|
In This Issue...
Best Practices Forum
Welcome New Members
Member News
A Word from Our Sponsors
Research and Resources
In the News
Training
Job Announcements
About NACPRO
The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials is a non-profit professional organization that advances official policies that promote county and regional park and recreation issues while providing members with opportunities to network, exchange ideas and best practices, and enhance professional development.
Learn more about us at: www.nacpro.org
DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE
The next issue of NACPRO News will be delivered on January 18, 2022.
If you have news or an article to share, please send it to the editor by January 17.
EDITOR
Brenda Adams-Weyant
(814) 927-8212
[email protected]
NACPRO's Sponsors
Job Announcements
NEW - Senior Park Ranger
Santa Clara County Parks
Los Gatos, California
$91,776 - $111,066 Annually
Closing Date: Jan 27, 2022
Executive Director
Stark County Park District
Canton, Ohio
Salary: Depends on qualifications
Closing Date: Jan 5, 2022
Stream Restoration Ecologist
Cleveland Metroparks, Ohio
$60,534 - $75,668 Annually
Closing Date: Jan 31, 2022
Director of Park Planning and Capital Projects
Metroparks Toledo, Ohio
$92,000.00 Annually
Closing Date: Open until filled
Parks Program Manager
Jackson County Roads & Parks
Central Point, Oregon
$90,875 - $116,002 Annually
Closing Date: Open until filled
Got a vacancy to fill? NACPRO will post your vacancy on our website and email a copy to our mailing list of over 1100 parks and recreation professionals for a fee of $100 for NACPRO members and $200 for non-members. NACPRO membership is $90/person.
For more information:
https://nacpro.mcjobboard.net/jobs
|
2022 Award Nominations are Open
Nominations are now being accepted for the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) 2022 awards program. The annual NACPRO Awards Banquet recognizes and honors excellence in parks and recreation at the county, regional, special district level throughout the nation.
The presentation of awards will be held in Valdosta, Georgia on Sunday, May 15, 2022.
Nominations are being accepted through January 21, 2022.
For more information: https://www.nacpro.org/awards
Best Practices Forum
Got an issue you need advice on? Or a best practice you want to share? Send us the details and we will publish it in the next NACPRO News.
Welcome New Members
Ms. Marlaine Creasey-Smith
Assistant Director
Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation, Virginia
Mr. Derrell Walker
Operations Division Manager
Cobb County Parks, Georgia
Member News
Efforts to reintroduce bison to Dakota County park advancing this winter
Courtesy of the MPRnews.org
By Matt Mikus
MINNESOTA - Work continues at Dakota County’s Spring Lake Park Reserve to prepare for the arrival next fall of new residents: bison.
It's a new part of a statewide effort to maintain a self-sustaining bison herd in Minnesota.
The bison reintroduction project at Spring Lake Park Reserve, southeast of the Twin Cities, is being supported by a $560,000 state grant. Tom Lewanski, natural resources manager for Dakota County Parks, said they're on track to relocate 15 bison to the park in fall 2022.
Restoring bison to the preserve will help to restore the land to the prairie habitat that was more common in the region prior to the arrival of European settlers.
Read more:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/01/02/work-continues-to-reintroduce-bison-to-dakota-county-park
Athens of The South
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business
By Nikola Krastev
TENNESSEE - In 2022, Nashville's Parthenon will celebrate its 125th anniversary. It is a blink of an eye compared to the age of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Nevertheless, the city's iconic landmark has become a symbol of civic pride for residents and a monument of enviable architectural elegance and beauty.
Centennial Park Conservancy, a Nashville-based non-profit, plays a crucial role in maintaining Centennial Park and the Parthenon by providing funding and guidance for numerous programs that benefit visitors and residents. Metro Parks manages both Centennial Park and the Parthenon. Still, without the crucial support of the conservancy, many of the strategic renovation and culture projects would not have been possible. The conservancy raised $5 million in private funding for the $11-million Great Lawn phase of the Centennial Park Master Plan. The conservancy is also raising another $4 million from private donors for the upcoming Event Pavilion phase. A Centennial Park fund also has been established to support ongoing park maintenance.
Read more:
https://www.parksandrecbusiness.com/articles/athens-of-the-south
A Word from Our Sponsors
Simple system for online campground reservations
Courtesy of MySites
In today's hot labor market competition is stiff and the next generation is not afraid to job hop. These new realities make it more and more critical that your campground's internal processes and technologies are easy to understand and even easier to train new team members on.
MYSites Reservations System is by far the easiest and most powerful reservations management system to use and it is especially perfect for those who are self-identified as technologically disinclined.
Good technology also offers more for less. Learn why MYSites is a free program with free marketing benefits for your campground. Change is never easy unless you are moving to MYSites, let us do the work for you.
For more information:
https://mysites.com/
Research and Resources
Next Practices for the Post-Pandemic 2020s
Courtesy of NRPA
By Neelay Bhatt
As we look to 2022, I am reminded of high jumper Dick Fosbury, who literally reversed conventional techniques by turning his back toward the bar and jumping over it rather than facing the bar as was typical. His technique, since named the Fosbury Flop, helped him set a world record in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He revolutionized an entire sport by doing the exact opposite of what anyone else had done before.
He refused to follow “best practices,” which are rooted in the past, and instead created his own “next practice,” which was focused on the future.
With this in mind, let’s look at the next practices for the post-pandemic 2020s.
Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2022/january/next-practices-for-the-post-pandemic-2020s/
Cleaning Park and Recreation Facilities
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business
By Robert Kravitz
To add to the good news, at the end of March 2021, Pfizer, which has taken the lead in developing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, announced that their vaccine has proven “safe and strongly protective for kids as young as 12.”
But that does not mean everything is back to normal. We must still be on guard, ensuring that park and recreation facility users remain safe and healthy. While mask wearing, social distancing, and other measures must still be enforced, what remains one of the best defenses against the spread of this disease is thorough and effective cleaning. However, the world of cleaning has changed dramatically in the past year. There are now technologies that, while not necessarily new, are new to professional cleaning.
Let’s explore some of these different systems, examining their attributes and potential shortcomings.
Read more:
https://www.parksandrecbusiness.com/articles/cleaning-park-and-recreation-facilities
In the News
These seven San Mateo County parks could soon be free to visitors
Courtesy of the Mercury News
By Aldo Toledo
CALIFORNIA - Seven parks in San Mateo County that together feature old-growth forests, mountaintop vistas and bay shore hiking trails could soon be free for at least some low-income visitors and possibly for everyone.
Under a staff proposal called the Mariposa Program, park entry fees would be eliminated for low-income people on certain California welfare programs. But during a recent discussion about the proposal, the Board of Supervisors mulled whether to get rid of fees altogether.
Read more:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/03/these-seven-san-mateo-county-parks-could-soon-be-free-to-visitors/
Pittsburgh Becomes First 'Dark Sky' City in Eastern U.S.
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
PENNSYLVANIA - Pittsburgh became the first city in the eastern U.S. to adopt a 'dark sky' policy, reports Josyana Joshua, " meaning that it will switch to lower wattage LED bulbs and add shades along bridges, roads and other public areas" to reduce light pollution and energy use from public lighting.
Although it joins 34 other 'dark sky' communities that have committed to reduced lighting guidelines, "Pittsburgh will be the first city in the world to follow the International Dark Sky Association’s new values-centered outdoor lighting, which means it will follow the group’s more comprehensive suggestions surrounding wattage and color temperature as well as when and how to keep lights on."
Since much of the environment’s changes are spurred by the sun, excess artificial light can disrupt bird migration patterns or cause trees to turn green too early. It can also confuse the natural 24 hour day/night cycle for humans — a darker sky has been found to have positive effects on mental health, with stargazing and less blue light playing a part.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/12/115683-pittsburgh-becomes-first-dark-sky-city-eastern-us
City to invest WyoLotto funds in parks and recreation
Courtesy of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
By Jasmine Hall
WYOMING - For the next five years, all WyoLotto revenues received by the city of Cheyenne will go toward the Community Recreation and Events Department for the purpose of construction and quality-of-life projects.
But some council members and city leaders disapprove. “While I support the goal,” said Mayor Patrick Collins, “I don’t like the idea of earmarking general fund dollars.”
Council member Richard Johnson introduced the plan to earmark the lottery money a few weeks ago with the intention of using additional general fund dollars to support parks and recreation. He explained many of his constituents complain about the lack of facility improvements, competition of projects and grounds maintenance across Cheyenne.
Read more:
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/city-to-invest-wyolotto-funds-in-parks-and-recreation/article_03e120f9-d4de-54b3-b235-b112af0a2828.html
Training
2022 National Outdoor Recreation Conference Request for Presentation Proposals
May 2-5, 2022
Knoxville, Tennessee
"Outdoor Recreation: Solutions for Transformation"
The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) is proud to present the 2022 National Outdoor Recreation Conference (NORC) – Outdoor Recreation: Solutions for Transformation. The program committee is seeking presentations that convey durable transformative solutions of any scale that address the biggest challenges in outdoor recreation – whether they be social, environmental, or economic.
These are pivotal times for outdoor recreation and our goal is to present a program at the 2022 National Outdoor Recreation Conference that is solutions forward and equity centric.
Submittal Deadline: January 31, 2022
For more information:
https://www.recpro.org/national-outdoor-recreation-conference
Webinar: Using Arts and Culture to Support, Engage and Celebrate Diverse Youth
DATE: January 13, 2022
TIME: 2:00 to 3:00 pm EST
HOST: NRPA
Join this Talk to explore youth engagement models adopted by municipal entities in partnership with arts and cultural organizations using a diversity, equity and inclusion lens. Explore case studies and best practices, showcasing how park and recreation professionals can apply this model in their own communities.
For more information:
https://learning.nrpa.org/products/using-arts-and-culture-to-support-engage-and-celebrate-diverse-youth#tab-product_tab_overview
Webinar: The Importance of Language in Park and Recreation Work
DATE: January 27, 2022
TIME: 2:00 to 3:00 pm EST
HOST: NRPA
In October 2021, NRPA released its Equity Language Guide — a glossary of terms to help park and recreation professionals develop common language around diversity, equity and inclusion. During this Talk, NRPA staff will review why language matters, how the words we use impact the communities we serve, and why shared and inclusive language is imperative in parks and recreation.
For more information:
https://learning.nrpa.org/products/the-importance-of-language-in-park-and-recreation-work#tab-product_tab_overview
Webinar: Inclusive Fitness - Providing Equitable Opportunities for People with Intellectual Disabilities
DATE: February 1, 2022
TIME: 2:00 to 3:00 pm EST
HOST: NRPA
Participate in this learning opportunity to access resources; explore successful, evidenced-based, inclusive fitness programs; learn adaptation strategies; and discover online trainings that can make your programming more inclusive for all people.
For more information:
https://learning.nrpa.org/products/inclusive-fitness-providing-equitable-opportunities-for-people-with-intellectual-disabilities
|
