We’ve been bringing you lots of stories from NRPA members all across the country about Certification – from one agency in Iowa with 18 certifications under their roof, to a whole host of Certified Park and Recreation Executives telling it like it is about executive-level certification in parks and recreation. The stories just keep coming and this one written by Jason Tryon, CPRP, Operations Director/Athletic Coordinator at Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation in Charlotte, NC, touches on what pursing Certification is all about – a challenge to oneself.   Read more

Next up in the NRPA Young Professionals blog series, Aaron Feldman, Landscape Architect and Project Manager for Montgomery County Parks Department in Maryland and NRPA Young Professional Network member, offers personal perspective on taking advantage of leadership development programs for young professionals. These may be programs offered by your own agency or offered by NRPA. Aaron blogs on his personal experience with leadership training and says to those considering it, “why are you not in it?”   Read more

With Earth Week here we know many of you are celebrating with events and other activities that engage your community in conservation. This is phenomenal! You know, NRPA believes that core to the mission of public parks and recreation is the preservation of natural resources and the promotion of good conservation and stewardship practices – this is one of our “Three Pillars.” And this isn’t just during this week or just in April, we know you are taking the lead and making a difference in conservation all year long. But you know, sometimes you need a little conservation inspiration. Ideas to help get the "green" in you going. What better way than by giving you a glimpse of how one agency did something creative to lead a conservation initiative in their community this past year.  The following story comes from Mitchell Murdock, Natural Areas Manager of the Chicago Park District, Department of Natural Resources. Mitch shares how and why the Chicago Park District conducted a native "plant rescue" and also provides key ways to make an event like this a success. We hope this innovative idea helps sparks the spirit of conservation in you all year long. Read more

Second in the Professional Development blog and v-log series, Ron Strickler, CPRP, Recreation Supervisor in the Town of Ocean City, MD and Kayode Lewis, CPRP, Recreation Coordinator from Greenbelt Recreation, MD share what they personally gained from applying for and receiving the NRPA Fellowship and NRPA Diversity Scholarship in 2012. Watch the video to hear what they say their biggest takeaways are and why if you or someone you know is considering these opportunities it is time to go for it! Read more

The NRPA Young Professional Network is launching a series of blogs and video blogs (also known as vlogs or v-logs) to help shed some light on making the most of your career in parks and recreation especially for those in the early stages. In their first ever Professional Development Video Blog, young professional and Facility Manager at The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Atuya O. Cornwell interviews James Worsley, Ph.D., CPRE, Director, Columbus, GA Parks and Recreation on lessons learned from attending his first NRPA Congress as well as ways to get involved at the local and national level. If you are a young professional, or are new to the field, or hey, maybe you are a veteran and just want a refreshing take on professional development -- this vlog is for you!   Read more

PRORAGIS –NRPA’s user-driven park and recreation database and benchmarking tool—is helping park and rec pros use data to measure—measure their successes, check their weaknesses, and see how they compare to similar agencies. Last month, we chatted with the City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department to learn more about their PRORAGIS experience. Read on to find out why Chattanooga participated, what they see as the essential value of PRORAGIS, and how it has helped them have success.  Read more

With children spending more time indoors than out, park and recreation agencies are stepping up to reverse this trend and are helping to connect kids to nature through the 10 Million Kids Outdoors campaign.  But as agency budgets shrink you've got to find low-cost, but effective, methods of connecting kids to environmental programming. Check out this creative list of solutions straight from park and recreation agencies making it work!  Read more

NRPA is actively working with the CDC and other leading experts on an effort to define ‘play deserts,’ essentially spaces that lack available opportunities for physical activity.  Zarnaaz Bashir, MPH, Director of Health Initiatives for NRPA, tells of the importance of defining play deserts for parks and recreation and how this definition will help you establish and demonstrate your role in improving communities through health and wellness and social equity.   Read more

People often ask us why they should invest in becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP). We tell them the truth—it shows their commitment to the field, tests their knowledge of parks and recreation, and helps them stand out among candidates in a crowded job market. Once park and rec professionals get certified, some wonder why they should take the next step and become a Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE). We could spew out all the reasons, but we thought it would be best if you heard it from the source - CPRE's tell you in their words why certification matters!  Read more

Legislative Forum: Not What I Expected As a first-year employee with NRPA, I attended Legislative Forum this week as a novice, a little wide-eyed at the thought of meeting members of Congress in person and asking for their support on legislation important to the future of parks and recreation. I’ve lived i Read more