Juan Carlos Acevedo, the superintendent of marketing and communications at the Wheeling Park District in Illinois, has an impressive career that has taken him from the world of business administration to the field of parks and recreation. For Acevedo, the NRPA Annual Conference has been a pivotal experience in his journey toward building more diverse, equitable and inclusive park and recreation systems.

How Juan Acevedo Found His Passion for Parks and Recreation

Acevedo's passion for parks and recreation began in 2007, when he worked as a data collection researcher for the University of Illinois. He participated in a parks and recreation-related data project and fell in love with the work. He soon transitioned from a career in business administration and management information systems to a career in parks and recreation. It wasn’t long before he realized that being in parks and recreation was much more rewarding due to being able to serve the community.

But it was his own experience that truly set him on a mission to make a difference. As a teenager, Acevedo witnessed how many marginalized populations did not have adequate or equal access to parks and recreation. It was this injustice that sparked his passion for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the park and recreation industry. Now, as a park and recreation professional and doctoral student at the University of Illinois, Acevedo presents on diversity marketing, DEI, and how different people seek different benefits and have different experiences when they go to parks. He became a champion for underrepresented communities, using data to understand the challenges they face and develop solutions that can help overcome them.

His journey has taken him to become an advocate for the advancement of parks and recreation in different parts of the United States and world. He is currently working with World Urban Parks, ANPR (Asociación Nacional de Parques y Recreación de México) and other organizations to understand how people spend their leisure time, and how we can support local governments and institutions in improving the quality of life of their communities through parks and recreation. This would have not been possible without the connections he made through the NRPA Annual Conference, which has given him the opportunity to meet not only park leaders from the U.S., but from around the world.

“If you ask 10 different people from 10 different countries what their definition of leisure is, you will get 10 different answers,” Acevedo observes. “Parks and recreation may look very different depending on the community you are in. It is our job to understand these differences and support our professionals in the field who in turn can provide recreational opportunities for all.”

Building Lifelong Connections at the Conference

Acevedo's understanding of the power of connection is a key reason he values the NRPA Annual Conference. He has seen how the conference can connect academics with field practitioners, urban with rural solutions, and most importantly, people with one another. For Acevedo, the NRPA Annual Conference has been a place where he has built some of his strongest relationships and made lasting connections.

One of the most memorable experiences Acevedo had at the conference was traveling on a 12-passenger bus to the NRPA Annual Conference in Salt Lake City. The 12 of them became great friends and they still text each other to see if they can all reconnect at another NRPA Annual Conference. It has become a tradition. For Acevedo, spending time at the NRPA Annual Conference with like-minded people is more than just fun — it is inspiring.

According to Acevedo, “Parks and recreation finds you, you don't find parks and recreation."

The NRPA Annual Conference has become a catalyst for uplifting DEI issues that Acevedo remains passionate about since his childhood experiences. Acevedo is a founding member of Hispanic Professionals in Parks and Recreation. The group, which convened for the first time officially at the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference, has been growing rapidly, with more than 250 members joining in less than a year. The conference has empowered Acevedo and other leaders to increase representation in the park and recreation field and to find ways to better serve diverse communities.

“We have big challenges in areas from socioeconomic barriers to recreation defunding and attacks on DEI and environmental justice,” Acevedo shares. “The NRPA Annual Conference brings us together to keep protecting our field.”

The NRPA Annual Conference is more than just a conference, it's a place of connection and empowerment. To join Acevedo and thousands of other dedicated park and recreation professionals, register for the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, October 10-12.

Michael Biedenstein, CPRP, AFO (he/him) is the membership engagement manager at NRPA.