Features
Safe Routes to Parks
Despite all the research that shows parks and green space are beneficial to our health, the most underserved communities still lack access to parks and green spaces.
Recreational Programs Rev It Up
NRPA’s Commit to Health initiative helps park and recreation agencies cultivate healthy behaviors during out-of-school time.
Parks Are the Best Medicine
The practice of prescribing a walk in the park to treat a variety of ailments is gaining momentum as parks, recreation and public health providers find common ground.
Additional Articles
Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation RevUp
Targeting the socioeconomic, psychological and emotional aspects of health
Make the Most of Your NRPA Conference
NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities.
Networking and Leadership Opportunities You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Membership in NRPA provides you with many opportunities for professional as well as personal growth.
2016 NRPA Annual Conference: What’s New in Health and Wellness Education
A sampling of the Health and Wellness learning track and Pillar-aligned, interdisciplinary education sessions available at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference.
How to Use NRPA’s Commit to Health: Foods of the Month Program
Join the movement and encourage your community to eat healthy and get moving with NRPA’s new nutrition literacy curriculum, Commit to Health: Foods of the Month.
Meet the NRPA Health and Wellness Advisory Panel
NRPA’s Health and Wellness Advisory Panel helps to provide guidance to the NRPA staff.
Improving Park Funding Measures to Achieve Smarter Equitable Investments
When the criteria and process for park funding measures are clearly defined, funds are spent according to voter-approved priorities.
Young Professionals Need Fitness, Too
Easy ways young professionals can build fitness into their non-traditional schedules.
Legal Relationship Shapes AED Use Requirement
Could the failure to acquire or utilize available AED technology provide a basis for negligence liability?
Advocating for Parks and Healthy Populations
The Park Champions initiative embraces a show-and-tell approach to advocacy.
Rooftop Oasis
A robust 4,000-square-foot garden occupies the roof of the NYC Parks Department's Five Borough Administrative Building.
SwimATX: An Innovative Lifeguard Training Program
Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the YMCA of Austin and the Austin Independent School District created a program that helps with recruiting trained, diverse lifeguard applicants.
HEEPS of Benefits
Parks, trails and playgrounds are three of the top five most important amenities requested by those looking to buy or build new homes.
GirlTrek’s Moving Meditation
The walking group for African-American women supports health while promoting solidarity
Notable News
Stay up to date on what’s happening in parks and recreation with the latest news from around the field.
Our Dogs, Our Bodies, Ourselves
Veterinarians confirm the obesity epidemic in the United States extends to our pets.
From the Director’s Chair
Gain insight from high-level park and recreation professionals on how they tackle various weighty issues.
Forest Therapy Can Promote Healing and Bring New Park Visitors
This practice, which originated in Japan, is proving to be a great stress management activity.
Park Panacea
Connecting parks with public health as part of a comprehensive approach to achieving healthy outcomes for patients.
Healthy Data Trends
What two elements combined make the most compelling case for funding parks and recreation?