The National Recreation and Parks Association

ParkRx programs are designed to bridge the gap between healthcare, parks and recreation, and the community to promote engagement in outdoor activity.

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Explore innovative strategies to make outdoor spaces and training more accessible, ensuring every youth has the opportunity to connect with nature, build valuable skills, and envision a career in the recreation industry.

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Recycling in Philadelphia is more than managing waste — it's creating a more connected, sustainable urban ecosystem where discarded items have the potential for renewal and repurpose.

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On our final Open Space Radio episode of the year, we're reflecting on our memories from 2024 and listening back to some of our favorite conversations.

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Three Wins is a concept that provides free exercise classes at local parks to support individual and community health and gives kinesiology students an internship opportunity to polish their skills in exercise training.

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NRPA has developed a Healthy Aging Framework to help park and recreation agencies leverage their strengths, relationships and resources to advance systems change approaches that support healthy aging.

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Cara McLeod, the senior marketing communications analyst for City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, shares her experience at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference.

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The National Physical Activity Plan is a set of policies, programs and initiatives to help support physical activity in all segments of the United States population. One of the 10 physical activity sectors covers Community Recreation, Fitness and Parks (CRFP) with five distinct strategies.

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New NRPA resources reveal guidance around promoting positive youth development by integrating elements of career exploration and community service into youth mentoring programs.

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The three-person staff at Taos Land Trust would not be able to care for Rio Fernando Park without the help of a seasonal crew of youth and young adults, ages 14-25.

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Despite significant benefits, parks often face critical challenges when it comes to funding for their ongoing operations and maintenance. However, ongoing and additional funding is imperative to ensure that parks remain safe, accessible and beneficial to all.

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On this Open Space Radio x GovLove collab episode, recorded live at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference, we discuss environmental resilience with Bernita Reese, director of Columbus Recreation and Parks, Ali Rhodes, director of City of Boulder Parks & Recreation, and Michele White. senior program manager at NRPA.

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This blog post highlights thoughts on NRPA's new strategic plan from Rebecca Armstrong, member of the NRPA board of directors.

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In an increasingly urbanized world, the role of nature within our communities has never been more important. The need to integrate trees and green spaces is essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for the health and well-being of residents.

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Many park and recreation agencies grapple with the challenge of providing equal access to youth sports, especially to under-resourced populations. Recognizing this crucial gap, the NRPA has stepped forward with a trio of innovative grant opportunities.

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This September, NRPA’s sixth annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz was a celebration of nature, community and the vital role parks play in protecting biodiversity.

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Investing in at-risk youth through workforce development in recreation is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for building stronger communities.

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Asheville, North Carolina, is integrating more intentional one-on-one and group mentoring activities into existing afterschool, sports, environmental and outdoor education, and arts and culture programs through NRPA’s Mentoring for Youth Impacted by Substance Misuse grant.

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