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Douglas County proclaims Elder Abuse Awareness Month and Parks & Recreation Month; honors parks staff and volunteers
Summary
The board proclaimed June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month and July as Parks & Recreation Month, highlighted 1,117 adult protection hotline reports in 2025, and recognized two parks employees who aided a resident after a fall.
The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners used the opening portion of its June 23 meeting for proclamations and recognition, approving two ceremonial resolutions and thanking staff and volunteers.
Elder‑abuse proclamation: The board read and approved a resolution declaring June elder abuse awareness month in Douglas County. Human Services staff cited 1,117 reports to the county adult protection hotline in 2025 and encouraged residents to report suspected abuse to the local APS number, (303) 663‑6270, or the national line +1 (844) 264‑5437. Commissioners emphasized the need for public education and advanced planning to prevent financial exploitation and self‑neglect among older adults.
Parks & Recreation proclamation and public comments: The board also proclaimed July 2026 as Parks and Recreation Month. Parks Director Steve Schultz and Amanda Badimlia, chair of the Parks Advisory Board, described heavy use of county parks (staff cited more than 3 million visits annually) and the county’s recent voter‑backed investment in parks and open space. A 12‑year‑old, Natalie, told commissioners how parks enable soccer, trail use and volunteer opportunities; volunteers and youth‑sports leaders praised county maintenance and partnerships.
Employee recognition: Commissioners recognized two parks maintenance technicians, Andrew Blazer and Nikolai Graff, who assisted a resident (Wicks Howard) who had fainted at the county fairgrounds. Howard described the incident and thanked the employees for helping him to safety. The board presented formal appreciation and took photographs with staff and volunteers.
The vote: Both proclamations were approved by board motions and voice votes. County leaders called for continued outreach to raise awareness about elder abuse resources and to celebrate volunteer contributions to parks.
