Five Ways Parks and Recreation Is a Climate Hero
By Ayanna Williams, MSW | Posted on March 31, 2023
Break out the capes, this Earth Month NRPA is celebrating all the ways parks and recreation is a climate hero. Here are some ways you can be part of the celebration.
AmeriCorps Volunteer Management Funding Available
By Elyse Gentile | Posted on March 30, 2023
Funding is currently available for park and recreation agencies from AmeriCorps to support increasing their volunteer recruitment and retention through management practices.
Full Circle Ecological Programming: Engaging Your Community in All Parts of a Restoration Project
By Audrey Cooper, MNR, CPRP | Posted on March 29, 2023
Restoration projects often follow a four-phase framework. Audrey Cooper, MNR, CPRP, the planning and projects coordinator for Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, shares ways you can engage your community in each phase.
Mental Health Awareness Training Grant Opportunity
By Elyse Gentile | Posted on March 29, 2023
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has grant funding available to train individuals and personnel to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and de-escalate crisis situations.
The Future of Work
By Sara Agate, MPH, Esq. | Posted on March 24, 2023
Sara Agate shares findings an predictions that could spark a new way of thinking and adapting when it comes to solving workforce problems in the public sector, e.g., parks and recreation.
Three Tips for Working With Your Local City Council
By Laura Tobler | Posted on March 23, 2023
It can often seem that your city council is a mystical being that makes choices for you. Here are some tips for how to successfully work with your local city council.
On a Cross-Country Mission to Advocate for Trans Rights — Episode 132
By Cort Jones | Posted on March 21, 2023
On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're talking with Cal Dobbs (he/they), a transgender endurance athlete running across the country — from California to Florida — to fight for the inclusion of transgender people in sports and access to gender-affirming healthcare.
Afterschool Program Provider Survey Reveals Three Key Stressors Preventing a Return to Normal
By Nikki Yamashiro | Posted on March 20, 2023
While afterschool providers are increasingly reporting that they have been able to return to pre-COVID capacity limits, there are still nearly 1 in 4 providers (23 percent) who say they have not been able to return to their regular operational capacity.
Going Virtual: Common Free Online Survey Tools
By Austin Barrett | Posted on March 16, 2023
Park and recreation agencies commonly use surveys to get feedback from their communities. In our increasingly digital world, the need for online survey tools has expanded. Here is an overview of some online tools that are available.
Field of Nightmares: Helping You Rest Easy About Your Event
By Josh Taylor, CMP, CPRP | Posted on March 15, 2023
Josh Taylor, the events manager for City of Trussville, Alabama, shares how your events can be transformed from the source of your insomnia into community traditions.
$70 Million to Support Environmental Justice Through EPA
By Miriam Lamoreaux | Posted on March 14, 2023
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new funding opportunity to support park and recreation agencies and their community partners in their critical efforts to combat the impacts of climate change.
Sports Tourism: What Does It Mean for You and Your Community?
By Chandler Nobles, MS, CPRP | Posted on March 13, 2023
Sports tourism generated over $90 billion dollars in economic impact across the US in 2021. Here's what that could mean for parks and recreation.
Integrating Mentoring Into Park and Recreation Programming
By Austin Barrett | Posted on March 9, 2023
Here are perspectives on what some of NRPA's youth mentoring grantees have learned from their experiences establishing and running their youth mentoring programs.
Mentoring: Adding Stars to Youth’s Solar Systems
By Austin Barrett | Posted on March 9, 2023
Read about NRPA's youth mentoring grantees and how their youth mentoring programs have improved outcomes in their communities.
Finding Purpose With Morale, Welfare and Recreation
By Gregory M. Dunn | Posted on March 8, 2023
Gregory M. Dunn, a recreation specialist for City of Murphy, Texas, shares about the opportunities with morale, welfare and recreation, also known as armed forces recreation.
Continuing a Legacy of Service to Create a Better World — Episode 131
By Cort Jones | Posted on March 7, 2023
On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Norma Edith García-Gonzalez, director of Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, to discuss how she's leading with equity, as well as L.A. County's recently adopted 30x30 plan.
Improving the Youth Sports Experience
By Charnon Barnes | Posted on March 2, 2023
As park and recreation professionals, many of us interact with young people in our facilities and programs. Whether it’s through soccer, basketball or other physical activity programs, we all want to provide the best experiences for youth.
Play Like a Girl: Keeping Girls Active for a Lifetime
By Nikki Taylor, CPRP | Posted on March 1, 2023
Making athletics a safe space for girls is vital to keeping them involved. It is essential to look at the big picture of how an active lifestyle contributes to a woman's overall health and well-being — not just a single game or season.