The next issue of NACPRO News will be delivered on January 16, 2024.
If you have news or an article to share, please send it to the editor by January 15.
Editor: Brenda Adams-Weyant (814) 927-8212 [email protected]
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Nominations for the 2024 awards program will open the this week and will close February 18. Watch your inbox for the announcement.
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Kyle Siegel, Maintenance and Operations Supervisor Forest Preserve District of Will County Joliet, Illinois
Liz Krug, Assistant Director Coconino County Parks and Recreation Flagstaff, Arizona
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Tap into our collective experience. Send your question and some background to the editor and we will include it in the next NACPRO News.
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Maricopa County aims to create new parks under updated master plan Courtesy of Maricopa County
ARIZONA - Parks Vision 2030 builds on the legacy of the previous master plans and the many park system enhancements that have occurred during the last 50-plus years. The current planning effort focuses on expanding park and open space opportunities. In 2022, MCPRD'S attendance grew to 2,720,806, an increase of over three-quarters of a million visitors since 2012. Over the next ten years, attendance is projected to reach 3.7 million, taxing the capacity of the existing natural resources and facilities.
Parks Vision 2030 Plan aims to identify the qualities and characteristics of a high-quality regional system of parks, open spaces, and trails. Protecting important landscapes or places for people to enjoy and recreate is critical. As growth continues and development expands into previously undisturbed native landscapes, it is essential to protect high value natural resources for our future.
Read more: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/about-us/parks-vision-2030/
The Influencer Era Courtesy of NRPA
By Alexandra Reynolds
MISSOURI - Great Rivers Greenway, a regional parks and trails district that comprises a network of greenways throughout three St. Louis-area counties, has engaged with local social media influencers to promote its programs and open space, says Communications Manager Dallas Adams. The district focuses on attracting a diverse group of area residents to visit the greenways and attend programs. Documenting experiences with their unique lens and storytelling strategies, influencers explore the greenways, take part in programs and encourage their followers to do the same.
“We partner with social media influencers to come and enjoy our programs and to create content about the greenways to share out with their platforms. We’ve engaged with both paid and organic influencers — so making an ask and an invite to just come out — and also, we have paid influencers to make unique content that we become collaborators on,” says Adams.
Read more: https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2024/january/the-influencer-era/
Accessible kayak launch now open at Lake Chaminwood Courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Will County
ILLINOIS - A new accessible and adaptive kayak and canoe launch at Lake Chaminwood Preserve near Channahon is now open and ready to assist paddlers as they head out onto the water. The launch was chosen after researching many options, said Matt Novander, the Forest Preserve's chief landscape architect who oversaw the project.
"The new launch and dock create an interesting solution to a complex problem," Novander said. "People are unique and they have varying abilities. What one person needs assistance with is another person's strong suit and vice versa. The reason why we selected this launch was because of its holistic design and approach to addressing those variations."
Read more: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/news/accessible-adaptive-kayak-launch-now-open-at-lake-chaminwood
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Artificial Intelligence: Here and Now Courtesy of NRPA
By Lindsay Collins
While some park and recreation agencies have begun to use AI for tasks like administrative functions and marketing materials, many look forward to the help it could provide with social media content creation, customer service, security and maintenance, and program development, NPP’s survey shows. “You have fewer people doing that work faster, and then spending more time reviewing and creatively iterating and building versus starting from scratch,” says Bhatt. “If we look five years out, I see long-term planning, design, architecture, capital planning — all those pieces are going to be impacted because AI can take in all the designs around the world, look at your prompts and create designs that you would never even think of.”
For park and recreation agencies looking to dip their toes into the world of AI, Pitti’s advice is to jump in and try it. “Type in something as simple as, ‘Build me a job description for the position that I have coming up this summer’ and understand what it can put out there. And then experiment with it. Take an hour of your day, plug some different things in — it will not be time wasted whatsoever,” he says.
Read more: https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2024/january/ai-here-and-now/
280 million e-bikes are slashing oil demand far more than electric vehicles Courtesy of the PBIC Messenger
In the United States, a staggering 60 percent of all car trips cover less than 10km. You might think switching to an electric vehicle is the natural step. In fact, for short trips, an electric bike or moped might be better for you—and for the planet. That’s because these forms of transport—collectively known as electric micromobility—are cheaper to buy and run.
But it’s more than that—they are actually displacing four times as much demand for oil as all the world’s electric cars at present, due to their staggering uptake in China and other nations where mopeds are a common form of transport.
Read more: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/11/280-million-e-bikes-are-slashing-oil-demand-far-more-than-electric-vehicles/
$1.5 Billion Available through 2024 RAISE Grant Program Courtesy of the PBIC Messenger
The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for $1.5 billion in grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program for 2024. These grants help communities carry out projects with significant local or regional impact. USDOT encourages applicants to consider how their projects can address climate change, ensure racial equity, and remove barriers to opportunity. At least $15 million in RAISE funding is guaranteed to go towards projects located in Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities, and projects located in these areas will be eligible for up to 100 percent federal cost share, as directed by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Eligible applicants should apply by February 28, 2024.
For more information: https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants
New Trail Resource from FHWA Courtesy of the PBIC Messenger
A new guidebook, Trails as Resilient Infrastructure, demonstrates how trails are part of resilient transportation infrastructure, how trails can be planned and designed to be resilient and sustainable, and how trails have a role in emergency planning and response.
Download: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/publications/trails-resilient-infrastructure-guidebook.pdf
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Recreational immunity ruling poses questions for Oregon trail access Courtesy of the Daily Astorian
By Olivia Palmer
OREGON - If a hiker falls on a county trail, the county can use recreational immunity as a defense in court. The statute isn’t bulletproof — it won’t shield a jurisdiction against gross negligence, for example — but generally speaking, it’s stopped liability lawsuits at the door. Now, that’s being challenged.
The case in question, Fields v. City of Newport, revolves around a plaintiff who slipped and fell on a wooden bridge on Newport’s Ocean to Bay Trail while headed back from the beach. The Lincoln County Circuit Court initially dismissed the plaintiff’s personal injury claim and granted summary judgment in favor of the city based on its recreational immunity defense. When brought before the Oregon Court of Appeals, however, the case was reversed and remanded.
Read more: https://www.dailyastorian.com/news/local/recreational-immunity-ruling-poses-questions-for-oregon-trail-access/article_0dc360b0-9ead-11ee-b6ac-eb6ca1b4a446.html
20 Major US Cities Most and Least Threatened by Climate Change Courtesy of Planetizen
By Mary Hammon
Online insurance marketplace Policygenius evaluated the 50 largest U.S. cities to determine which will be most and least impacted by climate change by 2050. The factors analyzed included heat and humidity, flooding and sea level rise, air quality, and frequency of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Read more: https://www.planetizen.com/news/2024/01/126892-20-major-us-cities-most-and-least-threatened-climate-change
The Year Ahead in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of NRPA
By Dan McCarthy
NRPA has been hard at work advancing policy wins for local parks and recreation. Early in 2023, we defeated an effort to prohibit congressional earmark funding from being used for park and recreation activities, and throughout the year, we fostered the advancement of the Outdoors For All Act as a part of the broader America’s Outdoor Recreation Act package. We also have fought to protect and expand important sources of federal funding for parks and recreation in final fiscal year 2024 (FY24) spending legislation.
In 2024, we will continue and grow these efforts to ensure local park and recreation professionals have a strong voice in Washington, D.C. Some key items to be on the lookout this year are summarized...
Read more: https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2024/january/the-year-ahead-in-washington-d.c/
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DEI Outdoors Practitioner Certification Course Courtesy of American Trails
Enroll In Our Certificate Program - Become a catalyst for change in outdoor organizations with the DEI Outdoors Practitioner Certification. Elevate your expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion as you explore strategies to foster social justice, facilitate impactful discussions, and drive meaningful transformation in outdoor education and recreation. Through this six-week program, participants gain the skills necessary to drive systemic change in their organizations. By the end of this course, participants will be well-prepared to lead transformative journeys that make outdoor spaces more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for all.
Registration is open for the winter session. Classes start January 24.
For more information: https://deioutdoors.com/certificate?blm_aid=24243
Upcoming Webinars from American Trails
January 11: Risk Management During Trail Construction
January 18: The Third Mode Bonus Chapters: Progress in Walking, Bicycling, and Micromobility for Transportation
January 25: The Path to Mental Health: Using Trails to Equip Healthy Communities
February 1: Volunteer Recruitment
February 8: Systemic Condition Analysis and Management for Multi-Use Trails
February 15: Trail Sector Research with Trans Canada Trail
February 22: Trails Are Rural Economic Drivers
February 29: Trail Assessment for Accessibility and Sustainability (registration coming soon)
For more information: https://www.americantrails.org/training/webinars
Free Learning Credit Opportunities in partnership with The Harbinger Consultancy Courtesy of American Trails
Title: Consensus That Works: Formal Consensus Decision Making for Groups and Organizations Date: January 16-30, 2024 (three two-hour video conference sessions) Location: Virtual
Title: Outdoor Recreation Roadmap: A Community-Led Approach to Leveraging Your Natural Assets for Economic Success and Local Renewal Date: January 24-February 28, 2024 (six one-hour video conference sessions) Location: Virtual
Title: Creative Placemaking: Creating Communities We Love Through Arts & Culture, Diverse Partners and Community Spaces Date: March 28-April 11, 2024 (three two-hour video conference sessions) Location: Virtual
For more information: https://www.harbingerconsult.com/
Webinar: What is the Outdoor Recreation Access and Participation Survey? Courtesy of the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals
Date: January 30, 2024 Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm ET Cost: Free
The Outdoor Recreation Access and Participation Survey (ORAPS) was designed to measure activity participation by different groups and enable comparisons across populations and regions. The goal is to develop rigorous national standards for collecting and disseminating information on outdoor recreation participation by US households at county, state, and national levels. ORAPS was designed to provide a more complete understanding of outdoor recreation participation by explicitly considering equity and health issues, and it includes modules on access, motivations, participation, constraints, needs, and health (physical and mental). The webinar will go over survey development, piloting, a discussion about ORAPS partnerships (public and private), and implementation needs.
For more information: https://www.recpro.org/professional-development/event-description?CalendarEventKey=51307ec0-6ad6-426e-acba-018c88cf32e4&Home=%2fevents-calendar
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Training Courtesy of NICP
February 26 - March 1, 2024: Las Vegas, Nevada Basic Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
March 11-15, 2024: San Diego, California Basic Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
March 18-20, 2024: San Diego, California Advanced Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
April 15-17, 2024: Las Vegas, Nevada Advanced Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
April 18-19, 2024: Las Vegas, Nevada CPD Certification Renewal Course (Topic TBD)
May 6-10, 2024: Tampa, Florida Basic Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
September 9-13, 2024: Henderson, Nevada Basic Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
October 21-23, 2024: Henderson, Nevada Advanced Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
October 24-25, 2024: Henderson, Nevada CPD Certification Renewal Course (Topic TBD)
For more information: https://thenicp.com/events/
2024 National Planning Conference Courtesy of the American Planning Association
April 13-16, 2024 - Minneapolis, MN
NPC24 is your ultimate ticket to connect with your professional community. Join APA in the vibrant city of Minneapolis and immerse yourself in an inspiring network of peers that will empower you to analyze, imagine, and plan for the future of the planning profession.
For more information: https://www.planning.org/conference/
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NEW – Parks and Recreation Division Manager City of Oceanside, California $105,348 - $141,084 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 26, 2024
NEW - Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Director City of Encinitas, California $144,650 - $235,619 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 29, 2024
NEW - Senior Park Maintenance Worker Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Los Gatos, California $81,149 - $98,180 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 22, 2024
NEW - Chief of Planning and Design Great Parks Cincinnati, Ohio $111,280 - $167,024 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 22, 2024
Open Spaces Director Arapahoe County Government Centennial, Colorado $126,542 - $202,567 Annually Application Deadline: Open until filled
Parks Division Manager City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma $91,204 - $139,437 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 19, 2024
Park Land Resource Manager Travis County Parks Austin, Texas $80,000 - $95,000 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 19, 2024
Parks Interpretive Program Supervisor Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Los Gatos, California $110,593 - $134,453 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 2, 2024
Parks, Recreation, Arts and Culture Director City of Lawrence, Kansas $137,342 - $203,008 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 8, 2024
Division Director of Administrative Operations Glenview Park District, Illinois $135,000 - $155,000 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 5, 2024
Director of Finance & Human Resources Macon County Conservation District Decatur, Illinois $90,000 - $100,000 Annually Application Deadline: Jan 29, 2024
For more information: https://nacpro.mcjobboard.net/jobs
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.
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