Get Healthy Carson City: Park and Recreation Month is great time to explore outdoors

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

July is Parks and Recreation Month, and there’s no better time to get out and join fellow Carson City residents to take advantage of the outstanding parks and recreation opportunities our city has to offer.

Since 1985, Americans have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote the importance of parks and recreation in health and wellness, conservation and social equity, and to recognize the thousands of park and recreation employees who maintain our nation’s local and community parks. Carson City Parks and Recreation wants to make the community aware of the wide variety of parks and recreation opportunities that are available within our community, often for free.

Miles of paths and trails, playgrounds, and open space are open to the public. Carson City is home to more than 30 parks and 7,000 acres of open space. “There’s something for everybody,” said Jennifer Budge, Carson City’s new Parks and Recreation Director. She continued, “Most people probably don’t know about many of our parks, and that’s what Parks and Recreation Month is about, raising awareness about what’s available in our community.”

Whatever outdoor pursuit you choose, Carson City likely has a place for you. Paths and trails throughout the city are ideal for hikers and bikers of any skill level. For those with children, an abundance of playgrounds are interspersed in neighborhoods all around the City. Fuji Park, in south Carson City, boasts Baily Pond for those who want to try their hand at fishing, and has an arena open to the public for equestrian activities. For anyone who likes motorized outdoor recreation, Carson City has ready access to miles of public lands, and an area for ATV/ORV use is a feature of the Prison Hill Recreation Area. Finally, Carson City’s sports facilities — Centennial Park, Governors Field, and Edmonds Sports Complex — offer top-notch opportunities to participate in team sports, such as soccer, baseball and softball. Additional facilities are in the works, and construction begins on a new disc golf course east of town this fall.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, the scientific evidence is mounting parks and recreation are building healthier communities. U.S. Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree parks and recreation are a critical solution to improve our nation’s health. Being active in the outdoors is a fantastic way to improve your own health and to take advantage of the great outdoor setting we in Carson City are lucky enough to enjoy.

Carson City Parks and Recreation (CCPR) has been a great partner of Carson City Health and Human Services, encouraging our community to take part in fun, healthy activities. Both agencies look forward to working together even more in the future. A proclamation for Parks and Recreation Month will be presented at the July 21 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Visit the Carson City Parks and Recreation Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CCPRDept to learn more about events that are taking place this July. For more information about other Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us at www.facebook.com/cchhs.