[From my July 22 article in the Colchester Bulletin]
As proud as I am of our department’s people, parks and programs, one of the things I love about Parks & Recreation is its near universality. Just about anywhere you go you can tap into the local system for some affordable family fun.
This week my extended family and I are vacationing in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. While twenty of us (including ten children) in one house can be a bit crazy, it’s also a great opportunity to reconnect. So far, some of the best times we’ve had have been taking advantage of what the local area has to offer.
Of course, one of the key reasons people come to areas like this is the beach. People do not often give it much thought, but the care and maintenance of a beach can be one of the most demanding tasks of a shoreline community. A close second is surely the multitude of sports fields that are scattered throughout a community, such as the fourteen that now constitute Colchester’s athletic facilities.
Yesterday, we took the whole gaggle of kids to the nearby state park, where they had a free program run by friendly and knowledgeable park rangers teaching the kids about animals indigenous to the sand dunes. They learned how to identify the animals by their tracks and even did castings of the footprints that they could take home as souvenirs. We plan to return tomorrow for one of their shoreline programs to find out about the local aquatic life on the Roanoke Sound side of the area.
[More:]
As is a staple of many parks & recreation departments, including ours, there will be a concert in the town park this evening – part of a six-week series featuring local musicians twice per week. Community gatherings such as these are integral to both bringing a town together as well as welcoming in visitors. At our own concerts, we estimate that about twenty-five percent or more of our weekly attendance is from out of town. In fact, I just recently read a comment from someone who expressed that their past attendance of the concerts was a major factor is deciding to move to town.
Many communities also have attractions that are unique to the area. While Colchester’s destinations include many well-preserved historic sites throughout the center of town, the Outer Banks feature the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – the tallest lighthouse in the country and a symbol of North Carolina. My family looks forward to exploring it later this week, including making the long climb to the top for some incredible views of the national sea shore.
Throughout the week, we have taken advantage of the many miles of multi-purpose pathway that run parallel to the beach. Whether walking, running or biking, the path seems to be a perpetual flurry of activity, despite the blazing sun and scorching temperatures. I have had similar experiences along our very own Air Line Trail, which offers shaded and scenic routes for exercise, relaxation or sight-seeing.
While National Parks & Recreation Month is nearing its close, with just another week to go, I encourage everyone to look around their community with a fresh set of eyes. Imagine yourself as a visitor to Colchester. What might you visit that you’ve never taken the time for? Chances are that there are many opportunities and adventures just around the corner.
XML Feeds 
