July is National Parks and Recreation Month

Since 1985, the United States has celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize 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. The services that park and recreation professionals provide are vital to our communities — from protecting open spaces and natural resources to helping fight obesity and providing activities and resources for all people. Park and Recreation Month encourages everyone to reflect on the exponential value park and recreation professionals bring to communities.

This year’s theme for the month is “Where You Belong.” We are celebrating by highlighting all the ways parks and recreation builds belonging in communities across the country. In this year alone, we have seen increases in all of our youth sports participation and new facilities like our pickleball court and temporary ice skating rink that is available in the winter.

Plan a trip to one of our parks, splash at Sheltowee Falls Splash Pad, spend time with family and friends at one of our picnic shelters or coach a youth league sport! We can’t wait to see what 2025 will be bring.