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Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation (WCCPR) has played a central role in the community for years.

This July, it will be recognized while continuing to provide opportunities.

July celebrates National Parks and Recreation Month, while several events – including the Parks Mobile Recreation Unit (PMRU) – get underway.

“Every year, they pick a different theme, and this year it’s ‘Where community grows,’” said April Stanfield, the program director for WCCPR. “For the people who can’t come to [Winchester-Clark County] Parks and Recreation and have fun with the classes that we offer or come to play here at our facility, we go out to these parks.”

The Mobile Recreation Unit is a returning adventure for those wishing to participate and will also take place this fall.

With the weather expected to be favorable during the summer, several associated and themed events are set to occur.

On July 6, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Bubble Bonanza event takes place at Melbourne Park.

As such, along with a light meal, guests can participate in yard games, blow bubbles, and play with different toys.

One week later, on July 15th, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at College Park on Wheeler Avenue, the Sun’s Out, Fun’s Out Summer Festival PMRU event will occur.

While there, guests can enjoy going on waterslides, using a slip-and-slide and even taking hot air balloon rides courtesy of local RE/Max Creative Realty Agent Michelle Blackburn.

“It will probably be one of the biggest pop-up [events] that we have during the month of July,” Stanfield added.

Three days later, on July 18, the Sidewalk Chalk Art PMRU event takes place at Heritage Park from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

“Last year, this was a big hit,” Stanfield said. “We had our homemade sidewalk chalk, and all sorts of artists came down, and we had beautiful artwork all over the sidewalks.”

Certainly not least, Racin’ Thru Summer occurs at Community & Harmon Park on July 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A hot wheels racetrack will be brought out for kids to enjoy.

“Those kids will be able to come out and get to race against each other,” Stanfield added. “We’ve also incorporated a new thing called a ‘rain gutter regatta.’”

When using a portion of a rain gutter filled with water and a miniature sailboat, wind will be “generated” by contestants’ mouths, who will look to push the sailboat ahead towards the finish line.

The PMRU has come a long way since being developed, in part, following community responses to a survey.

“We really enjoyed going into neighborhoods and in our parks and finding out what people really wanted,” Stanfield added.

With pizza and popsicles at all events except for the Sun’s Out Fun’s Out Summer Festival, guests have plenty to eat and drink from.

Yard games are set to include options like Jenga, a big Connect Four game, cornhole, frisbee, basketball, and more.

Sponsors for the events include the Clark County Health Department and Friends of Parks and Recreation, a 501 c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting WCCPR’s goals and programs.

The goal of the staff of Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation appears clear.

“I want our community to know that we are here for them,” Stanfield added. “We are a place that you can come to, and you can know all the events that we have for them. I love fun, and I’m hoping that we bring that to our community.”