NRPA Connect is an online network with more than 63,000 professionals who are ready to answer your questions, help brainstorm your challenges and discuss trending topics in the field. Check out what is being discussed this month:

Mobile Rec Units — Our department is looking at the idea of a mobile rec unit. There were a few examples on the expo floor at this year’s conference, which has sparked some interest from our director. Does anyone have experience with a mobile rec unit? Is anyone also discussing the idea? Any advice or knowledge is appreciated.

Several NRPA members offered the following suggestions:

• We have a new NHL team coming to Seattle, and we’re looking for ways to partner with them. One idea was to create a mobile rec unit for floor hockey.
• The city of Antioch (California) purchased a paratransit bus from the transit agency. We removed brackets [and seats to accommodate] wheelchairs, added racks and shelves, wrapped the bus with our new brand and turned it into our pop-up recreation program. Staff travel to parks and events! We carry pop-up tents, tables, chairs, games, crafts and more. Our first year was very successful.
• Our agency had one, years ago, and now the city of Las Vegas has brought it back. We had two staff [persons] who would travel to various parks and low-income neighborhoods or under-served parks. We had games, sports equipment and crafts for all. We also did a series of workshops, such as [one to build] kites, and then held a festival at the end of the series for parents and children to show off their work and fly kites.

Log in to NRPA Connect today to read even more of the discussion!