In 2021 and 2023, the NRPA Research team surveyed park and recreation leaders around their agencies’ DEI practices, taking inventory of park and recreation agency DEI activities, the professional development opportunities provided to staff, and the challenges organizations face in their efforts to promote DEI practices. The results, detailed in The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Parks and Recreation report, serve as a guide for NRPA’s Equity in Practice (EiP) work. Four themes emerged: (1) targeted support for smaller agencies, (2) building member capacity and competency in DEI, (3) best practices and peer networks, and (4) trusted resources.
Led by members of NRPA’s DEI Network, we are happy to introduce NRPA Quick Guides. These “how to’s” recognize that diversity, equity and inclusion is hard work. It takes time, the approach is rarely the same, and requires us to confront uncomfortable topics and change. If that isn’t enough, the work (and those leading it) may be met by others who don’t understand “why,” don’t yet have full agency support. Quick Guides are designed for all park and recreation professionals, but especially for those who may have limited capacity and are looking to make tangible, meaningful changes in their communities and places of work. Regardless of role within your agency, we know individuals can make profound positive changes and these guides are crowd sourced from the field, sharing the lessons and practices of the NRPA community.
Check out the first of our Quick Guides below. The DEI Network and Quick Guide Committees are actively engaged in brainstorming and collaborating on the next round of topics, and we are constantly looking to and listening to members on how to make sure our EiP resources are relevant to the field and useful to those of you working on the ground in communities. If you have topic ideas or are interested in joining the DEI Network or leading your own quick guide committee, please email DEI_Education@nrpa.org.
This guide is designed to assist aquatics facility operators and programmers with the development or redevelopment of a swimwear policy that is inclusive and appropriate for your aquatics facility and your community. Narrow requirements for swimwear in a swimming pool can create barriers and limit access to your community based on a variety of factors, including socioeconomic status, religion, culture, gender identity and disability. This guide includes talking points to share with staff and community, explaining the benefits of adopting a more inclusive policy, pictures and posters from agencies that have made these changes and links to sample existing policies from other agencies across the country.
Thanks to Robin Steinshnider, City of Dallas (TX), for leading this work with Stacie Campbell, City of Pearland (TX), and Guillermo Navarro, City of Emeryville (CA).
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This guide is designed to broaden the reach of agencies within the different communities they serve by using more inclusive event title names to show that everyone is welcome and has a space to belong. In using this guide, we hope to encourage organizations across the nation to think about the hidden implications that can live within program and event names and provide support as you take steps toward renaming existing events and developing new programs with inclusive language in mind. This guide includes a list of typical annual and seasonal events, giving each alternative names shared (and used) by professionals across agencies.
Thanks to Deb Smith, Maine Recreation and Park, Executive Director (retired), for leading this work with Chelsea VanAssche, Westerville Parks and Recreation (OH), and August Vandiver, City of Pearland Parks & Recreation (TX).
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