NACPRO News

April 28, 2026

Above the fold
Ask the membership
From our sponsors
News & Resources

Learning
Job openings
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CEU credits offered NACPRO Annual Meeting

May 19-20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida

A total of 0.6 CEU credits can be earned at the educational sessions in sunny Sarasota. Our hosts have put together an outstanding park tour and engaging educational opportunities.

Our annual awards banquet will take place at the Mote SEA Aquarium in the Gulf of Mexico Exhibit, which features dramatic views into the 400,000-gallon habitat with coral reef formations, sharks, rays, sea turtles, and various native fish species.

We are also offering optional excursions before and after the NACPRO meeting. Kayak in a mangrove tunnel, take a swamp buggy eco-tour, or enjoy birdwatching with the Sarasota Audubon members. Act now, registration for the excursions closes this Thursday, May 30 at midnight.

Registration for our annual meeting is open through May 15.  

For more information:  https://www.nacpro.org/annual-meeting

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

Build Your Own. Save on Freight.
Courtesy of Pilot Rock

Looking for a more flexible way to add seating this season?

Pilot Rock bench and picnic table frame kits offer a practical solution—giving you the durability of commercial-grade products with the flexibility to source your own materials.

Each kit includes the same heavy-duty steel frames, support braces, and hardware used in our fully assembled products. You provide the lumber or recycled plastic boards, allowing you to match your site’s needs while supporting local suppliers.

Read more:
https://www.pilotrock.com/search/?searchkeyword=frame+kits

Bill Seeks Clearer Federal Standards for E-Bikes and E-Motos
Courtesy of Electrek

The bipartisan Safe SPEEDS Act would direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to create clear Federal definitions, classifications, and labeling requirements for e-bikes, e-motos, and similar micromobility devices. The legislation also calls for improved data collection on crashes, injuries, and fatalities and has drawn support from groups including PeopleForBikes, the League of American Bicyclists, the National Bicycle Dealers Association, and Consumer Reports.

Read more:
https://electrek.co/2026/03/30/new-e-bike-bill-in-congress-could-bring-long-awaited-federal-regulation/

Governing in the 'attention economy'
Courtesy of NACo

By Matthew Chase

More than 50 years ago, Nobel Prize-winning economist Herbert Simon proclaimed that “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.” That observation, made in 1971, has never been more consequential.

What county leaders must do:

• Lead with clarity
• Be present with residents
• Invest in trust before you need it
• Make accurate information shareable

Read more:
https://www.naco.org/news/governing-attention-economy

Almost Half of America’s Kids Are Breathing Toxic Air
Courtesy of Inside Climate News

By Keerti Gopal

Nearly half the nation’s children live in places with dangerous levels of air pollution, according to a report released Wednesday by the American Lung Association.

The report also found that people of color are more than twice as likely as white people to live in a community with failing grades for all three measures. Latinos are more than three times as likely to live in such communities, unchanged from last year’s report.

Since 2000, the ALA’s annual State of the Air reports have detailed the nation’s air quality, which improved for decades following the passage of the 1970 Clean Air Act. But in recent years, heat and wildfires worsened by climate change are reversing some of that progress.

Read more:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22042026/american-lung-association-toxic-air-annual-report/

Light Up My Crosswalk Pilot Aims to Reduce Nighttime Pedestrian Deaths
Courtesy of PBIC

TENNESSEE - Describes a pilot project in Nashville that uses pedestrian-level flood lighting to illuminate crosswalks when the walk signal turns on. The system works with existing signal infrastructure and is designed to address visibility challenges that standard street lighting may not adequately address for people crossing at night.

Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TTafHHaORg

The Coalition of Recreational Trails Announces 2026 RTP Trails Achievement Awards
Courtesy of NOHVCC 

Deadline for nominations is May 20, 2026.

Award winners will be selected from projects nominated by public agencies, trail administrators or other project sponsors. Projects must be completed in order to receive an award. In addition, projects completed before 2020 are ineligible. Project award categories include:

• Construction and Design
• Maintenance and Rehabilitation
• Public-Private Partnerships and Access to Public Lands
• Community Linkage
• Education and Communication
• Accessibility Enhancement
• Multiple-Use Management and “Corridor Sharing”
• Use of Youth Conservation/Service Corps and Community Outreach
• Engaging Public-Sector Partners
• Enhancement of Federal Lands

Read more:
https://www.americantrails.org/index.php/crt/the-2026-rtp-achievement-awards-nomination

Bring Federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Funding to Your City
Courtesy of City Parks Alliance

Wednesday, May 20 from 1:00-2:00 pm ET

Join us for a one-hour virtual roundtable in anticipation of the National Park Service’s upcoming Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This session will provide practical guidance, peer insights, and resources for building a strong, competitive application from National Park Service (NPS), Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state liaison staff from Texas Parks and Wildlife, and city leaders who have successfully secured these grants.

The ORLP program, administered by the NPS and funded through the LWCF, is a powerful catalyst for transforming city parks into essential community infrastructure—supporting access, resilience, and long-term stewardship.

Read more:
https://nextcity.org/events/detail/24619

NEW - Building Maintenance Tech III
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Beaverton, Oregon
$75,525 - $91,867 Annually
Application Deadline: May 6, 2026

NEW - Deputy General Superintendent
Forest Preserves of Cook County
Chicago, Illinois
$198,000 Annually
Application Deadline: May 8, 2026

NEW - Director of Human Resources
Forest Preserves of Cook County
Chicago, Illinois
$125,000 - $152,006 Annually
Application Deadline: May 30, 2026

NEW - Chief of Police
Forest Preserves of Cook County
Hinsdale, Illinois
$125,000 - $149,735 Annually
Application Deadline: Jun 30, 2026

Maintenance Operations Manager
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District
Beaverton, Oregon
$149,1730 - $181,3050 Annually
Application Deadline: May 5, 2026

Director of Parks & Recreation
Town of Addison, Texas
$170,000+ Annually
Application Deadline: Apr 30, 2026

Executive Director
Crystal Lake Park District, Illinois
$179,000 - $229,000 Annually
Application Deadline: May 1, 2026

Director of Parks, Recreation & Public Property
City of Omaha, Nebraska
$180,000 - $200,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Apr 30, 2026

Chief of Planning
Five Rivers MetroParks
Dayton, Ohio
$101,338 - $152,006 Annually
Application Deadline: May 5, 2026

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.