Portsmouth Mayor Declares July 'Park & Recreation Month'

PORTSMOUTH, NH — The U.S. House of Representatives, on behalf of the National Park and Recreation Association, has designated July as Park and Recreation Month to celebrate the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of communities by making a positive impact on their residents every day.

Mayor McEachern proclaimed July Park & Recreation Month in Portsmouth at the July 10 City Council meeting and presented the “signed and sealed” Proclamation to the City’s Recreation Director Todd Henley, who was joined in Council Chambers by the members of the Recreation Department and Public Works (DPW) staff.

In making the proclamation, the Mayor said, “Engaging in outdoor recreational activities allows us to connect with nature and is a setting for socialization, enabling us to forge meaningful connections, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of community. The City of Portsmouth Recreation Department staff and facilities are vital to the well-being of our residents of all ages, ranging from the swim lessons for toddlers at the Indoor Pool to afterschool programs at the Community Campus to open court for teenagers at the Connie Bean to the sports teams on our athletic fields to the yoga classes at Spinnaker Point to the social hours at the Senior Activity Center. Park and recreation programming and educational activities, such as out-of-school time programming, youth sports and STEM education classes, are critical to childhood development.”

In saluting the Recreation Department, Mayor McEachern also recognized that the Recreation Department works closely with the DPW Parks & Greenery to maintain the City’s parks, ensure the ecological beauty of the community, and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors.

The Recreation Department is celebrating Park & Recreation Month on social media using the NPRA tagline, “Where Community Grows.” Follow them on Facebook @CityofPortsmouthNHRec and on Instagram @PortsmouthRecreation. For the Spring/Summer 2023 Recreation Department Program Guide, go to: https://portsnh.co/Summer2023Rec

Submitted by Stephanie Seacord

This press release was produced by the City of Portsmouth. The views expressed here are the author’s own.