Launched in 1985, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Park and Recreation Month!

Every July, communities across the United States celebrate Park and Recreation Month — a time to honor the people and places that make our neighborhoods healthier, safer, and more connected. For 40 years, Park and Recreation Month has lifted up the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — plus thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — who help care for our country’s local, state, and community parks.

Here in Philadelphia, our parks and recreation system is one of the largest in the nation. Each year, our public parks, trails, playgrounds, pools, and recreation centers welcome millions of visitors. These spaces give residents places to play, exercise, gather, and relax — all while helping keep our city greener, healthier, and stronger.

This year’s national theme, Build Together, Play Together, reminds us that parks and recreation services are more than just spaces — they’re community cornerstones. Together, we build and maintain accessible, inclusive, and sustainable spaces that deliver real benefits for families, neighbors, and neighborhoods.

Park and Recreation Month is also a time to celebrate the programs that help communities thrive. From youth sports leagues and after-school activities to nature walks, summer camps, and cultural events, our city’s recreation centers and parks create countless opportunities for residents of all ages to connect, grow, and enjoy meaningful experiences.

Elisa Ruse-Esposito, Park Stewardship Administrator, shared her appreciation9 for our dedicated Park Friends Groups and volunteers:  “Volunteers have always been a vital part of our Parks & Rec family. Your dedication is the foundation of everything we do, and during the challenging times, your hard work and support mean more than ever. Thank you for showing up for Philly.”

Through the hard work of park and recreation professionals, Philadelphia continues to expand green spaces, plant more trees, maintain safe playgrounds, and offer affordable programming that enriches lives. Each playground swing, basketball court, community garden, and hiking trail is a testament to what we can do when we invest in our shared spaces and come together to care for them.

This July, we invite everyone to celebrate by getting outside, enjoying your local park or recreation center, and sharing what these spaces mean to you. Whether you’re attending a free community event, cooling off at a city pool, tending a community garden, or playing with your family at a local playground — take a moment to appreciate the people and places that make it all possible.

Join the national conversation and show how parks and recreation help your community Build Together, Play Together by using #BuildTogetherPlayTogether in your posts and photos.

Together, we can honor our park and recreation professionals, support our union workers, and continue building a stronger, greener Philadelphia — for everyone.

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton, middle, leads a team huddle group cheer during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Former Butler boys basketball star Ethan Morton hosted three days of youth basketball camps at his old stomping grounds, offering kids in grades 3-8 a chance to learn skills from a former NCAA Division I player.

Morton, who graduated from Colorado State in the spring and spent four years at Purdue, held his second annual youth camp at Butler High School Monday through Wednesday.

Related Article: Former Butler basketball star Ethan Morton paying it forward with youth camp. Here’s what to know

Related Article: Meet the Butler Eagle’s Top 25 male athletes of Butler County between 2000 and 2025, ranked 1-25

Gino Savannah takes a shot during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Gino Savannah, right, passes the ball during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton talks with campers during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Chase Hutchison, left, and Jaxson Cook practice hoop shots during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Miles Hunt and Ryan Banko try and make a basket during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Miles Hunt dribbles the ball during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Conner Hohn takes a shot during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Nate Gilkey, right, helps Ethan Morton, middle, with a demonstration during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Noah McCormick with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Connor Hohn with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Connor Hohn with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton, middle, leads a team huddle group cheer during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Gino Savannah, left, Jace Sanders and during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Noah McCormick with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Colton Franklin, right, tries to block a pass by Noah McCormick during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

• 

  Gino Savannah takes a shot during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Gino Savannah, right, passes the ball during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton talks with campers during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Chase Hutchison, left, and Jaxson Cook practice hoop shots during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Miles Hunt and Ryan Banko try and make a basket during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Miles Hunt dribbles the ball during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Conner Hohn takes a shot during Ethan Morton’s basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Nate Gilkey, right, helps Ethan Morton, middle, with a demonstration during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Noah McCormick with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Connor Hohn with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Connor Hohn with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton, middle, leads a team huddle group cheer during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Gino Savannah, left, Jace Sanders and during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Butler native and former Colorado State basketball player Ethan Morton helps Noah McCormick with his defense during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

• 

  Colton Franklin, right, tries to block a pass by Noah McCormick during a basketball camp on Monday July 14, 2025, at Butler High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

  Rob McGraw

HARRISBURG — Even when the red carpet was rolled out for Micah Parsons in the form of a high school jersey retirement, the former Harrisburg cougar, Nittany Lion and Dallas Cowboys superstar made Tuesday all about the kids.

Returning to his alma mater for the third annual Lions Den Football Camp and Charity Carnival at Harrisburg High School’s Severance Field, the NFL edge rusher who starred for the Cougars in 2016 and 2017, threw together another day filled with quality coaching, group photos, swag, food trucks and more.

The event was once again free to the public, and with 300 registrations for his youth football camp — and another 50 for sister Shatara’s girls basketball camp, a new addition this year — it was a day well spent for the community Parsons still calls home.

“It means a lot because we’re having success, we’re doing it the right way. We’re just hoping to have continued success and continuous impact with the kids, and that means more,” Parsons said. “You see a lot of these kids who were here last year and it’s like, ‘Oy yeah’ and they just keep getting better and better.”

Parsons picked up his fourth Pro Bowl nod this season since his explosive NFL debut as the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end is coming off a 43-tackle (30 solo), 12-sack campaign in which he also forced two fumbles and had a pass defense.

He was also in the company of Donte Kent, a fellow Harrisburg alum who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft, at Tuesday’s camp.

“This is where I’m from. I’ll say it later during my little speech I have to give, it takes a village. It takes me, it takes their parents, it takes these coaches, the high school kids, they look up to all of us,” Parsons said. “I remember when I was in sixth grade and I used to watch Zayd Issah, Drew Scales, Zack Kuntz, those guys and I was at those Friday night lights camps and I was like, ‘Bruh, I can’t wait to be just like them.

“Just to be in this position, I know (the kids) are thinking the same thing and giving them something to look at and reason to be out here and be active and showing them resilience.”

With kids of various age groups donning No. 11 Cowboys jerseys, navy blue Penn State gear matching the man of the hour himself, and even a splash of No. 23 for Parsons’ varsity kit, the ripple effect he’s left since graduation — Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, two First-team All-Pro selections and poised to potentially be the highest paid defender in the NFL — has never been stronger.

That was apparent as early as 7 a.m. when Parsons worked out with dozens of Harrisburg-area high school, college and NFL players at Reservoir Park alongside Susquehanna Township Athletic Director Lance Deane, Parsons’ personal trainer.

Harrisburg athletic director and head football coach Calvin Everett, who’s been coaching the Cougars since 2011, oversaw Parsons when he was the PennLive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons after transferring in from Central Dauphin. To see one of his former players achieve national stardom and make the effort each summer to give back to his own, is an invaluable tradition from Everett’s lens.

“It’s great for Micah to come back and show love back to the community. It’s just good for our community and our program, we all love and appreciate Micah,” Everett said. “It’s inspiration, that’s the biggest thing. I hope that they’re all inspired by everything that’s going on right here. This whole atmosphere is awesome. It’s positive, everyone’s excited, so that’s the biggest thing.”

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

— Follow Evan Wheaton on X/Twitter @EvanWheaton

©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Copyright 2025 Tribune Content Agency.

Former Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, who was arrested on domestic violence charges in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 12, canceled his youth football camp at a suburban Cleveland high school “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

15 July 2025 – With three years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the LA28 Olympic Games, the Organising Committee has offered a first look at the competition schedule. In parallel, a major legacy milestone was celebrated as the PlayLA youth sports programme surpassed one million enrolments, delivering long-term benefits to local communities well ahead of the Games.

To celebrate the milestone, LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover yesterday joined Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles’ Recreation and Parks in an event at the LA Memorial Coliseum, which brought together 700 children and young people taking part in the PlayLA programme for a day of free sports activities workshops and community engagement. Some of LA’s professional sports teams and local organisations, national sports federations, LA28 partners and a host of Olympians and Paralympians were also involved.

The IOC and LA28 have invested up to USD 160 million in PlayLA, a programme that provides access to quality, inclusive and affordable Olympic and Paralympic sports to children aged 3 to 17. Offerings span over 40 sports, including athletics, aquatics, boxing, flag football, judo, para surfing and adaptive swimming. With one million registrations, PlayLA is already serving as a lasting Olympic legacy by promoting healthy lifestyles, expanding access to sport, and inspiring future generations of athletes and citizens.

We couldn’t be more excited to mark this moment at exactly three years out from Los Angeles’ third Olympic Games in 2028. There is so much to celebrate today with one million programme enrolments in LA28’s pre-Games legacy through the PlayLA programme, plus the first look at the Olympic competition schedule that has been meticulously developed to ensure the world’s best athletes can compete in LA. We are energised by today’s milestones and remain focused on the work ahead as the Road to 2028 continues.

Reynold Hoover, LA28 Chief Executive Officer

“We are now three years away from the LA Memorial Coliseum hosting the opening of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and I’m proud that the first medal will be awarded at the iconic Venice Beach,” said Mayor Bass. “When the world comes here for these Games, we will highlight every neighbourhood as we host Games for all and work to ensure they leave a monumental legacy. We are already delivering that legacy as we announce there have been more than one million enrolments in PlayLA. I want to thank LA28 and the International Olympic Committee for making these programmes possible, and for their continued work to host the greatest Games yet.”

Competition schedule

The LA28 competition schedule, developed in close coordination with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and the International Federations (IFs) of each sport, and with the approval of the IOC Executive Board, features 18 days of competition and 844 ticketed events, carefully planned to enhance the experience for athletes, fans and global audiences alike.

The LA28 Olympic Games will open on 14 July 2028, with an Opening Ceremony held across two iconic venues: the LA Memorial Coliseum, which hosted events at the two previous Games editions in Los Angeles, in 1932 and 1984, and the state-of-the-art 2028 Stadium in Inglewood. The Closing Ceremony will take place on 30 July at the Coliseum, honouring Los Angeles’ rich Olympic heritage while looking firmly to the future.

Among several innovations, LA28 will reverse the traditional order of swimming and athletics, with athletics taking place in the first week and swimming concluding the programme in the second week. This is to allow time for the 2028 Stadium to be converted into the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, with a planned capacity of 38,000 seats.

The first Olympic medals of the Games will be awarded in triathlon, set against the backdrop of Venice Beach. Day 15 will deliver the single most action-packed day of the Games, including 16 team sport medal matches and 19 individual sport finals. More details on the competition schedule are available here. A more detailed schedule with medal events and gender order will be released later this year.

In addition to being the third time Los Angeles hosts the Olympic Games, 2028 will be the city’s first time hosting the Paralympic Games.