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As 2024 draws to a close for NRPA and Parks & Recreation, the Magazine team and colleagues on the NRPA Marketing and Engagement team are revealing the Top 5 read Parks & Recreation columns and feature articles together with the most listened to and viewed Open Space Radio podcast episodes and social media posts produced this year. We’re also sharing our editors’ picks for best covers, articles, and inspiring park and recreation stories published this past year.
Covers
Columns
- “Healthy Dog Parks: A Community Effort” – Health and Wellness (May)
- “The Historic and Cultural Significance of Trees” – Conservation (May)
- “A Study of College Students’ Summer Employment Priorities” – We Are Parks and Recreation (February)
- “The Art of Leadership in Parks and Recreation” – We Are Parks and Recreation (February)
- “Pedestrian Bridge Enhances Trail Safety at Rocky Gap State Park” – Operations (February)
Feature Articles
- “30 Under 30 for 2024” (February)
- “Stafford Connects” (February)
- “The Three Ps of Inclusion” (March)
- “When My Job Became My Career” (February)
- “Top Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2024” (January)
Editors’ Picks
- “AI: Here and Now” (January)
- “The Influencer Era” (January)
- “Stafford Connects” (February)
- “More Than Meets the Eye” (May)
- “Shredding the Divide” (July)
Inspiring Park and Recreation Stories
- “Transforming Park Maintenance One Seed at a Time” – Health and Wellness (January)
- “Lessons on Influence” – We Are Parks and Recreation (March)
- “Adaptive Kayaking: Fostering Inclusion Outdoors” – We Are Parks and Recreation (April)
- “Exploring the Pearl Family Story” – We Are Parks and Recreation (June)
- “The Next Generation of Leaders” – We Are Parks and Recreation (November)
Open Space Radio Podcast Episodes
- “Imposter Syndrome Is Real” – Episode 149
- “Make an Impact by Leading With a Mentoring Mindset” – Episode 150
- “Creating a World Where Humanity Stands Out” – Episode 153
- “Inclusive Adventures: Building Belonging Through Adaptive Recreation” – Episode 157
- “Roving Leaders: Decades of Empowering Youth in D.C.” – Episode 161
Social Media Posts
- “Youth Sports in D.C.” – X/Twitter (June 23)
- “Park and Rec Like the Show” – LinkedIn (July 17)
- “Nature’s Mental Health Boost” – Instagram (February 29)
- “Directors School” – Facebook (March 4)
- “Power of Parks X Taylor Swift” – Facebook (January 31)