The many issues that come into play at the local, state, and national levels in parks and recreation create significant opportunities for media coverage. 

This section provides detailed information for media and communication professionals about upcoming events (see our online press kit), press releases for the past year, and select press coverage on NRPA and the parks and recreation community. 

Park and Recreation Month 2012

Since 1985, Americans have celebrated national Park and Recreation Month during the month of July to promote the importance of parks and recreation in the U.S.  This July we are encouraging everyone to GET WILD about parks and recreation!  Everything from wild workouts and wellness to getting wet and wild at the pool or even wild with nature – you just can’t help but have fun this July at local park and recreation areas.  

Learn more at NRPA's Park and Recreation Month website.

Parks Build Community 2011

NRPA, with its grassroots initiative America’s Backyard and the City of Atlanta, and with contributions from PlayCore, Converse, the Health Education and Community Center of Atlanta (HECCA), and Superior International Industries, reconstructed and renovated Selena Butler Park through NRPA’s 2011 Parks Build Community project.

Read about the ribbon cutting that took place on November 2, 2011!
         Atlanta Neighborhood Comes Together to Welcome Revitalized Local Park 

Past press releases on the park revitalization:
         Atlanta Neighborhood Overwhelmed with Support for Local Park Revival
         National Non-profit Breaks Ground on Butler Park Revitalization
         DC Success of Park Revitalization Initiative Inspires Duplication in Atlanta           
         Plans Underway for Revitalization of Historic Selena Butler Park 

Parks Build Community was covered in the June 5, 2011, issue of USA Today.  Access the article online here.

You can also learn more about the project and view photos on the Parks Build Community web page!

NRPA/NASPD Call for New Conservation Corps

In early July, NRPA and the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) issued a letter to every member of Congress proposing the creation of a Conservation Construction Corps—a national employment program to put Americans back to work and revitalize local, state and national parks in the U.S.  

          Real Jobs for Americans Letter to Congress (Senate Version)
          Real Jobs for Americans Press Release 

CAPRA:  A Standard of Excellence

Since 1989, NRPA's Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) has recognized departments in the U.S. for excellence in operations. 

There are now more than 100 accredited park and recreation agencies.  Read more here.

To download high-resolution photos (provided by Henderson, Nev., Parks and Recreation, a three time CAPRA-accredited agency), right click on the links below, and choose "save target as."  Note that the files are quite large--the download process may take a couple minutes. 
 

          Photo 1 
          Photo 2
          Photo 3
          Captions 

Recent Press Releases

To view all of NRPA's media releases over the past year, click here.

NRPA Social Media

Connect with NRPA!

          NRPA Connect:  Join the conversation at www.nrpaconnect.org!  

          NRPA Facebook page:  Like us Now!

          America's Backyard Facebook page:  Like us Now!  

          Follow NRPA on Twitter:  @NRPA_news.

          Follow America's Backyard on Twitter @Our_Backyard.

          NRPA's Youtube Channel  

          America's Backyard YouTube Channel—Coming Soon! 

Contact Information

Please direct all media-related questions and inquiries to:

Lauren Hoffmann

703.858.2151 
lhoffmann@nrpa.org