contents july departments 14 We Are Parks and Recreation Preserving America's Cities 14 Small-Sided Soccer Rejuvenates Park Space 15 Cultivating Agency Success Through Strategic Collaboration 16 Member Benefit: Get Involved in NRPA Network Leadership 17 18 Research Strengthening Parks and Recreation Through Competitive Compensation Melissa May 19 Park Pulse Parks and Recreation Creates Community Connections 50 Operations Ensuring Kayak Launches Are Adaptive and Inclusive Lori Limpar 51 Park Essentials 55 Advertiser Index 56 Park Bench Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes Enchant Whipple Hill Thomas Romano, CPRP columns 10 Perspectives Where Community Grows Kristine Stratton 12 Editor's Letter Inclusion Is Parks and Recreation's Strength Vitisia Paynich 20 Advocacy NRPA's New Executive Branch Specialist Elyse Gentile 22 Health and Wellness The Fun Run Formula Alyssa Schulte 24 Equity Centering Equity in Marketing and Registration Andrea Egmont 26 Conservation Parks and Recreation Builds Sustainable, Resilient Communities Michele White 28 Law Review Concrete Bench Adjacent to Pickleball Court James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D. Page 24 Cover image: Photo by Joe Van Wyk, City of Glenwood Springs (Colorado) Parks and Recreation Parks & Recreation is printed using soy ink on at least 10 percent post-consumer recycled paper and is mailed in a wrap - only when required - that is plant based and certified compostable. If you are interested in helping us go even greener, email us at prmagazine@nrpa.org and ask to opt out of receiving the print magazine. Parks & Recreation is always available to read in an ezine format at ezine.nrpa.org. 8 Parks & Recreation | JULY 2 0 2 3 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G Newburyport (Massachusetts) Youth Services centers equity in its marketing and registration practices to make its programs and services accessible to all community members.