Open Space Radio: Parks and Recreation Trends National Recreation and Park Association

As we continue to celebrate Park and Recreation Month, we’re excited to highlight a story that truly embodies our theme of “Where You Belong.” Today’s episode is all about ensuring opportunities to recreate and spend time in nature are available to all, regardless of ability. And, it’s perfect timing because July is also Disability Pride Month!
 
We are so thrilled to chat with Caitlin Marcotte, an operations specialist IV adaptive manager at Charlottesville (Virginia) Parks and Recreation, and Sarah Kyriacopoulos, a member of the Charlottesville community who has participated in the city’s adaptive program for years. They both shared so much wonderful insight, and it was really inspiring to hear how the programs that Caitlin and the agency offer are having a positive impact on Sarah and others in the community.
Tune in to the full story below to learn more about Charlottesville Parks and Recreation’s adaptive recreation program. You’ll also learn:
What adaptive recreation is and why it’s so important How Charlottesville Parks and Recreation is committed to serving the diverse needs of its community, especially its disabled population What types of adaptive recreation programs are available to the community (and there are a lot!) What programs Sarah enjoys and how they have benefitted her Why creating a sense of belonging really comes down to making space for building community And much more! Learn More:
Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Adaptive Recreation Department Contact Caitlin Marcotte Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on Facebook  Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on Instagram Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on X Charlottesville Parks and Recreation on YouTube Pictured: Charlottesville Adaptive Recreation Department staff and program participants go on a whitewater rafting excursion on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by RVA Paddle Sports.

Happy Park and Recreation Month! On today’s episode, we’re excited to bring you a story that truly embodies this year’s theme of “Where You Belong.” Each year, the NRPA team hosts a cover contest to find a cover photo and story for the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine that supports the year’s theme, and this year’s winner is a gem.
Today we’re joined by the winner, Rachel Kohler, a recreation coordinator for cultural arts and community engagement for The Majestic Theatre, part of Corvallis Parks & Recreation in Oregon. If you haven’t read the story yet in the July issue, it’s a wonderful piece that shares how community theater is fostering inclusion and belonging among its staff and participants. It’s truly a testament to the power of intergenerational programming, bringing folx together with diverse identities and how we can all learn something from someone else, regardless of our differences.
Tune in to the full conversation below to learn more about Rachel and why this story of The Majestic Theatre’s production of “The Tempest” embodies the power of belonging — and why parks and recreation can be such an important catalyst for continuing to build belonging in communities. You’ll also learn:
How The Majestic Theatre approached its audition announcement to bring in people from diverse backgrounds, experiences and identities How staff ensured everyone felt safe, welcome and included throughout the production Why community theater is such a powerful way to build belonging and diversify an agency’s offerings What challenges arose during the production and how the team and cast navigated them Why this work is so meaningful to Rachel, and much more! Related Links:
Park and Recreation Month Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us! If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA to not only support our storytelling efforts, but also our mission to advance parks, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.

Happy Pride Month! On today’s episode we’re discussing an important partnership in Nevada that provides safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to recreate outdoors, build a relationship with nature and build a sense of belonging.
We learned about this partnership when Mihaela Genova, Volunteer Program Manager for Get Outdoors Nevada, submitted a photo (pictured) featuring Angelique Burton, director of advocacy of The Pride Tree, contributing to her community by volunteering for public land maintenance activities at the National Wildlife Refuge outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The event Burton volunteered for offered insight into how marginalized communities have historically been excluded from outdoor spaces.
Events like this one, part of a partnership between Get Outdoors Nevada and The Pride Tree, illustrate the impact that can be made when groups come together for a common goal. We were thrilled to talk with a few individuals about this partnership to learn more:
Grant Frailich, Founder of The Pride Tree Shelly Kopinski, Director of Programs, Get Outdoors Nevada Mihaela Genova, Volunteer Program Manager, Get Outdoors Nevada Tune in below to learn about this important partnership and how it is supporting the LGBTQ+ community, as well as fostering connections between nature and community. You’ll also learn:
How Get Outdoors Nevada provides outdoor experiences for those who have limited opportunities How The Pride Tree provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth How collaborating with community organizations can impact your work Why allyship is so essential And much more! Additional Resources:
The Pride Tree Get Outdoors Nevada Celebrating Pride Month in Parks and Recreation — Episode 138

As you may recall, our final episode of 2023 was part one of our conversation around neurodiversity and parks and recreation. It was a wonderful conversation with Kande Jones, the Development Director for Mulvane Recreation Commission, and Dave McDaniel, the Operations Coordinator for City of Mobile Parks and Recreation about their experience as neurodivergent individuals. Well, we’re finally back with part two of the conversation!
The inspiration for these episodes came from a 2023 NRPA Annual Conference session, “Neurodiversity and Inclusive Workplaces: Insights from Park and Recreation Professionals.” The session explored the individual strengths neurodivergent professionals bring to their work and the strategies and accommodations that have helped them succeed, as well as ways to find workplace champions and allies.
The presenters also offered suggestions for how organizations can better support and include neurodiverse individuals in the field in a number of ways, and we’re excited to chat with two more of the presenters on the show today: Tammy Schwab, manager of education and outreach for the resource management division of Fairfax County Park Authority in Virginia, and John McGovern, principal-in-charge for The WT Group, LLC Accessibility Practice.
Tune in to our conversation below to hear from Kande and Dave as they share their experience as neurodivergent individuals and how it relates to their careers in parks and recreation. You’ll also learn:
·        How a career in parks and recreation can contribute to a positive working environment for neurodivergent individuals
·        Some of the challenges neurodivergent individuals face in the workplace (and solutions!)
·        How leaders, coworkers and peers can create a culture of belonging and safety for neurodivergent staff
·        What it meant to Tammy and John to have the opportunity to discuss neurodiversity at the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference, and much more!
Related Links:
·        Building Belonging: Neurodivergent Perspectives in Parks and Recreation (Part I) — Episode 148
 
Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!
If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA to not only support our storytelling efforts, but also our mission to advance parks, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.

On today’s episode, we’re talking with someone who has been making a big impact in the larger outdoor industry for a while now. Teresa Baker, founder of In Solidarity Project, is an outdoor enthusiast focusing on community engagement, creating events that encourage people to venture outdoors responsibly, and learning about our open spaces and what it takes to protect them.
Teresa’s commitment to creating outdoor experiences that speak to culture, environmental responsibility and inclusion is something to be admired, and she is a staunch advocate for bringing underrepresented communities into the conversation and the work.
Teresa has led various organizations and initiatives that support this work, such as The Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge, the African American National Park Event and the Outdoorist Oath, to name a few. We were so thrilled to have the privilege of talking with Teresa to learn more about her determination to make a difference in the work of diversity and inclusion in outdoor spaces.
And, as 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and the Wilderness Act, Teresa has created a campaign encouraging everyone to get outdoors, doing whatever they enjoy, between now and July. Be sure to share photos of you and your community getting outside on social media using #CivilRightsAct60 – the photos will be turned into a collage of the country celebrating and honoring the anniversaries. 
Tune in to our full conversation below to learn more about Teresa and how her work may support your efforts to build more equitable, inclusive spaces and programs in your community. You’ll also learn:
·       How Teresa’s work in this space began with a call to the National Park Service to tell them, “you have a diversity problem”
·       How to have difficult conversations and get out of your comfort zone
·       Why partnerships are key to pushing diversity, equity and inclusion work forward
·       How to spend time outdoors (however works for you!) and be aware of your environmental impact
·       And much more!
Related Links:
·       Follow Teresa on Instagram
·       Connect with Teresa on LinkedIn
·       In Solidarity Project
·       Outdoor Diversity Alliance
·       The Outdoorist Oath
·       The Outdoorist Oath on Instagram
·       Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge
Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us! If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA to not only support our storytelling efforts, but also our mission to advance parks, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.

March is Women’s History Month, and this year’s theme celebrates women who advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. This year we are honoring women who lead change in their field, and today’s episode does just that. There are so many women who are leaders in parks and recreation and bringing positive change to their communities, and today we’re excited to talk with two women who are leading the way in Juneau, Alaska.
Our guests today are Amanda Lovejoy, a recreation coordinator at the Zach Gordon Youth Center for City and Borough of Juneau Parks & Recreation, and Lauren Anderson is the Treadwell Arena Manager for Juneau Parks & Recreation.
Between having a primarily women-led team, facilitating programs that foster inclusion and belonging, and ensuring that every member of the Juneau community feels welcome, Juneau Parks & Recreation is doing some incredible work.
Tune in to our full conversation below to learn more about this unique community and how Amanda and Lauren are truly building a space where you belong. You’ll also learn:
How Juneau Parks & Recreation is providing opportunities for girls, women, and trans and nonbinary youth in the community How the “Weaving Our Pride” project is bringing the community together and celebrating Indigenous communities in Juneau How Juneau’s Gender Support Group and Mindfulness Matters programs are making an impact Why Juneau is such a unique community, and what challenges and opportunities that presents And much more! Related Links:
City and Borough of Juneau Parks & Recreation Weaving Our Pride Website Weaving Our Pride Facebook Group Zach Gordon Youth Center Facebook Page  
This episode of Open Space Radio is brought to you by support from CivicPlus. CivicPlus’ recreation management solution is the only comprehensive activity, facility, membership, staff and point-of-sale management solution designed exclusively for municipal parks and recreation departments by former local government parks and recreation leaders. Municipal recreation departments that choose CivicPlus increase department revenue from online transactions while fostering positive civic experiences. Learn more at www.civicplus.com.


Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!
If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA to not only support our storytelling efforts, but also our mission to advance parks, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.