ENROLLED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 41
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHEXNAYDER
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To designate Tuesday, May 16, 2023, as Parks and Recreation Day at the state capitol and
to designate the month of July as Parks and Recreation Month in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, the National Recreation and Parks Association has announced "Where
Community Grows" as the 2023 theme of Parks and Recreation Month; and
WHEREAS, parks and recreation are essential to communities for health and
wellness, childhood development, driving economic opportunities, providing space for
people to connect and socialize, and providing adaptable infrastructure for resiliency in the
face of natural disasters and climate change; and
WHEREAS, local parks departments throughout Louisiana provide families with
space to gather and make memories, opportunities to introduce Louisiana children to
different sports and to nature, and other wholesome recreational activities outside of school
hours and during the summer; and
WHEREAS, parks and recreation add to the economic prosperity of communities by
increasing property values, expanding the local tax base, increasing tourism, attracting and
retaining businesses, and reducing crime; and
WHEREAS, local parks are fundamental to the environmental well-being of our
communities through conservation of wildlife habitats and nature; parks also provide green
infrastructure to mitigate the effects of localized flooding in communities; and
WHEREAS, parks across the state provided Louisiana residents with places to
exercise and enjoy fresh air during the COVID-19 pandemic when Governor John Bel
Edwards declared such activities essential during the statewide stay-at-home order; and
Page 1 of 2 HCR NO. 41 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, personnel from local park and recreation departments and agencies from
all areas of Louisiana come to the capitol to promote the vital assets and services they offer
to their communities; two park systems in Louisiana are accredited through the National
Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): New Orleans Recreation Development
Commission and the capitol region's Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East
Baton Rouge, known as BREC; less than two percent of park systems in the United States
receive this accreditation; and
WHEREAS, BREC is a 2022 NRPA National Gold Medal Award winning park
system.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
recognize the great societal value of parks and recreation facilities and programs and their
importance in local communities across the United States; does hereby recognize and honor
the vital contributions of employees and volunteers in park and recreation facilities; and does
hereby designate May 16, 2023, as Parks and Recreation Day at the state capitol and the
month of July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Recreation and Park Commission for the parish of East Baton
Rouge.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 2 of 2