three at different heights for all grades, Terrazas said.

KaBOOM! "envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America" and also commended Las Cruces "for its number of usable, open play spaces that are engaging, exciting, interesting and fun."

"Las Cruces took a stand and determined that the future of their community -- their children -- deserve a commitment to the cause of play," said Darell Hammond, KaBOOM! CEO and co-founder, in a news release.

Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462

2009 Playful City USA Communities

--Three-time honoree

# Two-time honoree

Allentown, Pa.

*Ankeny, Iowa

Annapolis, Md.