Month-long celebration highlights essential value of local parks and recreation

Summer is here, which means it’s time to get your play on. This July, discover the power of play with Caroline County Recreation & Parks as they celebrate Parks and Recreation Month. A variety of fun programs planned for residents of all ages and abilities start in July.

Try Sunrise Yoga at Martinak State Park, part of the Healthy Parks, Healthy People movement or come out and try Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the nation, on Tuesday nights at the Fretterd Community Center. Caroline County has also opened its first disc golf course at Marydel Community Park on Lepore Road and families are encouraged to head out and play a round or two. For more activities offered in July and throughout the year, visit carolinerecreation.org.

Caroline County Recreation and Parks is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), and all the ways parks and recreation has the power to transform our daily lives. From providing us places to play, get fit and stay healthy, to fostering new relationships and forging a connection with nature, our close-to-home community park and recreation facilities provide essential services and improve quality of life.

“Year-round, Caroline County Recreation & Parks celebrates the power of play in its regular programs and activities as well as special events. It also provides opportunities for play at its many parks throughout the County. This month presents a great opportunity to pay special attention to the great things that parks and recreation departments do everyday,” says Sue Simmons, director of Caroline County Recreation & Parks.

Caroline County will celebrate Park and Recreation Month with a Proclamation by the County Commissioners declaring July as Park and Recreation Month in Caroline County.

NRPA is celebrating the month by hosting a weekly contest encouraging people to show them why play is so important in their lives. Visit www.nrpa.org/July for more information on how to participate. Entries can be submitted via the hashtag #NRPAPlayChallenge. NRPA also encourages all people that support parks and recreation to share why they think play is so important with the hashtag #PlayOnJuly.

To learn more about Park and Recreation Month, visit www.nrpa.org/July. To learn more about recreation and parks opportunities in Caroline, visit carolinerecreation.org.