July 1 marked the thirtieth anniversary of National Parks and Recreation Month, dedicated to promoting and celebrating the accomplishments of local parks and recreation departments.
Each year, the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) chooses a theme as the focus of the month-long celebration. This year the department is focusing on the overall power of parks by highlighting different ways local parks departments impact the lives of community members.
The Columbia parks department kicked off the month by giving away prizes including ARC passes, city pool coupon books and golf passes in front of its office at 1 South 7th Street.
Public Information Specialist Tammy Miller said that this month is an opportunity to show the community that the department’s responsibilities are diverse.
“We also help promote healthy lifestyles, a place to explore nature through the community, we help with economic developments and promoting a green space so we hope to bring attention to those contributions as well.”
Roxanne Sutton, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist for the NRPA, said it’s a month when parks departments are on the same page and able to work together.
“You have parks and recreation departments across the country coming together to talk about the same thing,” Sutton said. “So it’s very exciting to see that someone in California, someone in Missouri and someone in New York are all doing something similar to celebrate parks and recreation.”
Sutton said the department is also using a “1980s theme” that member departments can use to create local events and she said hundreds of events are held throughout the month.
