In honor of National Parks and Recreation Month, Columbia Parks and Recreation wants Columbia residents to spend quality time outside.
Columbia Parks and Recreation is hosting various events throughout July with the theme “out is in.”
The theme focuses on encouraging people to enjoy outdoor activities. Rather than being indoors, Columbia Parks and Recreation wants people to spend time on trails, at the pools, or playing sports or outdoor games.
Tuesday, there was a promotional event outside Gentry Building to raise awareness of upcoming outdoor, family-friendly events in Columbia.
Mike Griggs, the director of Parks and Recreation, said, “The theme is out is in. We want people to come to get the kids out from behind the video games, the television, and just come and spend some time outside.”
Erika Coffman, the Recreation Services Manager for Columbia Parks and Recreation said, “It’s important for people to get active and find something to do to be healthy, whatever that is, whether it’s swimming or hiking on our trails or taking advantage of throwing a disc golf or any of those kinds of things. Something to do just to keep themselves healthy that way they can enjoy life longer.”
Tuesday’s event had popsicles and other frozen treats, games, drawings, and an obstacle course. The obstacle course was promoting the opportunity to register for the “Splat” junior obstacle course mud run.
Splat will be similar to the Tough Mudder competitions, said Coffman. It will have three age groups for children that participate and will take place on Saturday, July 12th, at Gans Creek Recreation Area.