Facilitating Inclusion in Parks and Recreation: Part 3 — Implementing Support to Facilitate Inclusion
By Jennifer Ward | Posted on March 6, 2024
In part three of this blog series, we will discuss some common supports for facilitating inclusion in parks and recreation.
Federal Earmarks Process — How to Win Funding for Local Park Initiatives
By Kyle Simpson | Posted on March 5, 2024
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.
Leveling the Playing Field
By Michael Rosenkrantz | Posted on February 21, 2024
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.
Memories Are Important for Wellness, Too
By Emma Laux | Posted on February 15, 2024
Emma Laux shares how a member of the Monon Community Center, part of Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, focuses on the "gold" lining during her cancer battle.
Five Practices for Culturally Responsive Programs
By Liliana Ruiz Fischer, MPH | Posted on February 14, 2024
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.
Having Fun and Doing the Right Thing in San Antonio — Episode 151
By Cort Jones and Cara Myers | Posted on February 13, 2024
On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're exploring an exciting partnership between NRPA, Bobcat Company and the San Antonio River Authority that is advancing resilient park access.
Park Champions Advocate for Vibrant Communities
By Dan McCarthy | Posted on February 12, 2024
The Park Champions Initiative is a rallying call to individuals and communities to stand up for their local parks, from passionate community leaders to environmentally conscious citizens.
Facilitating Inclusion in Parks and Recreation: Part 2 — How to Facilitate Inclusion at an Organizational Level
By Jennifer Ward | Posted on February 9, 2024
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.
Planting a Sustainable Future at Trueheart Ranch Nature Park
By Austin Barrett and Miriam Lamoreaux | Posted on February 8, 2024
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.
Strategies for Promoting Gender Equity in Youth Sports
By Nelson Musselman | Posted on February 7, 2024
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.
SMS Connection: Using Text Outreach to Build Relationships
By Christina Marmor | Posted on February 6, 2024
Park and recreation agencies need to maintain relationships with community members to understand and meet their needs. Learn how text outreach can help.
NRPA Offers Strategies for Inclusive Instructor Recruitment in Park and Recreation Programs
By Natalia Ospina | Posted on February 5, 2024
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.
Celebrating Lunar New Year at Parks and Gardens
By Clement Lau, DPPD, FAICP | Posted on February 2, 2024
Lunar New Year, a festive celebration deeply rooted in Asian cultures, holds immense significance and has become an integral part of global cultural diversity. Here are several reasons why park agencies should consider offering programs to celebrate Lunar New Year, which begins February 10.
Lead Her Forward: Creating a Culture of Women Coaches
By Nelson Musselman | Posted on February 1, 2024
Celebrated on February 7, National Girls and Women in Sports Day® honors the achievements of girls and women in sports, while also acknowledging that we must continue to advocate for gender equity. Here are five ways your agency can create a culture of women coaching.
NRPA and RRF Foundation for Aging Join Forces to Empower Healthy Aging Through Parks and Recreation
By Natalia Ospina | Posted on January 31, 2024
NRPA has received $86,000 in grant funding to conduct a research project that will identify promising interventions and scale practices to promote social and intergenerational connectedness.
Reflections from the 2024 National Mentoring Summit
By NRPA's Mentoring Team | Posted on January 30, 2024
NRPA staff recently attended the National Mentoring Summit to connect with other park and recreation professionals and learn from a range of mentoring experts. Here are some takeaways from the event.
3 Tips to Improve Your Agency's Supporter Communications
By Elissa K. Miller, M.Ed. | Posted on January 26, 2024
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.
Make an Impact by Leading with a Mentoring Mindset — Episode 150
By Cort Jones and Christina High | Posted on January 23, 2024
On the latest Open Space Radio episode, we talk about the power of mentoring with Katlin Okamoto, director of Coach-Mentor Training at U.S. Soccer Foundation; Char Barnes, a park and recreation professional who previously worked in Columbus, Ohio; and Kent Hunt, NRPA’s program manager of health.