Features
The Parks of San Antone
Recent cultural shifts regarding health and wellness in San Antonio, Texas have positioned the city’s parks as valuable assets for enhanced quality of life.
Changing it Up for Better Health
Walmart and nutrition literacy create broader awareness of NRPA’s Commit to Health initiative.
The City that Health Built
Changing ideas about the intended purpose of the built environment leads to better health outcomes for residents.
Additional Articles
Healthy Communities of Opportunity: An Interview with Mildred Thompson and Victor Rubin
NRPA’s Director of Strategic Health Initiatives Zarnaaz Bashir, MPH, interviews PolicyLink’s Mildred Thompson and Victor Rubin for a discussion about health equity.
Health and Wellness: Lives Depend On It
NRPA’s Chair of the Board of Directors Detrick Stanford discusses how parks and recreation have a significant role to play in improving the health of the people we serve.
The Doctor is Out(side in Her Local Park)
Dr. Lillian Rivera views parks as yet another tool for health in her medical bag.
Literary Expeditions
Raleigh, North Carolina’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department’s Adult Read and Go program combines reading with exploration and travel.
Sites and Sounds
Attractive, shaded gathering places add beauty and utility to public community spaces.
Professional Development Calendar
NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities.
Staff Spotlight: Zarnaaz Bashir, MPH
NRPA’s Director of Strategic Health Initiatives talks about what drives her commitment to parks, recreation, health and wellness.
Member Spotlight: Sandra MacDiarmid
Sandra MacDiarmid is a passionate advocate for health and parks.
Nurturing Nature Play
Belleville, Illinois, unveiled a new nature-themed playground made possible through a grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation.
With mySidewalk, Online Engagement is a Walk in the Park
mySidewalk helps initiate conversations for free to get feedback from passionate and engaged community members.
Meeting of the Minds: Parks and Health
How can we better quantify the positive health benefits of parks?
Preparing the Troops for Battle
A recent strategic briefing shared the tools and knowledge parks and recreation pros will need to lead Commit to Health sites during their summer and after-school programming.
Welcome to Nature
Portland, Oregon’s Westmoreland Park is now a nature-themed play oasis for area kids.
Public Trust Challenge to Private Park Museum
A municipality must take caution not to relinquish control of public land when entering into partnerships.
Five Great Reasons to Invest in a Student NRPA Membership
Joining NRPA as a student opens up a world of professional connections and networking opportunities.
Walking the Walk of Park Talk
NRPA Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing and Editorial Director, Gina Mullins-Cohen gives an overview of the recent Magazine Advisory Board meeting and a preview of this issue’s feature articles.
Why Going Green Makes Cents
Smart strategies for conservation can add up to major savings for park and recreation agencies.
Notable News
Stay up to date on what’s happening in parks and recreation with the latest news from around the field.
Agency Spotlight: Syracuse Parks and Recreation, New York
The City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs reflects the rich history and diversity of the city of Syracuse.
Recreational Therapy: Helping Soldiers Cope With PTSD
The military has developed effective treatment tools and methods, including prescribing recreation, to help individuals struggling with the effects of PTSD.
Stressed Out
We take a look at the American Psychological Association’s latest figures regarding stress in America and how a bit of leisure time can help.
Archive Throwback: December 1986
A look back at the December, 1986 issue of Parks & Recreation reveals the effort to establish innovative, exciting programming for patrons of all ages has been a decades-long quest.
Stamping Out Childhood Hunger
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act is up for renewal this September, and failure to pass this key legislation could mean empty stomachs for thousands of children across the U.S.