Research

Stronger Partnerships and New Responsibilities Emerge From the Pandemic

The NRPA Research team partnered with researchers to understand the pandemic's legacy on parks and recreation.

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Parks and Recreation Fosters Healthy Living

Eighty-three percent of U.S. adults believe it is important to have access to recreation areas.

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The 2023 NRPA Agency Performance Review Report

The 2023 NRPA Agency Performance Review summarizes key findings of more than 1,000 unique park and recreation agencies across the United States on varying topics.

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Making Important Investments in Safe Play

Survey results that show the importance of making investments in safe and inclusive playgrounds.

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Get to Know Your Neighbors

NRPA Facility Market Reports offer key data and insights about the residents served by your agency's facilities.

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Parks and Recreation Makes Communities Sustainable

Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults support their local park and recreation agency implementing sustainability initiatives.

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Parks and Recreation Is an Engine of Economic Activity

Insight into the amount of economic activity generated by local park and recreation agencies.

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Parks and Recreation Provides Youth Sports Opportunities for All

Park and recreation agencies are leading providers of sports opportunities for all.

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The Sustainability in Parks and Recreation Report

An explanation of what was found in the NRPA’s most recent survey regarding sustainability.

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Get Active Indoors With Parks and Recreation

A significant portion of U.S. adults look toward indoor activities provided by park and recreation agencies as a way to stay in shape.

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A Framework for Assessing Equitable Health Outcomes of Parks

Five steps can help you to assess the health impacts of parks and their economic impacts.

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Access Affordable Activities With Parks and Recreation

Nearly three in five people are very or extremely interested in these opportunities.

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2022 Park Pulse Poll Highlights

Park Pulse results highlight the wide variety of programming, offerings and amenities that make up parks and recreation.

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Celebrate With Parks and Recreation

Nearly three in four U.S. adults plan to attend a holiday-themed event in their communities this year.

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Agency Performance Review Survey Is Ready for Your Input

From now through the end of January, the NRPA Research team is conducting its annual campaign to encourage you to complete the Agency Performance Survey.

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Parks and Recreation Provides Important Inclusive Programming

Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults want their local park and recreation agencies to provide adaptive and inclusive recreation programing so persons of all abilities may participate.

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People Agree: Parks and Recreation Is Essential

Nine in 10 U.S. adults agree parks and recreation is an important service provided by their local governments.

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Parks and Recreation Provides Vital Youth Services

Park and recreation professionals provide important offerings for youth when school is not in session.

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The 2022 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey

The 2022 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey report features detailed base salary and bonus data for 10 typical park and recreation agency positions.

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Parks and Recreation Provides Healthy, Local Food Options

More than one in four U.S. adults say it is not easy or they are unsure how to access locally-grown food.

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Delving Further Into the Economic Impact of Local Parks

NRPA's The Economic Impact of Local Parks report emphasizes how parks and recreation drive significant economic activity in communities across the nation.

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Parks and Recreation Is a Funding Priority

More than three in five U.S. adults are likely to vote for a political candidate who makes park and recreation funding a key priority.

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The Economic Impact of Local Parks

Local park and recreation agencies have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people.

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Reduce Stress With Parks and Recreation

Eighty-six percent of U.S. adults believe it is helpful to have access to the outdoors and nature during stressful times.

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Using the Data to Tell Your Park and Recreation Story

Beyond benchmarking, data can paint a broader picture of the field’s impact.

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Parks and Recreation Promotes Inclusive Policies and Practices

Eighty-one percent of U.S. adults want park and recreation agencies to ensure their practices and policies are inclusive.

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Delving Into the 2022 Agency Performance Review

This annual study summarizes the key findings from NRPA Park Metrics.

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Parks and Recreation Provides First-Aid Training and Certification Opportunities

Eighty-eight percent of U.S. adults agree it is important that the public has access to first-aid training and certification opportunities.

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Studying the Health Benefits and Economic Impacts of Parks

The Health Benefits of Parks and their Economic Impacts: A Review of the Literature offers some key findings.

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Parks and Recreation Cultivates Environmental Stewardship

More than three in four U.S. adults agree it is extremely or very important for children and young adults to learn about the environment.

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Making the Case for Parks and Recreation

NRPA has developed five statements that highlight how parks and recreation is essential.

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Parks and Recreation Provides Important Youth Sports Opportunities

Nearly all (98%) U.S. adults agree it is important to provide youth with equitable access to sports opportunities.

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Recruiting and Retaining Young Adults to the Park and Recreation Workforce

As recently as October, employers reported having more than 11 million open positions.

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Gain Career Experience With Parks and Recreation

Ninety-six percent of U.S. adults say that teenagers and young adults benefit from their first jobs or volunteer experiences.

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Parks and Recreation Feels Impact of Labor Shortage

Park and recreation agencies are competing with private-sector employers for enthusiastic and qualified workers.

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Parks and Recreation Brings Health and Wellness Into the New Year

Ninety-four percent of U.S. adults have health and wellness goals for 2022.

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Parks and Recreation Provides Important Out-of-School Time Programming

In December, NRPA will release the results from its latest survey on OST programs.

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Gifting a Love of the Outdoors

More than three in four U.S. adults plan to purchase gifts associated with outdoor activities this holiday season.

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Research Shows That Inequitable Access to Parks Remains a Barrier to Lifesaving Benefits

Discover other key findings from the 2021 NRPA Engagement With Parks Report.

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People Value Trails Provided by Parks and Recreation

Three in four U.S. adults want public walking, hiking and biking trails close to home.

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Engagement With Parks Report Shows Parks and Recreation Is Vital

The 2021 report highlights the public’s strong and broad-based support for parks and recreation.

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Park and Recreation Infrastructure Is Critical

The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated to many people what we already knew: parks and recreation is essential infrastructure.

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Park and Recreation Partnerships With Schools Provide Equitable Access

Eighty-two percent of U.S. adults say it’s important that their local schools and park and recreation agencies partner to ensure equitable access to open spaces.

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New Report Reveals That Parks and Recreation Advances Health Equity

Across the country, park and recreation professionals have transformed themselves into public health leaders.

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NRPA Releases 2021 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey Report

The 2021 NRPA Park and Recreation Salary Survey report features detailed base salary and bonus data for 10 typical park and recreation agency positions.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Parks and Recreation

In April, NRPA published a new report, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Parks and Recreation, that highlights the state of DEI activities at agencies across the United States.

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The 2021 Agency Performance Review

This annual resource allows park and recreation professionals to make informed decisions and support a persuasive case for greater agency funding.

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Workforce Development Helps Prepare Future Park and Recreation Leaders

NRPA highlights some key findings from its research report, Workforce Development and Career Exploration at Parks and Recreation.

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Parks and Recreation Is an Engine of Economic Activity

NRPA's research finds that operations and capital spending at local park and recreation agencies generated more than $166 billion in U.S. economic activity and supported 1.1 million jobs in 2017.

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How Strained Budgets Led to Maintenance Deferments and Capital Project Delays

Understand why there is a tremendous price for canceling or deferring capital investments.

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