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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">1 S Seventh Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">July 1, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Tammy Miller
<br />Marketing Specialist
<br />Community Relations/Parks and Recreation
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7465
<br />Tammy.Miller@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia celebrates July as Parks and Recreation Month</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">Celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with Columbia Parks and Recreation this July. The month has been designated as such by the U.S. House of Representatives and the National Recreation and Park Association. Parks and Recreation Month was created to celebrate the value that parks and recreation brings to the community. Parks and recreation agencies not only provide places to get active, explore nature and come together as a community; they also have the power to improve health, increase property values and protect the environment.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The City of Columbia is joining the nationwide endeavor, and Columbia Mayor Brian Treece signed a proclamation commemorating July as Parks and Recreation Month, which reads:<br /><br /></p>
<p>"WHEREAS, parks and recreation programs are an integral part of communities all over the country, particularly in the time of the current COVID-19 pandemic; and<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department is important to maintaining a high quality of life in our community, improving the health of our citizens, and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of Columbia; and <br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, parks and recreation programs and facilities build healthy, active communities that aid in the prevention of chronic disease, provide therapeutic recreation services for those who are mentally or physically disabled, and also improve the mental and emotional health of all citizens; and<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, parks and recreation programs 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<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, parks and recreation areas are fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community; and<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, parks and natural recreation areas improve water quality, protect groundwater, prevent flooding, improve air quality, provide vegetative buffers to development, and produce habitat for wildlife; and<br /><br /></p>
<p>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<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, Columbia Parks and Recreation is committed to providing safe, fun and accessible parks, trails, recreational facilities and leisure opportunities for all Columbia citizens; and<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives has designated July as Parks and Recreation Month; and<br /><br /></p>
<p>WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Department helps make Columbia the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play;<br /><br /></p>
<p>NOW THEREFORE, I, Brian Treece, Mayor of the City of Columbia, do hereby proclaim July, 2020 as<br /><br /></p>
<p>PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH</p>
<p>In the City of Columbia, Missouri." </p>
<p>To learn more about Parks and Recreation Month, visit CoMo.gov/ParksandRec/July-Parks-Recreation-Month.</p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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