Celebrating Community: The Impact of Park and Recreation Month
By Alexandria Arnold | Posted on May 21, 2026
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.
My First NRPA Annual Conference: Learning, Connection and a Lot of Fun
By Lacey Polster | Posted on May 6, 2026
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.
Curating Spaces for Wonder in Oxford, Alabama
By Ashley Bias, CPRP | Posted on May 5, 2026
In Oxford, Alabama, the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz gives the community ongoing opportunities to explore, discover and connect with nature.
Highlighting The Power of Youth Sports in Philadelphia
By Allison Colman | Posted on May 4, 2026
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.
Reclaiming Space for Community, Recreation and Respite
By Clement Lau, DPPD, FAICP | Posted on May 1, 2026
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.