DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon’s annual proclamation for July being Parks and Recreation Month has mostly gone quietly by because of the huge fanfare of our fireworks show but this year, our parks are being utilized more than ever because they are the place residents could go to enjoy nature without leaving town. It’s time to laud our Dixon parks as well as the people behind the scenes who make our community a better place to live, work and play.

“Whether people are new to Dixon or established, they want a quality life, and parks are part of their quality of life,” said City of Dixon Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jocie Bair. “In our parks, they can walk, let their children run, play soccer, and bring families together.”

Parks benefit everyone in the community according to the National Parks and Recreation Association. They benefit the economy. They provide important habitats for many animals. They help environmentally because unpaved ground absorbs water. Trees and grass are a far more efficient—and less expensive—method of managing storm water than sewers and drainage ditches made of concrete. They also reduce urban heat thanks to large trees and vegetation.

Community centers or parks help neighborhood residents to interact with each other and meet new people like they do at a concert, farmers market or picnic. Parks also reduce crime by giving a safe place for youth to play like they do at Northwest Park basketball courts.

Our parks aided in mental health due to Pandemic anxiety since direct exposure to nature has its own benefits on reducing stress and increasing happiness. These benefits are felt almost immediately.

Parks also give a place for physical activity and since gyms were closed until recently, we saw so many people walking the winding paths for their daily exercise.

Being outside and playing in nature is important for children, too. Regular time in nature improves the child’s ability to learn and reduces symptoms of ADHD, training the brain to focus better. Children who spend a significant amount of time in nature also experience better emotional stability and improved mental health, according to the NRPA that also reported since March, participation in outdoor recreation activities has “skyrocketed.”

Even animals benefit. As cities grow, more and more of these animals find themselves without homes but parks provide a safe place for many of those displaced by urban sprawl.

Our parks are: Cornejo Park on Gill Drive and Wiegand Way, Linear Path from Regency Parkway to North Lincoln Street, Northwest Park on West H Street, Patwin Park on Pheasant Run Drive, Veteran’s Park on Valley Glen Drive, and Women’s Improvement Club Park on North First Street. A variety of options are available at each one including basketball, Bocce ball, tennis, soccer, baseball, softball, swimming, exercise paths with equipment, even a dog park.

The Senior Multi-Use Center is also part of Parks and Recreation where a variety of classes and events occur at minimal cost to residents.

Don't forget to mark July 17 as Park and Recreation Professionals Day and thank a park worker!

NRPA encourages people that support parks and recreation to share their park and recreation story, as well as why their local park and recreation professionals are important to them, with the hashtag #WeAreParksAndRec. 

NRPA also encourages people to get creative throughout the month by participating in the Thank a Park and Rec Pro contest. Film a video thanking a park and recreation professional in your community for the services they provide and post it on social media using the hashtag #ThankAParkAndRecPro for a chance to win prizes throughout July.