Features

‘Carpe Carpam’: Conservation Through Gastronomy

University of Missouri Professor Mark Morgan, Ph.D., has hit upon an innovative way to combat the invasive Asian carp that can now be found in 40 states.

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Nature Meets (Welcomes) Technology

Today’s tech savvy college students can be a great resource for agencies with limited budgets and personnel when it comes to enhancing visitor experience.

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Local and Regional Parks: Engines of Economic Activity

Public parks contributed almost $140 billion in economic activity and generated almost 1 million jobs in 2013, further making the case that these spaces are essential components of all communities.

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Moving Toward a Brighter Future for Wellston, Missouri

Design renderings for Wellston, Missouri’s Trojan Park, site of the next Park Build Community project, include playgrounds for multiple age groups, a group pavilion, splash pad and a basketball court.

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Reinventing Senior Centers: Virtually

Research by the National Council on Aging shows that participation in virtual senior centers benefits older individuals in much the same way as being present.

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Additional Articles

Professional Development Calendar

NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities.

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Member Spotlight: Seve Ghose, CPRE

Seve Ghose, CPRE, Director of Louisville Metro Parks, discusses his career in parks and recreation. 

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Strive for More Community Engagement

Give your community easy access to information about your programs, events and facilities. 

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The NRPA Board of Directors Is Now Accepting Applications

Consider joining the NRPA Board of Directors. Applications are being accepted now through January 31. 

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Your Photo, Our Cover

It’s time to submit your photos for the 2016 Parks and Recreation Month Cover Contest. 

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The National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence

What are the four main benefits for embarking on a Gold Medal Award journey? 

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Going Beyond the Degree: Real-Life Education

Three park and recreations professionals offer insights on how to make the transition from school to real-life career. 

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Expressing Our Value

NRPA CEO and President Barbara Tulipane, CAE, discusses why it shouldn't come as a surprise that the park and recreation industry is a major driver of a healthy economy.

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Evaluating Day Camps Using the ACA Youth Outcomes Battery

Being able to effectively evaluate camp programs is essential to help with funding, to inform stakeholders and to provide evidence of what youths gain from the experience. 

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Notable News

Stay up to date on what’s happening in parks and recreation with the latest news from around the field.

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NRPA Connect Hot Topics

Find out what hot topics have been trending on NRPA Connect!

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Innovative Collaborations

Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources Mike DiBerardinis addresses Innovation Lab attendees at the Philadelphia Free Library.

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Part One: Marielle Anzelone Plans a PopUP Forest

An artistic rendering of the temporary PopUP Forest installation Urban Ecologist Marielle Anzelone is planning for Times Square in 2017.

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Wintertime Is for the Birds

Wintertime is a big time in the birding community to see waterfowl and even songbirds, like juncos.

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Benefits of an Active Pregnancy

Being physically active during pregnancy has many proven benefits for both baby and mom.

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Parks That Connect You to Nature Through All Your Senses

A portion of the Braille Trail and Sensory Garden at the Watertown Riverfront Park — Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation.

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Downtown Panhandling Ordinance Unconstitutional

Panhandling bans in the revitalized downtown areas in many cities and states are facing legal challenges on First Amendment grounds — case in point, the Massachusetts court case of McLaughlin v. City of Lowell.

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Leveraging the Assets of Oregon’s Middlefield Golf Course

Children and families enjoy the added soccer/disc golf amenity, which opens up Middlefield to more members of the community.

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2015 Year in Review

NRPA’s public policy team provides a look back at what was an extremely eventful 2015.

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The Goods on Golf

This month’s numbers reveal some interesting facts about the game of golf.

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Growing the Game of Golf: Creative Ideas for the Next Generation

A Veterans and Friends league is one of the creative programs Illinois’s Decatur Parks District is using to attract golfers and non-golfers to its golf facilities.   

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