NACPRO News

June 23, 2026

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NACPRO Awardee Spotlight

Lake County Forest Preserves, Illinois - Outstanding Volunteer, Dale Shields

Since 1989, Dale Shields has volunteered with the Lake County Forest Preserves, contributing to restoration, the Native Seed Nursery, and, more recently, bumble bee monitoring. In 2023, he helped identify the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and other pollinators across Forest Preserve lands.

Among his most significant contributions is the Lake County Seed Collection Guide, a 307-page resource created with Stewardship Ecologist Kelly Schultz. Documenting 589 native plant species, the guide is widely used for restoration efforts both within and beyond Lake County.

To create it, Dale invested more than 5,000 hours photographing native plants, capturing over 6,000 images and selecting 2,000 for publication. His work required locating and tracking plants across diverse habitats, then returning at peak seed ripeness under ideal conditions to document them.

In 2025, Dale began a new pollinator guide and has already documented more than 500 species. The scope and lasting impact of his volunteer contributions continue to benefit conservation and restoration efforts throughout the region.

Tap into our collective experience. Send your question to [email protected] with some background and we will include it in the next NACPRO News.

Got a plethora of permit requests? Cut processing times by 85%
Courtesy of Jotform

If you’re overwhelmed by paper permit requests and manual email approvals, you’re not alone. Gustavo Hernandez, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Santa Fe Springs, faced the same challenge.

After trialing Jotform for facility rental applications, he discovered he could give his team the flexibility and control they needed to run their programs smoothly.

“Jotform Enterprise was a real game changer in the parks and rec profession,” he says. “If you look at the backend of our website, we probably have over 100 different ways we’re using Jotform Enterprise.”

Learn how Gustavo transformed department operations. What once took weeks now takes days. Inconceivable?

Read the success story:
https://link.jotform.com/qytH7JbjXX

The Real Test Begins After Installation
Courtesy of Pilot Rock

In the early 1960s, Pilot Rock founder R.J. Thomas worked with the local Cherokee County Conservation Board to develop grills for the newly established Martin’s Access County Park in Iowa. What began with a single grill design evolved into a broader line of outdoor furnishings serving parks and campgrounds across North America.

More than sixty years later, Cherokee County continues to purchase Pilot Rock products for the very same park. That’s the kind of longevity that can’t be measured in years alone.

Outdoor furnishings are expected to withstand:

• Years of exposure to weather
• Thousands of visitors
• Seasonal maintenance cycles
• Everyday public use

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

Action Needed — OMB proposes sweeping rewrite of federal grant rules; comment deadline July 13
Courtesy of NACo

On May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a proposed rule rewriting the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR Part 200 — the regulation governing every federal grant, cooperative agreement and pass-through award to state and local governments. The proposed rule is the most significant overhaul of federal grants administration since 2013, introducing new policy requirements, modified termination frameworks and revised cost principles and audit requirements. Federal grants to state and local governments total around $1.1 trillion, making this rulemaking consequential for counties of every size. NACo has urged OMB to extend the comment deadline and has published resources to help counties engage.

Watch NACo's on-demand webinar:
https://www.naco.org/event/understanding-proposed-rewrite-2-cfr-what-omb-uniform-guidance-proposed-rule-means-local

Plan for Shade from the Start
Courtesy of PRB+

By Patti Abrecht

Walk through any community park on a summer afternoon, and you'll see the cost of treating shade as an add-on. Playgrounds sit empty during the hottest part of the day. Caregivers crowd into slivers of shade, trying to supervise children in full sun. Amenities that require millions in capital investment sit dormant because they're too uncomfortable to enjoy.

We recognize that children need protected play spaces. But an aging population means more heat-vulnerable people using outdoor spaces we haven't designed for their needs. The protection we have fought for at playgrounds needs to extend across the entire spectrum of public outdoor space.

Learn more:
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-june-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page52

San Andreas fault at highest stress level in a millennium
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Diana Ionescu

California's San Andreas fault is experiencing the highest levels of tectonic stress in 1,000 years, according to research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The study showed that Cajon Pass could facilitate a joint rupture of both the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults simultaneously, which is a scenario that could be significantly more damaging than a single-fault event, and one that affects densely populated areas including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and the Coachella Valley.

Learn more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/06/137824-san-andreas-fault-highest-stress-level-millennium

Reimbursement policy prolongs disaster recovery for counties
Courtesy of NACo

By Charlie Ban

Long after flood waters are gone, many counties are still left under water when it comes to recovery costs. And while they are busy removing debris and rebuilding infrastructure and facilities to return to normal, the daily work of county government continues. It can take years, or decades, until the full reimbursement arrives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program.

Learn more:
https://www.naco.org/news/reimbursement-policy-prolongs-disaster-recovery-counties

Rural Capacity Map
Courtesy of Headwaters Economics

The Rural Capacity Index can be used by communities to advocate for resources. It can also be used by federal and state agencies to more deliberately invest in communities that would otherwise be left behind. In the philanthropic sector, it has been used to direct grants to low-capacity and tribal communities. The Index can be used to target infrastructure investments, including transportation, outdoor recreation, internet access, education, and climate resilience projects. Below, we provide an example of how the Index can be paired with climate risk data to illuminate communities in need of support.

Learn more:
https://headwaterseconomics.org/economic-development/equity/rural-capacity-map/

DOI announces $461 million for parks and outdoor recreation across America
Courtesy of SORP

The Department of the Interior today announced the distribution of more than $327 million in formula grants and $134 million in competitive grants from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, a major investment in the parks, playgrounds, trails and open spaces that bring communities together across the country. These funds will be matched at least 1:1, for a total outdoor recreation investment of more than $900 million.

Learn more:
https://home.nps.gov/orgs/1207/department-of-the-interior-announces-$461-million-for-parks-and-outdoor-recreation-across-america.htm

Website Security and Compliance Requirements
Courtesy of the National Special District Association

Wednesday, June 24, 10:00am MST

Join NSDA and Streamline for a fast-paced, practical briefing that helps your organization move smarter and faster.  Cybersecurity, Demystified - Protect your district’s data, systems, and reputation with real-world cybersecurity strategies you can actually implement — without needing a full IT department. Accessibility That Works - Learn how to make your website and PDFs inclusive, compliant, and user-friendly without the usual confusion and headaches.  Plus: expert tips, quick wins, and live Q&A you can put into action immediately.

Register here:
https://www.nationalspecialdistricts.org/training-webinars-on-demand

Enroll in NACo's High Performance Leadership Academy summer cohort

Investing in our county workforce is critical for navigating complex local challenges. The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy offers a suite of virtual programs designed to equip our frontline staff and executives with practical skills tailored to public service.

• Targeted leadership programs: Choose from specialized programs covering high performance, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and leading on purpose to meet your various departmental needs.
• Flexible learning for our staff: The 100% online delivery model allows for employees to learn from industry experts and build a peer network without leaving their desks.
• Summer cohort dates approaching: Prepare your teams for the rest of the year by enrolling in the upcoming 2026 cohorts beginning this July.

Enroll at naco.org/skills or email moderator@pdaleadership with any questions.

CAPRA Accreditation Essentials Online Training Series
Courtesy of NRPA

What is the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA)? What does it mean to become CAPRA Accredited? Participate in this 14-part series — whether you are a professional or represent an agency — to learn the answers to these questions and more. Information covered will help park and recreation professionals prepare to participate in the CAPRA process. This series will cover general process information, agency roles and responsibilities, best practices and terminology, direction for creating your pre-assessment report, and individual sessions for each of the 10 chapters in the 2027 CAPRA National Accreditation Standards.

Learn more:
https://learning.nrpa.org/products/capra-accreditation-essentials-basics-and-standards

Building Inclusive Recreation Programs Certificate
Courtesy of NRPA

Creating welcoming, accessible recreation programs is essential to serving the needs of your community. Our newest learning opportunity, Everyone Belongs! Building Inclusive Recreation Programs Certificate, is designed to help park and recreation professionals strengthen their ability to develop and deliver programs where everyone feels valued and included.

Through this 10-module, self-paced certificate, you’ll explore practical strategies for including people with disabilities in recreation programs. The course focuses on real-world applications in park and recreation settings, equipping you with tools you can immediately bring back to your agency and community.

Learn more:
https://learning.nrpa.org/products/everyone-belongs-building-inclusive-recreation-programs-certificate

2027 NRPA Directors School and Directors Exchange
Courtesy of NRPA

NRPA’s premier leadership development programs are heading to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 28-March 4, 2027. Directors School equips current and aspiring park and recreation directors with the leadership skills, mentorship and professional network needed to thrive in executive roles. Directors Exchange offers experienced leaders an exclusive opportunity to explore innovative partnerships, strategic collaboration and emerging trends alongside peers from across the country. Applications for both programs will open via lottery in October 2026.

Learn more:
https://learning.nrpa.org/in-person-learning

Business Operations Division Manager
Sarasota County Government
Sarasota, Florida
$84,822 - $105,000 Annually
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 $125 for NACPRO members and $250 for non-members.