The National Recreation and Parks Association

We're excited to introduce the newest grantees in our Building the Coaching Pipeline initiative, supported by GameChanger. These communities are working to strengthen existing pathways and create new ones into coaching, using thoughtful and innovative strategies.

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Park and recreation professionals and police officers may not always seem like natural partners. But when they work together around a belief that young people deserve better than what their circumstances hand them, something durable is built.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with Shannon Harris, CPRE, CPO, about what it means to lead with empathy and why people-centered leadership can have a lasting impact on teams, organizations and our communities as a whole.

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Park and recreation agencies across the country are gearing up for another whirlwind of summer, hosting camps, programs, and events. Here's what you’re seeing on the ground as park and recreation professionals.

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If there’s one thing Trista Taylor has learned, it’s that some of the most impactful experiences at the NRPA Annual Conference happen in the moments you never plan for.

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For those who live and breathe parks and recreation, the NRPA Annual Conference isn’t just another conference — it’s a return to the magic that started it all.

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Partnerships are playing an increasingly important role in helping park agencies meet growing public expectations and community needs. Los Angeles offers several examples of what these partnerships look like in practice.

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Planning your Fourth of July celebration? At its best, it can do more than bring people together for a single evening. It can serve as a platform for investment, inclusion and measurable community impact.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we explore how CAPRA accreditation is shaping the standard for park and recreation agencies, leadership and communities across the country.

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In Excelsior Springs, Missouri, the guiding motto is simple: Start with play, have fun, make memories. That mindset has helped grow their Park and Recreation Month celebrations into something the community looks forward to each year.

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Lacey Polster, marketing and communications specialist at Grayslake Community Park District in Illinois, shares her first-time conference experience and why it set a high bar.

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In Oxford, Alabama, the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz gives the community ongoing opportunities to explore, discover and connect with nature.

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Join us for the first-ever Youth Sports in Parks and Recreation Summit at the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia as we rally around the power of parks and recreation in creating transformative sports experiences for young people.

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Finding land for new parks is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing urban communities. Rather than relying solely on vacant parcels, agencies are reclaiming land shaped by legacy infrastructure, industrial uses and public systems.

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A childhood coaching moment shows how the right support can turn self-doubt into confidence, and why initiatives like ESPN's Take Back Sports are helping equip more coaches to do the same for today’s youth.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we’re joined by Erica Flocke, parks and recreation director for the City of Wimberley, Texas, to talk about how the Texas Master Naturalist program has shaped the way she sees her work and her community.

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Brandon Washington shares his first NRPA Annual Conference experience and his decision to give himself five seconds of courage when it felt overwhelming.

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Carter's Spectrum Golf Mentoring Program is proud to celebrate military children who demonstrate remarkable resilience every day, and is committed to supporting their growth both on and off the course.

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