June has been declared Recreation and Parks Month in the city by Yorkton Council.
“For over a decade, the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA), along with many other Recreation Associations, have been promoting June as Recreation & Parks Month, a program that the City of Yorkton has been aligned with for many years,” Taylor Morrison, Recreation Services Co-ordinator told the regular meeting of Council Monday. “June is the time to celebrate the return of summer programming, gather residents together, get children involved in fun outdoor physical activities and recognize employees and volunteers who contribute to the recreation and parks opportunities we all use. By proclaiming June as Recreation & Parks Month, Yorkton will be acknowledging the contributions that recreational activities, facilities, and parks make to the overall quality of life here in Saskatchewan.”
A report circulated to Council Monday noted there are many personal, economic, social and ecological benefits to participating in recreational and parks pursuits, including:
• Recreation and active living significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, helps combat osteoporosis, reduce diabetes and prevent site-specific cancers.
• Recreation provides connections through trusting networks and provides access to mentors, role models and job contracts.
• Recreation events and parks are attractions that draw tourists to the community.
• Parks and green spaces reduce the risk of erosion and improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other air pollutants.
The Community Development, Parks & Recreation department has several activities planned for the first month of summer:
• The grand opening of Yorkton’s dog park, Wiggly Field (June 7)
• Park Party at Drake Field (June 17)
• Park Party at Heritage Heights (June 24)
• The Start of the S-CAPE Summer Program
• Yorkton In Bloom Yard and Garden Competition.
