Since 1985, America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Created by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Park and Recreation Month specifically highlights the vital and powerful role local park and recreation professionals, such as our staff at Waukee, play in conservation, health and well-being, and social equity efforts in communities all across the country.
The services that park and recreation professionals provide are vital for our communities — from protecting open space and natural resources, to providing fitness programs, and, recently, providing essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — Park and Recreation Month encourages everyone to reflect on the exponential value park and recreation professionals bring to communities.
Waukee Parks & Recreation is leading initiatives and providing opportunities for people of all ages to achieve healthier lifestyles, promote and understand nature and conservation as well as bringing the community closer through a variety of programs and services. Our staff works tirelessly to bring the best programs to the community.
Some of the essential people that make parks and recreation a vital part of Waukee include:
Matt Jermier - Parks & Recreation Director
Josh VandeKamp - Assistant Parks & Recreation Director
Danae Edwards - Recreation Supervisor
Jacob Perkins - Recreation Supervisor
Ron Heimann - Parks Laborer
Corey Adkins - Parks Laborer
Jim Pizinger - Parks Laborer
Melissa Stotz - Parks & Recreation Administrative Assistant
NRPA encourages everyone that supports parks and recreation to share how it has impacted their lives with the hashtag #WeAreParksAndRec. For more information about Park and Recreation month, visit www.nrpa.org/July.
NRPA also encourages people to get creative throughout the month by participating in the Thank a Park and Rec Pro contest. Film a video thanking a park and recreation professional in your community for the services they provide and post it on social media using the hashtag #ThankAParkAndRecPro for a chance to win prizes throughout July.