National Recreation and Park Association

Environmental resilience is enjoying community resources today and protecting them for the future. Ayanna Williams, Director of Community and Environmental Resilience at NRPA, asked three park and recreation professionals the question, "What do you see as the next frontier for parks and recreation in building environmental resilience?" Read the article in the latest issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine to hear how Zana Pouncey, Jonah McDonald, and Shaundon Moore responded: https://bit.ly/420tjri #EarthMonth #PowerOfParks #EnvironmentalResilience

In February 2025, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society, and NRPA launched a national video called, “A Choice Career: Parks and Recreation,” which highlights the opportunities of pursuing a career in parks and recreation. To continue growing the field of parks and recreation, we must bring awareness to the profession and the diverse career paths available to inspire the next generation to explore this rewarding and expansive field of work. Read the recent Open Space Blog to learn how you can help to bring awareness to the field: https://bit.ly/4l31XcA #AChoiceCareer #OpenSpaceBlog #PowerOfParks

The ground is thawing, flowers are beginning to bloom, and we have a new issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine for you! Say hi to spring with the April issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine. Flip through the pages to find stories of environmental resiliency, adaptive recreation, job training, and more. Access this issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine now: https://bit.ly/4gM43eg #ParksAndRecMagazine #EarthMonth #EnvironmentalResiliency #PowerOfParks

According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, with even higher rates among individuals with special needs. This underscores the urgency for effective and inclusive swimming education. Gwinnett County, Georgia, Parks and Recreation developed an adaptive swim program that offers inclusive parent-assisted classes regularly. Read the full article from Kristin Munroe, Jim Cyrus, Jason Cutchins, and Linda Cosby: https://bit.ly/4cn5b7b #PowerOfParks #AdaptiveProgramming #ParksAndRecMagazine

Join us and advocates across the country in asking Congress to support park funding! The Great American Outdoors Act was a bipartisan commitment to supporting local and state parks. Threats to federal funding and staff put local projects at risk. To protect these programs, we need your help. Learn more and contact Congress: https://bit.ly/3DR7Jxr #ParksForAll #PowerOfParks

Park and Recreation Month is all about celebrating our great parks, highlighting amazing programs, and shedding light on the incredible work our staff do each day to enhance their communities. Beyond that, it is an opportunity to raise awareness around local greenspaces and find ways to build relationships between the city and its park system. Read the recent Open Space Blog from Paul Hooper to discover how Lexington, Kentucky, took their Park and Recreation Month celebration to the next level with community partnerships: https://bit.ly/4imTD5S #ParkAndRecMonth2025 #PowerOfParks #BuildTogetherPlayTogether

As the world of marketing continues to change and grow, it can be difficult to know the best way to reach your targeted audience, gain engagement in your programs, or which social media platforms will best meet your goals. The Parks and Recreation Marketing Certificate is designed to shed light on marketing and communication best practices for park professionals. Learn more and sign up: https://bit.ly/4j2nd0q #ParksAndRec #NRPAEducation

A childhood interest grew into the opportunity of a lifetime when Montgomery Parks' (Maryland) operations manager - and unofficial waterfowl afficionado - Jennifer Scully was invited to judge the 2024 Federal Duck Contest, an art competition hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Federal Duck Stamp Program started in 1934, with the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. The law requires hunters to purchase a yearly stamp as a license to hunt waterfowl. Since its inception, the program has raised $1.1 billion and saved more that 6 million acres of land for wildlife. It is touted as the most successful conservation effort ever put forth by the federal government. Learn more in the article from Christina Hudson, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist for Montgomery Parks: https://bit.ly/3QO2scQ #PowerOfParks #Conservation #ParksAndRecMagazine

Our president and CEO, Kristine Stratton, had the chance to speak at The Aspen Institute's Project Play Summit this week. This summit focuses on the big ideas that can help pave the path to 63X30, a call to action to get 63% of youth playing sports by the year 2030. Check out NRPA’s new Youth Sports Framework to see how you can help pave the path: https://bit.ly/3DPAzhJ #PowerOfParks #ProjectPlay #YouthSports

Finding a community-based organization to partner with may seem like a daunting task, but by taking a closer look at your network, you may realize you’re already connected to the partners you’re looking for — and more than likely, they’re eager to collaborate with your agency, too. In our recent Open Space Blog you can learn about connecting with community-based organizations to advance your sustainability work. We also recommend considering our Sustainability in Practice program, this program offers a $10,000 stipend to support sustainability projects between park agencies and community-based organizations. Applications for Cohort 3 are due April 11, 2025. Read the blog and learn more about our Sustainability in Practice program: https://bit.ly/4bzGdAZ #SustainableParks #PowerOfParks #ParksAndRec