NACPRO News

September 9, 2025

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Mr. Matt Hancock
Director
Tulsa County Parks and Recreation
Tulsa, Oklahoma

'Better safe than sorry': Metro Parks visitors weigh in on addition of armed security guards
Courtesy of WSMV4

By Dryden Quigley

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Starting Friday, visitors to Metro community centers and other park facilities may notice something new: armed security guards. “This change has been years in the making,” said Stevon Neloms with Metro Parks. “We’ve had a number of issues that arose in our community centers that basically called for security from shootings to possible threats inside facilities.” 

Read more:
https://www.wsmv.com/2025/09/05/better-safe-than-sorry-metro-parks-visitors-weigh-addition-armed-security-guards/

Southern California City Using Robots to Make Sidewalks More Accessible
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Diana Ionescu 

CALIFORNIA - The city of Irvine, California is deploying robots to assess its sidewalk and trail network and identify accessibility issues. The automated process is up to five times faster than traditional data collection methods. Since late August, the city has been deploying the sensor-equipped robots, developed by Oregon-based Daxbot, to scan for cracks, slopes and other barriers. Their measurements will feed into Irvine’s ADA self-evaluation program, a review officials say will help shape future upgrades.

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/09/135920-southern-california-city-using-robots-make-sidewalks-more-accessible


Gorge Dam removal underway on Cuyahoga River

Courtesy of the River Management Society

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio — For generations, the Cuyahoga River has had the reputation of being badly contaminated, having infamously caught on fire as a result of the pollutants that were discharged into the river. In 1911, the Gorge Dam was built on the river in Summit County.  A hydroelectric dam, it was built to generate electricity. What it also did was allow more than a century of contaminated sediment, enough to fill the space of eleven football fields 10-to-12 feet deep behind it.

Read more:
https://fox8.com/news/gorge-dam-removal-underway-on-cuyahoga-river/

Michigan Tree Climbing Competition
Courtesy of Our Midland

By Ember St. Amour

MICHIGAN - This annual three-day event highlights the skill, safety, and science of professional tree climbing while inviting the community to participate in a variety of educational and engaging activities.  The Michigan Tree Climbing Competition brings together professional arborists, industry leaders, and the public to celebrate the art of arboriculture.

Read more:
https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/michigan-tree-climbing-competition-midland-21021812.php


Finding the Answers
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business +

By Chris Austin and Mark Nagel

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of various industries, transforming how professionals work and enhancing their productivity. Parks and recreation professionals, however, might still be unfamiliar with the potential benefits of AI in their field. Leaders can benefit from using ChatGPT, an AI-powered tool developed by OpenAI, by exploring its applications in the context of parks and recreation. To do so successfully, leaders first need to discover what ChatGPT is, its capabilities, how it differs from search engines, and how it can be effectively utilized in the industry. 

Read more:
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-2026-idea-book?ref=prbplus.com#page110

Cities Can be a Sensory Nightmare. Minnesota is Trying to Change That.
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Gina Brady 

MINNESOTA - Most public spaces are not built with sensory needs in mind. Common design choices like fluorescent lighting, echoing floors, loud music, automatic-flush toilets, and poor signage can create barriers for people sensitive to light, noise, smells, or crowds. This includes individuals with autism, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and more. An estimated 1 in 6 people experience sensory-processing differences, though some experts believe the number may be closer to 1 in 3. These differences affect how individuals perceive light, sound, texture, and movement — and they can impact anyone, regardless of diagnosis. 

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/features/135942-cities-can-be-sensory-nightmare-minnesota-trying-change


Walking Paths as Essential Infrastructure
Courtesy of NRPA

By Clement Lau

Whether circling lakes in Willowbrook, winding through a suburban park in Alhambra, strolling around Echo Park Lake, or connecting to regional trails in Duarte, walking paths offer more than just a way to get from point A to point B. They invite us to slow down, breathe deeply, move with purpose and connect — with ourselves, with others, and with the places we call home. In uncertain times and tight budgets, walking paths are a smart investment with enduring impact. Sometimes, the most transformative journeys begin with a simple walk in the park.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/the-importance-of-walking-paths/


Comprehensive, Credible, And Innovative
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business + 

By Hal Phillips

In March, the 45-hole facility rechristened the North Course, the subject of a renovation from Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The architect, based in nearby Palo Alto, equipped this 98-year-old track with drought-tolerant Santa Ana Bermudagrass—a hybrid that goes dormant in winter—minimizing water usage, while creating superior year-round playability. Reconstruction of the bunkers included harvesting and deploying artificial turf from the old Oakland Raiders practice facility. The course repurposed sand and soil from excavations at nearby building sites, “capping” all 18 holes with 6-12 inches of sand (40,000 tons) for better water retention and drainage capability.

“We’re on a 50-year lease—a ground lease, which gives us time to thoughtfully invest in the facility and transform this wonderful property into a vital asset that benefits the entire community,” says Umesh Patel, CEO of Greenway Golf, the third-party operator at Corica Park GC. 

Read more:
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-2026-idea-book?ref=prbplus.com#page10

TrailNation Summit
Courtesy of American Trails

Cleveland, Ohio - October 27-29, 2025

Don’t miss your chance to join the Rails to Trails Conservancy in Cleveland, Ohio, for a powerful two-day event designed to accelerate the development of the country’s 150+ multi-use trail networks. Participants in the Summit will leave inspired and equipped with the tools, strategies, and connections to accelerate network development in their regions. Most importantly, they will join a multidisciplinary community of champions and innovators dedicated to creating healthier, more inclusive, and resilient futures for all.

Read more:
https://www.railstotrails.org/trailnation/summit2025/


Call for Presentation Proposals – Deadline Extended
Courtesy of ActivEnviro 

2026 Active Living + Outdoor Health Summit 

We invite you to share your work advancing active living, outdoor engagement, conservation, preventive community, and planetary health. This year’s theme—Stronger Together: Transforming Lives, Communities, and Planetary Health—reflects the Summit’s collaborative spirit and multidisciplinary reach. Proposals are welcome across research, practice, and policy, and from a wide range of fields including public health, planning, parks and recreation, transportation, tourism, community development, and environmental science.

New deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025 at 5:00 pm PT

Read more:
https://www.activenviro.org/2026aloh-presentation-proposals

2027 International Trails Summit Coming to Durham, NC
Courtesy of American Trails

April 13-15, 2027 - Durham, North Carolina

American Trails and the Professional TrailBuilders Association (PTBA) are excited to announce that the 2027 International Trails Summit will take place April 13-15, 2027 at the Durham Convention Center. The International Trails Summit is the world’s leading gathering of trail professionals, advocates, and land managers bringing together more than 800 attendees from all over the United States and abroad. Attendees will connect through educational sessions, hands-on training, a vibrant exhibit hall, the signature dirt demo, and field trips highlighting the Triangle’s natural beauty and trail networks.

Read more:
https://www.trails-summit.org/

Upcoming Webinars from American Trails

• September 18: Branding 101: The Importance of Finding Your "Why"
• September 25: Natural Surface Trails as Transportation
• October 2: Community Crafted, Eco-Engineered Trail System: India’s First Women-Led Trail System
• October 9: Forging the Future for Trail Technicians: What We’ve Learned, What’s Next, and Why It Matters
• October 16: Trail Design in an Animate World: A Philosophical Inquiry into Consent, Relationship, and Reciprocity
• October 30: A Guide to Adaptive Mountain Bike Trailbuilding

Read more:
https://www.americantrails.org/training/webinars

NEW - Outreach and Land Acquisition Manager
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$67,718 - $84,647 Annually
Application Deadline: Sep 4, 2025

Safety & Risk Manager
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$74,454 - $93,068
Application Deadline: Sep 22, 2025

Regional Project Delivery Manager
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$83,378 - $104,223 Annually
Application Deadline: Sep 18, 2025

Director of Parks and Recreation
City of Omaha, Nebraska
$160,000 - $180,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Sep 19, 2025


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

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