NACPRO News

April 29, 2025

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Action Alert

On April 30, the House Transportation Committee will be voting on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) programs. If you're interested in advocating for trail projects, consider contacting your representatives to voice your support. There's a strong possibility that grant programs like TA, RTP and ATIIP could be impacted.

Today the NACPRO Board sent a letter to urge Congress to continue its strong support for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program, the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), and the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP).

NACPRO urges our members to get in touch with their elected officials to voice their support for federal trail funding. The House Transportation Committee meeting starts at 10 am eastern on April 30. 

Here’s our letter and a list of the House and Senate committee members:
https://nacpro.memberclicks.net/assets/Legislative/2025-04-29-NACPRO-support-letter-transportation-and-members.pdf

Mr. David Jordan, Deputy Director
Maricopa County Parks and Recreation
Morristown, Arizona

Counting Park and Trail Visitors

What type of technology does your agency use to count park and trail users? We use counters to track how many vehicles enter our parks and how many people use our trails. Counters are placed at various entrances and access points. However, our counters have been used for a couple decades now, and the technology is outdated. We are exploring various companies, including All Traffic Solutions, Eco-Counter, Arrivalist and CitiesAi, but some are quite expensive.

We would like to hear success stories from agencies whose technology has been fairly accurate and reliable.

Erich Braun
Parks Superintendent
Polk County Conservation, Iowa
515.323.5366
[email protected]

Tap into our collective experience. Send your question and some background to the editor and we will include it in the next NACPRO News.

Proper Flag Retirement Made Easy with Our New Drop Box
Courtesy of Pilot Rock

When the stars and stripes become faded, torn, or weather-worn, they deserve to be retired with respect. That’s where our new U.S. Flag Drop-Off Boxes come in. Perfect for public spaces, these secure and weather proof boxes offer a convenient way for citizens to dispose of old American flags, encouraging community respect and patriotism.

Learn more:
https://www.pilotrock.com/series/site-amenities/us-flag-retirement-drop-box-frdb-1-series/

Metroparks seeks to redevelop riverfront lands
Courtesy of Neo-Trans

By Ken Prendergast

OHIO - When the Cleveland Metroparks began seeking state funds in January to help clean up and possibly demolish a 19th-century flour mill in the Flats, there was a bit of a pushback. The Metroparks, which has done a lot of demolition along the Cuyahoga River to create public spaces, was urged by preservationists to take a different approach here.

Based on a request for proposals (RFP) posted yesterday by the Metroparks, the parks board was listening. The RFP for a “Columbus Peninsula Riverfront Development Partnership” not only includes the closed flour mill, but also multiple neighboring buildings that could be the focus of an “impactful development.”

Read more:
https://neo-trans.blog/2025/04/22/metroparks-seeks-to-redevelop-riverfront-lands/

Los Angeles County Invests in Wildfire Recovery for Parks, Trails, and Open Space
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Clement Lau

CALIFORNIA - In response to the widespread destruction caused by the January 2025 wildfires, the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) has launched the $4.25 million RESTORE Program to aid in rebuilding public parks, trails, and open spaces across Los Angeles County. Known formally as Recovery and Emergency Support for Trails, Open Space, and Recreation, the program offers non-competitive grants to cities, public agencies, and nonprofit landowners to help restore damaged recreational infrastructure, reforest burned areas, and improve wildfire resilience. Funding also supports planning and technical assistance to prepare jurisdictions for future Measure A opportunities.

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/04/134755-los-angeles-county-invests-wildfire-recovery-parks-trails-and-open-space

State’s Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Leaders Announce Launch of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy
Courtesy of Colorado.gov

Colorado Governor Jared Polis and coordinating partners from several state departments and programs, announced today the launch of Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, a statewide vision and framework for action that ensures a future where Colorado’s outdoors, people, community character, and ways of life endure for generations to come. The Strategy was unveiled at the Partners in the Outdoors Conference in Colorado Springs.

Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy, one of the first of its kind in the United States, is the state's conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience strategy. It advances coordination, tools, and funding to align, prioritize, and implement strategic actions on the landscape for conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience.

Read more:
https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/states-outdoor-recreation-and-conservation-leaders-announce-launch-colorados-outdoors-strategy


The Florida House has passed a measure to protect state parks from development
Courtesy of WLRN.org

By Adrian Andrews 

FLORIDA - State parks would have more protection from development under a bill approved in the full Florida House on Wednesday. The measure, (HB 209) follows last year’s failed proposal to build golf courses, hotels and resorts in the parks. Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, is behind the House measure to help protect all state parks from future development. “HB 209 seeks to limit development within in our state parks and ensure that anytime there is a change to our state land management plan, that there is maximum public participation," said Snyder.

Read more:
https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2025-04-16/the-florida-house-has-passed-a-measure-to-protect-state-parks-from-development


George Wright Society Announces Stewardship Archive
Courtesy of the Living Landscape Observer

In an effort to archive public information formerly available on the websites of several federal agencies, the George Wright Society proactively captured more than 3 TB of data in late 2024 and early 2025. The agencies included in this effort include: the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Park Service.

To safeguard the information, GWS created a new repository called The Stewardship Archive. The information collected was created through decades of scholarship in the natural and social sciences and the humanities. Much of the captured and secured data and information is essential to the scientific and scholarly research needed for sound resource decision-making to protect public lands and waters and places of cultural heritage.

For updates on when the Archive will be accessible, follow the George Wright Society on Facebook and LinkedIn or visit its website - https://www.georgewrightsociety.org/


Maryland Protected Nearly a Third of Its Land, and It’s Reaching for More
Courtesy of New York Times

By Cara Buckley

MARYLAND - The program is part of a global initiative to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s land and waters by 2030. In 2023, Maryland joined the effort and a year later, Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, announced that the goal had already been met. Nearly 1.9 million acres of land has been permanently protected from development, and the state has set a new target, to conserve 40 percent of its land by 2040.
Read more..


2025 NOHVCC Call for Award Nominations

Each year during our Annual Conference, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council honors individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the OHV community. We are now accepting nominations for the 2025 NOHVCC Awards, which will be presented at this year’s conference in Bend, Oregon, on October 10–11, 2025.

If you know an individual or organization that deserves recognition for their dedication to OHV recreation, we encourage you to submit a nomination.

Learn more:
https://www.nohvcc.org/NOHVCCCallforAwards-2025/


Apply For an On Common Ground Grant
Courtesy of NRPA

On Common Ground is a national research and capacity building program at Trust for Public Land (TPL) that supports parks and public space projects to foster social connection and bridge community divides. TPL is currently accepting proposals for park projects that help people connect across difference.

Learn more:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSC2n4cSiXjf0fsLFLV40agMF2q874RpyiTaGAUW9SGcc4-Q/viewform

Somebody Should...
Courtesy of ActivEnviro

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | 3:30 - 5;00 pm ET

Current Issues in Parks and Recreation Leadership – How can we help all of our people feel valued?  Topic Leader: Homer Garcia III

In his role as a Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of San Antonio, TX, Homer works daily with staff, decision-makers, and the public, continually balancing funding priorities, supporting his team members to take care of a large public system, and meeting the evolving needs of residents. In this session, he will share some of the management tools and approaches he and his staff use to help balance it all out, hear all voices, and ensure everyone feels like they are valued in the provision of these necessary services.

Learn more:
https://www.activenviro.org/somebodyshould


Inclusive Spaces Audit Workshop
Courtesy of SORP

August 18-20, 2025 - Poultney, Vermont

We are excited to be heading to Vermont for our next Inclusive Spaces Audit Workshop! Join us for an engaging and hands-on workshop designed to help outdoor recreation providers assess and improve inclusivity in their spaces. The Inclusive Spaces Audit Workshop provides a structured approach to expanding access, welcoming underrepresented users, and fostering a greater sense of belonging in outdoor settings.

Schedule:

• August 18 | Train-the-Trainer: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• August 19 | Audit Workshop: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• August 20 | Train-the-Trainer: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

The Train-the-Trainer training is free (including the workshop), but space is limited. Interested participants must submit an application to be considered.

Learn more:
https://www.recpro.org/professional-development/event-description?CalendarEventKey=a3e0c530-11e0-4c8d-9425-0195b55abbc9&Home=%2fevents%2fevents-calendar


Beyond the Minimums Part 2: Disability Awareness Panel: Thoughtfully Supporting the Needs of Individuals with Disabilities in Your Programs and Services
Courtesy of PlayCore

May 28, 2025 - 2:00 - 3:15 pm ET
Registration code: COMMUNITY

People of all ages and abilities have the fundamental right to access the benefits of quality parks and recreation. This panel will feature disability advocates, parks and recreation professionals, and accessibility experts who will share their perspectives and create awareness about common barriers to inclusion. Gain insightful strategies and considerations to help ensure facilities, programs, and services are designed to create a positive, welcoming environment, and staff can confidently welcome individuals with disabilities and strengthen community connections.

This is the second session of a four-part webinar series, Beyond the Minimums. This webinar includes real-time captioning. Video remote interpreting (VRI) provided upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email [email protected] at least two weeks before the live webinar date.

Learn more:
https://education.playcore.com/p/ADA-part-2-live

Assistant Parks Director
Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District
Jurupa Valley, California
$144,338 - $214,383 Annually
Application Deadline: May 22, 2025

Manager II - Parks & Recreation
Orange County Government
Orlando, Florida
$118,851 - $154,523 Annually
Application Deadline: May 8, 2025

Parks and Recreation Director
City of Sonoma, California
$153,398 - $186,457 Annually
Application Deadline: open until filled

Executive Director
South Suburban Parks and Recreation District
Littleton, Colorado
$225,000- $300,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Apr 30, 2025

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Richland County Recreation Commission
Columbia, South Carolina
$55,000 - $60,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Jun 1, 2025

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 $125 for NACPRO members and $250 for non-members.