December 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 8

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Leading Parks and Recreation
Into the Future
As the year draws to
a close, we look ahead
to what's in store for the
park and recreation field
in 2025 and beyond. At
the 2024 NRPA Annual
Conference in Atlanta,
NRPA President
and
CEO Kristine Stratton
and I unveiled NRPA's
Strategic
Plan 202529
and discussed how
it will shape our work
during the next five
years. NRPA has been
the voice of the park and
recreation field for nearly
60 years, and with a
network of more than 60,000 park and recreation
professionals we are positioned to guide the field
toward a future where everyone experiences belonging,
well-being and joy through parks and
recreation.
To achieve this vision, NRPA will catalyze the
power of parks and recreation to deliver transformative
community and environmental benefits by
championing the profession to lead through education,
advocacy and partnerships. Four key goal
areas ground the strategic plan: systems change,
leadership, durable funding and organizational
excellence. By championing systems change,
park and recreation professionals can connect
all community members with the resources they
need to achieve holistic wellness and improve the
lives of individuals across the seven dimensions
of well-being
(tinyurl.com/286s43as). A focus
on leadership guides NRPA's efforts to prepare,
promote and support park and recreation professionals
as community impact leaders. The drive
for durable funding will lead to an increase in
equitable investment in parks and recreation, recognizing
it as critical community infrastructure.
Meanwhile, organizational excellence leads us
to advance the tools, training and talent within
8 Parks & Recreation | DECEMBER 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
NRPA to drive excellence and effectiveness. Each
of these aspects of the strategic plan are aligned
with NRPA's Three Pillars, recently refreshed to
align with our work: Health and Well-Being, Equity,
and Environmental Resilience.
Our vision for the future centers on inclusive,
climate-resilient and thriving communities, and
park and recreation agencies and professionals
require dedicated resources and support from
local, state and federal governments, as well as
private organizations and advocates, to make this
vision a reality. Our communities rely on parks
and recreation for social connection, exercise,
nutrition
education, childcare and so much
more. From a child's first swim lesson to an
older adult's cherished walking club, parks and
recreation provides individuals and communities
with hubs for holistic well-being and inclusive
spaces to connect with neighbors and friends.
Park and recreation professionals are community
impact leaders, and we want to ensure that they
have the tools and resources to support healthy
communities nationwide. I encourage you to learn
more about NRPA's Strategic Plan 2025-29 and
stay tuned for updates at nrpa.org/StrategicPlan.
For those of you who joined us in Atlanta for
the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference, thank you
for gathering to attend sessions and special events,
explore the exhibit hall, connect with colleagues
and learn about our new strategic plan. Be sure to
read " Revisiting the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference "
on page 44, to look back on the conference.
If you were unable to attend, this is a great opportunity
to read about the highlights.
With so much in store for the future, I hope you
are wrapping up 2024 with a sense of purpose and
accomplishment. Together, we are looking forward
to a new year full of potential.
JESÚS AGUIRRE
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
http://www.nrpa.org/StrategicPlan http://tinyurl.com/286s43as
December 2024 – Parks & Recreation

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