Parks and Recreation Month at MWCD
MWCD Celebrates ‘Where You Belong’
Parks and Recreation Month highlight the impacts of outdoor recreation
New Philadelphia, OH (July 19, 2024) — The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), by inviting our community to share their experiences, memories and stories about what parks and recreation mean to them. Since 1985, July has been celebrated as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Park and Recreation Month specifically highlights the essential and powerful role local park and recreation professionals play in building stronger, more vibrant and more resilient communities across the country.
This July, we will celebrate the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities.
“July is an ideal time to highlight the significant contributions of our park and recreation professionals to the health, well-being, and growth of our community,” said Craig Butler, MWCD Executive Director. “We play a crucial role in offering outdoor recreation opportunities to over five million visitors who enjoy our lakes each year. It’s essential for park systems to thrive, enriching both our communities and the lives of our guests. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the power of parks and recreation.”
MWCD is leading initiatives and providing opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and identities to achieve healthier lifestyles, promote and understand nature and environmental resilience, as well as bring the community closer through a variety of programs and services. Programs range from guided hikes, kayak tours, day camps, live music, and movies under the stars to name a few.
NRPA and MWCD encourage everyone who supports parks and recreation to share how it has fostered belonging, as well as why their local park and recreation professionals are important to them, on social media with #WhereYouBelong.
Learn about the activities planned at MWCD parks online at MWCD.org/events.
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About Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Watershed, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the 16 reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving over $7 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government, as well as providing popular recreational opportunities that bolster the region’s economy garnering more than 5 million visitors annually. A significant portion of the reservoirs are managed by the MWCD and the dams are managed for flood-risk management by the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org and follow the MWCD on Facebook and Twitter.
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.
