The Insider’s Guide to the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference — Episode 171

On this very special episode of Open Space Radio, we discuss all things 2025 NRPA Annual Conference! It’s hard to believe we’ll be in Orlando with thousands of our friends, colleagues and peers in just a few days. If you’ll be in Orlando, please come say hello to the Open Space team in the exhibit hall. We’ll be posted up in the Open Space Lounge, which is booth #1272, right next to the NRPA Member Area. Come hang out for a few, grab some swag and even get on the mic! On today’s episode, we have some very special guests who play a big role behind-the-scenes to make the NRPA Annual Conference come to life. They’ll be giving you some practical takeaways so you feel informed, less overwhelmed, and excited to dive into everything the conference has to offer. Today we’re so excited to welcome Jenna Kuklish, NRPA’s education systems program specialist, and Michael Biedenstein, NRPA’s Senior Manager of Membership. We chat about all the things you’ll need to know before you arrive and some helpful tips for navigating the conference. Tune in below to learn: An overview of key conference highlights and can’t-miss experiences Tips for creating a personalized schedule and not missing out on key session or events How to maximize your learning and get Continuing Education Units Practical tips for navigating the Orange County Convention Center and surrounding areas Insider tips from NRPA staff and attendees And much more! Helpful Links: NRPA Events App Exhibit Hall Highlights Full Education Session Schedule Networking Events in Orlando NRPA Network Meetings in Orlando (Including Conference 101: A Crash Course for New Attendees, taking place on Monday, September 15 at 5 p.m. in the Orange County Convention Center) Opening General Session and Day 2 General Session Shuttle Schedule 2025 NRPA Virtual Conference This episode of Open Space Radio is sponsored by Xplor Recreation. Xplor Recreation’s parks and recreation software helps municipalities and government organizations of all sizes connect with their community. Xplor Recreation makes managing operations, payment processing, membership management, and program coordination effortless. Are you heading to the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference? Xplor Recreation will be giving away iPad Airs to three lucky attendees through a randomized draw. Enter for your chance to win by going to https://xplor.ink/NRPA2025.  

This Pride Month, we are proud to spotlight the powerful work happening in Maryland to build more inclusive and welcoming park and recreation spaces for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Way back in September 2024, Christina attended the second annual Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) 2SLGBTQIA+ Summit at the North Laurel Community Center. As the only known state-level summit of its kind in the field of parks and recreation, this gathering is a testament to the intentional and sustained effort to center representation and inclusion across the profession, and we’ve been eager to share the voices and stories that came out of the summit! The summit first began in 2023, sparked by a recognized need within Maryland’s park and recreation departments to better support and engage the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As Noah Callahan from Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks explained, it all started with a gap that was quickly filled by forming a committee, engaging with community members, and building momentum for a first-of-its-kind statewide event. That first summit left a lasting impression, especially on attendees like Jaimie Wilder from Howard County Recreation & Parks. The welcoming atmosphere, thoughtful programming, and sense of solidarity stayed with them long after the event ended. So, when the second summit came around, it was clear this was becoming something special. It wasn’t just a one-off, but a catalyst for real change. The 2024 summit expanded on the foundation built the year prior. With both 101 and 201 breakout session tracks, attendees were able to engage with a variety of topics including allyship, inclusive policy, indigenous inclusion, programming strategies and historical context. As Ashlyn Thompson, inclusion and community outreach specialist for Montgomery Parks, shared, the summit was intentionally planned to meet people where they are — whether just starting their inclusion journey or deepening their understanding. Kindness, joy and a strong willingness to learn was felt throughout the summit. That spirit, combined with deeply personal storytelling and education, created a space that was not only informative but transformative. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about this special event and how it’s impacting the culture throughout parks and recreation in Maryland. You’ll also learn: How the MRPA 2SLGBTQIA+ Summit is a model of how to build welcoming spaces through education and collaboration How connecting with speakers and organizations already doing work in your community — such as at Pride events — can make your inclusion efforts more authentic and impactful How this event led to new programs like “Robinson Rainbows” and influenced internal policies and workplace culture in meaningful ways How you can get started or deepen your organization’s journey as it relates to this work And much more! Additional Resources: MRPA 2SLGBTQIA+ Summit Webpage and Resources from 2024 NRPA Resource Library

Earlier this spring, we had the chance to attend an incredible event in Washington, D.C., where we caught up with Akiima Price, co-founder and program advisor for Friends of Anacostia Park — an organization with a mission to enrich the lives of D.C. residents by preserving the park and connecting the surrounding communities to its restoration. We met Akiima at NatureFest, a lively week-long celebration during D.C. Public Schools’ Spring Break that provides a safe, engaging space for kids and their families to explore nature, have fun and create lasting memories. From boat rides and scavenger hunts to roller skating and live animal encounters, the joy was infectious. This event was a wonderful reminder of how parks can nurture community and connection. After hearing Akiima speak at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference, we were inspired by her commitment to restorative park engagement — a human-centered approach to environmental education and programming. One that focuses on a person’s immediate environment and all the factors that contribute to it. In this episode, Akiima shares how her lived experience shapes her work and why centering humanity is crucial when building deeper relationships with nature and community. And, some very enthusiastic attendees, both kids and parents, shared with us why they appreciate NatureFest so much and all the things they learned. Tune in to learn: What restorative park engagement is and why it matters How NatureFest helps families build lasting memories in Anacostia Park Why meeting someone’s basic needs is essential for deeper environmental engagement How lived experience and empathy drive Akiima’s approach What it looks like to design nature programs with the community, not just for them And much more! Learn more: Friends of Anacostia Park

Happy Earth Month! On today’s episode, we’re excited to share a collaboration with NRPA’s new podcast, Guardians of Greenspaces. Guardians of Greenspaces is a podcast focused on conservation from a park and recreation maintenance lens. Hosted by Rukmini Kalamangalam, a program specialist on NRPA’s community and environmental resilience team, Guardians of Greenspaces uplifts voices of experts in the field and will drop weekly for the next 10 weeks. We recently caught up with Rukmini to learn more about this new podcast and how it will bring value to maintenance staff working in the conservation and environmental resilience space. Tune in below to learn: Some of NRPA’s priorities as they relate to environmental resilience What prompted the creation of Guardians of Greenspaces What listeners can expect to learn on future episodes Interesting things Rukmini has learned hosting the podcast (like why people might not like tall grass) How you could win a $50 gift card to the NRPA retail store for listening Plus, you’ll hear the very first episode of Guardians of Greenspaces focused on staff engagement at the San Antonio River Authority! Additional Resources: NRPA’s Environmental Resilience Pillar NRPA’s Earth Month Resources

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we’re celebrating the incredible women in parks and recreation who are shaping the profession and making a difference in their communities. Women have long played a vital role in parks and recreation – but it has historically been a male-dominated industry. Today, the leadership and presence of women in the profession continue to grow. In fact, within NRPA’s membership of more than 60,000 park and recreation professionals: 47 percent of members identify as women 48 percent of 2023 NRPA Annual Conference attendees identified as women 53 percent of 2024 NRPA Directors School attendees identified as women 47 percent of Certified Park and Recreation Professionals (CPRP) identify as women We recently asked women in parks and recreation to share their experiences with us, and we got some wonderful responses. Tune in to the full episode to hear from: Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO, gives a shoutout to women who have shaped the profession and NRPA staff who are leading impactful work Katie Groke, CPRP, director of community services at Apex Park and Recreation District (Colorado), shares how the former executive director of her department laid the groundwork for a lot of women at Apex to grow their careers Gabby Vera, CPRP, director of Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation (Arizona), shares how she’s making history by being the first female director at her department and the youngest director in Arizona Nikki Taylor, CPRP, assistant director of recreation for Town of Bedford (Massachusetts), shares how her department can empower girls and women and the importance of leading by example Renee Glosecki, a project manager at Orange County Parks (California), shares how she’s making a lasting impact on women’s history by paving the way for future generations of women in leadership roles Ali Rhodes, director of Parks and Recreation at City of Boulder (Colorado), shares how two impactful women who worked for her department in the 1990s provided her the honor of supporting a well-planned parks and recreation system. And, we received another response after recording that we wanted to share, from Joan Scovic of Northbrook Park District in Illinois, who gave a shoutout to women leaders in Illinois: Carrie Fullerton, Arlington Heights Park District Lisa Sheppard, Glencoe Park District Elizabeth Kessler, McHenry County Conservation District Laura Rudow, St. Charles Park District Allison Niemela, Batavia Park District Alex Engelhardt, Fox Valley Special Recreation Association Joan shared: “These women are all amazing leaders in the field of parks and recreation in Illinois (and around the country). They are phenomenal examples of how to be a female leader in this field, and show incredible support to other women. They take the time to educate, share their career paths and mentor others, and are models for other women who strive to be leaders and those who want to excel in service to their communities. They accomplish all of this with intelligence, compassion, humor and warmth, and have all achieved amazing things for the profession, for their communities, and for the women who are lucky enough to be in their spheres of influence.” Resources discussed in this episode: Women in Parks and Recreation Facebook Group Women in Parks and Recreation Webpage NRPA Youth Sports Framework

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we explore the critical role that parks and recreation plays in advancing sports opportunities for all youth — especially girls. Providing these opportunities is more than just fairness; it’s about giving girls the opportunities and support they need to succeed, both on and off the field. Participation in sports is linked to increased self-esteem, better academic performance and higher career aspirations for girls. Sports also have the power to build confidence, foster leadership skills and create lifelong connections. However, girls often face barriers that prevent them from participating and staying engaged. This episode brings together leaders from various organizations to discuss strategies for making sports more inclusive and empowering for young girls. Tune in to the full episode below to hear from experts in this space who are making a huge impact, including: Teresa Morrissey, Senior Program Manager at NRPA Kelsey Moore, Director of Social & Community Impact at Nike Jillian Green Loughran, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport Julia Lankford, Director of Operations at Laureus USA Sport for Good Atlanta You’ll learn about the importance of engaging girls in youth sports, as well as:  The key role parks and recreation plays in providing accessible, affordable and high-quality sports opportunities (they reach more than 40 million youth annually!) Why collaboration and partnerships are key to advancing girls’ participation in sports Strategies to break down barriers preventing girls from participating and staying in sports How coaches – specifically women coaches – play such a critical role in advancing this work How your park and recreation agency can be part of this movement and get more girls in the game And much more! By investing in inclusive sports programming, training coaches and fostering partnerships, park and recreation agencies can help ensure that every girl who wants to play has the opportunity to do so. Thank you to our guests for their insights and dedication to advancing gender equity in sports. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Open Space Radio and share it with others who are passionate about the power of sports to change lives. Resources Discussed on this Episode: NRPA Youth Sports Framework Play to Lead Report: The Generational Impact of Sports on Women’s Leadership Nike Coaching Girls Guide: How to Get (and Keep) Girls Playing – Strategies for Engaging & Retaining Girls in Sport Body Confident Sport Coaching HER Nike Super Bowl Ad: So Win. Center for Healing and Justice through Sport Laureus USA Sport for Good Atlanta 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. Your gift will support our storytelling efforts and our mission to advance parks, recreation and environmental resilience efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.

Pictured: Teen Leaders in the HYPE program at City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities participate in an exercise to overcome obstacles. Photo courtesy of Blythe Brown.  Did you know that 74 percent of adults who were mentored as youth say their mentor contributed significantly to their success in life? Now, consider that more than 1 in 3 young people in America are growing up without a mentor. Fortunately, park and recreation professionals are addressing this gap by bringing more mentoring opportunities to youth across the country. And, NRPA is supporting these professionals and their agencies in their efforts to build effective and evidence-based mentoring programs that connect youth with caring and compassionate mentors, while strengthening connections across community.  On today’s episode, in celebration of National Mentoring Month, we chatted with six youth mentees and six of their mentors in Mesa, Arizona; Huntsville, Alabama; and Monroe County, Michigan, to learn more about the impact of these programs. Tune in to the full episode to learn how each program is meeting the unique needs of youth, providing safe spaces filled with opportunities, and helping youth build meaningful connections with their peers and adults. You’ll hear from: Chris Daniels, a mentor for City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department’s Male Mentorship program Carter Williams, a youth participant in City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department’s Male Mentorship program Blythe Brown, recreation assistant, Oscar Venegas, recreation supervisor, and Raynetta Brown, recreation coordinator for City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Eilleen Johnson, Adyson Thompson and Rebekkah Evans, teen leaders for City of Mesa’s HYPE (Helping Youth Produce Excellence) program Jason Allen, ACC special projects director, and Maya Falls, ACC peer youth worker, from the Monroe County Opportunity Program Ava Long and Emery Amison, youth participants in the Monroe County Opportunity Program You’ll also hear tips for starting a mentoring program at your agency and the benefits of simply incorporating a mentoring mindset into your existing programs. And, be sure to check out NRPA’s suite of mentoring resources below to help you along the way. Related Links: Mentoring in Parks and Rec NRPA’s Mentoring Resources Grant Opportunity: Out-of-School Time (OST) Youth Mentoring Program Grant Slideshow: City of Mesa HYPE Program City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department’s Male Mentorship Program Monroe County Opportunity Program Thank Your Mentor Day: Stories of Impact from STRONGkids Mentoring.org 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. Your gift will support our storytelling efforts and our mission to advance parks, recreation and environmental resilience efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.    

It’s our final episode of Open Space Radio for 2024! Did you know we released 15 episodes this year and talked with 27 amazing community leaders for a whopping 758 minutes of conversation (more than 12 hours!) about the power of parks and recreation? Thank you to everyone who joined us on the show to share their story this year and to everyone who tuned in to an episode. We truly love amplifying these stories through our platform and appreciate you trusting us with that! On today’s episode, we’re reflecting on some of our favorite moments from the year, as well as chatting about what we’ll be up to in 2025 — like scaling back to monthly episodes to bring you even richer, more compelling stories packed with even more voices from the profession. Tune in to the full episode below to reflect on the year with us and listen to some powerful clips from the following episodes: Imposter Syndrome Is Real — Episode 149 Make an Impact by Leading with a Mentoring Mindset — Episode 150 Creating Space for Belonging in Juneau, Alaska — Episode 152 Creating a World Where Humanity Stands Out — Episode 153 Fostering Belonging Through Community Theater — Episode 156 Inclusive Adventures: Building Belonging Through Adaptive Recreation — Episode 157 From Access to Action: How We Can Thrive Like a Meadow — Episode 159 Roving Leaders: Decades of Empowering Youth in D.C. — Episode 161 From Newcomer to Seasoned Professional: Navigating the NRPA Annual Conference — Episode 162 Sustainability and Environmental Resilience in Parks — Episode 163 Be sure to tune in to every episode here! 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 support not only 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.

Sustainability and Environmental Resilience in Parks — Episode 163 On today’s episode of Open Space Radio, I’m excited to share our collab episode with GovLove Podcast, which we recorded live back in October at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference. This was our first live episode recording — with an audience. So, besides the obvious nerves that came along with that, it was such a fun, enriching conversation and it definitely won’t be our last! I was honored to co-host this conversation alongside Ben Kittleson, manager at Raftelis and co-host/producer of GovLove. GovLove is a production of Engaging Local Government Leaders and is a podcast about local government with the goal of telling informative and unique stories about the work being done at the local level. On this episode, we discuss the important environmental resilience work taking place in Columbus, Ohio, and Boulder, Colorado, as well as how NRPA’s Sustainability in Practice program equips park and recreation professionals to develop and implement community-driven sustainability practices. Joining us were the brilliant: Bernita Reese, director of recreation and parks for City of Columbus, Ohio Ali Rhodes, director of parks and recreation for the City of Boulder, Colorado Michele White, senior program manager for NRPA. Tune in to learn how park and recreation professionals are essential in advancing climate solutions to build a healthy, resilient and equitable future. You’ll also learn: How you might already be doing this work, just not naming it explicitly Park-specific sustainability actions and planning principles to assist your efforts Strategies to enhance support from your community and local leadership Ways of embedding sustainability and resilience into your organization, as opposed to having it perceived as “another thing” And so much more! I want to give a special shoutout and thanks to everyone who joined us for the live recording — we appreciate you showing up and supporting both of our shows and the important work we discussed. And for those about to listen for the first time, thank you for tuning in! I hope this transports you to the conference so you can feel a bit of the energy if you weren’t able to join us. I hope you enjoy the episode, learn something new, and if you have any ideas for a topic we can discuss on a live recording at next year’s conference, send us an email at [email protected]! Related Links:   NRPA’s Sustainability in Practice Program (Apply by November 15!)   Columbus Recreation and Parks City of Boulder Parks and Recreation GovLove Podcast 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.

We are getting very excited to travel to Atlanta (in just one week!) to connect with thousands of our closest park and recreation friends at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference. And on today’s episode, we’re talking with someone who is local to the Atlanta area and might have some insider tips if you’ll be joining us next week. Jamiah Flagg, CPRP, is the operations coordinator at Douglasville Parks and Recreation in Georgia, and after sharing a blog post with us about her 2023 conference experience, we knew we wanted to chat with her further since this year’s conference is right in her backyard. We discussed what receiving NRPA’s Diversity Scholarship in 2023 meant to her, how her conference experience motivated her to become a Certified Park and Recreation Professional, and the boost in confidence she feels with another year of experience under her belt. Tune in below to learn more about Jamiah, her conference tips and more. You’ll also learn: What inspired Jamiah to get into the field of parks and recreation What Jamiah’s 2023 NRPA Annual Conference experience meant to her What she’s looking forward to at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference Tips for conference attendees and recommendations for first-time Atlanta visitors Why Jamiah feels like parks and recreation is where she belongs And much more! Related: Connect with Jamiah on LinkedIn Douglasville Parks and Recreation 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.