Features
Learning by Design
Student-designed and student-built parks offer a creative learning process for young professionals while benefiting communities nationwide.
Sports: It's (Still) a Man's World
The state of women in sports has improved since the mid-20th century, but we’ve still got a long way to go to close the equity gap in participation, pay and perception.
Additional Articles
Kids and Olympian Take the Single-Track Trail
An Olympic gold-medal cyclist helps develop a kid-focused mountain biking trail in Boise, Idaho.
Why Waste?
Bioenergy solutions can help park and recreation professionals reduce waste and generate raw materials and even revenue for their departments.
Mighty Moss
Using sphagnum moss to aid in filtering pool water could be a green, cost-saving alternative to pool chemicals.
Professional Development Planner
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.
Staff Spotlight: David Wenner, MBA, PMP
Dave Wenner, NRPA's AMS administrator, brings technical knowledge, office fun and a passion for bacon to the NRPA staff.
Member Spotlight: Shalon Lewis
Shalon Lewis, who works as the Shreveport Public Assembly Recreation manager in Louisiana, shares her inspiration for her work and her commitment to the field of parks and recreation.
Call for NRPA Board of Directors Nominations
Are you or someone you know interested in serving on NRPA's Board of Directors?
Building Teams and Advancing Careers at a Discount!
NRPA's Premier Certification Package gives your entire team professional development at a discounted rate
Combating Hunger through Parks and Recreation
Data from PRORAGIS™ show the critical hunger gap park and recreation agencies fill during out-of-school time.
Investing in People
The Chicago Park District implements a professional development overhaul to support and advance the careers of its park and recreation professionals.
Back in the Game
A South Dakota public lands partnership offers physically challenged hunters accessible opportunities for shooting sports.
Changing Reality
A park and recreation professional reinvents physical education in a Utah public school.
Planting Native is a Matter of Life and Death
Park professionals have a unique opportunity to benefit their local and global ecosystem now and for the future by planting native species in their parks.
Networking and Sharing Ideas: Setting the Park and Recreation Field Apart
The park and recreation field is unique in its members' enthusiasm for sharing their ideas with each other, which benefits the field as a whole and every community it serves.
Bible Believers Target Arab Festival
When a group of Christian evangelists causes a disturbance at an Arab festival, what legal standing does the government have to quash their message?
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Turns 50
As LWCF turns 50 years old, NRPA's senior government affairs manager takes a look back at its highlights and outlines parameters necessary for its continued success.
Teaching Tolerance
Oakland Parks and Recreation’s zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy takes a proactive approach to teaching youth and teens respect for one another.
Hernando, Mississippi’s Chip Johnson
Hernando, Mississippi's Chip Johnson's citywide health and wellness efforts are a bright spot of success in a state known for unhealthy living.
Wild for Water
Swimming sports are popular in the U.S., but a surprising number of people still don't know how to swim. Check out this roundup of aquatics stats for an illuminating look at what's going on in your pools.
Notable News
Stay up to date on what’s happening in parks and recreation with the latest news from around the field.
Research Update: Evidence-Based Programs and Practice
Resources, equity and why parks and recreation should move in this direction.
Toward 50,000 Water-Competent Swimmers
The American Red Cross is celebrating 100 years of promoting water safety with an ambitious campaign to teach people to swim and prevent drowning deaths.
Making It
Gina Mullin-Cohen, NRPA's vice president of marketing, communications and publications, reflects on NRPA's recent conference and asks the membership how we can better serve our communities through our desire for change.
Healthy Play Outdoors Means Healthy Kids
NRPA and President Barbara Tulipane, CAE, discusses the critical role that natural playscapes can have in the lives of today's children and tomorrow's leaders.