Parks & Recreation magazine’s 30 Under 30 honors the top stories of young park and recreation professionals who serve as everyday superheroes in their respective communities.
Nominations are now accepted for the 2024 30 Under 30. To nominate, please fill out the application and include your nominee’s résumé and a high-resolution photo (minimum 300 dpi in resolution or 1175 x 1500 pixels). Applicants are allowed to self-nominate.
Deadline to nominate: October 18, 2024
Submit A 2025 Nomination
Who should be nominated: A park and recreation professional who is making profound impacts in their communities and the field of parks and recreation. All nominees must be 30 years old or younger on the nomination deadline.
Award winners are selected based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Impact on the agency’s community and service population
- Contributions to the professional development of the field of parks and recreation
- Innovative ideas, programs or research in the field of parks and recreation
Requirements: The selected 30 Under 30 will be asked to participate in NRPA through one of the following:
- Submit an article for NRPA’s Parks & Recreation magazine
- Submit an NRPA Education Session for the NRPA Annual Conference
- Submit a blog post for Open Space Blog
- Participate in a podcast for Open Space Radio
- Participate on a panel, education session, webinar or committee for NRPA
- Join the leadership team of one of the NRPA Networks
The 30 Under 30 winners are recognized in a feature in the February issue of Parks & Recreation magazine. Note: this February 2025 issue of Parks & Recreation magazine will only be published digitally (along with several other issues in 2025).
View the 2024 30 Under 30 Winners
View the 2023 30 Under 30 Winners
View the 2022 30 Under 30 Winners
View the 2021 30 Under 30 Winners
