PARKS AND RECREATION

July is Park and Recreation Month , an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association ( NRPA ) that promotes building strong , vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation .

The month is also dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — who maintain our country ’ s local , state and community parks .

This year ’ s theme , “ Where You Belong ,” celebrates the many ways park and recreation professionals across the country foster a sense of belonging in their community by providing welcoming and inclusive programs ; essential services for all ages and abilities ; and safe , accessible spaces to build meaningful connections .

“ We invited NRPA members to vote on their favorite choice of theme for Park and Recreation Month 2024 ,” said Jon Eick , NRPA director of marketing and engagement strategy . “ The members selected ‘ Where You Belong ’ — a theme inspired by the belief that all are welcome in local parks , and everyone can benefit from access to high-quality parks in their community .

“ Local park and recreation agencies are also uniquely suited to serve as community wellness hubs , connecting all members of the community to programs and services that advance health equity , improve health outcomes and enhance quality of life ,” Eick added . “ Parks also play a key role in ensuring all community members have equitable opportunities to get active .”

NRPA encourages park and recreation agencies to use this year ’ s theme to showcase the ways in which they contribute to strong , vibrant and resilient communities all year and how community members can support their local agency ’ s work .

“ Park and recreation professionals can help share this message with their community by planning events throughout the month of July ,” said Eick . “ There are a wide

range of tools available to promote Park and Recreation

Month , starting with our Where You Belong toolkit .” The toolkit ( https :// www . nrpa . org / events / july / toolkit /) is designed to make Park and

Recreation Month promotions easier . The toolkit includes fact sheets and key messages , template media advisory and press releases , sample social media posts , editorial story sample , and a media outreach “ how to .”

“ We ’ ve also provided logos and graphics that can be used on park agency websites , in printed summer event guides , or on social media ,” said Eick . For more information , visit https :// www . nrpa . org / events / july / SFM

MESSAGES PROMOTING SUPPORT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION According to NRPA ’ s 2023 Engagement With Parks Report , people place a high value on the programs and services that park and recreation agencies deliver to their local communities every day and strongly support their mission .

More than 280 million people in the United States visited a local park or recreation facility at least once during the past year .

Seven in 10 U . S . residents have at least one local park , playground , open space or recreation center within walking distance of their homes .

In the United States , 84 % of adults seek highquality parks and recreation when choosing a place to live .

88 % of U . S . adults agree it is vital for local park and recreation agencies to engage with every member of their community to ensure offerings meet their needs .

Visitors who find their parks and recreation facilities to be inclusive visit these areas nearly two times as often as those who do not hold this view . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com June 2024 | SportsField Management

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