State of the City: Code Enforcement

Every park has a story

and we want to hear it.

BY ASHLEY DOBBS

The City of Ocala is home to 43 parks throughout the city limits and within each of these parks lies a history, a story, and a memory for someone at a point in time. As we celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month during July, we will focus on “Our Park and Recreation Story,’ allowing us the opportunity to think about our own stories that shaped our love of public parks.

While many people see parks as greenspace filled with walking trails and playground equipment, there is so much more than what meets the eye. Our parks provide a refuge to some -- a place to unwind, decompress, feel healthy, or gather with loved ones. Stepping into a park can be transformative, like stepping away from the noise of the day and reconnecting with nature.

Parks can create childhood memories that carry over to adulthood. For many of us, we may have learned to ride a bike in a public park. The wide-open spaces filled with soft, green grass provided the perfect place to fall when we hadn’t mastered our balancing abilities. Or maybe it was a gathering place for friends, where playing a game of baseball or shooting hoops on a public court built lifelong friendships. Children’s birthday parties with friends under pavilions, laughter on playgrounds and speed-walking adults exercising are images that fill my mind when I think about public parks.

These parks become enjoyable spaces because of the people behind the scenes who make them possible. We often take for granted the hard work that it takes to make these parks run daily. Our city recreation and parks staff is dedicated to making sure things are running smoothly and operating safely for everyone to enjoy. In addition, these workers create programming that keeps people engaged and physically active. Staff is constantly creating summer camps, sports classes, educational classes and craft activities for children, young adults and our senior population. The recreation and parks team is

#OcalaRecPark

Throughout the month of July be sure to follow the Ocala Recreation and Parks department on Facebook (@OcalaRecPark) and share your favorite memories with our staff.

here to serve the community in every capacity, whether it’s indoor or outdoor activities.

With a variety of parks to fit every lifestyle, the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department has something for everyone: pocket parks in neighborhoods, large-scale parks downtown, art parks, splash parks, sports parks, nature parks and parks for exercising. The possibilities are endless when it comes to enjoying what Ocala parks have to offer.

We want to hear your positive stories about our parks. Throughout the month of July be sure to follow the Ocala Recreation and Parks department on Facebook (@OcalaRecPark) and share your favorite memories with our staff. Maybe you enjoy using the walking trails and it leads to a healthier lifestyle. Perhaps you’ve attended one of the free concerts, a summer camp, swam at one of our aquatic centers, or your kids beg you to take them to the splash pads. We want to hear about engagements, photo shoots with families, maternity shoots and friends picnicking in the park. Using the hashtag #OcalaRecPark, share your pictures, memories, and videos with us and your story may become intertwined with the stories we share.

Ashley Dobbs is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the City Of Ocala.