Features
Conservation Leaders
Parks and recreation leaders describe approaches to conservation that are as varied as the agencies and regions they represent. At the heart of each successful initiative, though, is a focus on community engagement.
Public Private Partnerships
Arizona businessman Warren Meyer, president of Recreation Resource Management, champions one of the more controversial park funding models.
Additional Articles
A Centennial for a City in Bloom
As Washington, D.C. once again turns pink with blossoms this spring, it also celebrates a milestone of international friendship.
Expand Your Reach
Social media has created an exciting new frontier for public outreach--but it is important that for agencies to step back and examine how digital media opportunities can complement their traditional media mix.
National Recreation Foundation Spotlight
This month's NRF spotlight features programs from Michigan, Texas, and New Jersey that are making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.
Beth Miller
Although Beth Miller, a marketing and communications specialist for Ohio's Five Rivers MetroParks, does not have a background in conservation sciences or parks and recreation, she stepped forward enthusiastically as a Conservation Task Force volunteer. The experience, she says, was "illuminating."
COAPRT Update
The Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT) has made significant changes to hearing procedures.
Get to Know Your Wild Neighbors
A new national art, writing, and photography contest--"Get to Know (Your Wild Neighbors)"--is being launched this month. And it is an ideal way for agencies to encourage children and youth to visit parks.
The Conservation Imperative
National data attests to the value of departments that lead as providers and managers of open space and conservation lands.
Energy Savings Performance Contracts
A key question for facilities managers is how to obtain capital investments to keep facilities up and running in the current budget climate. Energy savings performance contracts (ESCOs) help agencies update their systems with no up-front costs.
Are You an Advocate for Parks and Recreation
Many have the misconception that they do not have the time, influence, and resources to successfully advocate for parks and recreation. This is simply untrue.
Parks a Prescription for Health
More and more local parks are reaching out to their medical community to work together and offer services that help prevent and treat health problems related to inactivity and poor diet.
Hidden Drowning Danger at Riverside Park Dam
Generally, a landowner owes no legal duty to warn invitees on the premises of dangers which are open and obvious natural hazards. A landowner may, however, owe a legal duty to warn where the those on the premises about hidden or unusual dangers.
Spring into Advocacy Action
Now that Legislative Forum is over, NRPA members are planning for continuing advocacy at home. Here are some ideas from NRPA Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Joel Pannell for building relationships with members of Congress and their staffers during the next several months.
Shanes Inspiration
Shane’s Inspiration, the first universally accessible playground in the western U.S., was named in honor of Shane Williams, a boy who died of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in 1998. That playground,sparked a movement in the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks--and it has influenced playground design ever since.
Measuring Impact
Parks offer astronomical returns on investment--socially, environmentally, and economically.
Shelter from the Sun
Melanoma is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in young adults. To advance the fight against skin cancer, the American Academy of Dermatology awards tens of thousands of dollars to equip schools, parks, and childcare facilities with high-quality shade structures for their outdoor play areas.
Nature Play
Nature play is an unstructured outdoor experience in a natural environment, with minimal guidance of an adult. Ohio's Five Rivers MetroParks, through a range of nature play settings, is fostering children's exploration and development of outdoor skills.
Green School Shows Money Does Grow on Trees
Are you able to calculate and explain the economic benefits of parks and open spaces to the public? To elected officials? Those who attended last month's Green School got valuable lessons in doing that--and much more.
Natural Leaders and Changing Models
Reaching out to fellow agencies and private partners is the new model of park leadership, whether in creating greener communities or managing park operations. This month's feature stories on conservation leaders and public-private partnerships show the power of outreach and partnership--though in vastly different ways.