NACPRO News

February 18, 2025

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Registration now for the 2025 Special Park District Forum
Courtesy of Huron Clinton Metroparks

June 9-12, 2025 - Southeast Michigan

Together, we will explore the theme of “Parks for All” We invite adventurous park professionals, community leaders, and advocates to come together, share openly, and reflect on our shared commitment to providing positive park and recreation opportunities to each and every member of our community. Attendees will have the opportunities to exchange best practices and emerging trends and engage in exciting and interactive sessions that will both inspire and empower them to foster greater equity and environmental justice in their own communities.

NACPRO will be holding our annual meeting in conjunction with the 2025 Forum. The board meeting is scheduled for the evening of June 11 and awards banquet on June 12.

Learn more:
https://www.metroparks.com/spdf/#REGISTRATION

Ms. Rylie Dorman
Communications Specialist
Ottawa County Parks & Recreation
West Olive, Michigan

Mr. Jason Hemmens
Director
San Diego County Parks & Recreation, California

Mr. Patrick Linihan
Director
Genesee County Parks and Recreation
Flint, Michigan

Ms. Kristy Owens
Director
Centre Region Parks and Recreation
State College, Pennsylvania

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

Plan Your Space using Pilot Rock CAD drawings
Courtesy of Pilot Rock

CADdetails.com is a leading provider of manufacturer-specific building product information, delivering thousands of high-quality planning documents to architects, engineers, contractors and other design industry professionals.

R.J. Thomas offers listings for a number of popular products from each of our product lines. A link to these CADdetails listings can be easily accessed from the top navigation bar of our website.

Learn more:
https://www.pilotrock.com/caddetails/

3 parks in Monmouth County shut down after 25 geese found dead
Courtesy of 6abc.com

NEW JERSEY - Three Allentown parks in Monmouth County, New Jersey are shut down after 25 geese were discovered dead. State officials are working to determine if the bird flu is the cause. Infected birds shed avian influenza viruses through their saliva, mucous and feces. So, as a precaution, signs have been put up to warn people to stay away from the water and goose droppings.

Read more:
https://6abc.com/post/3-nj-parks-shut-down-25-geese-found-dead-allentown-monmouth-county/15901693/

Impacts of Executive Orders on the Outdoor Recreation Community
Courtesy of SORP

By Rachel Franchina

The recent passage of the EXPLORE Act and other legislation such as the Great American Outdoors Act are evidence that access to the outdoors are important to people from all walks of life. However, several of President Trump’s Executive Orders (E.O.) and other policies have a great impact on both individuals within our community and the ability for our community to plan, manage and provide outdoor recreation opportunities for all. 

On January 28th federal employees received an email titled “Fork in the Road” encouraging them to resign. Many employees on probationary status (which is put in place for new hires and employees hired under certain authorities even if they are tenured federal employees) started receiving layoff notices on February 13th; the USFS laid off 3,400 employees across all programs and the NPS laid off 1,000 and around 400 for the BLM (this does not include those that have resigned or retired since Trump took office). As we know from past furloughs, essential employees for these agencies only include line officers (such as a forest supervisor or park superintendent), law enforcement officers, and a handful of administrative positions. 

Read more:
https://www.recpro.org/blogs/rachel-franchina/2025/02/14/impacts-of-executive-orders-on-the-outdoor-recreat


Three trends showcase the strength of the outdoor recreation economy
Courtesy of Headwaters Economics

More than a decade of data about the outdoor recreation economy is now available to inform community development and business decisions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA) tracks the contributions of the outdoor recreation economy to state-level GDP, job types, wages, and more. Headwaters Economics examined the ORSA data for all available years, 2012 to 2023, to discover long-term trends that might shape the future of this evolving sector. Three compelling conclusions stand out.

1. Outdoor recreation grew faster than the overall economy over the past decade.
2. Forty-nine states saw growth in their outdoor recreation economy.
3. High-wage outdoor recreation jobs are growing fastest.

Read more:
https://headwaterseconomics.org/outdoor-recreation/three-trends-outdoor-recreation-economy/


Mobile App Makes DC Transit Easy to Navigate for Visually Impaired Riders
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Diana Ionescu 

Passengers with visual impairments on the D.C.-area transit system can now use an app to navigate the network, making the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s system one of the nation’s most accessible, according to a press release from app developer Waymap. The app relies on the phone’s motion sensors to let users navigate even underground, making it potentially “the first and only indoor mapping service that requires no external infrastructure to work.” It also provides turn-by-turn audio cues and touts “step-level accuracy.”

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/02/134290-mobile-app-makes-dc-transit-easy-navigate-visually-impaired-riders


The Destruction and Construction That Created New York’s Central Park
Courtesy of City Park Alliance

By Dave Roos

New York City’s Central Park can feel like an untouched slice of nature in the heart of Manhattan, but every square foot of the 843-acre park was carefully planned and constructed. When New York legislators approved construction of a massive urban park in 1853—the first of its kind in the United States—they chose some of the least attractive land in the city.

“It was junk land,” says Cynthia Brenwall, a conservator at the New York Municipal Archives. “It was not nice, beautiful and hilly like it is now. It was rocky and full of bogs. There were gross tanneries and bone-boiling plants. It was attractive because it was easily attainable.”

The transformation of “junk land” into one of the most-visited and beloved parks in the world required one of the largest public works projects in 19th-century America.

Read more:
https://www.history.com/news/central-park-construction-project


Apply for the 2025 NACo Achievement Awards
Courtesy of NACo

Since 1970, the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services. Through a non-competitive application process, noteworthy programs receive awards in 18 categories that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.

There is no limit to the number of applications that can be submitted by a single county. Regional partners are welcome to submit applications for a collective project; however, the associated county or state association must submit the application on the group’s behalf.

The fee for each application submitted before March 4, 2025 is $75.
The fee for each application will increase to $100 from March 4 – March 31, 2025. 

Read more:
https://www.naco.org/page/apply-2025-naco-achievement-awards


New Interactive Tool Helps Cities Assess and Strengthen Urban Tree Canopies
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Clement Lau

A new national tree canopy assessment tool is now available, providing cities across the U.S. with high-resolution data to evaluate local and regional tree cover and track changes over time. This tool equips community leaders with essential insights to prioritize tree planting and protection efforts where they are needed most. The tool enables users to analyze land cover statistics, urban development patterns, and tree canopy data down to the census block group level, fostering more strategic and equitable urban forestry initiatives. Hosted at TreesAtWork.org, the platform will continue to expand with additional data and resources throughout 2025, including a National Baseline Canopy Assessment Report that will provide an in-depth analysis of urban tree canopy trends nationwide. 

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/02/134112-new-interactive-tool-helps-cities-assess-and-strengthen-urban-tree-canopies


Welcoming Communities to Trails Hub
Courtesy of American Trails

American Trails has created a new hub for the Resource Library. The Welcoming Communities to Trails Hub includes websites, articles, videos, and other online resources that provide a framework for moving toward welcoming communities of all types to enjoy trails and the access they provide to the outdoors.

Learn more:
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/welcoming-communities-to-trails-hub


Cities Connecting Children to Nature Municipal Action Guide
Courtesy of American Trails

City leaders can play active roles to ensure that nearby nature spaces exist and that children and families who otherwise have less access feel comfortable using those spaces. Coordinated efforts between municipal agencies and partners such as school districts and community-based organizations maximize benefits to young people. Such partnerships also readily align with city priorities to address public health, academic, economic, environmental, and equity outcomes. As awareness and evidence of the benefits of nature grow, cities will doubtless illuminate and establish many more pathways to nature connection.

Learn more:
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/cities-connecting-children-to-nature-municipal-action-guide

Place, Story & Culture: An Inclusive Approach to Protecting Latino Heritage Sites
Courtesy of American Trails

Numerous sites dot our American landscapes and cities that tell a story about our diverse past - places that embody the architectural, cultural, and deep historical roots of the Latino community. However, sites that commemorate Latino heritage are disproportionately excluded when it comes to officially designated heritage and conservation sites. This report provides recommendations to address the lack of representation of Latino heritage sites among protected area designations, by proposing a more inclusive designation system as well as a list of Latino heritage sites that currently lack official recognition.

Learn more:
https://www.americantrails.org/resources/place-story-culture

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Christine McLaren

At least half of all zip codes in America will receive slower and downgraded mail service under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s Delivering for America Plan, according to an analysis by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The PRC analysis showed that the plan would disproportionately impact rural communities across the country, which also rely more heavily on mail, resulting in delays of six days or more. 

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/02/134282-delivering-america-plan-will-downgrade-mail-service-least-495-percent-zip-codes


Managing High-Quality Parks Environments
Courtesy of City Park Alliance

This report examines the management features of the 21 parks to identify lessons for how to create and maintain a premier waterfront gathering place.

Read more:
https://cityparksalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Managing-High-Quality-Park-Environments.pdf

Beyond the Minimums Accessibility Series
Courtesy of PlayCore

February 26, 2025
2:00 to 3:15 pm Eastern
Registration Code: COMMUNITY

Join us for this first session of our yearlong Beyond the Minimums Accessibility Series where we are covering key requirements for making recreational spaces accessible to diverse groups. Whether you're designing, planning, or managing facilities, this webinar is an essential resource for ensuring accessibility compliance. You’ll also explore requirements for various facilities and learn strategies for new builds and renovations, focusing on accessible design standards.

Learn more:
https://education.playcore.com/products/live-beyond-the-minimums-accessibility-webinar-series-part-1-access-to-recreation-navigating-chapter-10-of-the-ada-standards

TrailNation Summit
Courtesy of the Federal Lands Transportation Institute Training Newsletter

Date: October 27-29, 2025
Location: Cleveland, OH
Organization: Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC)

Rails to Trails Conservancy’s TrailNation™ Summit is where the vision of trail networks at the center of healthy, thriving communities becomes reality. Over two full days in Cleveland, participants will be immersed in a learning experience designed to build the necessary connections with professionals and advocates from different fields, geographies, and areas of expertise from across a wide range of sectors necessary to trail network development. Participants will gain cutting-edge strategies to develop connected trail and active transportation networks that bolster local economies, improve public health, foster social connections, and enhance quality of life in communities nationwide.

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

Executive Director
Urbana Park District, Illinois
$140,000 - $175,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Feb 28, 2025

Program Manager II - Parks Interpretation and Outdoor Recreation
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation
San Jose, California
Salary: $134,436 - $163,425 Annually
Application Deadline: Mar 3, 2025

UPDATED: Director of Parks & Recreation
Pierce County
University Place, Washington
$144,367 - $194,867 Annually
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Director of Events
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$93,352 - $105,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Mar 3, 2025

Park Ranger Supervisor
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation
San Jose, California
$121,927 - $148,237 Annually
Application Deadline: Feb 27, 2025

Internal Content Coordinator
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$26.92 - $33.65 Hourly
Application Deadline: Feb 21, 2025

Computer Systems Specialist
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$26.92 - $33.65 Hourly
Application Deadline: Feb 17, 2025

Director of Guest Experiences - Central Region
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$83,378 - $104,223 Annually
Application Deadline: Feb 20, 2025

Park Ranger
Metroparks Toledo, Ohio
$22.66 - $33.57 Hourly
Application Deadline: Open until filled


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.