The following article from the News-Democrat really does a good job of hitting on the individual, economic and community benefits of parks and recreation. The other major benefit, not mentioned in the article, was the environmental impacts that the water park has on Collinsville, IL As you are writing press releases to your local media it’s important to cover the four major benefits of parks and recreation: individual, economic, community and environmental benefits. Not only will you be advocating the benefits to the public, but reporters often look for that spin or angle that will make their story read better and appeal to greater audiences. Give it a try next time.

COLLINSVILLE - Warm temperatures this summer are expected to lead to the Splash City water park’s most successful season.

“This has been the best season we’ve had since the park opened nine years ago,” said Mark Badasch, executive director for the Collinsville Area Recreation District. “We’ve had great weather. And now we have a water experience for every member of the family.”

The park’s highest attendance was in 2003 when the park welcomed nearly 61,000 people during its three-month season. The park’s average yearly attendance is between 52,000 to 53,000.

As of last week, the park’s attendance was about 56,000, said Brian Witty, superintendent of recreation, who expects this season to surpass that attendance before the summer ends.

This year’s records show 3,600 adult and 5,500 child tickets were purchased by those living within the recreation district’s boundaries, while 6,900 adult and 9,900 child general admission tickets were sold to those living outside the district.

“We’ve had visitors from as far away as Kalamazoo, Mich.,” Witty said. The additions this year of the Flowrider, a surfing simulator, and the Oasis, a four-lane swimming pool, have helped increase attendance to the park, including teenagers and young adults, Badasch said.

The Flowrider has become a popular attraction for children of all ages. “On any given day, you can find 15 to 20 people standing in line and another 30 or so standing on the hill watching people on the Flowrider,” Witty said. “When you have an 8-year-old and 69-year-old riding this, you can’t ask for anything more multi-generational than that.”

Park officials are not making any plans for new additions for next year. However, Witty said they hope to expand the programs and classes offered at the park, including scuba diving, water aerobics and kayaking lessons.

“It’s the first time we’ve been here in about five years,” said Teri Herman of Millstadt, who came to the park Monday with a group of 20 adults and kids. “They’ve made it really nice since the last time we came.”

Collinsville resident Kim Wasser is considering coming to Splash City every day next year — if the summer is any warmer.

“Every year, (we come) more and more because it keeps getting hotter,” said Wasser, who has come to Splash City at least twice a week this summer with her 6-year-old niece Brya Johnson.