John Kmitta Associate Publisher / Editorial Brand Director jkmitta @ epgacceleration . com 763-383-4405

Recent polls conducted by NutriSystem and Optimum Nutrition show that approximately 70 % of Americans are more concerned with health and wellness in the post-COVID era .

One positive wellness trend to carry over from the pandemic is the use of the park system . As Americans were forced into isolation and social distancing , parks provided opportunities to get outside for physical and mental health and wellness .

According to the 2021 National Recreation and Park Association ( NRPA ) Engagement With Parks Report , 7 in 10 people increased or maintained their use of public parks and trails during the pandemic . In fact , many state and national parks had to turn visitors away during the pandemic because the parks had reached capacity for the day . Others instituted timed entry or reservations .

A recent NRPA poll found that 83 % of U . S . adults agree that visiting their local parks , trails and open spaces was essential for their mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic ; and nearly three in five adults say that access to these amenities is very or extremely essential to their mental and physical health .

I bring all this up because July is Park and Recreation Month , which we are thrilled to highlight in this

issue . Our friends from the National Recreation and Park Association ( NRPA ) were kind enough to provide an overview of Park and Recreation Month ; and we also share the insights of Certified Sports Field Managers who are in parks and recreation roles .

I live in the suburbs of Chicago , and my family and I are blessed to have a stellar parks and recreation department in our city . In addition to a wide range of parks , nature preserves and an amazing trail system , our city is also blessed with two lakes that each feature beaches with recreation venues , watercraft rentals , sand volleyball courts , and even a wakeboard cable park . We also have a vast sports complex with fields for soccer , softball , baseball and lacrosse . Our city also has a dog park , sled hills , skate park , golf center , disc golf course , racket club , and much more than I can list here .

The point is that I know firsthand the value that our local parks and recreation facilities provide – especially for our physical and mental well-being . I also realize the amount of work and effort it must take to be able to provide such a vast range of options . As such , I am happy to highlight parks and recreation this month . SFM

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SportsField Management | July 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com