Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation

06/04/2026

Join us at Purcell Park for free fishing day this Friday, June 5!
We will have a senior (50 years of age and older) specific time from 10:00am-11:30am and then a family friendly time from 1:00pm-5:00pm.
All rods and bate will be provided.

06/04/2026

Please share your input and complete this childcare survey. Thanks to those who have already done so!

Child Care Needs Assessment Surveys Close Monday:

The City of Harrisonburg is partnering with Foundations for Families to conduct a comprehensive Citywide Child Care Needs Assessment. If you are a family living in Harrisonburg with children age 5 or younger, please consider filling out the appropriate survey below and be entered to win one of ten $25 Amazon gift cards. Thank you for sharing your perspectives!

English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Harrisonburg_Families

Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/Harrisonburg_Familias_ESP

06/02/2026

We have an exciting addition to our Pollinator Month events: Pollinator Gardening! Join Public Works and the Headwaters Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists for a morning of gardening at Liberty Park. Sign-up required, visit our website for more information.

06/01/2026

Way to go Harrisonburg! What a night we had for the Swim for Sadie kickoff event. More than 450 total guests came to the event, and 175 kids in grades K-2 signed up for the first block of free lessons that start in June. The Swim for Sadie swim lesson program covers kids registered in the Harrisonburg City Public School system and honors Sadie Deeble, a local youth swimmer who passed away tragically in 2022. In addition to the 175 kids enrolled in the first set of lessons, 19 are now on the waitlist in which we should be calling back shortly to also join the program this summer. If you are in grades K-2, and enrolled in Harrisonburg City Public Schools, give us a call, we still may have spots for you. What a great legacy we are starting together with this new program.

06/01/2026

Virginia Free Fishing Days are just around the corner, June 5-7! No fishing license of any kind will be required for recreational rod and reel fishing during free fishing days.
Stop by Purcell Park on Friday, June 5 from 1-5pm and try your hand at fishing! We will have everything you need to try it out. This program is open to all ages.
All fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect.
You can learn more about the free fishing days at https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/free-fishing-days/

05/29/2026

Join us tonight for the Swim for Sadie kick-off party! There will be free admission, free giveaways, and free swim assessments for lessons. We hope to see everyone tonight at 5:00pm at Westover Pool.

05/29/2026

Summer is here and so are our swim instructors!

The Swim for Sadie program that offers free swim lessons for Harrisonburg City Public School students in grades K-2 will begin enrollment today (May 29) at 5:00pm. Be sure to come out to this free pool party registration event with Kona Ice, giveaways, light refreshments, and goodie bags!

We are proud to support Harrisonburg as one of the largest swim lesson providers in the Shenandoah Valley! Our lessons are taught by certified American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. For more information on all of our classes and the Swim For Sadie program, check out our websites below.

www.harrisonburgva.gov/swimming

www.harrisonburgva.gov/swim-for-sadie