Local park and recreation agencies play a quiet but powerful role in shaping how communities connect with water. Parks and recreation create aquatic opportunities through access to public pools, splash pads, swim lessons and more – inviting people of all ages to enjoy recreation close to home. In addition, these agencies champion water safety by teaching essential skills like swimming fundamentals, safe entry practices and awareness of natural water conditions. Using trained staff and local experts, parks and recreation help residents build confidence around water while reducing preventable accidents. In many ways, they are the bridge between fun aquatic experiences and the knowledge needed to enjoy them responsibly.
Key Findings:
- More than two-thirds of park and recreation agencies (68%) offer aquatics programming.
- Nearly half of all park and recreation agencies (49%) offer outdoor pools.
- Seventy-one percent of park and recreation agencies offer safety training programs, such as swim lessons and water safety training.
- More than half of all agencies (54%+) serving communities with a population greater than 250,000 offer splashpads and/or spraygrounds.
Links:
