WHEREAS, Orange County parks are where lifetime friendships are formed, where the gap between generations is bridged, where people discover what they have in common, and where a crowd is grown into a community; and

WHEREAS, big achievements in life start with small successes, like learning how to be part of a team, or figuring out that excellence comes from a daily commitment of time, hard work, and fair play; and 

WHEREAS, Orange County parks hold a key to conserving green spaces and waterways and preserving what's precious for the generations to come; and

WHEREAS, Orange County parks offer the perfect venue for community and regional events – tournaments, concerts, exhibitions, food festivals – that draw visitors and new dollars into our vibrant and growing community and parks, and recreational facilities make our communities attractive, desirable places to live, work, play, and visit, thereby contributing to their economic viability; and

WHEREAS, ninety-three Orange County parks offer families and individuals a wide range of free and low-cost opportunities to get out and play for  physical activity and good health; and

WHEREAS, Orange County's partnership with the Orlando Magic will afford the citizens five new recreation centers equipped with gymnasiums along with Orange County's Barnett Park gym, where Parks & Recreation will promote a lifestyle of health and fitness for the whole family; and

WHEREAS, "The OC Club" youth recreation program provides affordable and accessible recreation to almost 12,000 young people through recreation and business partnerships throughout Orange County; and

WHEREAS, the Orange County Parks and Recreation Division provides safe afterschool and summer enrichment opportunities to over 2,000 youth who grow through Character & Leadership Development, Fitness & Recreation, Education & Career Development, Health & Life Skills, and the arts, and "It Starts In Parks";

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Richard T. Crotty, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Orange County Mayor, do hereby proclaim the month of July 2009 as

PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH

in Orange County, Florida, and encourage all Orange County citizens to take advantage of the quality public recreation and park services provided by the Orange County Parks and Recreation Division.

DONE AND ORDERED this 30th day of June, 2009.