Celebrate Great Outdoors Month: Discover, Explore, and Connect

* Sponsored by ATHCO

June is Great Outdoors Month, a nationwide celebration that encourages people of all ages to get outside and enjoy the parks, trails, playgrounds, lakes, and natural spaces that make our communities special.

Established to highlight the importance of outdoor recreation and conservation, Great Outdoors Month reminds us that some of life's best experiences happen outside. Whether it's taking a walk on a local trail, enjoying a picnic in the park, paddling on a lake, playing a round of pickleball, or simply spending time with family at a playground, outdoor experiences help us stay active, reduce stress, connect with nature, and strengthen relationships with those around us.

Kansas is fortunate to have an incredible network of parks and recreation opportunities that make outdoor adventures accessible close to home. These spaces do more than provide recreation. They foster community engagement, instill local pride, support conservation efforts, contribute to economic development, and create places where lifelong memories are made.

As we celebrate Great Outdoors Month, KRPA encourages everyone to challenge themselves to spend a little more time outside. Visit a park you've never explored, take a family bike ride, try a new outdoor activity, or simply enjoy a sunset from a favorite local green space. Every outdoor experience helps build a deeper appreciation for the places that enhance our quality of life.

Featured Project: High Park in Derby

Great Outdoors Month is also an opportunity to celebrate the investments communities make in creating exceptional outdoor spaces. One recent example is the exciting transformation of High Park in Derby, Kansas. 

Thanks to the Derby's commitment to getting their community outdoors, families will enjoy a variety of new amenities and upgrades for years to come. Amenities include innovative upgrades to the existing Darrell Zimmerman Family shelter like the new pergola, pickleball courts, restrooms, splash pad, shades, and playground equipment. Whether you’re climbing to the top of the 25’ tall 3-Tower Hedra, taking a spin on the Global Motion, or enjoying the Hedra Scout for the littles, there is something for everyone on this freshly turfed playground. The splash pad offers a variety of water play experiences from a variable depth runnel to the AquaHedra mister or even the Canopy Cluster dumping buckets. High Park also has plenty of shade for your upcoming events or taking a needed rest from all the fun! There truly is something for every patron to enjoy!

KRPA thanks ATHCO for sponsoring our Great Outdoors Month celebration and for their continued partnership in helping communities create engaging outdoor spaces where families can play, connect, and make memories together.

This June, take advantage of everything Kansas parks and recreation has to offer. Whether you're exploring a neighborhood playground, hiking a trail, casting a line, or enjoying a community park, Great Outdoors Month is the perfect reminder that adventure is waiting just outside your door.