Pictured: The 2022 Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest winner. Photo shows the tribal dedication of the Ocotillo Ramada at Phoenix's Piestewa Peak. Photo courtesy of City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation.

Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.

Thanks to everyone who voted for the 2023 Park and Recreation Month theme! The winning theme will be announced on February 1, 2023, with the promotional toolkit, resources and more to be released in early March 2023. 

In the meantime, check out this year's proclamation template below so you can encourage your community and local leadership to officially acknowledge Park and Recreation Month this July. And, make sure you save the date for Park and Recreation Professionals Day on July 21, 2023!