The National Recreation and Parks Association

As we begin our second year of the three-year USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program, we are excited to share some incredible impacts made during this first year.

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Get an overview of the four dimensions of health as considered in A Framework for Assessing Equitable Health Outcomes of Parks.

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Maureen Neumann, NRPA Senior Health Program Manager, shares where some of the previous RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity winners are now and what winning the award meant to them.

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During the winter months, it is not always possible to be outside or utilize typical park and recreation assets and programming. Here are some fun and creative ways to continue supporting and engaging youth in your community year-round.

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On December 6, 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) Final Report as the county’s 30x30 plan. 30x30 refers to the goal of conserving 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030 to address climate change and protect biodiversity.

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A Framework for Assessing Equitable Health Outcomes walks park practitioners through five steps to arrive at an appraisal of their park system’s equitability and economic value. It also provides tips to translate those findings into action.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with Karen Ranney Wolkins, the commissioner of parks and recreation and community enrichment for City of Toledo, Ohio, to discuss how the city is prioritizing community and equity in their plans to build more parks.

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Parks, trails and greenways play a vital role in keeping people active and healthy. Learn more about the Active Parks! Implementation Guide to explore effective strategies you can implement to increase physical activity in your community.

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As a CAPRA volunteer since 2013, Sharon Bousquet has been able to travel to all different parts of the country, meet some outstanding professionals in our field, learn hundreds of new ways to accomplish goals, and help other agencies through the CAPRA process.

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Most often, the economic value of parks relates to property values, tax revenue, tourism revenue, and local business development. Like these contributions to the local economy, the health benefits of parks also have economic value.

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Bob Bierscheid, the retired director of Saint Paul (Minnesota) Parks and Recreation. shares why participation in the CAPRA process has been one of the highlights of his 50-plus professional years.

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The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is a valuable tool to identify communities that will most likely need support before, during and after a public health emergency. More broadly, SVI is an indicator of which areas of a community are considered “at risk” and most in need of investment to reduce vulnerability and increase overall health.

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On today’s episode of Open Space Radio, I’m joined by staff from City of Detroit Parks and Recreation, which was one of seven agencies that received NRPA's Resilient Park Access grant.

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Our partners at Merrell conducted a study of cross-cultural perceptions and experiences in the outdoors to better understand how race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation and income affect how welcome people feel outside. Learn more about the report and hear from Merrell CSR Marketing Manager Regina Hill.

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NRPA is thrilled to announce additional resources that expand our suite of mentoring and youth development offerings, including a family engagement guide and closure of the mentoring relationship.

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Good volunteers can be hard to find as the work often comes with a lack of recognition or thanks. But, that doesn’t mean an organization should happily accept whatever help is offered.

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It can be a challenge for park and recreation departments to change modes, focusing on indoor activities, especially during those cold winter months or particularly stormy days.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're celebrating America Recycles Day with Manuela Barón, a Colombian-American sustainability activist, artist and founder of The Girl Gone Green, an inclusive community that fosters social and environmental change and encourages people to live more consciously.

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NRPA and Children and Nature Network partnered to dive into the importance of systems change perspectives and application with a workshop for NRPA’s Resilient Park Access grantee cohort prior to the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference.

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Nothing can replace the connections and opportunities for relationship-building that in-person meetings and other activities provide. However, there are tools that can help make virtual meetings more engaging, interactive and even fun.

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This September, NRPA hosted its fourth annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. This year, we had many agencies join us again, while welcoming new agencies who hosted a BioBlitz for the first time.

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Learn more about NRPA’s new Data and Mapping Resource Library, which offers a collection of relevant, publicly available databases and visualizations curated for park and recreation professionals and advocates.

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Park and recreation agencies can benefit greatly from collecting post-event feedback from the community. Learn why and how to use surveys with this quick guide.

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One in three young people in the United States are growing up without a mentor. To help adults be more intentional when interacting with young people, the “mentoring mindset” outlines four ways adults can support youth.

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In celebration of World Arthritis Day this October 12, NRPA's Tiff Cunin shares five tips for supporting adults with arthritis in your community.

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The world has gone completely digital. This means it is important to use digital media to share eco-friendly practices so that people remember to take care of the world around them - especially the rising generation.

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Since 2016, Memphis, Tennesee, has been working on transforming its Mississippi Riverfront from miles of underutilized public space into a series of connected parks, gathering places and civic spaces that are both vibrant and welcoming.

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On the October bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by NRPA Vice President of Education and Chief Equity Officer Autumn Saxton-Ross and NRPA Director of Learning Philip Silva to discuss NRPA's new Equity in Practice initiative.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Edwin Rivera-Guzman, CPRP, to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month and how park and recreation professionals can celebrate in their communities.

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Here are some ideas on the types of events you could host to raise awareness and drive action in partnership with the White House Conference on Hunger, Health, and Nutrition.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're talking with Neelay Bhatt, founder and CEO of Next Practice Partners — and this year's Best of the Best ceremony emcee — about innovation, inclusion and next practices in parks and recreation.

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Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation's Parks Needs Assessment Plus contains data and analyses in support of expanding land conservation and restoration, transit to parks, and other strategies to meet regional and rural recreation needs, especially in the most vulnerable communities.

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Neelay Bhatt shares a recap of the differences between "Best Practices" and "Next Practices," as well as introduces his new endeavor, Next Practice Partners, which will help park and recreation agencies prepare for what's next through planning, training and technology services.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Sydney Elliott, MBA, CPRP, the youth and business coordinator for City of DeSoto Parks & Recreation, to discuss the importance of engaging teens in park and recreation programming.

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MENTOR, The National Mentoring Partnership, recently launched a series of resources that benefits anyone looking to support a young person and includes real-world advice, plus tangible, evidence-based strategies for mentors.

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Agencies who have participated in NRPA’s Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz program share how it has positively impacted their agency’s work to support pollinators and native habitat, as well as engage their community members.

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As one of the largest providers of out-of-school time programs for youth and families, park and recreation professionals can look to the CDC’s updated guidance to help navigate their response to the monkeypox outbreak.

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Park and recreation agencies can unite with their community for a cause. These four outdoor fundraising ideas get your supporters outside while fundraising.

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On the September bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we're chatting with 2022 NRPA Annual Conference speaker, Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned scientist, animal behaviorist, advocate for autism and author.

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NRPA strongly urges the passage of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, and with it, a robust Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) that supports youth and their families.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Kate Connell, CPRP, the aquatics program supervisor for Iowa City Parks and Recreation and creator of Equitable Aquatics. She is also a recipient of the 2022 NRPA Young Professional Fellowship!

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Tim Herd, CPRE, the CEO of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, shares his recommendation for "Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado Perez.

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As we enter a new school year, here are some ways park and recreation professionals can consider how their programs can more intentionally integrate social and emotional learning to advance positive youth outcomes across their community.

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The countdown to September’s BioBlitz is on! In only a few short weeks, communities across the country will celebrate our fourth annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. Here are a few tips for hosting your own BioBlitz in your community.

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To support park and recreation professionals looking to recruit more families into their youth sports programming, NRPA has developed a suite of family-facing resources that showcases what sets park and recreation youth sports apart from the rest.

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Due to a recent rise in cases, the World Health Organization declared the spreading monkeypox outbreak a global public health emergency on Saturday, July 23. Here's what you should know.

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With July being Park and Recreation Month and this year’s theme being “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation,” Clement Lau, a departmental facilities planner with the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, shares one way for park and recreation professionals to rise up: telling our stories.

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NRPA’s SNAP and WIC Outreach Toolkit provides information for park and recreation professionals on how to provide SNAP/WIC outreach directly to community members, connecting them to enrollment and retention assistance for increased access to affordable and healthy foods.

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The August issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today’s bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories, titled, “Homelessness: How Can I Help?”

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National Farmers Market Week, taking place August 7-13, is an annual celebration hosted by Farmers Market Coalition that highlights the vital role farmers markets play in the national food system.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're discussing how Montgomery County, Maryland, is celebrating Latino Conservation Week with Michelle Ramirez, the public outreach specialist for Montgomery Parks.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we map out all the resources you need to have a successful Park and Recreation Month this July.

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After more than 50 years, the White House will once again convene a national Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. Here's how you can get involved and make your voice heard.

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This resource is an opportunity for your agency to center the community in its decision-making and create systemic change that will lead to more equitable, inclusive, healthy and resilient park spaces.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by 10-year-old Evangeline Iarossi, who wrote a letter to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor about the inequities between girls' and boys' sports, as well as Heather Wolf-Erickson and Sherisha Hills of City of Tampa Parks and Recreation, who are helping to address these inequities.

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On the July bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we're diving deeper into the story behind our Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest and discussing how Phoenix is honoring Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to her lose her life in combat while serving in the U.S. military.

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We are thrilled to share a new resource, Community Wellness Hubs: A Toolkit for Advancing Community Health and Well-Being, which provides guidance on how to create your own Community Wellness Hub.

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Whether this is the first year your community is hosting a Pride event or its fifty-second, it is essential to keep the tradition going, because parks are at the heart of community and they’re at the heart of Pride.

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This June as we honor the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, NRPA celebrates our park and recreation professionals who continue to fight until the full promise of Title IX becomes real: so all girls and women have access to and benefit from sports equally.

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As we observe June's annual Pride Month, a month where the LGBTQ+ community celebrates in many different ways, the issue of cyberbullying for youth takes on particular urgency.

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These three terms are ever-present in our country’s discourse, and they’re often used interchangeably. But do they really mean the same thing? We’ve created this Quick Read to break down each of these definitions to help you determine which word is best to use in different contexts.

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The restoration of degraded lands is of great importance and a matter of environmental justice in Los Angeles County, where numerous underserved communities are plagued with environmental burdens.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're discussing a youth mentoring program in Berwick, Maine, which is designed to support youth impacted by the opioid epidemic.

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To round out Mental Health Awareness Month, here are some suggestions on how to find your mental fitness routine from Katie Garrett, CPRP.

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A team of experts partnered with KABOOM! to summarize what the research has to say about equitable access to quality playspaces in Colorado and nationwide. What they found was insightful.

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The health and well-being of our kids is deeply connected to the places where they live and play. As the world nears the two-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, kids, much like adults, need outlets that relieve stress and provide social connection more than ever.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are 10 actions park and recreation professionals can take this May to amplify their role in supporting mental health.

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The June issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today’s bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories titled, “Making Wellness More Inclusive.”

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In our Spring 2022 edition of NRPA Parks Snapshot, we check on the status of park and recreation agency funding, aquatics programming and, in particular, the hiring of lifeguards.

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This Older Americans Month and Arthritis Awareness Month, NRPA is excited to share updates and news about how local parks and recreation continues to support healthy aging in communities across the country.

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Background Investigation Bureau, NRPA's exclusive background screening provider, gives you five vital reasons why screening everyone in your organization, no matter their role, is important.

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Two important concepts in The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II regulation govern how agencies respond to requests from people with disabilities when it comes to supporting them in programs.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're replaying a Coffee Talk from the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference, when we talked with Ignacio Gallegos about the impact the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association in Illinois has had on his life, along with his grandmother, Leticia DeLaFuente.

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Park and recreation agencies can get their entire communities together to support a good cause. Learn how to inspire and engage your community with these three tips.

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Your youth sports program volunteers keep your programs running. Here are four effective tips to recruit qualified volunteers to help manage your programs.

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Water play spaces can rejuvenate a communities’ core, be an element to include to reimagine flood-prone areas, and reconnect the community to the benefits, fun and wonder of water play.

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On the May bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re talking about centering equity and inclusion in water safety programs with Tara Eggleston Stewart, CPRE, division chief for aquatics and athletic facilities for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

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Kelli Beavers, CPRP, director of recreation, parks, and tourism for Charles County Government (Maryland), shares why obtaining her Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification has given her the credit she deserves for serving as a park and recreation professional for the last 24 years.

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Here are seven of the most important ways you can make the most of your dog park and put it in a position to support dogs, humans and the community at large.

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There has never been a better time to sign up to participate in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, taking place on June 23, 2022. Here are some reasons it is a critical and worthwhile event.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're discussing how trees play a critical role in building environmental resilience, cooling our neighborhoods, and improving the health of our communities with Jad Daley, president and CEO of American Forests.

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Carrie A. Fullerton, CPRE, the executive director of Arlington Heights Park District in Illinois, shares her experience of going from a Certified Park and Recreation Professional to a Certified Park and Recreation Executive.

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Partnerships between healthcare organizations and community-based organizations (such as parks and recreation) can have some of the greatest impacts on community health and well-being.

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Tara Eggleston Stewart, chief of aquatics and athletic facilities for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) Department of Parks and Recreation, shares her journey to becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE).

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As Congress begins the appropriations process for the federal fiscal year (FY) 2023, your NRPA public policy and advocacy team is here to help you make sense of it all.

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Are your hiring practices — specifically regarding your background check process — safeguarding your park and recreation agency and community?

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're revisiting a previous episode featuring the founders of Women in Parks and Recreation, which began as a Facebook group and has grown into a into a 501(C)3 nonprofit charitable organization with a goal of strengthening women in the field through networking, collaboration and learning.

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Eleven-year-old Adam Levine knows how important it is for kids to get outside and be active, and he wants to let other kids know how important getting outside and being active is for them.

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Amber Moore, CPRP, the aquatics supervisor for Brigham City Corporation (Utah), shares why becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) was worth it for her — and why it's worth it for you!

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On the April bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Ayanna Williams, MSW, NRPA director of community and environmental resilience, to discuss all the ways park and recreation professionals are celebrating Earth Day with their communities.

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations has issued an updated report, which contains several implementable strategies to improve the climate resilience of people and nature that park and recreation professionals may find insightful.

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Parks are built for visitors to have fun and enjoy themselves. However, some activities carry a degree of risk, which means that your park might need waivers.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're talking all things Morale, Welfare and Recreation, also known as Armed Forces Recreation, with NRPA's incoming Armed Forces Recreation Network chair, John Prue, as well as Caité Kendrick and Kiersten Warren.

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The recently completed Battery Playscape in New York City offers an example of how to make resiliency a key component of a project while delivering a new and unique playground.

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Myla Neal, CPRE, the assistant director for Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services in Virginia, shares her experience with taking the Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) exam, as well as some helpful tips.

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As a park and recreation professional, you might be looking to plan an exciting workshop that engages community members and invites them to take advantage of community services. This guide offers a few tips to help you plan your next engaging community event.

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In continuing to provide learning opportunities and resources that may be beneficial to NRPA members — including various federal resources — we wanted to share information on the Department of Defense (DoD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.

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On today’s episode, we're chatting with Alec Beck, the manager of public education for The Skatepark Project, formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation, as well as Cecely Todacheenie, a local skateboarder from Gallup, New Mexico, who was a strong advocate and youth ambassador for a skatepark project in her community.

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Planning is the cornerstone of any well-run camp, and it is extremely important in coordinating any high-level park and recreation program. Here are some tips and guidelines on planning your camp programs.

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This blog post outlines the three most common challenges NRPA has received in response to our push for diversity, equity and inclusion in parks and recreation, along with our perspectives on each.

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The March issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today’s bonus episode of the podcast we’re diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories, titled, “Blazing a Trail in Bristol, Connecticut.”

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Tennis icon Billie Jean King, a pioneer for the fair and equal treatment of women in sports, conducted the coin toss at Super Bowl LVI with an important message for viewers at home: with June 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX legislation, let’s celebrate the wins, but double down on the urgent need to advance gender equity in sports now.

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Building on the success of the 2021 contest, this year’s Share Your Story contest from Recreation.gov launched January 5 and runs through April 30, 2022. Amateur writers can recap their experiences on federal public lands and waters for a chance to win great prizes and have their story featured on Recreation.gov!

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February 2, 2022, was National Girls and Women in Sports Day — a moment to celebrate female athletes and to take action to ensure women and girls have equitable access to opportunities for physical activity.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're replaying our Coffee Talk from the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference with Dr. Kim and Claude Walker, the founders of Abundant Life Adventure Club.

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For many park and recreation agencies, volunteers are going to be the face of your youth sports programs and leagues. Here are some tips to manage your volunteers and keep them coming back!

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January is National Mentoring Month and shines light on the importance of mentoring and social connection, especially during times of hardship and uncertainty. Here are some resources and ways you can celebrate.

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Jason Schaitz, MBA, CPRE, shares some ways to help you market and promote your programs to your local community.

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Introducing NRPA's Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Language Guide, a resource developed to help park and recreation professionals to address, communicate, and effectively serve all individuals experiencing mental health and substance use disorders.

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On the February bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re having a conversation with two of this year's 30 Under 30, Rosie Santos and Hashim Taylor, as well as NRPA Volunteer and Awards Manager Michael Biedenstein.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Neelay Bhatt, vice president and principal of PROS Consulting, to discuss what the future of parks and recreation may look like in terms of programming, placemaking, financing and more.

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On November 12, 2021, NRPA released the first blog in this series, Understanding Homelessness: The Extent, Causes and Local Solutions. This second post delves into additional support and resources available, as well as outlines potential solutions and a path forward.

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This new toolkit was designed to provide community-based organizations with insights, tips and resources to help secure funding for health and wellness programs.

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Mental health is an increasingly important issue, especially among young generations. Learn how staff at your agency can help support mental health.

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The new year is a time for resolutions, but yours do not need to be challenging. Here are some easy resolutions you can make for 2022.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're talking with Dani Reyes-Acosta, a mountain athlete and storyteller rewriting the narrative of who plays outside and how we build community with others on this planet.

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