The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the nation’s leading advocate for parks and recreation, welcomes Dr. Garrett Warfield as the new Chief Research and Impact Officer. Warfield joined NRPA in fall 2024 and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the organization.  

“The diverse experience Garrett brings to NRPA will be an incredible asset to the organization and to the field of parks and recreation,” said Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO. “Garrett’s leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the powerful impact parks and recreation has on community health and well-being, building our advocacy case for durable investment. We are confident that his vision and commitment to collaboration will position us for strong partnerships and sustained success. We are thrilled to have Garrett on the team.”

In this newly created role, Warfield will oversee NRPA’s Research and Evaluation team and will design and lead strategic efforts to leverage research, data, and a comprehensive body of evidence to inform decisions, support systems-level change, and craft compelling narratives for NRPA and in the broader field of parks and recreation. He will lead the charge to strengthen NRPA’s evidence base through impact evaluations and nationwide surveys. What’s more, Warfield will develop improvement/data science studies through key external partnerships with universities, research firms and government agencies.

Warfield brings extensive experience in applied research and program evaluation in the social sector and has led impact measurement for many diverse programs focused on sectoral job training, organizational hiring and talent practices, gun-crime intervention, prison-based mental healthcare and community work release, veteran combat trauma response and care, and strengthening parent-child relationships.

Most recently, Warfield served as the chief research officer for the renowned national workforce development enterprise, Year Up United. During his tenure, he spent 10 years building from scratch a research and evaluation department and dozens of partnerships with leading research firms and universities countrywide. Warfield’s team and partners used platinum-standard research methods, evidenced the largest earnings gains for young adults without college degrees in the history of their field, and built the case for expanding skills-first hiring practices nationally.

Warfield holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and statistical methods from Boston University, an M.Sc. in criminology with forensic psychology from Middlesex University in England, and a Ph.D. in criminology and justice policy from Northeastern University.

To learn more about NRPA, visit nrpa.org.

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About the National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.