WHEREAS, parks and recreation are an integral part of communities throughout this country, including the City of Costa Mesa; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation promote health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who live near parks; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa operates and maintains 30 different parks; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation promote time spent in nature, which positively impacts mental health by increasing cognitive performance and well-being and alleviating illnesses such as depression, attention deficit disorders, and Alzheimer’s; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation encourage physical activities by providing space for popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities designed to promote active lifestyles; and WHEREAS, park and recreation programming and education activities, such as out-of-school time programming, youth sports, and environmental education, are critical to childhood development; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation increase a community’s economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of the local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and crime reduction; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation are fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation are essential and adaptable infrastructure that makes our communities resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change; and WHEREAS, our parks and natural recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty of our community and provide a place for children and adults to connect with nature and recreate outdoors; and WHEREAS, The California Park & Recreation Society has released a statewide public awareness campaign, “Parks Make Life Better! ®,” to inform citizens of the many benefits of utilizing parks, facilities, programs, and services; now, therefore, be it resolved that the citizens of California recognize the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health, wellness, development, inspiration, and safety of all Californians; and WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an official resolution for Parks and Recreation Month in 2009 and introduced the resolution in 2017 and 2018.; and WHEREAS, the City of Costa Mesa recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby proclaim the month of July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month and recognize the importance of access to local parks, trails, open spaces, programs, and facilities for the health, wellness, development, inspiration, and safety of all Costa Mesa residents.
DATED this 18th day of July 2023.
________________________________________________________ John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa