Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals, along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.
“Park and Recreation Month encourages everyone to reflect on the exponential value park and recreation professionals bring to communities,” said Liz Bellas, Director of
Regional Parks. “The services that park and recreation professionals provide are vital, from protecting open space and natural resources to helping with physical and mental health and providing activities and resources for all people.”
According to studies completed by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), people place a high value on the programs and services that park and recreation agencies deliver to their local communities every day and strongly support their mission.
There are several key areas where Parks provide positive outcomes for our overall communities:
Health and wellness
Parks and recreation promote improved physical and mental health. This not only helps people feel better but also can help lower medical and insurance costs for those people taking advantage of those facilities and activities.
Conservation and resiliency
Park and recreation agencies’ protection of land, water, trees, open spaces and wildlife improves air and water quality in communities. Through effective land management methods and green infrastructure investments, parks and recreation make communities more resilient to natural disasters, reducing disaster recovery and insurance costs. Local park and recreation agencies play a vital role in the protection of our environment through green infrastructure, maintenance of public lands, preserving wildlife habitats and more.
Property values
Economic research has demonstrated consistently that homes and properties located near parklands have higher values than those located farther away. Higher home values not only benefit the owners of these properties but also add to the tax base of local governments.
Economic development
Parks and recreation improve the quality of life in communities and benefit the local economic development of a region.
In Sacramento County, there are 23 agencies that provide Park and Recreation services to the community. They include:
- Arcade Creek Recreation and Park District
- Arden Manor Recreation and Park District
- Arden Park Recreation and Park District
- Carmichael Recreation and Park District
- City of Folsom
- City of Galt
- City of Isleton
- City of Sacramento
- Cordova Recreation and Park District
- Cosumnes Community Services District
- County Service Area 4B
- County Service Area 4C
- County Service Area 4D
- Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District
- Fulton El Camino Recreation and Park District
- Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District
- North Highlands Recreation and Park District
- Orangevale Recreation and Park District
- Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District
- Sacramento County Regional Parks
- Southgate Recreation and Park District
- State of California
- Sunrise Recreation and Park District
