July is national Park and Recreation Month; enjoy it Hoosier style

Indiana DNR Release:

Indiana is celebrating national Park and Recreation Month this month by offering great outdoor places to play for people of all ages and capabilities throughout the state.

Hoosiers are invited to make their way to any state park to camp, hike, swim, fish, picnic, birdwatch and enjoy the outdoors. For a unique state park experience, take a swing at Fort Harrison’s golf course, mountain bike at Brown County or Versailles, ride horses at one of our saddle barns, climb ladders on the trails at Turkey Run and Shades, or twist and turn down the waterslide at O’Bannon Woods.

Several out-of-the-ordinary events take place throughout July in Indiana’s state parks and reservoirs, including “Dog Days” at Brown County and Raccoon State Recreation Area, a sand-sculpture building contest at Indiana Dunes, tomahawk throwing at Monroe Lake, Gus Grissom Day at Spring Mill, Winter in July at Potato Creek, The Vietnam Experience re-enactment at Fort Harrison, panning for gold at Salamonie’s summer day camp, and the annual reunion of Civilian Conservation Corps Company 556 at Pokagon.

Get more details of these and many other outdoor activities at www.interpretiveservices.IN.gov. To find out more about healthy ways to enjoy state parks and reservoirs, visit www.dnr.IN.gov/healthy.

Indiana's 24 state parks and nine reservoirs are managed by DNR's Division of State Parks and Reservoirs. The division's mission is to manage and interpret the properties’ unique natural, wildlife, and cultural resources using the principles of multiple use and preservation, while sustaining the integrity of these resources for current and future generations. Learn more about Indiana's state parks and reservoirs at www.stateparks.IN.gov.

There are many city and county parks in Indiana where you can find great ways to spend time outside as well. Check with your local government for more information.

Each July since 1985, the United States has celebrated Park and Recreation Month. This year’s theme is Celebrate, Advocate, Recreate! along with reminding local decision makers and the community of the exciting and vital role that parks and recreation play in the lives of Americans. To see information about the value of parks to communities, visit http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/files/sp-Parks_and_Recreation_Fact_Sheet_2010.pdf.

Park and Recreation Month is a program of the National Recreation and Park Association. For more information, go to www.nrpa.org/july.