PARKS AND RECREATION
Celebrating Park and
Recreation Month
NRPA helps park and recreation agencies promote how they support community growth
By Vitisia Paynich
Every day , park and recreation professionals go above and beyond to provide their respective communities with equitable access to parks and essential recreation programming that supports people ’ s overall health and well-being . This was evident throughout the early months of the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) pandemic in 2020 when cities and towns across the country implemented shelter-in-place orders .
During that stressful time , people gravitated toward parks and green spaces to connect with nature and tend to their physical and mental health . In fact , parks , trails and other outdoor amenities were the only recreational opportunities open to the public . According to the National Recreation and Park Association ’ s ( NRPA ’ s ) 2022 Engagement With Parks Report : “ The variety and breadth of vital programming , services and offerings that local park and recreation professionals provide are evident in the sheer number of people who visit parks and / or other recreation facilities every year . Eighty-three percent of survey respondents — the equivalent of 275 million people
Photo courtesy of Joe Van Wyk , City of Glenwood Springs ( Colorado ) Parks and Recreation
18 SportsField Management | July 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com