Editor’s Note: NRPA recently asked Mr. Christopher B. Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Manager with the Federal Highway Administration to provide some factual background and insight on the Transportation Enhancements (TE) and Recreational Trails Program (RTP) initiatives and the role they play in promoting active transportation.  As Congress considers its priorities for 2012; one piece of pressing business is the reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act. The current law, known as SAFETEA-LU is set to expire March 31, and the House and Senate have announced plans to debate and vote on their respective reauthorization packages in the coming days and weeks.   Read more

In the world of blogs, Wednesday often are “wordless,” and photos are used to express your thoughts. With so much hands-on learning going on this week at NRPA’s first ever Green School we thought it would be a great opportunity to show everyone what’s been going on there the last few days. Read more

Park and recreation professionals from across the country are in Wheeling, West Virginia this week to attend the first ever NRPA Green School, a cutting edge two year program at the Oglebay Institute.    What is Green School and why Read more

I must admit, last year when I stepped off the bus onto Capitol Hill, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was in the thick of a great battle. It was my first year attending NRPA’s Legislative Forum event. And even though I’ve lived in the DC area all my life and I’ve visited the monuments and museums with friends and family more times than I can recall—this time I felt like I had a purpose. Read more