The National Recreation and Parks Association

Summer can be the busiest time of year for park and recreation agencies, which means more job openings to fill. But seasonal hiring can be a challenge, as most agencies need to execute their hiring decisions quickly to get staff trained. These five tips will help you create a smooth and easy seasonal hiring process.

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Reno is aiming to be a leader in outdoor recreation in order to attract new business and improve overall quality of life.

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Results of a new poll found that 68 percent of respondents were opposed to the raise in fees.

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After an eventful December, Congress is heading home for the holidays with plenty of work left to be done in D.C. after the New Year.

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For the first time since 1986 Congress has passed a significant tax reform bill (House Vote 224-201, Senate Vote 51-48) and is expected to be signed by President Trump. What does this all mean for park and recreation agencies?

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There may be good reasons to alter the boundaries of certain national monuments, but the wholesale reductions announced for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are not reasonable modifications.

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How a 9-year-old is saving pollinators with an app, a board game and endless enthusiasm.

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While we may never be 100 percent guarded against the forces of nature, there are many steps that our local and federal government can take to mitigate loss and increase our safety.

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Valleybrook Park received a huge revitalization, including new playgrounds, restrooms, a pavilion and more, thanks to a $477,000 federal CDBG Disaster Resilience grant.

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As everyone begins their Holiday preparations, Congress is hard at work in two principal areas with deadlines fast approaching.

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Roseann Bongiovanni of Chelsea, Massachusetts' GreenRoots shares how they use community engagement to make improvements that benefit all.

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As we head into winter and winter breaks, it’s a fantastic opportunity to take a look at your resume to make sure it’s ready for the New Year and potential spring and summer internships and job opportunities. But how do you stand out among your qualified peers?

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In today’s episode, we chat with Ava DeBovis and Daniel Hatcher from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to bust some out-of-school time myths.

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Park and recreation staff often have to deal with emergency situations in their programs throughout the year. Here are some tips on how to handle them more effectively.

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The Department of Interior recently issued notice they will significantly raise daily entrance fees for 17 iconic national parks and has requested public comment.

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As our work lives return to normal following the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference, we would like to take a moment to share some of the feedback you passed on to us about your experience in New Orleans. Thank you for sharing your opinions!

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November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. As part of this nationwide initiative, NRPA is calling attention to the role parks and rec plays in keeping people active and healthy, even those affected by diabetes.

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On October 10, 2017, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) came together to launch a campaign called 10-Minute Walk.

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As a first-time speaker at 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans I learned what it takes to make an impact on the audience and how rewarding it can be.

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Congress has passed the FY2018 budget framework, but spending levels for individual programs have not been finalized.

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Difficult conversations can lead to great opportunities to learn and grow.

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Why should we place a priority on serving older adults? Several reasons!

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Looking to become more involved in the profession? Speaking at the NRPA Annual Conference is a great way to inspire your fellow park and recreation professionals and make a name for yourself. Here are some tips to get you started.

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Tax reform is a logical piece of legislation where the language of the PHIT Act can be included.

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Clinical Social Worker Jennifer Udler, LCSW-C shares how she discovered the benefits of combining walking, therapy and nature together to help those with mental illness.

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Yesterday was the official deadline for cities to compete for the new Amazon Headquarters. Will parks and rec play a role?

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NRPA Annual Conference sessions led by some of the best park and recreation professionals in the field highlighted some answers to common issues.

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In this third and final installment of our series on drones in parks, we speak with Rich Dolesh, NRPA’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives on the future of drones in parks.

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Despite the many benefits of parks and recreation, our field has many hurdles to overcome both from internal and external forces if we are to reach our full potential.

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In this episode of Open Space Radio, we continue our three-part series on drones in parks. In the second segment, I speak with Evie Kirkwood, Director of St. Joseph County Parks in Indiana.

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Thanks to great efforts on Capitol Hill and local advocacy efforts from out-of-school time (OST) providers like yourself all summer long, congress voted just last week to restore the funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Center program.

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The recent natural disasters – from Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria to wildfires, earthquakes, power outages and more – have brought devastation to millions of people. Within every disaster though, bright lights appear. Many of these bright lights are our public service employees – park and recreation employees among them.

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There are many important and valuable research articles published each year related to parks and recreation. NRPA contracted with North Carolina State University’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Department to review recently published papers focused on park and recreation’s role in conservation and resiliency.

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Part one of a three-part series to tackle this topic by interviewing experts in the field with three different perspectives.

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The Alliance for the Great Lakes worked with community members in Gary to create meaningful Green Infrastructure projects that matter to them.

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The Wednesday Keynote for the NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Jessica Pettitt, shares how we can start having conversations that matter by (re)claiming our responsibility for who and how we show up in our relationships.

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Michael J. Kalvort, CPRE, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Virginia Beach, shares how staying on top of park and recreation trends allows him and his department to best serve their community.

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This week we’re discussing what’s been on top of all of our minds over the past week or so — hurricane Harvey and the devastating destruction it’s wrought on Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf Shore.

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The appeals to help support victims of hurricane Harvey in Texas and beyond can be heard everywhere. The need is great now and it won’t go away once the rains and floodwaters subside.

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In June, NRPA partnered with the Citi Foundation to host Global Community Day service projects at local park and recreation agencies in nine cities across the country. Citi employees, their family members and community volunteers participated in park maintenance/beautification, and other projects that helped revitalize local park spaces.

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For the first time in 26 years, all of the US will be treated to some form of an eclipse on Monday, August 21, with a large portion being able to view a total eclipse.

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Nearly one in three older adults suffer from arthritis. Learn how NRPA, with the support of the CDC, is disseminating and increasing sustainable supports for evidence-based physical activity programs designed to help people with arthritis.

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NRPA Chair-Elect Leon Andrews writes about the importance of local leadership in standing up for equity.

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Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) participated in a park champion event in Mt. Airy, NC where the importance of USDA meal programs — and parks and recreation's role in providing meals to youth — was demonstrated.

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NRPA staff members share their opinions about a recent Wall Street Journal article that explores how Americans are staying put even though moving might bring them more opportunity.

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2016 conference newbie, Sheila Runnels, shares her advice for those attending the NRPA Annual Conference for the first time.

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Today’s episode covers three trending topics that have been in the news lately — Pokémon Go and augmented reality games in parks, recreation fees for public land use and cool streets.

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Whether you are recruiting a new member for your team or you are looking for the next step in your career, having compensation data in your hands helps you make informed decisions.

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Park and recreation agencies nationwide are working to prevent and manage symptoms related to chronic diseases locally, but we know this work would not be possible without the support from the PPHF and the CDC.

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Today’s episode is a cool topic — literally and figuratively — we’re talking about the world’s first ultra-accessible waterpark: Morgan’s Inspiration Island.

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Open Space Radio is your go to Podcast for learning about the latest trends and news in parks and recreation. This episode covers what you can expect to hear from us each week.

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The NRPA Great Urban Parks Campaign Community Engagement grant program offered us an opportunity to pilot a work study program to arm young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to address real issues in our community.

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NRPA’s Health and Wellness Team works with local park and recreation agencies to provide tools, resources and technical assistance to help improve access to healthy foods and increase opportunities for people to be physically active in their communities.

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Last week, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Funding Bill for FY18, which includes $11 million for the CDC’s Arthritis Program.

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The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Young Professional Network is pleased to announce that Visit a Park Day will be Friday, October 6, 2017.

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Alvin Galang, MPH explains how the NRPA Annual Conference helps him "Build Community Through Fun."

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NRPA and the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) were honored to host the new Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center on Thursday, July 20 to see summer meals in action.

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Megan Harrington, Recreation Supervisor with the City of Mexico Parks and Recreation Department, shares how partnerships helped them create a thriving walking program.

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While parks have been around for well over a century, the notion that parks improve public health only gained recognition within the last decade.

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It’s National Parks and Recreation Month, which always makes me wax nostalgic about the center of my childhood existence: PLAY.

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This guest post by Rep. Nanette Barragán highlights the importance of urban greenspace and the work we all do every day to promote parks and recreation.

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As we kick off this year’s Park and Recreation Month, NRPA wants to ensure that Members of Congress and their staff understand the critical importance of federal funding that supports out-of-school time programming

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July is Park and Recreation Month and it is finally here!

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Heidi Ham, National AfterSchool Association (NAA) Vice President of Programs and Strategy shares her story of growing up in afterschool park and recreation programs and offers professionals a thank you gift from NAA.

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Today the Senate released its healthcare repeal bill, the details of which are deeply troubling for park and recreation priorities.

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The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act or “GOMESA” was passed a little over 10 years ago in 2006. The measure includes a mandate that a portion of the overall revenues go to the State Assistance program.

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As a member of the NRPA Conference Program Committee, the team of NRPA members who review the conference education session proposals, I invite you for a behind the scenes look at the remarkable process that results in an amazing product.

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In honor of Park and Recreation Month, we asked Cre8Play to share some of the lessons learned from a recent TEDx event.

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Residents of rural communities, especially minority and low-income residents, tend to report higher prevalence of chronic conditions (for example arthritis, diabetes and heart disease), poorer health, and little to no physical activity compared to residents of urban communities.

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Green stormwater infrastructure offers a hopeful solution to both environmental and social challenges when implemented in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

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The full details of President Trump’s budget request for FY18 were released last week, which, if enacted, would mark a devastating divestment in programs critical to parks and recreation across the nation.

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A recently released comprehensive study takes a closer look at how Americans connect with nature. The Nature of Americans report combines data to better understand their sentiment of nature, outdoor activities, perceived benefits, and more.

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AFO Instructor Brad Anderson shares 10 water safety tips for keeping patrons safe at your pools this summer.

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This summer, it’s likely that many park and recreation facilities, aquatic centers and summer camps will be accommodating children with autism and various sensory challenges. Learn how to improve safety, communication and knowledge to better accommodate these families in our facilities and programs.

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The Community Preventive Services Task Force announced a new recommendation designed to increase physical activity though built-environment approaches that combine transportation-system interventions with land use and environmental design. This recommendation directly supports NRPA's Safe Routes to Parks initiative.

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Last week, NRPA’s Health and Wellness Department attended the Partnership for a Healthier America’s (PHA) 2017 Building a Healthier Future Summit in Washington, DC. This annual event brings together nonprofits, government agencies, academic institutions and corporations that are all committed to ending childhood obesity.

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We, the people, must raise our voices to defend the health of our neighborhoods and the future of our children. We must insist on more parks and greater access to healthy outdoor activity, along with protection for all our public lands and waters — including national monuments.

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Since the dawn of humanity, it seems, people have enjoyed the beauty, tranquility and serenity that natural parks offer. We all share the love of the outdoors, for recreation and for a respite from the busy world that invades most of our daily lives. Nature and recreation are treasures to cherish.

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May is Arthritis Awareness and Older Americans Month. Parks and Recreation play a major role in helping to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis (and other chronic diseases) among older adults in their communities. Here is one example of how the City of Tualatin, Oregon is doing just that.

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Today the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) which repeals significant portions of the Affordable Care Act, including a full repeal of the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

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NRPA is proud to welcome Kate Sims, Government Affairs Manager, to our public policy team.

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After a third Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY2017 was put into place to fund the government through May 5, a bipartisan omnibus spending agreement was released on Monday that will now fund the government through the end of the fiscal year in September.

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Whether you are a repeat NRPA Annual Conference attendee or a newbie, you probably want to know a little more about the event before (or after) you register. Here is a preview to help you plan.

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This week marks the third Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by Congress for Fiscal Year 2017 to continue funding the government, but only temporarily.

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Take a live snake into an inner-city school or community center and you may clear the room. I have had this experience several times… but only on the first visit.

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Shannon Burton, Outdoor Programs Manager for the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, shares her advice for training nature program instructors.

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If you were wondering about the status of the highly threatened monarch butterfly this past winter, the news is not good.

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This week, we released the 2017 NRPA Agency Performance Review, our annual report summarizing the key findings and insights from Park Metrics. If this sounds familiar, it is because the Agency Performance Review is the new name for the NRPA Field Report.

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For the third year, NRPA is collaborating with The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN during Earth Month for the Meet Me at the Park initiative!

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The last two decades have seen a big push for healthcare providers and health systems to collaborate with community-based organizations and businesses (like parks and recreation) through coalitions and city-wide health initiatives to address these barriers to improved health.

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The Trump White House released its first federal budget request this week on Thursday, March 16 and key park and recreation policy priorities are identified to receive cuts and elimination.

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Aging in place is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “the ability to live in one’s home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.” Parks and recreation is a vital part of creating an age friendly community.

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On March 7, 2017, the CDC released Vital Signs: Arthritis in America highlighting the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis in America, along with activity limitations and measures than can be taken to combat arthritis.

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NRPA recently conducted a survey of urban park and recreation agency directors across the country on the topic of homelessness to gain an understanding of the views and actions of their departments and other local government agencies.

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In February 2014 NRPA launched Commit to Health, a campaign devoted to creating healthier out-of-school time (OST) programs in local parks and recreation.

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A research brief published earlier this year highlights that parks are a health solution not just an aspirational goal.

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March is the perfect time to start planning a nature discovery program for your out-of-school time youth. Recreation Programmer Kim Tuong has some great tips to get you started.

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Receiving an NRPA Fellowship proved to be one of the highlights of Anthony's career. In addition to being recognized for his work, the fellowship expanded Anthony's network and introduced him to new ideas.

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An Executive Order by President Trump restricting implementation of federal regulations froze the listing of the rusty patched bumblebee as an endangered species for 60 days.

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Park and Recreation Month can seem overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve put together this quick start guide so you can easily celebrate the important role of parks and recreation this July.

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Here is the latest from Capitol Hill about the Trump Administration Cabinet and Congress.

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Last Friday, we sat down with NRPA’s Public Policy team to do a Facebook Live broadcast about how the changes in Washington, D.C. will likely affect the field of parks and recreation.

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With the 115th Congress underway, it’s time to meet the legislators leading the Congressional committees handling the legislation that is most important to parks and recreation.

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Your park and recreation agency needs to be doing really great work to win a national award. That’s how it should be to be named one of the Best of the Best.

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On May 20, 2017, National Park Trust invites parks and students across the country to participate in the 7th annual Kids to Parks Day, a nationwide grassroots movement to celebrate America’s parks and public lands.

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Many agencies are interested in introducing a nature discovery program to their community, but are unsure of how to begin. Here are some easy tips for agencies and leaders to get started.

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It’s 2017 and time to make a resolution to revamp your hiring process. It is also the perfect time to assess your agency’s team and find new employees to fill in the gaps.

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Regardless of your background, all park and recreation professionals can benefit from going through the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) process.

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Research shows that Americans have a strong, unwavering support for park and recreation funding. Yet, most park and recreation agencies have to fight for every dollar and dime they receive.

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We pulled out the old crystal ball and made the following predictions of what is likely to occur in the world of parks and recreation in 2017.

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Many people who make resolutions to become and stay physically active. There's an alternative to the gym lifestyle, though.

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The 115th session of Congress kicked into high gear this week in Washington, and the wheels of government are starting to turn again. Here's what it means for us.

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Awards season has arrived at NRPA! This year, NRPA is offering 11 National Awards and seven Gold Medal Awards. Here are some tips for a stellar submission.

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