By Lookout Staff

July 7, 2015 -- There’s the beach, the pier, parks and lots of other places to play, but a recent survey that gauged how well Santa Monicans are feeling found that most locals just don’t have the time to enjoy the outdoors.

In response, City officials are encouraging residents to rediscover the great outdoors during National Parks and Recreation Month in July.

“People come to Santa Monica from around the world to put their feet in our sand or go for a stroll in our parks,” said Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown.

“Our parks are where we play, relax, contemplate, have fun, and come together. This month let’s appreciate and enjoy the network of world-class open spaces to which Santa Monicans have access.”

Residents and visitors have plenty of ways to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month -- from checking out one of Santa Monica’s popup libraries at the beach to dropping by a Tongva After Dark performance to taking a midday break for lunch in the park, said City spokeswoman Carrie Lujan.

“Parks and recreation facilities are fundamental to a community’s health and vitality,” Lujan said. “They strengthen our individual and collective wellbeing -- physically, socially, economically, ecologically, and culturally.”

Every Friday from now through August 28, Santa Monica Library at the Beach program will bring books for people to read on the beach. This month’s program will be held July 18 at Dorothy Green Park and July 24 at the Annenberg Community Beach House, 415 Pacific Coast Highway, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tongva Park’s second season of events continues on Wednesday with Tongva After Dark, featuring a community hip hop dance lesson with Amy “Catfox” Campion of Antics. Campion, who has a master’s degree in choreography from UCLA, has been featured in “B-Boys, the Movies,” and many music videos, according to her website.

Family Saturday, featuring Native American culture, will take place at Tongva Park on Saturday, July 25.

Family Saturday continues on August 8 with a kid-friendly theater in the park. On September 9, Tongva After Dark presents Holly Rothschild and Strange Elegant and her site-specific “Seaclipse.”

Tongva After Dark’s season ends on October 28 with Wonder Room, multiple performances in the intimate “rooms” of the park.

Created by Congress, National Parks and Recreation Month celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The holiday was designated to encourage Americans to get outdoors and enjoy their communities’ parks and recreational opportunities, according to the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA).

Around 28 percent of U.S. adults don’t spend time outdoors daily, and those who do spend on average 30 minutes or less, according to a 2014 survey on NRPA’s website.

Work is the biggest obstacle to spending time outdoors, followed by computers, tablets and television.

When folks do get outdoors, 54 percent said their favorite things to do are active sports, such as swimming and organized play. But another 54 percent of respondents said they just enjoy hanging out, spending time with family, socializing and going to festivals.

For more information about Santa Monica’s parks, recreation facilities and beach, visit www.smgov.net/parks.