July is National Recreation and Parks Month
The beginning of July marks a time of celebration, and often leads into a great summer of activities and programs for groups of all ages, such as hiking and fishing, educational and innovative fairs and festivals, park tours, and much more.
Designated in 1985 as National Recreation and Parks Month by the National Recreation and Park Association, the month of July is ideal for groups and families to rediscover their local parks and visit new ones. Encouraging outdoor physical activity and actively promoting parks and recreation in communities across the country, the NRPA actively supports and promotes creative celebrations through their magazine Parks & Recreation, and encourages communities and townships to submit their own celebration and activity information.
The object of the NRPA and National Recreation and Parks Month isn’t just to encourage outdoor recreational activity and increase park visitation, but also to recognize and salute those who work in the parks system to make our park experience enjoyable and unforgettable. The beauty of a park can reside within our hearts and minds long after we have left, and children and adults alike will certainly enjoy the tranquility and peace of such natural serenity. We should consider the care and effort that goes into maintaining our parks by the vast number of park employees who dedicate themselves to the difficult but rewarding task of park maintenance.
You can check your park websites, or activity listings in your local papers, to find out what exciting programs, festivals and activities may be occurring in your area in honor of National Recreation and Parks Month.
Many communities celebrate enthusiastically with park pride days, nature festivals, park picnics, group hikes, community sports events, park beautification activities, and much more.
Outdoor recreation is a key factor of National Recreation and Parks Month, focusing on the need for physical activity, and what better place to enjoy physical activity than during the many beautiful summer days in the month of July. Although the many activities and celebrations can be overwhelmingly fun, the importance of physical activity should not be forgotten, and should especially be instilled in children and young adults.
The NRPA website, nrpa.org, contains more information and tools for communities to utilize in order to create their own list of activities and celebrations. Samples of proclamations and press releases are available for download, as well as a sample calendar of activities and important information to let everyone in the community know that July is National Recreation and Parks Month.
