November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 46

Rural Communities
Can Have Fun, Too!
Strategies
to overcome
challenges facing
rural communities
By Michael Patton
R
Rural park and recreation
organizations and communities
encounter unique experiences,
opportunities, challenges and battles.
ural living is a peaceful and serene way of life, surrounded by nature and open spaces.
It's a way of life that fosters close-knit communities where neighbors know and support
each other. With fewer people and less noise, there's a sense of calm and ease.
The pace is slower, allowing people time to appreciate the beauty of the countryside
and enjoy the outdoors. It's a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and find
tranquility in the simplicity of rural surroundings.
However, working in the park and recreation field in a rural community can often be the
opposite of " peaceful " and " escaping the hustle. " Rural park and recreation organizations and
communities deal with different experiences, opportunities, challenges and battles than our
urban and metropolitan neighbors encounter. When it comes to resolving issues, rural communities
struggle for a variety of reasons, ranging from the lack of population density to economic
factors and policy and funding priorities. As park and recreation professionals who operate in
rural communities, what can we do to ensure those we serve are getting their recreational needs
fulfilled? What resources are out there to advance and advocate for the work of parks and recreation
in our small towns? Lastly, how can we harness these resources so that we can use them
efficiently and productively?
46 Parks & Recreation | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT STEVENS

November 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2023 - Parks & Recreation

November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 1
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 2
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 3
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 4
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 5
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 6
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 7
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 8
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 9
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 10
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 11
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 12
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 13
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 14
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 15
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 16
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 17
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 18
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 19
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 20
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 21
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 22
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 23
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 24
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 25
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 26
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 27
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 28
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 29
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 30
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 31
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 32
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 33
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 34
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 35
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 36
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 37
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 38
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 39
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 40
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 41
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 42
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 43
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 44
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 45
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 46
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 47
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 48
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 49
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 50
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 51
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 52
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 53
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 54
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 55
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 56
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com