July is the time to celebrate the places that let us all breathe a little deeper, move more freely, and reconnect with the land that makes Arizona extraordinary. For 40 years, Park and Recreation Month has invited Americans to pause and appreciate how parks shape our lives. The heart of this celebration is bigger than a single picnic bench, swingset, campground, or trailhead. It’s a nationwide movement recognizing that parks fuel public health, community strength, and economic vitality.

Parks and Public Health

When you lace up your boots, launch your kayak, or unroll your yoga mat beneath a cottonwood tree canopy, you’re doing far more good for your health than you even realize. Ninety‑two percent of adults say they experience a mental health lift after visiting a local park, according to the National Recreation and Parks Association's (NRPA) 2024 Engagement With Parks Report. It’s easy to see why: green space lowers stress hormones, encourages social connection, and provides safe venues for play across every age and ability. Childhood development, environmental education, even neighborhood resilience during extreme heat, thanks to park features like pools and splash pads—all of it grows in the shade of a well‑loved park.

Want the data behind the fresh air? Dive into The Power of Parks to Promote Health from the Trust for Public Land and discover how every tree‑lined walkway is a prescription for well‑being.

Strengthening Arizona’s Economy Through Play

Last month, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating June 2025 as Great Outdoors Month, recognizing the outdoor recreation sector’s $1.2 trillion annual impact and more than five million jobs nationwide, in addition to parks’ contributions to health and quality of life. 

Here in Arizona, visitor spending at parks ripples outward, with visitors supporting local restaurants, convenience stores, outfitters, and more, and sustaining hundreds of jobs in mainly rural communities. In fact, the statewide economic contribution of visitor spending in and around Arizona State Parks, including multiplier effects, was $449 million in sales, also known as economic output. Check out Arizona State Parks and Trails’ Economic Impact Report to see how your day at the park or campground getaway pays long‑term dividends to local communities.

Building Community and Stewardship, Together

In the same NRPA Engagement report, findings showed that 91% of Americans believe parks are an essential service. Arizona State Parks and Trails’ own Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan showed that 72% of Arizona residents participated in outdoor recreation within the last year. Arizonans undoubtedly consider our public lands and local parks as essential amenities. That collective belief translates into volunteer trail days, participation in interpretive programming for all ages, and a deepening of our appreciation for nature.

Each time you show up, you affirm that public lands and local parks—and the professionals who care for them—matter.

Arizonans’ value of parks and natural spaces also results in statewide outdoor recreation improvement projects. Upgraded access, expanded and updated community parks, trail maintenance, development, and signage, and safety and enforcement programs across Arizona are funded by grants that Arizona State Parks and Trails administers.

Celebrate the Parks this Summer

Ready to celebrate the parks where you belong? Try out one (or all!) of these Arizona State Parks and feel the difference a day in the park can make.

1. Lyman Lake State Park: go up in elevation, down in temperature at this park near the White Mountains. At 6,000 feet, fishing, camping, hiking, and boating await!
2. Kartchner Caverns State Park: get out of the harsh summer sun by going underground to tour this near-pristine cave where delicate formations have been carefully conserved.
3. Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area: paddle at sunrise, cast a line for bass and trout, and watch bald eagles patrol the pines.
4. Dead Horse Ranch State Park: kayak on the Verde River, take a morning bike ride, or have a picnic under the shade trees near one of the three lagoons.
5. Riordan Mansion State Historic Park: get a glimpse of life in Flagstaff at the turn of the century by touring this 1904 Arts and Crafts style home.
6. Roper Lake State Park: book a cabin on the water to stay comfortable in the cool air conditioning at night and explore the high elevations of the Sky Islands during the day. Bring your book for morning and evening relaxation on the lakeside porch or your fishing pole to catch dinner.

This July, enjoy the beauty of Arizona’s outdoors and spend time in a local, county, regional, state, tribal, or national park. Adventure wisely with safety measures like checking the weather and hydrating. Invite a friend, and let the scenic views and serene setting remind you why parks are where we build community together, and play together. Every time you choose open space, you invest in your health, your neighbors, and the state you love. So step outside; Arizona’s parks are waiting for you!