Milton is marking Parks and Recreation Month with special events and activities – all on top of endless opportunities to enjoy our beloved parks and an array of rewarding programs.

Every July, our city joins others nationwide in celebrating Parks and Recreation Month. This means four weeks to showcase some of the myriad ways Milton Parks and Rec benefits our community. These range from maintaining and improving parks and nature trails, to hosting popular events, to offering enriching programs. These help foster a strong community, make possible joyful and meaningful experiences, promote healthy lifestyles, and connect people with nature and each other – all of which enhances Milton’s quality of life. 

For things you and your family can do year-round, check out our Activities Guide at www.miltonga.gov/ActivitiesGuide or spend time at Milton facilities. (You can use this interactive map – https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/a77aa6ca44e545d0945bc2f8ac8f15ce -- to scout out what amenities are in specific parks.)  

Still, during Parks and Recreation Month, we like to offer our community something extra. This year, that includes a Scavenger Hunt through which people of all ages can explore our parks – snapping photos corresponding with specific challenges – and win prizes. To take part, simply download the form at www.miltonga.gov/ScavengerHunt, complete as many tasks as you can, then email your visual proof to parksandrec@miltonga.gov before July 31. Everyone who participates can pick-up at least a small prize, with some teams taking home more substantial ones. 

And that’s not all! In addition to various camps and programs, the July calendar includes:

• Red, White, and YOU!: Milton’s Independence Day celebration (including the family-friendly Walking Parade) to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, July 3, in and around Broadwell Pavilion in the Crabapple area
• Junior Ranger Academy: Sessions spaced over four weeks where kids can discover wonders of wildlife while learning survival skills, going fishing, and doing much more outdoors on the mornings of July 8, 15, 22, and 29 at various locations
• Wild Walk Wednesday: When people will join “Ranger Jen” Young from 4- 5:30 p.m. on July 15 on a Providence Park hiking trek while listening and looking out for birds, animals, fish, plants, and trees
• Friday Night Lights: A first-of-its-kind-in-Milton “Moth Week” event during which (from 8-9 p.m. on July 17 at Providence Park) participants will use blacklights and other means to dive into the world of moths after dark
• Goals on the Green Presented by the Reid Casey Team: An opportunity to join fellow soccer- and fun-lovers watching the World Cup final (from 1 to 5 p.m. on July 19) on a big screen set up on the grounds of Crabapple Market
• Learn to Fish: A class for 8-to-13-year-olds who are new to fishing on July 29 (from 4-6 p.m.), when they’ll be shown how to bait a hook, cast their rod, and ultimately reel in fish (with poles and bait provided)

Those wishing to be part of the Junior Ranger Academy, Wild Walk Wednesday, Friday Night Lights, and Learn to Fish programs should first sign-up online by going to www.miltonga.gov/registration and clicking on the “Outdoor Recreation” tab. (The Wild Walk and Friday Night Lights events are free, with only nominal $20 fees for Junior Rangers and $5 for the fishing class.)

And to survey everything that Milton Parks and Rec has to offer, check out its webpage at https://www.miltonga.gov/government/parks-rec.