InTucker Magazine

Fit & Fun InTucker

July is National Parks and Recreation Month! Since 1985, we have celebrated National Parks and Recreation Month annually in July. It helps build strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.

The City of Tucker is an active member of both the Georgia and National Parks and Recreation Associations (NRPA and GRPA). These professional organizations help local agencies meet national goals and standards to aid them in serving their communities.

Parks and Recreation professionals provide vital services—from protecting open spaces and natural resources to providing activities and resources for everyone. National Parks and Recreation Month encourages everyone to reflect on the exponential value parks and recreation professionals bring to their communities.

NRPA says:

• On national average, nearly three in four residents have at least one local park, playground, open space or recreation center within walking distance of their homes. These are standards that each local park and recreation agency strives to meet.
• Your local park and recreation agency serves as a community wellness hub, connecting members of the community to programs and services that improve health outcomes and enhance quality of life.
• Living close to parks and other recreation facilities is consistently related to higher physical activity levels for both adults and youth. Parks also provides a connection to nature, which studies demonstrate relieves stress, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and improves mental health.
• 92 percent of U.S. adults agree that it is important for youth and young adults to have access to employment opportunities. Parks and Recreation departments across the country are among the biggest employers of youth.
• Four in five U.S. adults say access to nearby parks, playgrounds, open spaces, or recreation centers is an important factor in deciding where they want to live.
• Nearly three in five adults say access to local parks and recreation is very or extremely essential to their mental and physical health.

The city has invested annually in our park system and continues to work toward meeting not just state and national goals but, more importantly, community goals. These local goals were part of the city’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan adopted in 2019. This plan has guided the department and is important to our efforts toward meeting the needs of the community.

We have also just approved a contract with Barge Design Solutions to update our Master Plan. Because of the extensive maintenance work and projects completed in our first five years along with the changes made in staffing and programming, this will be a vital step in positioning ourselves for the work to be done in the next 5 to 10 years.

Our parks are in great shape, and we love seeing everyone use them daily. We make every effort to maintain our parks in a safe and accessible way. We also continually look for ways to engage with our community. This month, we are encouraging everyone to visit our social media sites and tell us fun experiences you and your family have had in the parks and in any recreational programming in Tucker. We ask that you use the hashtag “#TKRwherecommunitygrows” when posting.

Come out and celebrate by visiting one of the many Tucker parks or attending one of our Summer of Fun events and activities. As always, you can contact us through our website at tuckerga.gov/parks or call us at (470) 481-0205.