By Heather Wood

Summer is here, which means it is time to get out and discover the great things happening at your local parks and recreation center. Throughout July, explore the “undiscovered” roles of local parks and recreational activities with Kernersville Parks and Recreation as they celebrate Park and Recreation Month, A Lifetime of Discovery. This initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), offers a variety of fun activities planned for Kernersville residents of all ages and abilities.

Playgrounds, recreation centers, sport leagues, and summer camps are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of parks and recreation. However, parks and recreation is so much more than that. During this initiative, uncover all the ways parks and recreation can improve quality of life, athletic leisure, senior programs, innovative health and wellness opportunities, community celebrations, outdoor education, maintenance and more!

Ernie Pages, Parks and Recreation Director, stated “Our department strives to provide opportunities for our citizens to have wonderful experiences. That translates to: providing wonderful programming promoting personal enrichment, planning and implementing improved community inclusion, and the preservation of local resources.”

Kernersville Parks and Recreation will celebrate Park and Recreation Month by participating in a Summer Camp Dance Off. This July, Kernersville Parks and Recreation will compete with thousands of summer camp participants across the country to show off our dance moves. We will learn the official Park and Recreation Month Summer Camp Dance and share a video of our campers and staff groovin’ to the beat. Be sure to follow us on Facebook as we share and invite you to be part of the fun!

Also, join us on Tuesday, July 24 from 11am-1pm in Fourth of July Park as we Discover July! Spend your lunch break in the park while munching on a boxed lunch from Chick-fil-A and cool off with Kona Ice, all while learning about the programs and events we offer. This event is a chance to express all the great things that we provide to our community. It is also an opportunity to show our residents that a lifetime of discovery awaits at their local parks and recreation center.

Another great way to discover a hidden gem in Kernersville is to grab the family, hop in the car, and head to the park for our July Movies in the Park Series! You are invited to a movie under the stars on Friday, July 20 in Harmon Park at dusk. Our featured presentation will be Paddington 2. Arrive early to claim your spot and enjoy food trucks, games/activities, vendors and more!

Do not forget to celebrate Parks and Recreation month while wearing your stars and stripes to this year’s Splash B4 the Blast on July 4 at the Kernersville YMCA Slide Pool and Waterpark. Join Kernersville Parks and Recreation between noon and 2pm for free giveaways and hotdogs (while supplies last)! Later, bring a blanket, friends, and family and head to Kernersville Elementary School to watch the sky light up in a spectacular display of our great nation’s independence! Fireworks will begin around 9:15pm and can be seen at many locations in Kernersville.

NRPA encourages our supporters to share why they think it is important to explore and discover all Kernersville Parks and Recreation has to offer with the hashtag #DiscoverJuly.

Kernersville Parks and Recreation is a nationally accredited agency in the Heart of the Triad. The department has become an integral component of the community by following its Mission Statement. KPRD maintains and manages ten parks as well as several local landmarks. In addition, we also provide events and programs to the citizens of Kernersville throughout the year. Parks and Recreation improves Kernersville citizens’ quality of life through our services. Our special events and athletic tournament complexes have placed Kernersville as a major tourist attraction in Forsyth County. This accounts for economic development, better business vitality, and hotel occupancies.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation, and social equality. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives, and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks and Recreation, visit www.parksandrecration.org.

Summer Activities:
– Tai Chi – Tuesday/Thursday (Senior Enrichment Center) 8:30-9:30am
– Yoga in the Park – Tuesdays (Harmon Park) 6pm
– Beginner & Intermediate Shag & Ballroom Dance Lessons – Mondays/Thursdays (Kernersville Community Center) 7-9pm
– Zumba – Wednesdays (Kernersville Community Center) 6pm
– Movies in the Park – July 20 (Harmon Park) at dusk
– Storytime in the Park – July 7 (Fourth of July Park) 10am
– Splash B4 The Blast – July 4 (Kernersville YMCA) 12-2pm
– Crews Control Basketball Camp – July 23-27 (Kernersville Community Center) 9am-12pm
– Drama Kids Acting Academy-Summer Camp – July 9-13 (Kernersville Community House) 9am-3pm