July celebrates National Parks & Recreation Month
One of the extraordinary advantages of living in the United States is our National Park System. When Yellowstone was designated a national park in 1872, it became the first such park in the world. While Yellowstone became the first national park, the National Park Service was not established until 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created it.
According to the Library of Congress, “It is no coincidence that the first national park was explored and established in the same decade that saw publication of a great variety of articles and books about nature and wilderness. Several of the writers associated with the national park movement, including Clarence Dutton, Ferdinand V. Hayden, Clarence King, Nathaniel P. Langford, John Muir and John Wesley Powell, described the spectacular scenery of the western United States.”
In that rich vein, July is the month set aside to celebrate our parks.
San Marcos boasts a strong system of accessible, well-developed and well-maintained parks for its residents.
“Our city parks are vital spaces where community comes to life — not just through beautiful green spaces, but also through the programs and events that bring people together,” Jessica Ramos, Assistant Director of San Marcos Parks and Recreation, said. “Our community is fortunate to have so many wonderful parks and people that support recreation, connection and a vibrant quality of life.”
According to the Trust for Public Land website, 59% of San Marcos residents live within a ten minute’s walk to a park. San Marcos has 28 parks with over 450 acres of dedicated park land, trails and natural areas. This includes river/regional parks and neighborhood parks. In addition, the City of San Marcos manages other areas of dedicated parkland throughout the community.
San Marcos Parks & Recreation staff offer a variety of park activities all year round. From the Summer in the Park concert series on the Plaza Park stage to Party in Your Park at various neighborhood parks around the city, San Marcos residents have plenty of reasons to celebrate National Parks & Recreation Month.
Looking for more information about the parks near you? Check the City of San Marcos website for a list of parks and natural areas, as well as amenities, hours of operation and rules: sanmarcostx.gov/3878/ Parks-Recreation.
You can also find more about SMPARD programming on their Facebook page at facebook.com/SMTXParksandRec. Go Parks!
