Features
It's Time We Talked About the Birds and the Bees
Pollinators, including honeybees and monarch butterflies, are in big trouble, but parks are in an optimal position to help shore up their populations.
Defender-in-Chief of Fish and Wildlife
The director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service talks conservation, new initiatives and the importance of parks for all communities.
Additional Articles
Addressing Equity in Park Use
Thoughtful consideration of cultural differences can have a big impact when it comes to increasing access equity in parks and recreation.
Conservation and the Millennials…Continuing the Movement
NRPA's Chair of the Board of Directors talks advocating for parks, recreation and conservation in the age of the millenial.
Boston Strong
Boston Parks and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, with the help of several industry partners, built Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park in honor of the late Boston mayor.
Making Smart Turf Equipment Choices: What to Consider
There's a lot to think about when considering what turf equipment best suits your needs.
Free. Clean. Limitless.
Community solar power offers agencies a sustainable source of operational energy.
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: Richard Dolesh
Richard Dolesh, NRPA’s vice president of conservation and parks, is NRPA's go-to guy when it comes to the history, trends and of-the-moment concerns of the park and recreation profession.
Member Spotlight: Amy Fortenberry, CPRE
Amy Fortenberry, director of the Plano, Texas, Parks and Recreation Department, is a passionate, lifetime park and recreation professional.
NRPA’s Wonderful Waystation
NRPA, with the help of Eagle Scout candidate Jacob Schaffner, has installed a new monarch waystation to support a variety of pollinator species.
Premier Webinar Series
Cultivate your professional development with the 2015 Premier Member Webinar Series!
Take Me Out to the Pitch, Hit & Run
MLB’s annual sporting competition engages hundreds of kids in our national pastime while connecting them with community parks and recreation.
Annual Parks Build Community Project in Full Swing
NRPA’s annual Parks Build Community initiative recognizes that a quality park makes a community better.
Mud University as an Outdoor Playground
Utilizing unused or vacant land in a park to develop a unique mud obstacle run for kids can be a fun alternative to typical programmed activities.
Chandler, Arizona’s Jay Tibshraeny
Chandler, Arizona Mayor Jay Tibshraeny knows amenities like health and wellness programming, parks and open spaces, and recreational trails make Chandler an excellent place to live.
No Liability Precedent in State Park Settlement
Liability exposure is only one of many considerations in managing public park resources.
Parks: Improving Mental Health and Well-Being
Being healthy isn't just about physical fitness — we also need to consider the mental components of health and wellness.
Time for Change: A New Frontier for Digital Nature Experiences
Consider integrating technology into children's nature experiences for a modern, layered approach to education and conservation.
Look Ma, No Food!
NRPA's Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing and Editorial Director mulls what the massive decline in pollinators might mean for our global future.
Notable News
Stay up to date on what’s happening in parks and recreation with the latest news from around the field.
Agency Spotlight: Austin Parks and Recreation, Texas
Parks & Recreation takes a closer look at Austin Parks and Recreation, located in the storied wild, weird, musical town of Austin, Texas.
The Birding Effect
Check out highlights from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, which sheds some light on the true value of birding — and by extension, the value of birds.
Archive Throwback: March 1979
In celebration of NRPA's 50th anniversary, we look back at the March, 1979 issue and its discussion of sustainable habitats and creative programming.
Healthy Innovations Make the Case for Parks and Recreation
NRPA’s first Innovation Lab, held in Miami, Florida, aimed to get a closer look at an agency with a mission to integrate health and wellness into every aspect of its programming and initiatives.