October 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 12

EDITOR' S LETTER
Parks and Recreation Helps
Us All Find Our Place
As I write this month's column, NRPA staff are hard at work preparing
for the field's most anticipated event of the year, the 2024 NRPA
Annual Conference in Atlanta. As you can imagine, many details go into
planning and organizing such an expansive gathering of park and recreation
professionals from across the country. But that doesn't hinder our
excitement about seeing our friends in the park and recreation community.
It's our chance to personally thank you for making your communities
better by providing accessible green spaces, recreation programming and
local services that encourage everyone to find their place of belonging.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking one on one with this year's
Opening General Session keynote speaker, Dan Buettner, about his
work and travels across the globe to study blue zones - which he explains
are geographically defined areas with a population that lives
measurably longer in comparison to most of the global population.
For more than 20 years, Buettner has done extensive research on blue zones, interviewing and
learning from centenarians, those living to 100 and beyond, to understand how their healthy life
choices and experiences impact their longevity and overall level of happiness. One point that resonated
with me while interviewing this bestselling author and blue zone expert, is the simple fact
that these active older adults make family and community connection a priority. " If you look at
all the data on longevity and happiness, they all converge on having a group of four or five friends
who are healthy in the first place, who you can have meaningful conversations with, and who care
about you .... " Buettner asserts in the cover story, " Dan Buettner Shares the Secrets to Longevity, "
on page 42. He adds that when you combine personal connection with a healthy diet and daily
physical activity, especially in parks, " it's worth about 10 extra years of life expectancy. "
City of Brentwood, Missouri, not only aimed to make its local park more environmentally
resilient to the elements, but also create an outdoor gathering hub that encourages community
connection and enjoyment. In the feature article, " From Flood Mitigation to Fun, " on page 50,
contributor Sophie Spaid chronicles the planning and thought process behind the transformation
of Brentwood Park.
The residents of Oak Grove, a neighborhood located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, also have a
newly accessible and inviting place, Lynnbrook Park, to socialize with family and friends, engage
in healthy activities and recreate in nature. In the article, " Lynnbrook Park Builds Community, "
on page 56, Associate Editor Alexandra Reynolds shares insights from community stakeholders,
sponsors and our NRPA colleagues about the completion of our 2021 Parks Build Community
project and this collaborative journey toward creating a place where everyone truly belongs.
Lastly, the Magazine team looks forward to seeing you in Atlanta, October 8-10. Be sure to stop
by the NRPA Member Area, Booth #1959, to pick up a copy (or two) of this special conference
edition and share the topics you would like to read about in Parks & Recreation magazine.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS
AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER
Clarissa Garcia
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Alexandra Reynolds
areynolds@nrpa.org
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Chris Brummett
cbrummett@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
703.858.4635
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN
REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
703.858.2174
psemple@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Adobe Stock (including AIgenerated
images) or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
12 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP - Chair
Neelay Bhatt
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Michele Lemons
Sarah Lisiecki
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Amelia Storer
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net
October 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2024 – Parks & Recreation
