Park and Recreation Month Proclamation - 2026-SIGNED

PROCLAMATION

Designation of July as Park and Recreation Month

WHEREAS, parks and recreation are an integral part of communities throughout this country, including the
Town of Fountain Hills; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation promote health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of
people who live near parks; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation promote time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health by
increasing cognitive performance and well-being, and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention
deficit disorders, and Alzheimer's; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation encourage physical activities by providing space for popular sports, hiking
trails, and many other activities designed to promote active lifestyles; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation is a leading provider of healthy meals, nutrition services, and education;
and

WHEREAS, park and recreation programming and education activities, such as out-of-school time
programming, youth sports, and environmental education, are critical to childhood development; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation increase a community's economic prosperity through increased property
values, expansion of the local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and
crime reduction; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation are fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community; and

WHEREAS, parks and recreation are essential and adaptable infrastructure that make our communities
resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change; and

WHEREAS, our parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of our community and
provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives has designated July as Parks and Recreation Month; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Fountain Hills recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mayor Gerry Friedel, together with the Town Council of the Town of Fountain Hills,
Arizona, do hereby recognize July as

PARK AND RECREATION MONTH
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, | have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the Town of

Fountain Hills, Arizona, this 16" day of June 2026.

Gerry M. FHledel, Mayor

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