On Friday, October 2, the Macon-Bibb County Parks & Recreation Department will hold several activities at Central City Park in recognition of the national Visit a Park Day.

“We want people to take the time Friday evening to visit any one of Macon-Bibb County’s 128 parks,” says Dominique Lewis. “Parks are central locations in our community for people to come together and enjoy family-oriented activities, and we will be providing that chance in Central City Park, as well as a way to make our community greener through recycling.”

Beginning at 6:15 p.m., the Department will be collecting people’s recyclables in bins at the recently renovated Round Building. At 6:30 p.m., a free Zumba class will be offered next to the former Georgia State Fair building, and the movie Annie will be shown in the nearby field beginning at 7:45 p.m. Food and drink will be for sale during the event, and families can bring their own food. No alcohol will be allowed.

“We are continually seeking new ways to bring people together in our many parks,” says Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert. “On Visit a Park Day, we have a chance to improve neighborhoods and people’s health while offering a relaxing Friday evening activity. Even though this is officially celebrated one day a year, I want to encourage people to use the entire year to see what parks and activities we have to offer throughout the county.”

Increasing the amount of greenspace in our community and improving our current parks is part of the Quality of Life Focus Area of Macon-Bibb County’s Forward Together Strategic Plan. That Area says “Macon-Bibb County will support, encourage, and promote good-living in Macon-Bibb with arts and cultural events, tourism improvements, social and night life opportunities, and a community-wide system of passive and active parks.”

To stay up to date with information about the Parks and Recreation Department, including updates about this event due to weather conditions, like their page on Facebook by clicking here.

About Visit a Park Day
(Source: National Recreation and Park Association)

Visit a Park Day is organized by the Young Professionals Network  along with the National Recreation and Park Association as a way to encourage people everywhere to take a few minutes to visit a local, state, regional or national park to experience the benefits and to inspire many return visits.

A visit could simply include going for a walk or run, having a picnic, spotting wildlife, or taking part in a great park and recreation program you’ve never tried before.

During this day, park and recreation departments can share with their communities the benefits they provide and how they are critical to conservation efforts, improving health and wellness and connecting and serving all people in the community.

While there is a long list of benefits, here are four (in no particular order):

Parks and recreation attract businesses
Parks and recreation are critical to enhancing quality of life. Quality of life is a top priority to CEO’s when relocating businesses.

Parks and recreation increase property values
Numerous reports have shown that when parks are nearby property values increase and not only that, parks help attract tourism and can help increase local tax revenues.

Parks and recreation help improve public health
Parks and recreation support higher activity levels and aid in the reduction of obesity rates leading to reduced healthcare costs too.

Parks and recreation protect natural resources
They are an important way to promote and enable conservation from reducing storm water runoff to aiding in cooling urban areas. Parks and recreation are also educating communities, especially younger generations, on the importance of conservation and stewardship.

About the Forward Together Strategic Plan
In January 2014, Macon-Bibb County began working with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop the first Forward Together Strategic Plan. This process lasted more than a year and involved multiple retreats, work sessions, and meetings with department heads, organizations, and stakeholders. The planning process was funded with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and in September 2015, the City-County Communications & Marketing Association awarded Macon-Bibb County with a Silver Circle Award for the Plan.

This process helped develop the consolidated government’s new Mission and Vision statements, as well as identify five Strategic Focus areas that are helping focus service delivery, programs, and initiatives: Economic and Community Development; Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Communities; Efficient and Effective Government; Infrastructure Improvement; and Quality of Life.

The new Strategic Plan was the driving force behind the development of the proposed FY2016 budget, which included full implementation of the new pay scale, elimination of double taxation, and a capital improvement program focused on strategic projects.