Since 1985, the U.S. has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. For 2013, the Ashburn, Va.-based National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) encourages parks and recreation departments, professionals, individuals, families, friends, and park-lovers to celebrate Park and Recreation Month. For 2013, the theme for Park and Recreation Month is “I Love my Parks and Recreation.”

“Park and Recreation Month is not only a great time to just get out there and experience all the wonderful aspects of parks and recreation but to also recognize how important our local parks and recreation are in improving our lives,” says Lauren Hoffmann senior PR and communications manager for NRPA.  
 
NRPA is making available a tool kit of downloadable, free materials that agencies and the public can use in their community to make celebrating Park and Recreation Month a success. Items including downloadable logos, web banners and social media graphics are available and can be customized to include local information, logos and added details, making them easy for any community to use. In years past, agencies have used the materials in their program guides, on social media, on their websites, as displays in the community or at their facilities, on T-shirts and other uses.

Park and recreation agencies and professionals are encouraged to download the tool kit to promote July as Park and Recreation Month and to engage their community in the fun. Park agencies can register their July activities on a searchable list for the public to find Park and Recreation Month happenings. NRPA will be rolling out more resources to help agencies prepare for Park and Recreation Month. The official poster for Park and Recreation Month invites patrons to list what they love about parks and recreation. 
 
To find out more and to view and download the 2013 Park and Recreation Month materials, visit here.

Watch how the city of Des Moines, Iowa, plans to celebrate National Park and Recreation Month.