Mayor's Newsletter - July 2025

Mayor's Message: National Park and Recreation Month

Mayor Matt Pacifico highlights July as National Park and Recreation Month, emphasizing the benefits of local parks for community connection, physical health, and mental well-being.

• 10-Minute Walk Program: The City of Altoona is working with the Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission to ensure all citizens have access to a park within a 10-minute walk of their home.
• Local Resources: The city is home to 26 different parks featuring playgrounds, courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball, walking trails, and an all-abilities park.
• Additional Facilities: The city also operates three community centers, a public swimming pool, and a spray park.

Fireworks Safety

With the Fourth of July approaching, the newsletter provides safety guidelines from the National Safety Council:

• Supervision: Young children should not handle fireworks; older children require adult supervision.
• Safety Measures: Never use fireworks while impaired, light them indoors, or hold them in your hands. Use protective eyewear and keep a bucket of water nearby to extinguish spent fireworks.
• Pets: Be respectful of neighborhood pets, as fireworks can be frightening.
• Sparkler Warning: Sparklers account for over 25% of firework injuries, particularly in children under 5. Alternatives like glow sticks are recommended.

Fourth of July Events

Several events are scheduled for the holiday weekend:

• Altoona Curve Baseball (July 3): Home game vs. Harrisburg Senators at 7:00 PM. Theme is AMERICA, with fireworks following the game.
• Angie Gioiosa Memorial July 4th Race (July 4): Starts at The Mishler Theatre. Events include a 15K Run (7:30 AM), 5K Run (8:00 AM), 2 Mile Walk (8:05 AM), and a Lollipop Fun Race for kids.
• Fort Roberdeau Star Spangled Fourth (July 4): Open house from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM with living history reenactors.
• Main Line Mania (July 5): At Railroaders Memorial Museum from 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM. Features food vendors, axe throwing, entertainment, and fireworks at dusk.
• Summer Thunder at DelGrosso’s Park (July 4): Musical pre-show at 9:00 PM followed by fireworks at 10:00 PM.

Community Events & Activities

• Central Blair Recreation Commission Annual Golf Tournament (July 28): Held at Sinking Valley Country Club. Registration begins at 8:00 AM with a shotgun start at 9:00 AM. Cost is $400 per foursome or $100 per individual. Proceeds benefit children's recreation programs.
• Blair County African American Heritage Festival (July 26-27): Held in Heritage Plaza, downtown Altoona. Features local music, dance, food vendors, arts, crafts, and a Little Entrepreneurs area.
• Altoona Farmers Market: Open every Thursday from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM in Heritage Plaza. Offers local produce, meats, flowers, and prepared foods.

July Calendar of Special Days

The newsletter lists several national observances for the month:

• July 1: National Postal Worker Day
• July 5: National Hop-A-Park Day
• July 7: National Father Daughter Take-A-Walk Day
• July 11: National French Fry Day & National Pet Photo Day
• July 14: National Mac & Cheese Day
• July 15: National Give Something Away Day & National Gummi Worm Day
• July 16: National Hot Dog Day
• July 17: National Tattoo Day
• July 19: National Play Day
• July 20: National Pennsylvania Day (celebrating the 2nd State to join the Union)
• July 23: Gorgeous Grandma Day
• July 24: National Cousins Day
• July 26: National Coffee Milkshake Day
• July 27: National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
• July 28: National Milk Chocolate Day
• July 30: National Cheesecake Day