The National Recreation and Parks Association

Working for local parks and recreation during the summer offers a unique and rewarding experience. Employees get the chance to contribute to the well-being of their community by organizing and participating in various outdoor activities and events. Summer positions in the field can offer significant advantages, including skill development, monetary benefits and certifications.

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With summer being the busiest time for parks and recreation, valuable programs can suffer without the addition of summer seasonal staff. From summer camps and sports leagues to outdoor events, parks and recreation is an essential avenue for fostering a vibrant and engaged community. In September 2023, the NRPA Research team sought to capture the experiences park and recreation agencies had in hiring their summer seasonal staff by conducting a survey completed by agency directors.

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In part three of this blog series, we will discuss some common supports for facilitating inclusion in parks and recreation.

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Your NRPA Public Policy and Advocacy team is here to help you make sense of the new federal fiscal year appropriations process. Whether you submitted a request for funding last year or you’re reading about this opportunity for the first time, here’s all the information you’ll need to successfully submit a project request with your congressional representatives.

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The executive director of SoCal Adaptive Sports shares why municipalities and local park and recreation professionals have the power to level the playing field, creating greater societal inclusion.

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NRPA has developed a new resource that offers five practices to support park and recreation professionals with centering community and culture that can be applied to any park and recreation program.

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In part two of our Inclusion in Parks and Recreation blog series, we explore how to facilitate inclusion at an organizational level by including self-advocates, creating an accessible environment, and implementing organizational and programmatic changes.

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On November 2, 2023, a few dozen warm-hearted people gathered on an unseasonably cold morning, just south of San Antonio, Texas, to celebrate the future of Trueheart Ranch Nature Park as part of NRPA's partnership with Bobcat Company.

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Join us in celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day®, an annual celebration hosted by the Women’s Sport Foundation to celebrate all the girls and women who play, coach or work in sports.

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Park and recreation agencies need to maintain relationships with community members to understand and meet their needs. Learn how text outreach can help.

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NRPA’s Healthy Aging Team has developed a resource, “Representation Matters: Strategies to Diversify Instructor Recruitment,” with eight strategies agencies can use to diversify instructor recruitment.

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A solid communications strategy is vital for your park and recreation agency, zoo or nature center to engage the community. Get started with these three tips.

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When working with vendors, Nikki Taylor, CPRP, has found that the key to a successful relationship is to actively engage in their programs and support them while they are working in your community and beyond.

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In 2024, park and recreation professionals can look forward to opportunities from NRPA to learn at their own pace and focus on areas most relevant to them.

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Matt Mann, the recreation manager for the City of Shawnee, Kansas, Parks & Recreation Department, peels back the curtain and give insight into what has made their Community Wellness Hub operate best.

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NRPA is excited to share impacts from the inaugural Youth Sports Equity Grant Program, which is part of a multiyear partnership with Musco Lighting designed to advance equitable access to youth sports in parks and recreation.

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In this edition of the Park Engagement blog series, we explore the different types of participation and engagement that we see within our park and recreation facilities, according to data from NRPA's Engagement With Parks Report.

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In the latest in our Park Engagement Blog Series, we discuss the public’s support for park and recreation funding, initiatives they see as being most beneficial in their community, and their desire to be a part of the process.

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