Features

Parks Build Community Is Headed to New Orleans!

This year, NRPA is headed to New Orleans, and a portion of the Lafitte Greenway will undergo renovations to provide a public space where residents can gather and play.

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Get Your Play On!

Over the past three years, competition for the coveted July Parks & Recreation cover has gotten stiffer and stiffer, and this year’s focus on play took it to another level.

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How Can Neighborhood Parks Attract More Users?

The RAND Corporation recently conducted the first national study of neighborhood parks — a special project sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

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You Don't Know What You Don't Know

A few highlights of some of the exciting new features and “back-by-popular-demand” standards you can expect in New Orleans for this year’s annual conference.

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Justifying Your Trip to the 2017 Annual Conference

We want to see all of you in New Orleans this year, so we have put together some tips on how you can talk with your employer about the value of attending as well as some best practices when traveling to the conference.

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Host of American Ninja Warrior to Keynote NRPA Annual Conference

This September, Matt Iseman will be the keynote speaker at the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference, and he couldn’t be more excited to meet with park and recreation professionals in the Big Easy.

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Additional Articles

Supervisors' Management School November 5-9

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.

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Most Americans Walk for Fun

This month's Park Pulse poll takes a closer look at where Americans like to walk for leisure or pleasure.

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Player Use and Abuse of Facilities

NRPA-sponsored insurance programs for members is provided by K&K to help keep you safe and insured.

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NRPA Connect Hot Topics

Find out what hot topics have been trending on NRPA Connect!

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Member Spotlight: Wendy Waddle

Wendy Waddle, special populations supervisor, Rock Hill (South Carolina) Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

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Congratulations to the 2017 Gold Medal Awards Finalists

Excitement is building as the 28 Gold Medal Finalists prepare for the Grand Award announcement during the September 26, 2017 Opening General Session at NRPA’s 2017 Annual Conference.

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NRPA Innovation Lab Explores How Communities Are Connecting Youth to Nature

The Austin Innovation Lab addressed the challenges youth and adults face and attendees gained valuable knowledge and lessons learned from their peers.

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Stop the Interior Department's Monumental Mistake

Under the Trump administration’s executive order to review national monuments designated since 1996, the U.S. Department of the Interior identified 27 monuments that could be scaled back or even eliminated.

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Parks and Recreation: Serving a Growing, Older Population

NRPA is releasing a new research report that takes a look at how park and recreation agencies throughout our nation are serving this growing and increasingly important population.

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The 'Circle' of Life

As we celebrate Park and Recreation Month, take a moment to reflect on all the ways parks and recreation truly touches our lives

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The Community that Soccer Built

In 2010, Portland Parks & Recreation developed Portland World Cup Soccer — a tournament designed to welcome “New Portlanders,” and celebrate cultural traditions and diversity in the community.

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The Lowdown on LED Sports Lighting

Here are the five most common questions LED manufacturers hear from municipalities trying to understand how LED lighting can work for them.

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Blue-Green Algae and Recreational Waters

Warmer temperatures, increased nutrient deposition, poor circulation and low water levels have led to an increase in cyanotoxin algae blooms throughout the United States in the last decade. 

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A Coordinated Approach to Handling Homeless Encampments

The January 2017 Point-in-Time Count, conducted by Snohomish County, Washington, estimated that 515 individuals were experiencing chronic homelessness in and around Everett, which is located 30 miles north of Seattle.

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In Solidarity with New Portlanders

Following the May 26 tragedy on the MAX, Portland’s public transportation system, Som Subedi, who heads Portland Parks & Recreation’s Parks for New Portlanders program, shared the following post on the agency’s Facebook page.

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Crash on Challenging Mountain Bike Trail

Negligence liability is more likely when one’s conduct falls below that which would generally be considered reasonable care under the circumstances.

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Mobile Recreation Programs

In neighborhoods where activities for youth are lacking, mobile programs step in to fill a significant void.

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When Leadership Is 'Green'

Young professionals sometimes learn to lead by doing.

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Parks & Recreation Crossword

Test your park and recreation knowledge and download NRPA's monthly crossword puzzle!

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Beyond Child's Play

Whether you’re a child, teen or adult, being able to engage in play in neighborhood parks and participating in fun-filled activities at local recreation facilities is essential to maintaining one’s physical and mental health.

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Nature's Ability to Foster Growth

Traditionally, treatments for childhood ADHD have focused heavily on the use of prescription medications, but an emerging body of research indicates that nature-based interventions could be an effective alternative to the use of pharmaceuticals.

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The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA)

For those of us who closely follow the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State Assistance Program, there’s very important news regarding funding for this critical conservation and recreation priority.

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The Art and Science of Building Community Through Fun

Alvin Galang, MPH explains how the NRPA Annual Conference helps him "Build Community Through Fun."

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