DKEDC Celebrates National Park and Recreation Month

When the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) was created, its goals were to foster excellence in parks and recreation, engage communities, cultivate public demand for high-quality parks and recreation, and elevate the role of its field. NRPA annually recognizes National Park and Recreation Month to add to that mission. “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 160K full-time park and recreation professionals, along with hundreds of thousands of part-time, seasonal and volunteer workers,” - NRPA. DKEDC agrees with NRPA and is showing the same appreciation for the park and recreation professionals throughout Dickinson County. We thank them for their hard work and contributions to make the parks and recreational centers a worthwhile experience. 

Where Community Grows

This year’s National Park and Recreation Month’s theme is “Where Community Grows, aimed at celebrating the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services, and fostering the growth of our communities,” - NRPA. The best way to honor Dickinson County’s park and recreation professionals is by letting them know their work does not go unnoticed for the county to have clean, safe, and welcoming parks and recreational facilities. A few ideas to show them they are celebrated:

• Visit for 30 minutes or longer
• Donate bottled water or fresh fruit bowls
• Share positive reviews and thanks on social media
• Volunteer to assist for an hour or longer 

Dickinson County Parks and Recreation

Parks and recreation strengthens community bonds. Dickinson County has many outdoor spaces and indoor places where residents, visitors, and guests can be active with friends and family. Create new memories when you visit one of our parks, recreational facilities, or organizations overseeing parks and recreation: 

• Walt’s Four Seasons Campground - Check out their new pool, putt-putt golf, playground, and fishing pond
• DK Sports & Fitness - Chapman’s state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center and baseball/softball training facility. New bootcamp starting this month!
• Impact Sports & Fitness - Includes a great selection of group classes including spin, boxmaster and mixxedfit, led by six nationally certified personal trainers 
• Abilene Golf & Fitness - Newly renovated 24-hour fitness center and 9-hold golf course that just celebrated its grand opening July 1st
• Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad - Enjoy an open-air car ride or dine aboard one of the dinner trains
• Herington Disc Golf Course - Located inside of Father Padilla Memorial Park
• Brown Memorial Park Disc Golf Course - Redesigned by professional disc golf world champion Eric McCabe in 2021, from a 9-hole course to an 18-hole disc golf course open to the public
• Chapman Creek Family Disc Golf Course - Another great course in Dickinson County’s growing disc golf popularity. All are welcome to play with the county-wide Wild Bill Disc Golf Club
• Abilene Parks and Recreation - Offers a wide selection of programs for both young and old, including the Abilene Athletics Academy youth volleyball and basketball, and the increasingly popular pickle ball league
• Chapman Parks and Recreation - Committed to teaching life skills through sports and activities 
• Solomon Parks and Recreation - Beautiful parks for sports or nature enthusiasts, and children
• Enterprise Recreation Commission - Check their Facebook Group for upcoming activities and events
• Endzone RV Park - All rates include water, sewer, and electric 
• Indian Hill Golf Course in Chapman - A fantastic 9-hole city-owned public golf course

Whether it’s a park or a recreational facility, be sure to stop by during the month of July and beyond, and thank your local park and recreation professional. They are the unsung heroes of the outdoors in our community.