PROCLAMATION
RECOGNIZING JULY 2023 AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH IN THE CITY OF HERCULES WHEREAS, parks and recreation is an integral part of communities throughout this country, including the City of Hercules; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation promotes health and wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who live near parks; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation promotes 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 Alzheimers; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation encourages physical activities by providing space for popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools and many other activities designed to promote active lifestyles; and WHEREAS, parks and recreation is a leading provider of healthy meals, nutrition services and education; 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 increases 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 is fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community; and WHEREAS parks and recreation is 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, hundreds of children, adults and seniors benefit from the wide range of services, facilities and programs provided by the Hercules Parks and Recreation Department; and WHEREAS, the Hercules Parks and Recreation Department has a reputation of providing outstanding programs and customer service to the community and many residents have and continue to rely on those programs as a means of enriching their lives and developing life-long skills; and WHEREAS, with extremely limited resources, Parks and Recreation Director Christopher Roke and his staff continue to offer high quality programs while at the same time reducing the Department’s impact to the General Fund; and WHEREAS, the City of Hercules recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Alex Walker-Griffin, Mayor of the City of Hercules, on behalf of the entire City Council, do hereby recognize July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month in the City of Hercules and, in doing so, encourage all residents to use and enjoy our parks and recreational opportunities.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the City of Hercules to be affixed this 27th day of June 2023.
Alex Walker-Griffin, Mayor