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October 1, 2024

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PBC Parks and Recreation Wins Graphic Design USA National Health + Wellness Design Awards
Courtesy of Palm Beach County

FLORIDA - The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department has been honored with two 2024 Health + Wellness Design Awards from Graphic Design USA, recognizing its commitment to accessible communication and wellness. The awards highlight the department’s Nonverbal Communication Sheets and Park Destinations Booklets, both designed to enhance the visitor experience and promote inclusivity.

Read more:
https://discover.pbc.gov/parks/Lists/NewsReleases/NewsDispForm.aspx?ID=774


Forest Preserve staff discover endangered species not seen in the preserves since 1983
Courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of Will County

ILLINOIS - Ecologist Barbara Sherwood said she almost cried when she spied a Bombus affinis, the federally endangered rusty-patched bumblebee, in a Des Plaines River Valley preserve this summer.

Sherwood’s quest to find the rusty-patched bumblebee started when she learned of a monitoring program established by U.S. Geological Survey. She joined it and followed the protocol for searching and detecting bumblebees in general and the rusty-patched bumblebee specifically. 

She decided to search an area that would be an inviting habitat for bumblebees.

Read more:
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/news/forest-preserve-discovers-endangered-species-not-seen-in-preserves-since-1983/

Cleveland Metroparks approves purchase of 13.6 acre lot for proposed women's soccer stadium
Courtesy of NEOtrans blog

OHIO - Metroparks staff have reached an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the acquisition of about 13.6 acres of ODOT land next to the Inner Belt (Interstate 90) bridges for $4.25 million.

If and when the Metroparks take title to the land, it would then use the land for two purposes — one is for its own, called the Trailhead Project to link up existing and planned trails. For the other, the soccer stadium, the Metroparks would enter into a long-term lease with Cleveland Soccer Group to accommodate the stadium and its related uses. Thus, even if the soccer stadium isn’t built, the Metroparks would gain some utility from owning the site.

Read more:
https://neo-trans.blog/2024/09/18/metroparks-gcrta-to-aid-soccer-stadium-project/

A Map That Visualizes Walkable Neighborhoods Across the US
Courtesy of Bloomberg

By Laura Bliss

The geographer Nat Henry has always been interested in how people interact with the world around them – particularly through the medium of maps. A couple years ago, he got curious about how well the neighborhoods of Seattle, where he lives, connect residents to their daily needs without the use of a car. Was his city really as walkable as some people say?

In February 2023, he published an answer to that question in the form of an interactive travel-time map that uses color to reveal the proximity of key destinations all over the city. It went viral – and resonated with an audience far beyond Seattle. Now Henry has updated the map, which he calls Close, so users can explore the walkability, bike-ability or access to parks of any place in the United States.

Check it out!
https://close.city/?x=-122.33&y=47.62&z=12&r=0&l=11111

Why Outdoor Recreation Is Booming: A Look at Pandemic-Driven Trends in 2024
Courtesy of the Outdoor Retailer

By ENDVR

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our world in countless ways, and nowhere is this more evident than in the outdoor recreation industry. As lockdowns subsided, millions of Americans sought solace and adventure in nature. Nearly 7 million people took up outdoor activities – from skiing to hiking – fueling a remarkable transformation in the industry and setting the stage for long-term growth and innovation into 2024.

Read more:
https://thedaily.outdoorretailer.com/news/sponsored/why-outdoor-recreation-is-booming-a-look-at-pandemic-driven-trends-in-2024/

Google pilots heat resilience tool in 14 US cities
Courtesy of Smart Cities

By Ysabelle Kempe

Google’s new tool marks another way city leaders can try to figure out the best heat mitigation measures for their community. It’s available in Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Boston; Boulder and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Los Angeles; Miami-Dade County, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; New York City; Phoenix; San Antonio; Stockton, California; Tempe, Arizona; and Washington, D.C., Kansal said. 

The tool allows city planners to predict how changes in cool roof areas and tree canopy would change the average summer land surface temperature in their communities. It includes filters to show areas that see the highest temperatures and are most vulnerable, based on factors such as median household income and social vulnerability index, Kansal said.

Read more:
https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/google-heat-resilience-mapping-tool-cities-trees-cool-roofs/726424/

Parks Department Readies To Take Over Beach Drone Program
Courtesy of Patch.com

NEW YORK - The city’s Parks Department is moving to take over the beach drone surveillance program recently launched by Mayor Eric Adams.

The sky-high technology, which keeps an electronic eye on sharks and swimmers, is currently overseen by the city’s police, fire and emergency management agencies. All three had officials stationed this summer along parts of Rockaway Beach where they’d send up drones to monitor rough seas and assist in rescues.

Read more:
https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/parks-department-readies-take-over-beach-drone-program

19 Things You Can Do With a Roofless Building or an Empty Lot
Courtesy of Strong Towns

By Becky McCray

You probably have a roofless building in your downtown. Maybe the building burned or maybe the roof just fell in. These things happen. Now you have an empty space that might have walls or might just be an open lot. What can you do with this kind of roofless building?

The standard answer for small-town governments has been to make a pocket park: They add a little green space, a bench or two, and that’s about it. Maybe they'll toss in a memorial or piece of art. Pocket parks are OK, but they aren’t the only possibility. There’s much more we can do.

Read more:
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2024/9/13/19-things-you-can-do-with-a-roofless-building-or-an-empty-lot

TPL LandVote Database
Courtesy of the Trust for Public Land

Across the country, dozens of state and local governments each year vote to raise public funds in support of land conservation. The Trust For Public Land's LandVote® Database is the premier source of information about these measures. The database brings together the most comprehensive history available for conservation finance measures that have been placed on the ballot.

For more information:
https://tpl.quickbase.com/db/bbqna2qct?a=dbpage&pageID=8

Parks as a Cornerstone of Sustainability
Courtesy of NRPA

By Clement Lau

CALIFORNIA - Parks are indispensable to the sustainability of all communities, offering environmental, economic, social, and other benefits that are critical for the well-being of both people and the planet. The Los Angeles OurCounty Plan recognizes the vital role that parks play in creating a sustainable future. By supporting the creation and expansion of green spaces, the plan demonstrates L.A. County’s commitment to building a more resilient and inclusive county. As regions strive to achieve sustainability, the integration of parks and open space into planning and policy will continue to be essential for creating livable, thriving communities.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/parks-as-a-cornerstone-of-sustainability/

Interior Department Announces $254 Million for Local Parks, Largest Investment Ever in Program’s History

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior announced today the single largest grant investment ever from the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP). Through ORLP, the National Park Service (NPS) will invest $254.68 million into 54 projects in 24 states for the redevelopment or creation of new local parks. 

Read more:
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-254-million-local-parks-largest-investment-ever

Building an Effective Citywide Park Nonprofit
Courtesy of City Parks Alliance

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
2:00-5:00 pm EST
Registration fee

Citywide park nonprofits play a vital role in urban parks systems. They advocate for equitable park investments, empower local residents to engage with their parks, raise funds for projects and programs, champion the impacts of urban parks, and promote the need for greater public support and investment.

Whether your city has an established park nonprofit or is looking to start one, join us to learn about the essential functions of these organizations. Hear from the leaders of Akron Parks Collaborative and Portland Parks Foundation (OR) on how the organizations were founded, their governance structures and partnerships with city agencies, and how they fund their own operations and grassroots initiatives. 

For more information:
https://cityparksalliance.org/event/building-an-effective-citywide-park-nonprofit/

Indiana University Executive Development Program
Courtesy of Indiana University

April 6-9, 2025 - Bloomington, Indiana

With over 56 years of history, IU EDP is the original Executive Development Program. We have dedicated ourselves to empowering park and recreation professionals—at local, state, and national levels—with the essential executive skills needed to thrive in public and nonprofit sectors. Our curriculum is designed for both new and seasoned professionals, catering to front-line employees as well as those in management and leadership roles. We continually update our offerings to address the evolving needs of our profession.

The 2025 program will cover a range of important topics, including Social Equity, Ethics, the Use of AI, Leadership, Data-Driven Decision Making, Managing Complex Service Delivery Issues, Participant Round Tables, Understanding Societal Shifts, and Recruitment and Retention Strategies, among others. We are excited about the dynamic learning environment our instructors will create for participants.

For more information:
https://iuedp.org/

Professional TrailBuilders Association - Call for Presentation Proposals
Courtesy of American Trails

April 15-17, 2025 - Madison, Wisconsin

We invite you to submit proposals for presentations that help develop an exciting and motivating program for the International Trails Summit. Proposals can be national or international in scope, and a high priority will be placed on presentation proposals that offer thought leadership in one or more of the focus areas noted on the website. 

Submission deadline: October 20, 2024

For more information: 
https://web.cvent.com/event/4c49d20d-e0bd-4c5c-8e40-3048de63d4c6/websitePage:4e800b76-5f5f-4079-8b6a-c7738a61658b

NEW – Director - Parks and Recreation
Metro Parks Tacoma, Washington
$167,117 - $228,784 Annually
Application Deadline: Oct 31, 2024

UPDATED: Senior Park Maintenance Technician
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation
San Jose, California
$92,832 - $112,315 Annually
Application Deadline: October 14, 2024

Chief of Maintenance and Skilled Trades
East Bay Regional Park District
Oakland, California
$152,110 - $194,085 Annually
Application Deadline: Oct 11, 2024

Manager of Park Maintenance Services
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation
San Jose, California
$138,490 - $168,344 Annually
Application Deadline: Oct 15, 2024

For more information:
https://nacpro.mcjobboard.net/jobs

Got a vacancy to fill? 
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