The National Recreation and Parks Association

As older adults continue to make up a growing share of the U.S. population, physical activity is a vital tool for helping them manage and improve their health. The Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults (Midcourse Report) highlights what works to increase physical activity among older adults. Park and recreation professionals can use these five strategies from the Midcourse Report to help older adults in their communities get moving.

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On today’s episode, we’re talking with someone who has been making a big impact in the larger outdoor industry for a while now. Teresa Baker, founder of In Solidarity Project, is an outdoor enthusiast focusing on community engagement, creating events that encourage people to venture outdoors responsibly, and learning about our open spaces and what it takes to protect them.

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Before receiving a park improvement grant from The Bobcat Company, community members removed the trash they could on their own—routinely bringing vehicles into the park and leaving with mattresses, tires, and other liftable debris. However, with backing from the partnership between Bobcat and NRPA, community members have been able to rely on BNRLT and Bobcat of Buffalo to facilitate the removal of dangerous and heavy debris.

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On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're chatting with are Amanda Lovejoy, a recreation coordinator at the Zach Gordon Youth Center for City and Borough of Juneau Parks & Recreation, and Lauren Anderson is the Treadwell Arena Manager for Juneau Parks & Recreation.

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In part three of this blog series, we will discuss some common supports for facilitating inclusion in parks and recreation.

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More than 750 community coalitions across the country receive funding up to $125,000 per year to strengthen collaboration among local partners and create an infrastructure that reduces youth substance use.

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Thanks to Bobcat Company, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Davidson County Parks and Recreation, a new family-friendly park is opening in Davidson County as a part of the growing revitalization of the area.

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The executive director of SoCal Adaptive Sports shares why municipalities and local park and recreation professionals have the power to level the playing field, creating greater societal inclusion.

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NRPA has developed a new resource that offers five practices to support park and recreation professionals with centering community and culture that can be applied to any park and recreation program.

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On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we're exploring an exciting partnership between NRPA, Bobcat Company and the San Antonio River Authority that is advancing resilient park access.

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In part two of our Inclusion in Parks and Recreation blog series, we explore how to facilitate inclusion at an organizational level by including self-advocates, creating an accessible environment, and implementing organizational and programmatic changes.

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On November 2, 2023, a few dozen warm-hearted people gathered on an unseasonably cold morning, just south of San Antonio, Texas, to celebrate the future of Trueheart Ranch Nature Park as part of NRPA's partnership with Bobcat Company.

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Join us in celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day®, an annual celebration hosted by the Women’s Sport Foundation to celebrate all the girls and women who play, coach or work in sports.

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NRPA’s Healthy Aging Team has developed a resource, “Representation Matters: Strategies to Diversify Instructor Recruitment,” with eight strategies agencies can use to diversify instructor recruitment.

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Lunar New Year, a festive celebration deeply rooted in Asian cultures, holds immense significance and has become an integral part of global cultural diversity. Here are several reasons why park agencies should consider offering programs to celebrate Lunar New Year, which begins February 10.

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Celebrated on February 7, National Girls and Women in Sports Day® honors the achievements of girls and women in sports, while also acknowledging that we must continue to advocate for gender equity. Here are five ways your agency can create a culture of women coaching.

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NRPA has received $86,000 in grant funding to conduct a research project that will identify promising interventions and scale practices to promote social and intergenerational connectedness.

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NRPA staff recently attended the National Mentoring Summit to connect with other park and recreation professionals and learn from a range of mentoring experts. Here are some takeaways from the event.

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