July is Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) that invites communities to share their experiences, memories and stories about what parks and recreation mean to them.
Park and Recreation Month 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.
“During the week of our annual conference this past October, we invited NRPA members to vote on their favorite choice of theme for Park and Recreation Month in 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 and includes things like:
- Fact sheets and key messages
- Template media advisory and press releases
- Sample social media posts
- Editorial story sample
- 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. “There is a calendar and poster that can be shared online or downloaded and printed out to hang up in recreation centers or elsewhere to help further spread the word.”
For more information, visit https://www.nrpa.org/events/july/
