Enjoying Local Parks and Recreation Centers 

In honor of Park and Recreation Month, we talked with Jeff Kitner – a member of both the Dallas Park Board and Simmons’ Community Advisory Board – to learn more about the Dallas parks system and Jeff's role on the Park Board. We also asked about opportunities to stay active at local parks this summer. 

Q: What is the mission of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department? 

A: The Dallas Park and Recreation Department champions lifelong recreation and serves as stewards of the city’s parks, trails, and open spaces. The Park Board is the policy and governance board overseeing all of the city’s parks, trails, recreation centers, and other city-wide facilities, such as the Dallas Zoo, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and Fair Park.    

Q: What motivated you to become a Dallas Park and Recreation Board member? 

A: I am passionate about quality-of-life initiatives for the City of Dallas. In my role on the Friends of the Northaven Trail Board, I worked extensively with former Dallas City Councilmember Lee Kleinman on many parks projects, and he nominated me for appointment to the Park Board. I have been serving on the Board for five years.

Q: What do you enjoy about your role on the Park Board? What are you particularly proud of?  

A: We are one of the few community-facing departments with the city whose role is to actively improve the lives of citizens through quality-of-life initiatives. The Parks Department, along with the Office of Arts and Culture and the Dallas Public Library system, are collectively referred to as the “Ministry of Happiness.”

Q: How does being on the Dallas Park Board align with your role as a Simmons Community Advisory Board member?  

A: The roles complement each other well. Both roles prioritize public health, but in different ways.  

Q: What are some popular ways to enjoy parks and recreation centers this summer?  

A: There are many park activities offered during the summer, but the most popular activity is a visit to one of the city-owned aquatics centers. We also have 43 recreation centers that offer aerobics classes, weight training, yoga classes, and other fitness programs for all ages and ability levels. 

Q: What are your family’s favorite ways to stay active at local parks? 

A: There are so many options, but some favorites include the aquatics centers during the summer, bicycling on the trails, and visiting some of the city-wide facilities, such as the zoo, arboretum, and Trinity Audubon Center.

Q: July is also UV Safety Awareness Month. What are some things you routinely do to protect your skin and eyes from UV rays while enjoying outdoor activities?  

A: Wearing a long sleeve swim shirt while at the pools, sunglasses and a bicycle helmet while bicycling, and always putting on sunscreen when outside!

To learn more about Dallas Park and Recreation facilities and programs, visit Dallas Parks, TX – Official Website. 

Protecting Your Skin and Eyes From the Sun's Ultraviolet Rays

While you’re enjoying pools and trails this summer, we encourage you to stay protected from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are two types of UV rays that can damage your skin: UVA and UVB. UVA rays cause early aging and wrinkles. UVB rays cause sunburn. Both can lead to skin cancer.  

To stay safe in the sun, remember to:

• Wear sun-protective clothing.
• Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Generously cover all bare skin with a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen that has an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher, before you go outside, and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.  

"It’s important to protect not just your skin but also your eyes from the sun’s rays," says Richard Hession, M.D., Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern. Learn why: Protecting your eyes from the summer sun: Newsroom – UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas.