Kansas City is part of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside recreation initiative

Kansas City will be one of 50 cities participating nationwide in first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside initiative to get youths more active outdoors.

Mayor Sly James and David Byrd, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, joined a representative of the U.S. Interior Department on Thursday to announce the city’s participation.

“Our city is blessed with an incredible parks system, and this program will give Kansas City kids more opportunities to get outside and learn how to care for their environment,” James said in a news release.

The initiative provides two years of funding for the YMCA of Kansas City to coordinate and increase participation by young people in outdoor programs on public lands.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Kansas City is part of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside recreation initiative."