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June 29, 2023

Contact:
Dominique Shank, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, 614-512-0049 (cell)

Columbus Residents Encouraged to Explore What Columbus Recreation and Parks Department Offers During National Park and Recreation Month

COLUMBUS – July is National Park and Recreation Month! Columbus Recreation and Parks Department invites residents to help celebrate the many ways the department benefits the community during the month of July.

Recreation and parks services improve our quality of life. Recreational programming, conservation efforts, community events and food access programs protect and improve our environment, our physical and mental health, and our sense of community. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) hosts the annual event every July to underscore these benefits.

“It is a privilege for our staff to serve Columbus residents by offering resources and opportunities for our residents to grow,” said Columbus Recreation and Parks Department Director Bernita Reese, M.S., CPRP. “We are here to serve the community, and during our busy summer season, we offer everything from summer camps to summer festivals like Jazz & Rib Fest to our free Mobile Produce Markets. We are truly here to benefit the Columbus community.”

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is also celebrating its 113^th birthday this month! Established on July 15, 1910, the City Recreation Department enriched Columbus by finding ways to make streets, alleys, boulevards, parks and public grounds more beautiful. On Jan. 2, 1972, the City Recreation Department merged with the Division of Forestry and Parks to become Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.

Columbus Recreation and Parks Department has more than 400 parks, 28 community centers, five athletic complexes, eight outdoor pools and one indoor pool, 20 nature preserves, six golf courses, three reservoirs, five dog parks, 35 rental spaces and 230 miles of regional trails.

Columbus residents can also browse current recreational programming and sign up for the department’s monthly email newsletter.

Learn more about Columbus Recreation and Parks Department by visiting ColumbusRecParks.com.