Park and Recreation Month sponsored by:
About Park and Recreation Month
Parks and recreation are vitally important to the quality of life in our city, not only for the health and well-being of people who live here, but also because of the preservation of our best, most beautiful assets including trails, open spaces, and parks. Colorado Springs is stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient because of parks and recreation services and we’re excited to show it during National Park and Recreation Month 2024.
This year's theme — “Where You Belong” — celebrates the many ways park and recreation professionals across the country foster a sense of belonging in their community by providing welcoming and inclusive programs, essential services for all ages and abilities, and safe, accessible spaces to build meaningful connections.
Join us in celebrating Park and Recreation Month with Free Community Events!
- Friday July 12, 2024 at Panorama Park
- 5:30pm – Food Trucks Arrive
- 6:00pm – Music Begins
- 7:45pm – Giveaways (Must be present to win)
- Friday July 26, 2024 at Piñon Valley Park
- 6:00pm – Food Trucks & Beer Garden
- 6:30pm – Music Begins
- 8:15pm – Giveaways (Must be present to win)
Kids Coloring Contest – Coming July 1st!
Enjoy our Park and Recreation Month Kids Activity Book for Park and Recreation Month. The last page of this book is the official coloring sheet for the NEW! Kids Coloring Contest. Complete the contest coloring page and return it, in person or online, to be entered into the contest.
Four winners will be announced on #COSParks social media on Aug 1st. Prizes include a grab bag of candy and kid’s items.
Discover COS Calendar Photo Contest – Submissions Open July 15th!
The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department will begin accepting photo submissions for its Discover COS calendar starting Monday, July 15. The 2025 calendar, produced this fall, will be the twelfth edition highlighting the natural beauty of parks, trails, and open spaces in Colorado Springs.
Facts about Parks and Recreation
- National Park and Recreation Month is a time to promote the benefits of healthy, vibrant communities. It is a time to recognize the importance of parks and recreation in establishing and maintaining quality of life and in contributing to the physical, economic, and environmental well-being of communities.
- Park and Recreation Professionals Day, #ParkandRecDay, is back for its sixth year on July 19, 2024, and is celebrated during National Park and Recreation Month. It's a national celebration honoring essential industry professionals across the country, who make our communities better places to live, work and play.
- Evidence not only shows that parks are cooler than their surrounding cities, but that parks contribute to overall urban cooling — parks make our cities more comfortable in the summer!
- National Park and Recreation Month is an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), to learn more about National Park and Recreation Month, visit nrpa.org/July.