Fort Collins proclaims July 2026 as Park and Recreation Month

Mayor Emily Francis proclaimed July 2026 as Park and Recreation Month during Fort Collins City Council’s 5 p.m. proclamations session Tuesday, describing parks and recreation as a public good linked to health, youth programming, environmental resilience and the local economy.

Reading the proclamation, Francis said parks and recreation improve physical and mental health, provide space for sports, hiking and swimming, support childhood development through programs such as camps and youth sports, and help strengthen the community through tourism, business attraction and climate resilience. She formally recognized July 2026 as Park and Recreation Month during the proclamation portion of the meeting.

A speaker identified as chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board used the acceptance remarks to tie the designation to residents’ everyday experiences in Fort Collins. The speaker asked people to think about a favorite local memory, mentioning places and activities including a walk along the Poudre Trail, resting under a tree in City Park, visiting butterflies at the gardens, playing at the Aslan Center, Scrabble at Collindale and learning the history of Grandview.

Those experiences, the chair said, “don’t happen by accident.” The speaker described parks and recreation spaces as among the few places where people can simply exist without needing to pay to be there, and said those spaces are sustained by residents’ support, city staff and departments that plan, maintain and equip them. The chair also thanked voters who, the speaker said, had backed “something like the 2050 Tax or CCIP or any of the other things” that support parks and recreation work.