The National Recreation and Parks Association

This year, Family Health & Fitness Day falls on Saturday, June 10. To help spark some ideas, we developed this short list of ways in which you can celebrate in your own community!

Read more

Public Service Recognition Week, celebrated the first week of May since 1985, honors the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees.

Read more

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we chat with the co-chairs of the NRPA Young Professional Network's publications committee, Rachel Smith, CPRP, operations manager at James City County Parks and Recreation in Virginia, and Colton Patak, program supervisor at City of Mason in Ohio.

Listen Now

Viewing parks and playgrounds as early sports development hubs for the next pro, college, high school or recreation league athletes really paints the picture of how important and necessary these resources are.

Read more

On the June bonus episode of Open Space Radio, we’re diving deeper into one of this month’s feature stories, “Leading the Way to Health and Well-Being: How Armed Forces Recreation Fosters Healthy Military Communities.”

Listen Now

With support from Musco Lighting, NRPA is providing funding and in-kind support to local park and recreation agencies to increase opportunities for physical activity that are inclusive and welcoming to all.

Read more

Product fundraisers can bring funds and support to your park and recreation department. Follow these steps to engage your community through product fundraising.

Read more

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we discuss Family Health & Fitness Day coming up on Saturday, June 10, with Cina Makres, an NRPA program specialist, and Daniel Hatcher, the senior director of strategic partnerships at Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Listen Now

As we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we asked NRPA staff to reflect on how local parks and recreation support their health.

Read more

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, NRPA has made a commitment to prioritizing employee mental health, and we are inviting park and recreation professionals across the nation to join us!

Read more

Experiences at the NRPA Annual Conference have allowed Maria Cepeda, the special events and facility coordinator at Huntersville Parks and Recreation in North Carolina, to show up as a leader in many aspects of her career.

Read more

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awards grants to carry out a wide range of community development activities directed toward revitalizing neighborhoods, economic development, and providing improved community facilities and services.

Read more

Whether you’re planning an outdoor fundraiser at your park or hosting an educational event for kids, it takes a lot of planning to run a successful community event. Including pets in these activities adds another layer of factors you need to consider.

Read more

While data collection and analysis are certainly important, we must also be intentional and thoughtful in how we present and tell our stories using data.

Read more

We know that while the concept of a Community Wellness Hub may seem innovative, the work and ideas that contribute to a hub are happening every day. Here are some ideas for advancing each of the seven dimensions of wellbeing in your everyday practices.

Read more

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we talk with NRPA Marketing Coordinator Christina High about all things social media, why your agency should be using it, and how parks and recreation can be a positive corner of the internet.

Listen Now

In celebration of Older Americans Month, NRPA's Supporting Healthy Aging through Parks and Recreation (SHAPR) grantees developed a short list of tips for supporting older adults in your community.

Read more