Since 1985, the National Recreation and Park Association has designated the month of July as Park and Recreation Month. Recreation facilities and parks across the country annually use July to celebrate the kick-off of summer programming as well as a time to pull their communities together to volunteer, get involved in great outdoor physical activities and advocate for parks and recreation. The theme for this year's Park and Recreation month is "Get Wild!"
Spending the day at the park is not only great for your wallet, it’s great for your health too. Frequently going to a park and being active can reduce stress, improve cardiovascular health, help ward off obesity and decrease feelings of depression. For example, studies have shown that:
•Active users of public parks have a lower body mass index
•People who visit parks for longer periods of time (one hour or more) have significantly lower systolic blood pressures
•Park users who are more physically active and who make frequent contact with friends during their leisure are less likely to report feeling depressed
•Citizens who have better access to parks, visit parks more frequently, and engage in physically-active park behaviors also make fewer visits to their doctor
To learn more about Park and Recreation month, visit: http://www.nrpa.org/Content.aspx?id=858
To find a North Carolina State Park near you, visit: http://www.ncparks.gov
You can also visit your local or county parks!
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