2020 Resolutions Podcast 410

Roxanne and Cort’s New Year’s Resolutions — Episode 056

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on December 31, 2019

It's New Year's Eve, and on this episode of Open Space Radio, we're reflecting on the past year and sharing some of our resolutions and mantras that will keep us motivated in 2020.

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Diving Deeper Into the 2020 Park and Rec Trends 410

Diving Deeper Into the 2020 Park and Rec Trends — January Bonus Episode

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on December 26, 2019

To kick off our monthly bonus episodes of Open Space Radio, we're chatting with Rich Dolesh, NRPA's Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and author of "Top Trends in Parks and Recreation 2020" - the highly anticipated article in the January issue of Parks & Recreation magazine.

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ESTEAM LA County 410

Partnering to Deliver Education in Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability

By Mercedes Santoro and Clement Lau | Posted on December 23, 2019

In the summer of 2019, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation partnered with the Natural History Museum of L.A. County, as well as the Department of Beaches and Harbors and the Department of Public Works, to offer ESTEAM camps at 17 county parks, serving over 900 children.

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Wow Your Community with an Epic Fireworks Display 410

Wow Your Community with an Epic Fireworks Display — Episode 055

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on December 17, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with John Prue, Installation Program Director at Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR), Naval Station Great Lakes, and Wynn Cramer of Melrose Pyrotechnics about the things a park and recreation agency should consider when putting on a fireworks display.

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Substance Use in Parks 410

Substance Use in Parks and Recreation: We Can’t Do Nothing

By Allison Colman | Posted on December 5, 2019

With so many factors shaping this crisis, a multi-faceted approach is needed to address it, including a comprehensive approach from local government and community-based institutions, like parks and recreation.

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Park and Rec Life Hack 410

What Is Your Park and Recreation Life Hack? — Episode 054

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on December 3, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with attendees at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference to learn their park and recreation life hacks — the tips and techniques that help get them through their day-to-day work.

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Thanksgiving Recipes Blog 410b

Healthy Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Table

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on November 25, 2019

As you nourish your souls with good company this year, we’re excited to put our Commit to Health Foods of the Month recipes and resources to good use and help you spend time nourishing your bodies with healthy, delicious foods!

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A Message For First Time Speakers blog 410

A Message to First-Time Speakers

By Attiyya Atkins | Posted on November 22, 2019

From never speaking in public to believing they can change the world, this first-time presenter shares their experience speaking at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference and why you should submit a proposal to speak in 2020 in Orlando!

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Creating Sustainability in Park and Rec Programs 410

Creating Sustainability in Your Park and Rec Programs

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on November 21, 2019

Using these tips is the perfect way to help your program stay strong after a particular funding opportunity has ended.

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Facilitate Collaborate Listen blog 410

Facilitate, Collaborate and Listen at the 2020 #NRPAConference

By Daniel W. Hatcher, MPH | Posted on November 20, 2019

The deadline to submit an education session proposal for the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference is coming up and it’s easy to get caught up in self-doubt. Here are some tips for if you're wondering what you’d present or letting the fear of public speaking hold you back.

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Park Improvement Videos blog 410

Animated Videos Explore Key Components of Park Improvement Projects

By Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen | Posted on November 20, 2019

These animated videos provide helpful hints for creating successful plans, developing partnerships, ensuring funding, engaging the community, incorporating the right components for your community and sharing the meaningful stories about your park improvement project.

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Episode 53 Delano Hunter 410

Serving Our Nation's Capital: A Chat with DCDPR's Delano Hunter — Episode 053

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on November 19, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we sit down with Delano Hunter, director of D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, to find out about the innovative programs and partnerships that are helping them better serve all members of the D.C. community.

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GUPC Memphis GSI 410

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Bringing Renewal and Sustainability to Memphis Park

By Amy Collier | Posted on November 14, 2019

As a Great Urban Parks Campaign grantee, the City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods is transforming an 11-acre green space into a needed and desired opportunity for neighborhood gathering space and physical activity.

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National Rural Health Day Blog 410

Highlighting the "Power of Rural"

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on November 13, 2019

National Rural Health Day is Thursday, November 21 — a day to highlight the “Power of Rural,” showcasing the unique assets and needs of rural communities.

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Episode 52 Take the Jump 410

Don’t Wait! Take the Jump in Your Career Now! — Episode 052

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on November 5, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we talk with Sue Yerkes, Director of Grandview Parks & Recreation, about how some insightful kids in her family motivated her to advance in her career, as well as inspire others to do the same.

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GI Certification Training 410

Training the Field to Implement Green Infrastructure

By Cort Jones | Posted on November 1, 2019

Determining how to implement and maintain a green infrastructure project in your park may seem a little daunting, but with the right network, resources and education, anything is possible.

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Commit to Health videos 410

Setting the Stage for Healthy Communities

By Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen | Posted on October 31, 2019

Over the summer, NRPA visited three agencies to see how they are using transportation, farmers markets and intergenerational programming to improve access to healthy food.

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Heart Your Park Volunteer blog 410

Building Resilient Communities Through Volunteerism

By Michele White, CAE, IOM | Posted on October 30, 2019

Last year, NRPA partnered with Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department to host four volunteer events in each city to improve their local parks.

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Green Infrastructure Workshop blog 410

NRPA Hosts Parks, Green Infrastructure and Health Workshop

By Jenny Cox | Posted on October 29, 2019

NRPA and Williamette Partnership recently hosted a gathering in Washington, D.C., that brought green infrastructure, health, and equity professionals together to help advance green infrastructure in parks.

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Call for Proposals blog 410

5 Secrets for Submitting a Successful Session Proposal

By Josh Yavelberg | Posted on October 28, 2019

NRPA is now accepting proposals for the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, October 27-29, 2020. Here are five secrets for submitting a successful education session proposal.

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One Million Kids blog 410

Meet Me at the Park Reaches More Than 1 Million Children and Families

By Jennifer Stromberg | Posted on October 23, 2019

In 2017, NRPA and Disney set a goal through the Meet Me at the Park Play Spaces grant program to improve access to inclusive play spaces for one million children and families. We are excited to announce that we reached this goal.

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Outdoor Recreation Episode 51 410

Providing Outdoor Recreation in the Big City — Episode 051

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on October 22, 2019

We sat down with Molly Gallant and Bob Wall of Baltimore City Recreation and Parks at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference to talk about the importance of outdoor recreation opportunities in urban environments.

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Atlanta Coca Cola blog 410

Tackling Plastic Pollution and Improving a Community in Atlanta

By Michele White, CAE, IOM | Posted on October 16, 2019

Communities across the country are trying to keep their public places and waterways clean from litter and create healthy ecosystems — and the solutions can start right at home in our parks.

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Park Metrics blog 410

Know Where You Are to Determine Where You Should Go

By Melissa May | Posted on October 15, 2019

The benchmarking data found within NRPA Park Metrics helps assist your agency in determining how its budget, personnel, activities, facilities, policies and more currently compare to agencies across the nation.

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Conference Community Engagement Training 410

NRPA’s Community Engagement Training: Delving Into Equity and Inclusion

By Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen | Posted on October 10, 2019

On September 23, before the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference officially began, 36 professionals took part in a lively, engaging discussion on community engagement, inclusion and equity.

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Monarch Ultra Runners 410

Ultra-Runners Join Monarch Butterflies on Their 2600 Mile Migration South to Mexico

By Richard J. Dolesh | Posted on October 10, 2019

Running the southern migration route of monarchs from Canada to southern Mexico is an attempt to bring international attention to the plight of the monarch butterfly, a species whose Eastern population has crashed more than 90 percent in the past 20 years.

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Safe Routes to Parks blog 410

Five Ways to Create an Inclusive, Equitable Safe Routes to Parks Initiative

By Margaux Mennesson | Posted on October 9, 2019

Improving safe park access requires thoughtful assessment and inclusion of strategies aimed at overcoming injustices in each stage of a community’s Safe Routes to Parks efforts.

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Open Space Radio Episode 50 410

What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self? — Episode 050

By Roxanne Sutton and Cort Jones | Posted on October 8, 2019

Since it’s our 50th episode of Open Space Radio and we’ve been reflecting on when we first started, we're using this episode to explore one of the questions we asked while we were in Baltimore at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference: What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

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Welcome to Baltimore blog 410

Welcome to Baltimore! — Episode 049

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on September 20, 2019

Tune in on your way to Baltimore for the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference to hear valuable insider tips on making the most of your time at conference, things that are new to the conference this year and the events that you won’t want to miss!

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Conference Social Media Live Schedule 410

We’re Going Live at the NRPA Annual Conference!

By Audrey Fox | Posted on September 18, 2019

The best moments from the NRPA Annual Conference are coming to your newsfeed!

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Public Policy NRPA Conference blog 410

Learn How to Influence Public Policy at the 2019 NRPA Conference

By Kate Clabaugh | Posted on September 16, 2019

NRPA’s Public Policy Team is excited to share three opportunities for you to advocate on behalf of park and recreation policy priorities and influence your Members of Congress as part of the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference.

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American Water grant blog 410

Building Better Communities Through Water-Inspired Play Areas

By Michele White CAE, IOM | Posted on September 13, 2019

Since 2014, NRPA and the American Water Charitable Foundation have partnered to support 14 grants to communities throughout the country to support nature and water-inspired play spaces.

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LWCF Apportionment blog 410

$170.6 Million to Support Outdoor Recreation through LWCF

By Kyle Simpson | Posted on September 11, 2019

The U.S. Department of the Interior recently released the annual apportionment for the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program.

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Parks and GI blog 410

Parks + Green Infrastructure = Healthy Communities

By Jenny Cox | Posted on September 10, 2019

Parks themselves play a key role in disaster recovery when natural disasters strike, but when they implement green infrastructure they also function as spaces that mitigate the impacts of these disasters.

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Digital Marketing podcast 410

Digital Marketing: It’s All About the Data — Episode 048

By Cort Jones | Posted on September 10, 2019

Digital marketing can be a useful tool for park and recreation agencies that want to promote their programs, special events and other offerings to a broader audience, but it can be a little overwhelming if you don't know where to start.

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Family Park Visit blog 410

How to Make the Most of Your Family’s Park Visit

By Ben Tejes | Posted on September 4, 2019

A park advocate shares the toolkit he and his wife put together to help maximize their park visits with their two young daughters.

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Blue Green Algae blog 410

Dogs’ Deaths Prompt Concern Over Toxic Algae Found in Public Recreation Ponds and Lakes

By Richard J. Dolesh | Posted on September 3, 2019

Tragic deaths of beloved dogs from suspected poisoning from blue-green algae have occurred recently in public recreational lakes and ponds in North Carolina, Texas and Georgia.

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Episode47 410

Programming for the Young and Young-at-Heart — Episode 047

By Roxanne Sutton | Posted on August 29, 2019

Today, we’re looking at intergenerational programming – what it is, how it’s working in the field and how it’s impacting those who participate in the programs.

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summer fresh foods blog 410

Summer Fresh Foods: Make Healthy Food Fun and Easy to Eat

By Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen | Posted on August 28, 2019

We make enjoying healthy, summer-fresh foods easier with our Summer Fresh Foods resources.

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2019 Conference Conservation Sessions blog 410

Conservation Sessions at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference

By Michele White, CAE, IOM | Posted on August 27, 2019

To help you plan for the upcoming NRPA Annual Conference, here are some of our “must see” conservation sessions that are sure to inspire ideas you can take back home with you.

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community level impact blog 410

Create Community Level Impact Through NRPA’s Referral Guide

By Stacey Hammond and Kenneth Cornelius | Posted on August 21, 2019

NRPA's new guide can be used by healthcare providers and community-based organizations in the development of referral processes to increase awareness of and participation in community-based programs and services.

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Burlington blog 410

Connecting Generations in Burlington, Vermont

By Lesha Spencer-Brown, MPH, CPH | Posted on August 16, 2019

Even in a picturesque city like Burlington, Vermont, food insecurity and social isolation are ongoing challenges.

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farmers market blog 410

How to Implement Farmers Markets and CSA Programs at Your Park & Rec Site

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on August 15, 2019

For years, park and recreation agencies have prioritized offering access to healthy foods and providing families with nutrition education. Farmers markets offer an avenue to continue providing these opportunities.

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meals on the go blog 410

One Kid Helping Other Kids

By Cole Momcilovich | Posted on August 14, 2019

During the summer months and after school, over 15 million students across the country go hungry because they do not have access to nutritious meals. Cole Momcilovich created a mobile app to help.

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Rise of eSports 410

eSports at the Rec Center? — Episode 046

By Roxanne Sutton and Cort Jones | Posted on August 12, 2019

eSports, or video game competitions, isn’t new, but it is a growing trend. So much so that eSports is starting to make a space for itself in the world of parks and recreation.

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Park Access Sessions blog 410

Addressing Equitable Park Access One Session at a Time

By Rachel Banner | Posted on August 8, 2019

We've picked a few equitable park access sessions that you won't want to miss at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference.

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Priority Health and Wellness Sessions blog 410

Health and Wellness Sessions at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference

By Cassie Pais | Posted on August 8, 2019

These health and wellness education sessions at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore will leave you eager to make advancements back home.

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Katy Keller blog 410

Marketing Recipe for Success #Nailedit

By Katy Keller | Posted on August 7, 2019

Whether you're part of a marketing team or marketing is simply one of the many hats that you wear, you'll be able to get the latest marketing strategies in the Marketing Certificate Program pre-conference workshop.

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Tips for Advancing podcast 410

Tips for Advancing in the Field of Parks and Recreation — Episode 045

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on August 5, 2019

Sometimes just taking that first step toward your own professional development seems like a daunting task – especially if you don’t know where to start.

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Berea blog 410

Increasing Access to Local, Healthy Food in Berea, Kentucky

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on July 30, 2019

Programs such as Grow Appalachia, Berea Kids Eat and the Berea Farmers Market help increase access to local, healthy food by focusing on community development and education, as well as local economics.

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Little Rock blog 410

‘Little’ but Mighty in Little Rock, a City with Big Solutions

By Allison Colman | Posted on July 25, 2019

In Little Rock, Arkansas — like so many other U.S. cities — one of the biggest challenges many residents face is having access to reliable, consistent and safe transportation.

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Green Infrastructure Framework blog 410

Evaluating the Many Benefits of Green Infrastructure in Local Parks

By Kevin Brady | Posted on July 24, 2019

NRPA's Green Infrastructure Evaluation Framework encourages the collection of environmental, social, economic and health data that can realistically be measured without a ton of time, money or experience.

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conference self care blog 410

Self-Care at #NRPAConference: Five Practices

By Daniel W. Hatcher, MPH | Posted on July 22, 2019

It’s easy to get caught up in meetings, workshops and afterhours fun at a conference, not to mention trying to keep work running smoothly back home. Here are five self-care tips for the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

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El Cajon Blog

El Cajon Plans Pocket Parks to Help ‘Underparked’ Areas

By Frank Carson | Posted on July 19, 2019

With a five percent increase in population in the past decade, the city of El Cajon, California, has become very diverse in a short period of time and residents are clamoring for more outdoor opportunities.

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libraries blog 410

Libraries and Parks and Recreation Come Together to Tackle Food Insecurity

By Noah Lenstra | Posted on July 17, 2019

The new national toolkit released by the Collaborative Summer Library Program encourages libraries to become summer meal sites or partner with existing sites, such as park and recreation agencies.

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Funniest Moments 410

What’s Your Funniest Moment on the Job? — Episode 044

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on July 15, 2019

Working in parks and recreation regularly provides those deeply-satisfying laughs you can feel throughout your entire body. On this episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with a few folks about their funniest stories from the field.

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Bioblitz Winners blog 410

First Annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz — The Results Are In!

By Michele White, CAE, IOM | Posted on July 12, 2019

More than 40 park and recreation agencies from across 21 states participated in the first annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz.

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Miami Dade blog 410

Miami-Dade County Does ‘More with Less’ Thanks to Propane Mowers

By Jeremy Wishart | Posted on July 11, 2019

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces found that using commercial propane mowers instead of gasoline could increase crew productivity, as well as reduce fuel costs and emissions.

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omnia blog 410

Five Cooperative Purchasing Best Practices to Follow

By Christine Gilbert | Posted on July 10, 2019

These five purchasing best practices will help your organization get the most out of a cooperative purchasing partnership.

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summit blog 410

Reaching the Summit at the NRPA Annual Conference

By Lindsay Labas, CPRP | Posted on July 9, 2019

You know that feeling you get when you summit a mountain after a long hike? That's the feeling Lindsay Labas gets at the NRPA Annual Conference.

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Supreme Court Cross blog 410

Supreme Court Decides in Favor of Historic Cross on Park Property

By Richard J. Dolesh | Posted on July 8, 2019

In a recent landmark decision, the Supreme Court issued a highly anticipated ruling in the case of a large Latin cross, “Peace Cross,” located on park property in Bladensburg, Maryland.

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ACEs blog 410

Adverse Childhood Experiences

By Lauren Kiefert | Posted on July 2, 2019

Out-of-School Time programs provide a variety of protective factors that lower a child’s chance of experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences.

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SaulPaul podcast 410

Game On for Park and Recreation Month with SaulPaul — Episode 043

By Cort Jones | Posted on July 1, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we kicked off Park and Recreation Month with a conversation with SaulPaul, a musician with a message.

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Trauma Informed Care Blog 410

Trauma-Informed Care

By Lauren Kiefert | Posted on June 26, 2019

From an organizational perspective, Trauma-Informed Care emphasizes respecting and appropriately responding to the effects of trauma at all levels.

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Chanute Blog 410

Chanute Recreation Commission Serves as Resilient Partner in Wake of Flooding

By Julie Aikens | Posted on June 25, 2019

Chanute Recreation Commission used its Increasing Access to Healthy Meals at Parks grant to create a space to serve as a community feeding center and shelter in the case of a community crisis or natural disaster.

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OSR 42 410

No Butts About Cleaning up Cigarette Litter in Tennessee — Episode 042

By Cort Jones | Posted on June 24, 2019

On today's episode of Open Space Radio, we're chatting with Keep Tennessee Beautiful and Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful about how they're playing their part to clean up cigarette butt litter in their state.

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Seattle Rainbow Recreation 410

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s “Rainbow Recreation” Program: Serving Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Older Adults

By Cheryl Brown | Posted on June 18, 2019

Seattle Parks and Recreation has a track record of working collaboratively with the community to make Seattle a more inclusive place to live.

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Cal Ripken blog 410

Cal Ripken, Jr. – An Inspirational Iron Man

By Matt Brubaker | Posted on June 17, 2019

There will be hundreds of captivating speakers at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, but only one is a baseball legend.

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June Community Engagement Guide Blog 410

Creating Equitable Access to Parks and Recreation: NRPA’s Community Engagement Resource Guide

By Jared Mummert | Posted on June 17, 2019

This resource guide is designed to provide park and recreation professionals the tools to conduct community engagement, with an emphasis on equity and inclusion.

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la county trails blog 410

Los Angeles County Using Technology to Advance Health and Wellness

By Clement Lau, AICP, DPPD | Posted on June 11, 2019

The L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation’s refreshed trails website and new mobile app promote the use of trails and informing the public of the value of stewardship, conservation and habitat restoration.

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LGBTQ Inclusion Podcast 410

LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Finding Community in Parks and Recreation — Episode 041

By Roxanne Sutton and Cort Jones | Posted on June 10, 2019

In celebration of Pride Month, we're talking about LGBTQ+ inclusion in parks and recreation on the latest episode of Open Space Radio with Jason Shriner, marketing manager for the City of Manassas Park Department of Parks and Recreation.

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Pride blog 410

Pride in Parks: The Role of Parks in the Pride Movement and Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

By Jared Mummert | Posted on June 6, 2019

It was at the Stonewall Inn in New York City that the gay pride movement was born — and right at the center of it all was a park.

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Akron Parks Week blog 410

Akron Is Widening the Success Gap — Sorry, Pawnee

By Jayni Rasmussen | Posted on June 4, 2019

Akron Parks Week is right around the corner and recently got a special shout out from Jerry Gergich from NBC’s hit show Parks and Recreation — or is it Garry?

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OSR40 410

How Accessibility Is Impacting Fitness Trends — Episode 040

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on June 3, 2019

On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we have an inspiring conversation with 2012 Paralympic Games Silver Medalist, Jennifer French, and Greenfields Outdoor Fitness CEO, Sam Mendelsohn.

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Story Maps blog 410

What's Your Story?

By Daniel Espada | Posted on May 29, 2019

Story maps are a simple yet powerful way to inform, motivate and inspire people with any story you want to tell that involves a geographic component.

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Vienna Community Center blog 410

Vienna Community Center Connects Older Adults to the Community

By Lesha Spencer-Brown, MPH, CPH | Posted on May 24, 2019

NRPA’s Healthy Aging in Parks team recently visited the Vienna Community Center in Virginia to learn more about what they are doing to engage older adults in their community.

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KTP Day NYC blog 410

NYC Parks Celebrates Kids to Parks Day

By Jayni Rasmussen | Posted on May 23, 2019

Thousands of park and recreation agencies celebrated Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 18, and many agencies made their events Park Champion events by inviting their members of Congress.

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Connecting Communities Through Outdoor Play blog 410

Connecting Communities Through Outdoor Play

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on May 22, 2019

This year, park and recreation agencies across the country had the opportunity to take advantage of the Connecting Communities Through Outdoor Play grant, thanks to support from the Target Corporation. Here's how Phoenix Parks and Recreation used their grant funding to improve their community.

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Unicorn 410

Find Your Park and Recreation Unicorn

By Hayley Herzing | Posted on May 21, 2019

We know finding the right fit for your job openings can difficult, but what if I told you that you can find the perfect employee with all the qualities that you are looking for?

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MarCom Questions blog 410

Answering Your Marketing and Communications Questions (And Whether or Not YOU Should Have a Podcast) — Episode 039

By Roxanne Sutton and Cort Jones | Posted on May 20, 2019

We're taking a deeper dive into some of the questions we received during a recent webinar alongside our friend, colleague and NRPA’s Senior Manager of Public Relations, Heather Williams.

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Mount Vernon blog 410

Reducing Hunger Among Older Adults in Mount Vernon, New York

By Lesha Spencer-Brown, MPH, CPH | Posted on May 16, 2019

For many older adults in Mount Vernon, New York, the threat of hunger is a stark reality.

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2019 conf preview

The 2019 NRPA Annual Conference Preview

By National Recreation and Park Association | Posted on May 13, 2019

Whether you are a repeat NRPA Annual Conference attendee or a newbie, you probably want to know a little more about the event before (or after) you register. Here is a preview to help you plan.

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Community Engagement Resource Guide blog 410

Meaningful Community Engagement: NRPA Resource and Conference Training

By Jared Mummert | Posted on May 10, 2019

We have created a Community Engagement Resource Guide to ensure that equitable and inclusive community engagement is incorporated throughout the planning, design, maintenance and activation of neighborhood parks and park-system plans.

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meadville community garden blog 410

Growing Food and Community: Garden for All Ages

By Kerstin Martin Ams | Posted on May 9, 2019

The Meadville Area Recreation Complex (MARC) Community Garden, entering its fifth season, is a gathering place for community members of all ages.

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National Prevention Week blog 410

National Prevention Week

By Allison Colman, Cassie Pais and Lauren Kiefert | Posted on May 7, 2019

Each year for National Prevention Week, communities and organizations nationwide come together to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health.

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OAM connect create contribute 410

Older Americans Month 2019: Connect, Create, Contribute

By Lesha Spencer-Brown, MPH, CPH | Posted on May 3, 2019

May is Older Americans Month, and we're celebrating the adults age 60 and older who are making a positive impact in communities across the country.

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OSR Barbara Tulipane 410

A Farewell Interview with Barbara Tulipane and How Parks Will Save the World — Episode 038

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on May 1, 2019

On this episode, we’re chatting with Barbara Tulipane, NRPA’s president and CEO, about the incredible 11 years she has spent helping transform NRPA into what it is today. But we can’t help being saddened that we’re having this discussion because of her upcoming retirement in June.

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Blog BioBlitz 410

NRPA BioBlitz: How We Found 123 Species in Two Hours

By Michele White | Posted on April 29, 2019

We love pollinators here at NRPA and to celebrate Earth Week, we held a pollinator BioBlitz at our headquarters. Our BioBlitz, focused on pollinators and plants, took a snapshot of the pollinators that can be found here and the local flora that is available to support them.

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nrpa badges 410

Let NRPA Digital Badges Help You Stand Out

By Julie A. Boland, CPRE, CAE | Posted on April 24, 2019

Accredited Agencies, Certified professionals, Directors School Graduates and Spotlight Award-winners have already put in the time and effort to accomplish great things, but now they can add to that recognition with NRPA Digital Badges.

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BIB 410

4 Vital Reasons You Should Be Screening Everyone, Even If They Don’t Work with Kids

By Background Investigation Bureau (BIB) | Posted on April 23, 2019

Background checks do more than protect people, they help protect other vulnerabilities in your organization, such as your resources and your reputation.

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Sharon 410

Turning "Ugh, Another Meeting?" into "Yay, Another Meeting!" — Episode 037

By Cort Jones | Posted on April 15, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're speaking with Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom about how staff meetings don't have to be a waste of valuable time and can be places where amazing ideas are born.

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epact summer safety 410

Summer Camp Safety Preparation Guide

By ePACT Network | Posted on April 10, 2019

Summer camps are some of the most popular programs for any park and recreation organization and it’s extremely important to be prepared for incidents that might come up throughout the course of a camp or activity.

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7WaysCelebrateEarth410

7 Ways to Celebrate Earth Month at Your Local Park

By Roxanne Sutton | Posted on April 7, 2019

Trees are blooming, people are sneezing — spring is in the air and April is here! As we thaw out from the winter months, its easy to see why April is the perfect time to celebrate Earth.

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More Than a Meal 410

More Than a Meal

By Erika Tang | Posted on March 26, 2019

Lewisville Parks and Recreation in Texas is helping older adults age well and supports NRPA’s Healthy Aging in Parks Initiative in efforts to improve and maintain the health and wellness of older adults through parks and recreation.

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Cre8Play PNC 410

Community-Minded Design with Todd Lehman — Episode 036

By Cort Jones and Roxanne Sutton | Posted on March 25, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we talk with Todd Lehman, Cre8Play's owner and "design guy," about the benefits of keeping a community's spirit in mind when designing play spaces.

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Speed Sessions 410

Turn Your Passion into a Presentation

By Ben Johnson, CPRP | Posted on March 22, 2019

Presenting a Speed Session at the NRPA Annual Conference is a great professional development tool for the novice and experienced speaker alike.

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bio blitz 410

Where Are Your Bees and Butterflies?

By Brett Johnson | Posted on March 21, 2019

The spring and summertime are the perfect times to plan pollinator-based BioBlitz events to document the current pollinators and plants species found in your parks.

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CTH Episode 035 410

A Park and Rec Program Created 500,000 Healthier Youth — Episode 035

By Roxanne Sutton | Posted on March 18, 2019

In today’s episode, we take a moment to celebrate five years of Commit to Health and how we're making an impact nationwide.

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FY20 Presidential Budget Request

FY20 Presidential Budget Request: Year Three of Eliminations and Deep Cuts to Park and Rec Priorities

By NRPA Public Policy | Posted on March 14, 2019

The White House released its FY20 budget request this week, kicking off debate for the next budget cycle.

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President Signs Lands Package 410

President Signs Bill to Permanently Authorize LWCF

By NRPA Public Policy | Posted on March 12, 2019

LWCF reauthorization has passed Congress and was signed by the president today, and while this is a big win for our industry, the fight isn't over yet.

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Happy Birthday

Five New Features to Celebrate NRPA Connect’s 5th Birthday

By Hayley Herzing | Posted on March 1, 2019

There are a lot of reasons to celebrate NRPA Connect's 5th birthday, but here are five new features that will help make it easier and more fun to network with fellow park and recreation professionals around the country.

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Congress Passes Lands Package 410

Congress Passes the Natural Resources Management Act

By Kyle Simpson | Posted on February 28, 2019

Thanks in large part to the efforts of NRPA members, this package will permanently reauthorize LWCF and provide a guaranteed amount in funding for the state assistance program.

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Park Personality 410

What’s Your Park Personality?

By Audrey Fox | Posted on February 27, 2019

Answer a few key questions and we’ll match you to your perfect park!

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CTH Story Map 410

Walmart Foundation and NRPA: Partnering to Help Local Park and Recreation Agencies Commit to Health

By Maureen Acquino | Posted on February 26, 2019

Since 2010, grant funding from the Walmart Foundation has supported local park and recreation agencies in serving 90 million meals to nearly 5 million kids.

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MichaelK Award 410

Be Recognized as the Champion You Are!

By Michael W. Klitzing, CPRE | Posted on February 26, 2019

Receiving national recognition fosters a sense of pride within your organization and helps build trust and credibility with your community leaders.

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Recycling OSR 34 410

Is This the End of Recycling? — Episode 034

By Cort Jones | Posted on February 25, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're talking about one of NRPA’s top trends in parks and recreation for 2019 that is causing quite a stir.

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Cary NC 410

The City of the Future Is Being Built in Cary, NC

By Hilary Bird | Posted on February 22, 2019

Cary, North Carolina's smart tech program has been very successful, and it’s paving the way for cities around the U.S. to implement similar programs.

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Community Concourse 410

The Community Concourse: Parks Serve as “Third Places” in NYC Neighborhoods

By Stephanie Cristino | Posted on February 22, 2019

Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, the term “third place” refers to places where people spend time between home (first place) and work or school (second place).

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Becky Tuttle RWJF 410

RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity — A Win-Win!

By Becky Tuttle | Posted on February 19, 2019

As the 2018 recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)-National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Award for Health Equity, Becky Tuttle explains how the award has been valuable to her and her community!

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Hollister Beach 410

A Victory for Coastal Justice

By Robert García | Posted on February 15, 2019

A 2018 article helped diversify support for coastal justice, and opposition to a proposed settlement between wealthy, beachfront private-property owners and the state officials that excluded the public at Hollister Ranch.

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CPRP blog 410

CPRP — It’s All About Mindset and Attitude!

By Kris Ammerman, CPRP | Posted on February 14, 2019

if you prepare for the CPRP exam like it’s an awesome opportunity to learn, grow, develop and gain a broader understanding of your profession and how to become a leader, you will probably enjoy studying for the exam as much as Kris Ammerman did.

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Mark Foote 410

Lifeguard Shortage? What Lifeguard Shortage? — Episode 033

By Cort Jones | Posted on February 11, 2019

On this episode of Open Space Radio, Mark Foote joins us to discuss the real need for parks and recreation to adapt to younger generations in order to attract and retain staff.

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The Counts Are In

The Annual Monarch Counts Are In...And It's Not Looking Good

By Michele White, CAE, IOM | Posted on February 6, 2019

Much more needs to be done in order to conserve this critical species. Here are a few ways you can help immediately.

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hiring blog 410

Five Ways to Improve Your Hiring Process

By Hayley Herzing | Posted on February 5, 2019

The hiring process isn't always an easy one, but following these five tips will ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible!

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Derwin Hannah 410

How One Man (And His Family) Changed the Culture of a Community — Episode 32

By Cort Jones | Posted on January 28, 2019

ABC Park in Baltimore, Maryland, is the site of our 2019 Parks Build Community project, but Derwin Hannah has been caring for the park as a volunteer for more than 17 years.

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epact blog 410

3 New Year’s Goals to Prepare Your Business for Emergencies

By ePACT Network | Posted on January 17, 2019

With so much going on day-to-day, it’s common for emergency preparedness in any organization to be pushed down the priority list, so the start of a new year is a great time to set workplace resolutions, goals, or intentions, just as you would for yourselves!

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What's Trending in Parks and Rec in 2019_

Predictions for Parks and Recreation’s Top Trends in 2019

By Richard J. Dolesh | Posted on January 16, 2019

One part good research, one part taking the pulse of NRPA members, one part blue-sky thinking, the Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2019 are here.

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Saving the World 410

Saving the World One Park at a Time

By Stacie Anaya | Posted on January 15, 2019

In 2018, Lewisville Parks & Recreation Department (Texas) was one of 12 recipients of the 10-Minute Walk Technical Assistance and Planning Grant, and they're moving full-steam ahead into 2019.

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blog ed mcmahon 410

Park Development Means Economic Development — Episode 031

By Roxanne Sutton and Cort Jones | Posted on January 7, 2019

In this episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with Ed McMahon, the senior resident fellow at the Urban Land Institute, about the importance of placemaking and why developers should invest in parks and open space.

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