Local Parks Host a Variety of Holiday Events to Celebrate All Cultures

(December 2, 2019)

People look to park and recreation agencies for winter cultural celebrations

Ashburn, Va. (Dec. 2, 2019) — Four in five adults want their communities to hold cultural events and celebrations during the holidays that everyone can enjoy according to a newly released National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) poll. Two-thirds of parents and millennials say it is “extremely” or “very important” to host such events in their community.

These types of events, which are typically hosted by local parks and recreation, include:

  • Diwali celebrations
  • Menorah lightings
  • Winter Solstice festivals
  • Christmas markets
  • Chinese New Year celebrations

“Park and recreation agencies nationwide welcome every member of the community through a variety of events and celebrations during the holiday season,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of professional development, research and technology. “These events highlight the great diversity found in our communities and give everyone the opportunity to experience the different cultural traditions celebrated this time of year.”    

The NRPA promotes the importance of diversity and inclusion in the day-to-day operations of park and recreation agencies everywhere. Earlier this year, the NRPA announced a best practice guide for park and recreation agencies to develop a formal inclusion policy. Available online, the guide shares best practices for creating a formal inclusion policy and includes a template that agencies can use to develop a policy that meets the unique needs of their community.   

This poll is part of the NRPA’s Park Pulse, a continuing series of monthly surveys that gauge the public’s opinion on topics relating to parks and recreation. To explore previous Park Pulse survey results, visit www.nrpa.org/park-pulse.

To view the interactive charts with the survey results, click here.

To view the full-size infographic, click here.

To learn more about the NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.