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Clay County Celebrates Parks and Recreation Month

For Clay Today
Posted 7/13/22

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and Clay County is celebrating the entire month with family-friendly activities and events planned at county parks.

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Clay County Celebrates Parks and Recreation Month


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and Clay County is celebrating the entire month with family-friendly activities and events planned at county parks.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, living close to parks and other recreation facilities is consistently related to higher physical activity levels and a reduction in chronic diseases, and parks provide a connection to nature that is proven to relieve stress, improve mental health, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Read the NRPA fact sheets here: https://www.nrpa.org/our-work/Three-Pillars/health-wellness/ParksandHealth/fact-sheets/.

“In Clay County, we believe in providing a high quality of life for our residents and visitors through the preservation of natural areas and by offering a wide variety of recreational opportunities through our parks system,” Board of County Commission Chairman Wayne Bolla said.

Parks and Recreation Month events

Visit https://www.claycountygov.com/community/parks-and-recreation for more information on Clay County programs and activities offered during Parks and Recreation Month. All events are free, but some require registration.

Nature hikes

• Camp Chowenwaw Park Wetlands Walk – Saturday, July 16, 9:30 a.m.

At 1517 Ball Road, Green Cove Springs. Meet at the picnic area to the left of Big Cabin for a naturalist-guided tour through a wetland ecosystem.

• Black Creek Ravines Nature Trek- Saturday, July 23, 8 a.m.

At 5663 Green Road, Middleburg. Meet at the second parking area on Green Road for a 2.5-mile naturalist-guided nature trek through flatwoods and sandhill habitats. Learn about native species of plants and animals, habitat restoration, and the ravine system.

• Ronnie Van Zant Park Pop-up Library – Friday, July 15, from 9-11 a.m.

At 2760 Sandridge Road, Lake Asbury. Stop by the pop-up library to grab your reading logs, get a library card, check out select materials for all ages, and return any materials you already have! If you have specific books/materials you would like brought to the pop-up for check-out, please email us at LibraryEvents@claycountygov.com the Monday before the pop-up library.

• Camping 101 at Camp Chowenwaw County Park- Saturday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at 517 Ball Road, Green Cove Springs. Camping 101 is a 45-minute class for new and novice campers to give some background in packing, sleeping gear, tents, shelters and most importantly, easy meals. Space is limited and registration is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/camping-101-at-camp-chowenwaw-park-tickets-372101534707.

• Touch-a-Truck at the Clay County Fairgrounds - Saturday, July 30, 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. at 2497 State Road 16W, Green Cove Springs. See county and municipal service vehicles in action and up close at Touch-a-Truck at the Clay County Fairgrounds. Quiet time is from 9-11 a.m. and lights and sounds are from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Sunshine State Games Disc Golf Tournament at Ronnie Van Zant Park- Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Watch competitors complete an 18-hole woodland course to see who can finish with the fewest throws. Trees and terrain provide natural obstacles to the flight of the disk.

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners owns and manages 56 recreational areas covering 2,356 acres in Clay County. These properties include the Clay County Fairgrounds, 44 neighborhood and community parks, 29 playgrounds, dozens of athletic fields, 8 conservation areas and green spaces, 13 public boat ramps and piers and the new 250-acre Clay County Regional Park currently in development.

Clay County shares a 28-mile eastern boundary bordering the beautiful St Johns River, and along with its tributaries, boaters and kayakers have 39 miles of navigable waterways with breathtaking views to explore. Clay County also maintains 27.7 miles of multi-use recreational trails at Black Creek Park, Moccasin Slough Park, Camp Chowenwaw Park and along Doctors Lake Drive.

All Clay County events are listed on https://exploreclay.com/.