Americans encouraged to attend Fourth of July celebrations hosted by local park and recreation departments
Ashburn, Va. (June 30, 2016) — During the summer, many Americans participate in events and festivals organized by their local communities — often by their local park and recreation departments. A recent online survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association(NRPA) found that the most popular community-based, summertime events include Fourth of July celebrations, farmers markets and outdoor movies/concerts.
NRPA surveyed 1,017 Americans ages 18+ about their plans to attend various community activities this summer. The majority, 56 percent, indicated that they plan to attend a Fourth of July or other holiday celebration; 46 percent indicated that they plan to attend a farmers market; 34 percent indicated that they plan to attend an outdoor movie/concert; 33 percent indicated that they plan to attend a carnival/fair; 31 percent indicated that they plan to attend a food festival; 25 percent indicated that they plan to attend an arts/crafts fair; 16 percent indicated that they plan to attend a cultural festival; and 8 percent indicated that they plan to attend a running or biking race.
“Taking part in community-based, summertime events is a great way to connect with friends, family and neighbors, all while making memories and having fun,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA President and CEO. “A lot of events organized in the summer have become American traditions. This includes many Fourth of July celebrations organized by local park and recreation agencies.”
Many of the community-based events referenced in NRPA’s survey are free to the public and are hosted by local park and recreation departments. Ensuring that community members have access to these types of events, regardless of income level, ethnicity, gender, ability or age, is a key priority for NRPA and local park and recreation departments throughout the country. NRPA encourages all Americans to research the many offerings and services their local park and recreation departments provide year round.
“The Fourth of July is an ideal time to take advantage of these services. It is also a great way to kick off Park and Recreation Month, which celebrates the vital role our public parks and recreation facilities play in our daily lives,” said Tulipane.
To learn more about Park and Recreation Month, visit www.nrpa.org/july.
To learn more about the NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.
To view the full-size infographic, click here.
About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
Media Contact:
Heather Williams
@NRPA_News