Parks & Recreation

Making personal relationships goes a long way in advocacy efforts.When 6-year-old Carl Albert heard a member Congress speak at his one-room school in 1914, he knew he was destined for public service. Years later, a 20-year-old Albert arrived in Washington,...

Park and recreation agencies are adding health promotion to their long list of community responsibilities.It used to be that a walk in the park was just that. But now, in a time when the country has a renewed concern about not only calories but how to...

The NRPA/AAPAR Council on Accreditation has approved academic programs in colleges and universities that prepare new professionals to enter the broad field of parks, recreation and leisure services. Congratulations to the many academic programs who...

EXPLORING THE FAMILY DYNAMIC WHEN ISSUING RECREATION AND AQUATIC FACILITY PASSESRecreation facilities provide a fun, safe and neutral environment for communication and interaction between family members. Municipal recreation facilities are developed...

Theme camps are today's answer for changing demands in summer programming.Have you ever wanted to step out of the real world into a place that caters just to your interests? That's the opportunity that more and more children are having when they step...

The policy must meet the standards of substantive due process.Tn the case of Anthony v. State, No. 06-05-00133-CR. (Tex.App. 6th Dist. 2006), plaintiff Lamar Anthony, Jr. was convicted of criminal trespass in a city park. The City of Henderson, Texas,...

Project: Cherry Hill Park 9/11 Memorial Playground, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Problem: Land for Cherry Hill Park had been acquired by the city of Coeur D'Alene in 1999. By 2003, it was complete with a BMX track, sledding hill, baseball fields and...

If you are a full-time professional in the aquatic field or manage any type of aquatic activities as part of your job duties, the National Aquatic Conference (NAC) is a "must attend" for you. I attended my first NAC in 1996 and have attended most years...

The National Recreation Foundation (NRF) and NRPA have had a long relationship of working together. NRF is a nonprofit charitable foundation dedicated to enhancing the role of recreation as a positive force in promoting the mental, physical, social...

On May 19, 2006, the NRPA Board of Trustees (BOT) made the decision to reduce the number of trustees and transition from its current model representing branches and regions to a 21 at-large member Board of Directors. At its Oct. 14, 2006, meeting the...

We all share a responsibility to actively participate in the political process.As I write this column, NRPA is in the midst of intensive preparation for the 2007 National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation, our signature event on Capitol Hill...

How to retain good employees by performing like a leader.At the end of every day, your most important resources -your employees-drive home and have a choice to make. They can either choose to come back the next day ... or not. One of the most important...

Sports and recreation have been proven to be effective means of addressing peace building in the Middle East.If young people-particularly young men-are uprooted, intolerant, jobless, and have few opportunities for positive engagement, they represent...

Dealing with sexual issues at park and recreation facilities takes patience and awareness.We all know that parks offer communities many things-nature, a setting for recreation and a source of relaxation. But these same environments can be conducive to...

Liability and maintenance issues have prompted the park and recreation departments of Lincoln, Neb., and Spokane, Wash., to ban or restrict sledding in certain parks.According to the Spokesman Review, the Spokane Park Board has banned sledding and cross-country...

Name: Lamar Alexander Title: U.S. Senator Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has always been a friend to parks, recreation and conservation. He credits his affection for the outdoors to his upbringing in the scenic mountains of Tennessee. This senior...

Each year, when spring is in the air, those in aquatics know that it is time to plan and prepare for the big swim season ahead. Between the programming and organizing, don't forget that one of the most important factors in making your swim program...

There is a battle that continues to rage in the aquatics world--in fact, the war sometimes seems to be expanding. It isn't visible to the naked eye, but lurking in the water is an enemy that is tough for anyone to stop. After years of recruiting those...