City marks Parks & Rec month with photo contest

Yuma is joining the National Recreation and Park Association movement in inviting all residents to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month in Yuma this July, and Parks and Rec is asking for help from residents.

In addition to hosting a variety of fun events for residents of all ages in July, Parks and Rec is launching a social mediadriven photo sharing contest encouraging residents to “show us how you get your #PlayOnYuma.”

Residents are encouraged to share photos and stories on Facebook and Twitter showing how they “get their play on.”

Each entry can be submitted with the hashtag #PlayOnYuma between July 1 and July 31. Photos will be reviewed by staff in the first two weeks of August, and winning entries will be showcased on the wall in the City Hall corridor leading to the Parks and Rec counter for visitors to see how fun Yuma can be.

Residents who wish to submit an entry via email rather than using a hashtag on social media can do so by sending their photos/ story of how they get their #PlayOnYuma to parksandrec@yumaaz.gov.

Parks and Rec also encourages residents who support parks and recreation activities to share why they feel playing is important by using the NRPA’s hashtag #PlayOnJuly.

“The purpose and objective of the City Parks and Recreation Department is to provide year-round wholesome fun and enriching quality of life experiences for residents of all ages and abilities,” Parks and Recreation Director Debbie Wendt said. “A recreation parks program should create a sense of worth and belonging for a community and provide programs and events that promote the spirit of fun, help preserve the past, provide for the present, and plan for the future.”

Some of the activities and events planned for the “Get Your Play On” July calendar include: Back to School Rodeo; Children’s Museum of Yuma County exhibit in the Yuma Art Center; and Infinite Imagination Youth Theater Production of “Into the Woods.”

To learn more about Parks and Recreation Month, visit the Yuma Parks and Recreation Department Facebook event page by searching @yumaparksandrec.