By Heather Wood

Kernersville Parks and Recreation’s mission is to provide quality of life for our citizens.  Parks are important elements in our town and serve many different purposes.  Some have specialized amenities and some are perfect for providing visual appeal.  Whatever their purpose, they act to define the shape and feel of our town and its neighborhoods.  They are also a purposeful and conscious tool for revitalization.  Parks provide intrinsic environmental, aesthetic, and recreational benefits to users.  Additionally, they are a fantastic source of economic benefits to local businesses.  Parks are often the source that drives tourism in many communities.  Park sport complexes garner revenue for the community, as many times they result in overnight stays in town, patronage for restaurants, retail stores, and gas station purchases, etc. The Town of Kernersville now hosts softball, soccer, lacrosse, cross country, and baseball tournaments in Parks and Recreation facilities!  

People value the time they spend in their local parks, whether they are walking a dog, playing basketball, or simply enjoying a picnic.  Along with these amenities and activities, parks can also provide measurable health benefits as well.  Providing our community with direct contact with nature, a cleaner environment, and opportunities for physical activity and social interaction is immensely beneficial.  Many children do not learn effectively/exclusively in a classroom setting.  They need alternative, hands-on learning environments to match their varied learning styles.  Parks can help.  They are inherently attractive to children because they permit escape from the structure of daily life.

The Kernersville Parks and Recreation Department takes pride in offering beautiful and well-maintained parks for our citizens.  Kernersville parks provide a place for citizens to gather for festivals, as well as public and private events.  Our parks are used to host weddings, company picnics, family reunions, non-profit fund raisers, and a wide range of other special events.

Folks visiting Harmon Park on Friday evening, June 17, can enjoy the open green space and playground while waiting for an outdoor movie to start at dusk!  Join us Friday, June 17 for games, food trucks, face painting, goodie bags, and our featured presentation, Avengers, the Age of Ultron.  Our Movies in the Park series are FREE events made possible with the help of our local community sponsors.  Be sure to stop by their booths the night of the event to thank them for their continued support!

Kernersville Parks and Recreation also fosters strong community relationships.  Through joint partnerships we are able to offer more opportunities to our citizens.  The Kernersville Parks and Recreation and the Kernersville YMCA will start our Fourth of July holiday off right at the Kernersville Community Pool and Water Park!  Join us for plentiful sunshine, swimming, giveaways, and best of all… FREE hotdogs (while supplies last) from 12:00-2:00 p.m.!  Please contact Kernersville YMCA for fees associated with this event.

Later that evening, the Town of Kernersville and the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce will host the Annual Fourth of July Fireworks show!  Bring your lawn chair, blanket, family, and friends to the Kernersville Raiders Football field for a free Independence Day celebration with live music starting at 6:30 p.m.  The sky will light up around 9 p.m. in a spectacular display of our great nation’s independence.  

Last month, The Town of Kernersville launched a redesigned town website in an effort to enhance online transparency and to create a more user-friendly site for our residents, businesses, and visitors.  The Town website now offers the ability for Kernersville Parks and Recreation to have their own tab and a link to their new site.  Our website, www.toknc.com/pr,features enhanced functionality as well as a cleaner, easier layout to navigate.  In addition, the website uses a responsive design, which allows for easy viewing no matter what device.  The new design allows for easy access to local parks, reservations, programs, athletic registration, and community events. Visit www.toknc.com/pr today!