NACPRO News

December 17, 2024

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David Heithaus, Director
Knox County Park District
Mount Vernon, Ohio

Tommy Cude, Assistant Director
Travis County Parks
Austin, Texas

Tim Speyrer, Park District Manager
Travis County Parks
Austin, Texas

Huron-Clinton Metroparks
Brighton, Michigan 

• Amy McMillan, Director
• Janet Briles, Chief of Planning & Development
• Katie Carlisle, Chief of Natural Resources & Regulatory Compliance
• Artina Carter, Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Mike Henkel, Chief of Engineering Services
• Gary Hopp, Eastern District Superintendent
• Jennifer Jaworski, Chief of Interpretive Services
• Sanjay Khunger, Chief of Information Technology
• Jeff Linn, Southern District Superintendent
• Mike Lyons, Deputy Director
• Danielle Mauter, Chief of Marketing and Communications
• Shedreka Miller, Chief of Finance
• Jim O'Brien, Western District Superintendent
• Michael Reese, Chief of Police
• Randy Rossman, Chief of Human Resources & Labor Relations
• Micaela Vasquez, Executive Assistant

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

East Baton Rouge residents support BREC parks system in tax votes
Courtesy of The Advocate

By Christopher Cartwright

LOUISIANA - At the November polls, East Baton Rouge Parish residents approved two taxes for BREC, greenlighting continued funding of 65% of the organization’s operating budget.

Voters approved a 10-year renewal of a total of 6.2 mills, which will fund general operations and improving buildings and grounds. It passed by 109,133 votes to 71,042 votes, or 61% to 39%.

“It’s very important that in order for us to maintain our same level of service,” Superintendent of BREC Corey Wilson said. 

And residents greenlit an extension of a 20-year tax of 3.253 mills, which will finance the organization’s “Imagine Your Parks” strategic plan, by 95,598 votes to 84,123 votes, or 53% to 47%.

Read more:
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/ebr-voters-approve-brec-tax-renewals/article_7e770304-9ae0-11ef-affb-6f2e6997f2c7.html


County parks again receive national accreditation
Courtesy of Westfair Business Journal

By Peter Katz

NEW YORK - Westchester County’s parks have for the fifth time received accreditation by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). NRPA operates the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). NRPA describes CAPRA as providing the only national accreditation of park and recreation departments and a valuable measure of a department’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer said that Westchester was the first county in New York state to receive accreditation for its parks. That took place in 2003.  

Read more:
https://westfaironline.com/combined/county-parks-again-receive-national-accreditation/

Forest Preserves of Cook County Reaches Major Milestone: More Than 70,000 Acres
Courtesy of FPDCC

The Forest Preserves of Cook County has reached a momentous milestone, officially holding more than 70,000 acres of land for the first time in its 110-year history. The Forest Preserves of Cook County is the oldest and largest preserve system of its kind in the country.

“It is unique for a metropolitan area like ours to have such a diversity of important habitats for native plants and wildlife at this scale and readily available to millions of local residents. It’s such an important legacy,” said Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle. “I am honored to preside over the moment when we cross over to more than 70,000 acres. This is a celebration of the importance of public land available for everyone to enjoy.”

The landmark was reached at the November meeting of the Forest Preserves’ Board of Commissioners by voting to add a 68-acre plot of land to the Preserves along Deer Creek in unincorporated Cook County. More than 11 percent of Cook County is in the Forest Preserves.

Read more:
https://fpdcc.com/forest-preserves-of-cook-county-reaches-major-milestone-more-than-70000-acres/

CAPRA Celebrates 30 Years
Courtesy of NRPA

By Jennifer Schleining

It all started with a vision a few agencies had in the 1980s for the park and recreation field to get organized and abide by a specific set of standards. To achieve this, agencies should be evaluated on those standards for accreditation.

The CAPRA program officially launched in 1994 with its first set of bylaws and a total of six pilot agencies beta testing the original 153 standards and the process. The participating agencies included: Asheville Parks and Recreation, North Carolina; East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission, Louisiana; Monmouth County Park System, New Jersey; Plano Parks and Recreation Department, Texas; Roseville Parks and Recreation, Minnesota; and Scottsdale Parks and Recreation, Arizona. All agencies took detailed notes of their experience during the year in hopes that future agencies would be successful.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2024/december/capra-celebrates-30-years/


Access Federal Funding for Parks
Courtesy of the City Parks Alliance

The Department of Interior has opened the eighth application round for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program and applications are now being accepted at Grants.gov. Transform your city’s communities and close the park equity gap with funding from the ORLP, which offers 50/50 matching grants to create new parks or revitalize existing parks in underserved urban neighborhoods.

ORLP projects must meet two eligibility criteria: your city/town must have a population of at least 25,000 based on the 2020 Census, and the project must be located within an underserved community. 

Learn more:
https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357672


Could electric ‘fish fence’ block carp invasion in Salt River basin?
Courtesy of RMS

By Liam Niemeyer

KENTUCKY - A federally-funded study approved Friday by a board overseeing Kentucky’s wildlife management department will look at potential locations to develop an electric “fish fence” to block invasive carp on the Salt River — and harvest them straight out of the water onto a conveyor belt. 

Dave Dreves, the director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), told the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission that the $40,000 feasibility study would look to see if an electric “fish fence” system developed by a University of Minnesota professor to harvest carp could be installed on the Salt River basin.

Read more:
https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/12/06/could-electric-fish-fence-block-carp-invasion-in-salt-river-basin-ky-wants-to-know/


Outdoors for All
Courtesy of NRPA

By Marika Carley

MARYLAND - On a warm, muggy and slightly overcast Saturday morning in early August, an excited crowd gathered in Wheaton Regional Park in Wheaton, Maryland, to try out Montgomery Parks’ new collection of adaptive mountain bikes. The group was attending the inaugural event of the department’s free Adaptive Mountain Biking Program, designed exclusively for individuals with disabilities to experience the thrill of mountain biking.

The department purchased two adaptive mountain bikes: a “Lasher,” a recumbent all-terrain handcycle with e-assist, and a “TerraTrike,” an all-terrain foot pedal bike with e-assist. Three certified adaptive mountain bike instructors were on hand to guide and assist riders, and formally trained, experienced mountain biker volunteers rode alongside participants.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2024/december/outdoors-for-all/


With new administration, a threat to Montana’s public lands
Courtesy of Bozeman Daily Chronicle

By Marne Hayes

MONTANA - For generations, communities and businesses across Montana have built lives and livelihoods on our public lands. They’re what draw and keep people here, make space for our communities to grow strong and healthy, and give visitors experiences they’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Montanans know this. However, the incoming administration has been clear about its plans to attack the institutions and dismantle the programs and policies that support and sustain our public lands and outdoor way of life. Its plans threaten the assets that support Montana’s $2.6 billion recreation industry, tens of thousands of jobs, and the future of our outdoor economy.

Read more:
https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/marne-hayes-with-new-administration-a-threat-to-montana-s-public-lands/article_a2ef8e80-b7c9-11ef-859a-0f94fcaad715.html


CDC: Splash pads linked to 10,000 illnesses over 25 years
Courtesy of NRPA

By Vanessa Etienne

A new study — published Dec. 3 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — analyzes 60 waterborne disease outbreaks associated with splash pads from 23 states and Puerto Rico between 1997 and 2022. 

The CDC found that since the introduction of splash pads 25 years ago, the popular water areas have been linked to 10,611 infections. Of those affected, 152 people were hospitalized and 99 people required emergency room visits. There were no deaths reported. 

The parasite cryptosporidium was the most common cause of waterborne disease outbreaks associated with these recreational spaces, with 91% of cases. It can be transmitted by ingesting water contaminated with feces from those infected.

Learn more:
https://people.com/splash-pads-contaminated-with-feces-linked-to-10000-illnesses-8755960


Mapping a Greener Future: Cal Poly Tackles Urban Canopy Challenges
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Clement Lau

CALIFORNIA - Cal Poly has been awarded a contract to develop California’s new Strategic Plan for Urban Forestry, in collaboration with Cal Fire and driven by Assembly Bill 2251. As reported by Emily Slater, this ambitious initiative aims to increase statewide tree canopy cover by 10% by 2035, addressing climate change, improving air quality, and fostering equity in green space access. The project, led by Cal Poly’s Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute (UFEI) and spearheaded by biological sciences professor Jenn Yost, leverages cutting-edge data and tools like SelecTree to guide urban forestry management. The plan focuses on expanding canopy cover in disadvantaged communities most affected by extreme heat and limited access to shade.

Learn more:
https://www.calpoly.edu/news/cal-poly-lead-development-californias-new-urban-forestry-str


App Aims To Keep Tourists From Getting Mauled When Taking Selfies With Wildlife
Courtesy of Cowboy State Daily

By Mark Heinz

The saying that “there’s an app for that” now applies to efforts to save tourists from being stomped, chewed on, clawed or skewered by angry Wyoming wildlife.

Those who can’t keep themselves from getting too up close and personal while trying to take selfies with the Cowboy State’s famous bears, bison and other wild critters now have a little extra help.

The Selfie Control Instagram app was launched this year Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board ahead of peak tourist season in hopes of teaching tourists to back off to the recommended distances from wildlife — at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from other animals. 

Read more:
https://www.calpoly.edu/news/cal-poly-lead-development-californias-new-urban-forestry-strategic-plan

Navigating the Outdoors: Facilitated Recreation, Policy, Permitting, and Partnerships
Courtesy of SORP

This webinar series will share an in-depth exploration of facilitated recreation and its evolving role in supporting public land access, visitor experience, and outdoor partnerships. This four-part series features insights from agency leaders, outdoor guides and facilitators, policy experts, and organizations shaping the future of outdoor recreation. Attendees will learn about successful models of collaboration between outdoor facilitators and land management agencies that enhance visitor experience and stewardship. 

• January 29: Facilitated Recreation Unpacked: Defining the Practice and Partnership
• February 5: Agency Insights: Collaboration and Access in Outdoor Recreation
• February 12: On the Ground: Perspectives from Outdoor Guides and Facilitators
• February 19: Policy Pathways: Evolving Permits and Access for Public Lands

All webinars start at: 12pm PT / 1pm MT / 2pm CT / 3pm ET

Learn more:
https://www.recpro.org/professional-development/webinars


2025 Active Living Conference Registration Open
Courtesy of ActivEnviro

March 16-20 in Manhattan, Kansas

Join leading researchers, professionals, educators, and community leaders at the 2025 Active Living Conference to explore the latest developments in preventive health and allied active living realms. This year's theme "Bridging the Research to Practice Gap" will come to life through interactive workshops, collaborative sessions, and hands-on learning opportunities. This dynamic gathering of allied professionals will offer many opportunities to network with peers, share innovative insights, and develop practical solutions for creating sustainable active living environments that benefit everyone.

Take advantage of our early bird discount by registering by February 3, 2025. 

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


IMBA Announces 2025 Trail Education and Assessment Tools

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) announces the seventh year of Foundations trail workshops, taking place in Minnesota during 2025: Winona in spring, and Duluth in the fall. IMBA Foundations are designed to catalyze the next generation of great places to ride mountain bikes. Attendees learn what it takes to create a model trail community and return home with the knowledge to make it happen. Individuals best-suited to attend the workshops are land managers, community officials, recreation professionals and tourism / economic development staff. 

Trail Management Schools are on-demand, on-location programs that take place in the community. These begin in the classroom and culminate with hands-on field work on the community’s trails where land managers and stakeholders put ideas into practice. 

Trail Friendly Community Self-Assessment is a good way for communities to take stock of what they’re doing well and find pathways to do more, all in support of community development. 

Learn more:
https://www.imba.com/programs

NEW – Trails Manager
Great Parks
Cincinnati, Ohio
$61,593 - $76,991 Annually
Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2025

Associate Division Director of Recreation
Salt Lake County, Utah
$100,250 - $150,376 Annually
Application Deadline: Dec 31, 2024

Parks and Recreation Director
Town of Mooresville, North Carolina
$122,325.00 - $153,047.00 Annually
Application Deadline: Jan 6, 2025

Deputy Executive Director of Administrative Operations
Glenview Park District, Illinois
$150,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Jan 6, 2025

Regional Operations Manager
County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation
Alhambra, California
$132,009 - $205,302 Annually
Application Deadline: Dec 19, 2024

Director of Parks and Recreation
City of Wichita Falls, Texas
$134,160 - $201,344 Annually
Application Deadline: Jan 6, 2025

Community Services Director
Desert Recreation District
Indio, California
$158,398.00 Annually
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Executive Director
Hickory Hills Park District
Hickory Hills, Illinois
$100,000 - $135,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Dec 20, 2024

Executive Director
Byron Forest Preserve District
Byron, Illinois
$110,000 - $160,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Feb 7, 2025

Assistant Superintendent – Recreation Programs & Facilities
Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Salary: Negotiable
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 1200 parks and recreation professionals for a fee of $100 for NACPRO members and $200 for non-members.