NACPRO News

February 17, 2026

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Mrs. Tara Stewart, Deputy Director
M-NCPPC, Dept of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County
Riverdale, Maryland

Ms. Esther Jackson, Manager of Parks and Recreation
Oakland County Parks and Recreation
Waterford, Michigan

Mr. Greg Desmond, Aquatics and Recreation Supervisor
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Santa Rosa, California

Mrs. Yulie Padmore, Community Engagement Officer
East Bay Regional Park District
Oakland, California

Keeping parks, staff, and people connected
Courtesy of Jotform

How do you keep park staff connected across 27,000 acres? Three Rivers Park District makes it look easy. After juggling multiple disparate systems, staff adopted a powerful platform to manage every online form, streamlining internal processes and promoting public engagement.

To maximize winter fun, field staff use a mobile app to access forms from their phones and submit updates indicating which trails are slushy, groomed, or ready to open. The data flows to staff who update visitor center signs, alert the website and social media teams to announce new trail openings, and inform the district’s police department and maintenance teams about which trails to monitor and maintain. Read all about the Three Rivers Park District’s digital transformation journey.

Read more:
https://www.jotform.com/customer-stories/three-rivers-park-district/

High-traffic outdoor spaces don’t get days off
Courtesy of Pilot Rock

From busy parks and campgrounds to trailheads and public gathering areas, site furnishings are used daily—and often pushed well beyond “normal” use. Designing these spaces for long-term performance requires more than choosing the right look.

What matters most in high-traffic environments:

• Heavy-duty materials that resist bending, warping, and fatigue
• Secure mounting that prevents movement and theft
• Finishes that hold up under constant contact and exposure
• Designs that prioritize strength without sacrificing usability

Pilot Rock products are engineered for environments where durability isn’t optional. Every detail—from material selection to fabrication and finish—is designed to withstand years of continuous use. Because the best outdoor spaces are designed to perform for decades—not just seasons.

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

Project Portfolio
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business +

Project Portfolio highlights the best of the best. The most innovative, the most breathtaking, the most impactful—they’re all here. NACPRO honors two member agencies whose projects were recognized as Best Playgrounds.

St. Louis County, Missouri: Teddy and Friends Unlimited Play Inclusive Playground

The Teddy and Friends Unlimited Play Playground at Queeny Park is a vibrant, inclusive destination where children of all abilities can play, connect, and thrive together. Developed through a partnership between Little Tikes Commercial, Unlimited Play, and Soft Play, and inspired by local advocate Erin Gooch’s mission to honor her son Teddy, the playground embodies the power of play without limits.

Read more:
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-february-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page46

Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, California: Loma Alta Park

Rebuilt after the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, Loma Alta Park in Altadena celebrates community resilience with a vibrant, inclusive playground designed for children ages 2 to 12.

Read more:
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-february-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page48

2026 NACo Achievement Awards
Courtesy of NACo

Does your county have an innovative program that improves county government and enhances services for county residents? Apply for the 2026 Achievement Awards. There are 18 categories ranging from information technology, health, criminal justice, human services and many more.

Counties with fewer than 50,000 residents are eligible to apply at no cost this year.

Submission deadline: March 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Read more:
www.naco.org/achievementawards

LA County Adopts First Heat Action Plan
Courtesy of Planetizen

By Clement Lau

CALIFORNIA - Building on years of prior analysis, the Heat Action Plan outlines various strategies, including adding shade structures at all county bus stops, expanding tree canopy in unincorporated areas, replacing heat-absorbing pavement at schools and public spaces, enforcing indoor temperature standards for rental housing, reducing energy burdens for low-income households, and expanding cooling centers. Researchers involved in the plan note that its people-centered approach—and its innovative use of shade data alongside temperature data—positions Los Angeles County as a leader in planning for life in a hotter future.

Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2026/02/136886-la-county-adopts-first-heat-action-plan

Following a New Greenprint
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business +

By Travis Ragdale

KENTUCKY - The Greenprint initiative grew out of a shared recognition that downtown Louisville needed more than traditional development to recover from economic and social shifts. The city’s post-pandemic landscape included underused spaces and reduced foot traffic. City leaders, funders, and researchers began discussing how urban greening could help restore vitality while addressing issues such as air quality and public health.

The result was the Greenprint Charter, an agreement that outlines principles for cooperation among organizations representing local government, higher education, nonprofits, foundations, and private partners. The framework encourages partners to align their projects, share data, and track outcomes to determine what types of greening provide the greatest benefit.

Read more
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-february-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page12

From Parks to Profit
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business +

By Eulois Cleckley

Miami has always been a city that moves fast and dreams big. From its art deco past to its tech-forward present, this community thrives on reimagining what’s possible. That same energy fuels The Underline, a 10-mile, multimodal, urban park beneath Miami’s Metrorail that serves as a corridor of connection, commerce, and culture.

The Underline is a people-driven project that began with a simple question from founder Meg Daly: What if the land beneath the Metrorail could be repurposed to bring the community together? That question became a catalyst. Today, the project is transforming 120 acres from Brickell to Dadeland into a series of parks, trails, plazas, and gathering spaces. With full completion approaching next year, The Underline has already proven that public spaces can go beyond beautifying a city, strengthening its economy and its people.

Read more:
https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/prb-february-2026?ref=prbplus.com#page18

Recreation Economy Data Drops Here: Join us for the Release of the BEA Outdoor Recreation Data
Courtesy of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable

March 5, 11:00 am EST

ORR invites you to a webinar highlighting the release of new data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) detailing the economic impact of the outdoor recreation industry in 2024. Join BEA, industry leaders, policymakers, and partners for a discussion on what the latest data reveals about the economic impact of the recreation economy, state and regional impacts, key growth segments, and more.

Read more:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0nwzvUKaQsmnUwCCHmyv0Q#/registratioa

Active Living +Outdoor Health Summit - Program Now Online
Courtesy of ActivEnviro

March 8 - 13, 2026 - Minneapolis/St. Paul

We know that there are a lot of questions around the current unrest and activity in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. We continue to support our ActivEnviro Equity Pledge, our colleagues and friends in Minnesota, and all people in our communities. We understand that safety may be complicated and personal, and situations can be changing.

We are meeting with our local hosts and organizers frequently. While we share concerns and heightened awareness, we have determined that the Active Living + Outdoor Health Summit will happen as planned at our various partnered local host facilities. Our local host partners are welcoming us to come together for our gathering.

Read more:
https://www.activenviro.org/aloh2026

NEW - Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities Director
City of Mesa, Arizona
$158,828 - $212,284 Annually
Application Deadline: Mar 13, 2026

NEW - Director - Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources
Sarasota County Government - Sarasota, Florida
$150,000 - $160,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Open until filled

NEW - Preserve Land Manager
Sarasota County Government
Sarasota, Florida
$57,578 - $63,002 Annually
Application Deadline: Open until filled

General Manager
San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department
City and County of San Francisco, California
$257,114 - $328,068 Annually
Application Deadline: Open until filled

District Administrator
Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District
Fair Oaks, California
$132,584 - $164,322 Annually
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Director of Parks, Recreation & Libraries
City of Roseville, California
$187,579 – $251,374 Annually
Application Deadline: Feb 26, 2026

Executive Director - Parks
El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services
Colorado Springs, Colorado
$160,000 - $181,000 Annually
Application Deadline: Feb 15, 2026

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

Got a vacancy to fill?
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