February 2025 – Parks & Recreation - 6

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Leading Systems-Level Change
This issue of Parks & Recreation celebrates the park and recreation workforce, recognizing
outstanding professionals in our field and reflecting on ways we can prepare park
and recreation professionals to best serve their communities. I want to offer huge congratulations
to those honored in NRPA's 30 Under 30 recognition program this year.
These young professionals demonstrate the best qualities of professionals in our field:
creative problem-solving, equitable service to their residents, commitment to environmental
resilience and tenacity in their efforts to foster healthy communities. Be sure to
read " 30 Under 30 for 2025 " on page 28, to learn more about each honoree and their
outstanding work.
This year marks the start of NRPA's Strategic Plan 2025-29, which will guide our work
for the next five years. Within the plan, NRPA outlines four primary goal areas; one is
to prepare, promote and support park and recreation professionals as community impact
leaders. NRPA's professional development offerings will align with this goal as we strive
to provide park and recreation professionals with opportunities to learn how to advance
each of the seven interdependent and interconnected dimensions of well-being: cultural,
economic, environmental, intellectual, mental, physical and social. Through this work,
we will ensure park and recreation professionals at all career stages can access the resources
they need to develop equitable opportunities for recreation, steward resilient
parks and open spaces, support community well-being, and drive systems-level change in their communities. From
virtual and in-person learning to certification and accreditation, NRPA is continuously developing and improving
educational resources to support park and recreation professionals as they work to build thriving communities
where everyone can experience belonging and joy.
Through the new strategic plan, NRPA will guide park and recreation professionals to maximize community
benefits across the seven dimensions of well-being. Jill Juris, Ph.D., details strategies for creating intergenerational
programs that enhance social well-being in " Creating Intergenerational Programs in Recreation Settings " on page
22. Juris states, " Recreation professionals are uniquely positioned to create environments that foster connections
through shared leisure interests to create connections and combat loneliness for participants of all ages. " By utilizing
effective strategies to create intergenerational spaces, park and recreation professionals can advance equity and
inclusion while bringing together people of all ages to enjoy recreation.
Systems-level change can be advanced through teamwork and innovation at the park and recreation agency level.
In the feature article, " Stay Sharp and Stay Ahead! " on page 44, author Debbie Woodbury says, " In parks and
recreation, the goal of innovation is to improve service delivery to the community. As the needs of communities
evolve, so must the ways park and recreation professionals serve. " The future will require park and recreation agencies
to respond to change and address emerging challenges. To foster innovation and find effective solutions, park
and recreation agencies must create environments in which team members can embrace creativity and experiment
with new strategies. Woodbury continues, " Ideally, every office should foster an innovation-friendly atmosphere
for staff. It's beneficial when team members feel encouraged to speak up when they see opportunities for improvement. "
As we move forward this year, I hope you focus on encouraging innovation and creativity within your own
agency's park and recreation workforce.
JESÚS AGUIRRE
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
6 Parks & Recreation | FEBR U AR Y 2 0 2 5 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G

February 2025 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2025 – Parks & Recreation