Happy National Park and Recreation Month!
Build Together, Play Together: 40 Years of Park and Recreation Month
This July, along with the National Recreation and Park Association, we’re celebrating a major milestone — 40 years of Park and Recreation Month! Since its launch in 1985, this nationwide observance has been a time to honor the essential role that parks, green spaces, and recreation programs play in building strong, connected, and healthy communities.
Every summer, we pause to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with countless part-time staff, seasonal workers, and volunteers — who work tirelessly to maintain our community spaces and create meaningful experiences for people of all ages. From maintaining trails and playgrounds to organizing community events and classes, these dedicated individuals help make our neighborhoods more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient.
This year’s theme, “Build Together, Play Together,” celebrates how parks and recreation unite people from all walks of life. Whether it’s a family picnic, a morning yoga class, a neighborhood festival, or an afternoon at the splash pad, parks are where connections are made and memories are born.
According to the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) 2024 Engagement With Parks Report:
276 million people in the U.S. visited a park or recreation facility in the last year.
Seven in 10 residents live within walking distance of a park or playground.
81% of adults consider access to quality parks when choosing where to live.
93% of adults say their mental health improves thanks to local parks and rec services.
However, 30% of the population — nearly 100 million people — still lack access to these life-enriching resources.
At Durham Parks and Recreation, we’re working hard to build and maintain sustainable parks, offer inclusive and accessible programs, and support healthy, joyful communities for all — now and for generations to come.
This month, we invite you to join the celebration! Whether you’re enjoying our mobile recreation programming, summer camps, guided hikes, fitness classes, or our outdoor summer concert series, there are countless ways to engage with your local parks and show appreciation for the teams behind them.
Together, let’s build, play, and celebrate the power of parks!
About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.
 | A guest post by
|