Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring July 2026 as Park and Recreation Month in Rockville, Maryland
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Department
Recreation & Parks
Recommendation
Staff recommend Mayor and Council read, approve, and present proclamation to Recreation and Park Advisory Board Chair, Jack Thirolf.
Discussion
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 and programs.
In July 2026, Park and Recreation Month highlights “The Power Of” parks and recreation and the people who make it all possible. Parks and recreation bring us together, strengthen our health and well-being, and build more resilient, connected communities.
Throughout the month, we’re celebrating the many ways parks and recreation reveal the power of what connects us:
• The Power of Connection: Parks and recreation is where relationships grow, cultures meet, and communities bond.
• The Power of Play: From playgrounds to programs to youth sports, play fuels creativity, joy, and lifelong learning.
• The Power of Community: Public spaces offer room for everyone to gather, celebrate, and heal.
• The Power of Nature: Nature restores and inspires us, and parks ensure everyone can access its benefits.
• The Power of Belonging: Welcoming parks and programs make every person feel valued.
• The Power of Well-Being: Parks and recreation advance health, resilience, and shared community benefits.
Through efforts by the National Recreation and Parks Association, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an official resolution for Park and Recreation Month in 2009 and introduced the resolution in 2017 and 2018.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council proclaim this proclamation annually.