City, County and Town Managers know that an active Parks and Rec Department is central to having a well-run community. The folks at the National Parks and Recreation Association declared the Month of July “National Parks and Recreation Month” and offer a toolkit for communities.  The Association says, “On any given day, someone is being positively affected through parks and recreation – whether they are taking a walk on a trail or fitness class at the community center, getting a nutritious meal or just reaping the benefits of clean air and water because of preserved open space.”

You won’t get an argument from San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley who nominated Maria Villagomez the assistant city manager responsible for overseeing the city’s parks as one of our community heroes. If you haven’t, check out her video. Same goes for Darin Atteberry, city manager of Fort Collins, CO who nominated Peter Robertson one of the city’s parks and grounds technicians as a community hero.

Throughout our success story map, you can find lots of examples of CAOs who have made delivering outstanding recreational experiences to residents a top priority in their communities. One of our favorites is Savannah, TN where then Assistant City Manager C. Seth Sumner helped to create an award-winning park in the heart of the city, bringing residents and business back to the area.

Life, Well Run salutes the thousands of community heroes who bring us parks and rec–our community gathering places.