Features
Q&A Candi Rawlins
Candi Rawlins, Executive Director of the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association, discusses her experiences in advocating for parks and recreation.
Seamless Smart and in Sync
The power of the new generation of systems and platforms lies in much more than impressive lists of features and plug-ins. Park administrators are excited about the new seamless, modular, and mobile-friendly designs—not to mention the possibilities for mining and manipulating data.
On the Hill
Inside the remarkable 2011 grassroots advocacy campaign that secured $45 million for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Stateside Assistance program.
Additional Articles
Trap Pond State Park
Trap Pond State Park in Delaware represents the last vestige of what was what a giant cypress swamp.
Spray Park Water Reuse
With water shortages affecting more and more jurisdictions, and increasing demand for spray parks and splash pads, agencies are examining new alternatives for the use, reuse, and disposal of spray park water.
Dog Park Artificial Turf
Turf provides another option for dog park surfacing--one that is particularly attractive to high-traffic, urban parks.
National Recreation Foundation
The mission of the National Recreation Foundation is “to be a life-enhancing force on the youth of the nation by investing strategically in recreation with a special focus on programs for those that are economically, physically, or mentally disadvantaged.” First in a series on this 93-year-old organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth.
Certification Study Tips
Tips from your peers on preparing for the Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE) exams.
Teaching Kids Healthy Habits
The Säjai Foundation’s Wise Kids program, serving over 300 Minneapolis children in 16 community centers, helps kids learn healthy habits that will serve them for a lifetime.
Jennifer Harnish
NRPA Citizens Network Chair-Elect Jennifer Harnish offers advice on making an impact as a citizen advocate for parks.
Philadelphia's Story
Public parks may actually save the city of Philadelphia billions. A forward-looking use of open land proposes to save Philadelphia’s parks and add more green space to manage storm water more efficiently.
The Numbers at Stake
In a federal legislative era dominated by deep budget cuts, parks have a lot at stake. The NRPA Advocacy team presents a collection of statistics showing the aggregate impact of federal funding on greenspace, trails, greenways, community development, and health and wellness.
Controlling Invasive Species
Is the control of invasive species an important conservation priority for public park and recreation agencies? Some managers say yes, definitely, that it is absolutely critical to take measures to prevent and control the damage from invasive species. Others, however, say no; it’s just too much for park and recreation agencies to take on.
Skate Spots
Skateparks come in all shapes and sizes, and skatepark development often takes years of planning and fundraising before ground-breaking.
Fundraising and Friendraising
Notes from a fundraising campaign. The not-so-secret strategies behind Louisville Zoo's new wing.
Future Vikings and Farmers
Four college students weigh in on the exchange of views on leadership in parks and recreation.
Miami Dade
Armed with new understandings about the relationship between health and the environment, Miami-Dade County is seizing the opportunity to rescue devalued properties for new life as parks and neighborhood centers while simultaneously employing smart design strategies.
Badges for Baseball
Badges for Baseball represents a rare combination of national scope and local impact: Since its inception in 2008 as Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation’s signature program, Badges for Baseball has served thousands of children and teens across many states.
Make a Splash in School
Suburban Maryland parks partner with schools to teach minority second-graders to swim.
Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews and his team of natural scientists manage and study 7,000 acres of land. This core staff of scientists is a testament to Mecklenburg County’s single-minded commitment to conservation.
State Parks Crisis
The state of Washington is facing a budget crisis similar to California's, the result of large, long-term deficits coupled with a generally flat economy. As a result, state parks along with all other state services that are funded by general tax funds, are suffering.
Parks Blogger Michele Whiteaker
Michele Whiteaker writes a popular blog, FunOrangeCountyParks.com, dedicated to opportunities for play in the public parks of Orange County, California. Parks & Recreation asked Whiteaker to share her perspective on the value of play and how the blogging platform can enhance parks’ public outreach.
Issues and Trends
The February 2012 issue of Parks & Recreation explores topics related to the economy: funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Occupy Wall Street, invasive species, technology, developing non-traditional open spaces, and Washington State parks.
Park Occupation and the Constitution
Are the recent park "occupation" protests protected speech? Or camping? Legal expert James Kozlowski explores the constitutional issues--and emerging case law--that recent park protests have sparked.
GLBT Sports Economic Impact
Parks and recreation departments are searching for sources of revenue. Interestingly, some communities have turned down revenue sources from a particular portion of society, a demographic considered “recession-resistant” and willing to spend its money even in tough times. This portion of society is the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) community, which continues to travel nationally and internationally to play in various sports tournaments, providing income to host communities.
Chair-Elect Steve Thompson
NRPA Board Chair-Elect Steve Thompson discusses the state of the parks and recreation field and offers his reflections on how NRPA and its members must change and adapt.
LWCF Why Bother
NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane outlines the many compelling reasons why NRPA should continue to put scarce resources toward fighting for the Land and Water Fund (LWCF) State Assistance Program--even though the program has given very little to local public park and recreation agencies over the last ten years.