Parks across Mount Vernon are packed with happy children with summer now in full swing. City officials are working to keep it that way.

"We're just looking at the full plan for our parks," Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said. "Not just swings but splash pads, sprinklers, tree canopies, chess tables and our safety surfaces to make sure that it is a healthy and productive environment for all."

The city is currently going one-by-one through each of its 16 parks to evaluate where to improve. Some have already seen tens of thousands of dollars worth of investments including new playground equipment, fresh basketball hoops and beautification projects.

Those efforts seem to be working.

Mount Vernon mother Melanie Sorace said visiting the parks is part of her daily routine with her 2-year-old daughter Olivia.

"It's good for her to get used to being around kids before she goes to school in a couple of years, so this is like the highlight of her day," Sorace said.

Patterson-Howard said investments in the city's Parks and Recreation Department are critical for an evolving municipality. She spent time at City Hall on Tuesday touting those investments as part of Parks and Recreation Month.

"When people have something to do, when they have something to look forward to and when they have an opportunity to come together for things that are positive and invigorating then it keeps their focus on things that are productive," she said.

To meet the growing demand and to improve other parts of the community including the overall quality of life in the city; Mount Vernon is expanding its recreational offerings this summer.

This will include events to get people more active, outdoor summer movies and a concert series.