Five Tips to ‘A Lifetime of Discovery’ with Parks and Recreation

(June 26, 2018)

Celebrate Park and Recreation Month, July 1–31

Ashburn, Va. (June 26, 2018) — This July, everyone is invited to explore A Lifetime of Discovery at their local parks and rec by participating in Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). To discover all the ways your local parks and rec improves quality of life and builds community, NRPA offers these five tips:

  • Visit your local park and rec agency’s website   
  • Follow your local park and rec agency on social media
  • Sign up to receive your local park and rec agency’s email newsletters
  • Talk to an employee at your local park or rec center
  • Volunteer at your local park or rec center

“People of all ages benefit from the programs and activities offered by local parks and rec,” said Barbara Tulipane, CAE, NRPA president and CEO. “This July, discover these benefits yourself by exploring your local parks and rec where a lifetime of discovery awaits.”

NRPA encourages all people that support parks and recreation to share the unique and perhaps unknown offerings of their local park and recreation centers with the hashtag #DiscoverJuly. Also, this July, NRPA will host a weekly contest encouraging people to show something they’ve discovered at their local park or recreation center. Visit www.nrpa.org/July for more information on how to participate. Entries can be submitted via the hashtag #NRPADiscoveryChallenge. 

Since 1985, Americans have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote the importance of parks and recreation in health and wellness, conservation and social equity, and to recognize the thousands of park and recreation employees that maintain our nation’s local and community parks. Park and recreation agencies across the country are recognizing the month with summer programs, events, contests, commemorations and celebrations.

Supporters of this year’s Park and Recreation Month include:

•          Alliance for a Healthier Generation
•          National Afterschool Association
•          Food and Research Action Center (FRAC)
•          Afterschool Alliance
•          Partnership for a Healthier America
•          Osteoarthritis Action Alliance
•          Lupus Foundation of America
•          National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
•          Meals on Wheels America
•          National Institute on Aging
•          American Society of Landscape Architects
•          Safe Routes to School National Partnership
•          America Walks
•          California Park & Recreation Society
•          Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association
•          Georgia Recreation and Park Association
•          Association of Pool & Spa Professionals
•          The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
•          National League of Cities
•          American Public Health Association
•          Children & Nature Network
•          The Urban Land Institute
•          Southwest Airlines

To learn more about Park and Recreation Month, visit www.nrpa.org/July.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.