The City of Orange Beach is celebrating Park and Recreation Month this July. This nationwide event highlights how parks help make island life stronger, brighter, and more connected. Activities are planned for people of all ages and abilities. Everyone is invited to join the fun.

Park and Recreation Month is led by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and has been celebrated across the country for 40 years. Orange Beach is excited to take part and encourages residents to share stories and memories about their favorite parks and programs. Events include a citywide scavenger hunt, a golf center hole-in-one contest, a fitness center recipe of the week, and baseball tournaments at the Sportsplex. See a full list of events below.

The month is also about honoring the hard work of more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation staff. It also celebrates the many part-time workers, seasonal helpers, and volunteers who keep parks running across the U.S.

Schedule of Events:

• Thursday, July 3 — Free Range Day: Orange Beach Golf Center, 3 p.m. — 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 8 — Rock & Roll Tie Dye Party: Orange Beach Senior Center, 4:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. 
• Saturday, July 12 — Pop-Up Park & Hot Dog Eating Contest: Snook Park, 5:30 p.m. — 8 p.m. 
• Friday, July 18 — Movie at the Pool: Orange Beach Aquatics Center, 7 p.m. — 10 p.m.
• Saturday, July 19 — Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball: Orange Beach Recreation Center, 8 a.m. — 12 p.m. 
• Tuesday, July 22 — Free Range Day: Orange Beach Golf Center, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Jul 22 — Coastal Table: Orange Beach Community Center, 4:30 p.m. — 6 p.m. 
• Friday, July 25 — Summer Soirée: Orange Beach Event Center, 6 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. 
• Friday, August 1 — History Tour: Orange Beach History Museum, 9 a.m.
• Friday, August 1 — Summer Sendoff: Orange Beach Waterfront Park, 5:30 p.m. — 8 p.m.

“I’ve participated in Park and Recreation Month for 20-plus years, and I look forward to my second year here in Orange Beach,” said Nicole Ard, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Orange Beach. “This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's always busy, but it highlights how vital parks and recreation are for a successful community. With the full support of our city leaders, I'm thrilled to offer a range of family-friendly events for Orange Beach residents throughout July, and excited to see our fantastic Parks and Rec team shine all month long.”

NRPA and the City of Orange Beach encourage everyone who supports parks and recreation to post why their local park and recreation professionals are important to them on social media with #BuildTogetherPlayTogether.