Sustainability and Environmental Resilience in Parks — Episode 163
Open Space Radio
Sustainability and Environmental Resilience in Parks — Episode 163 On today’s episode of Open Space Radio, I’m excited to share our collab episode with GovLove Podcast, which we recorded live back in October at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference. This was our first live episode recording — with an audience. So, besides the obvious nerves that came along with that, it was such a fun, enriching conversation and it definitely won’t be our last! I was honored to co-host this conversation alongside Ben Kittleson, manager at Raftelis and co-host/producer of GovLove. is a production of...
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From Newcomer to Seasoned Professional: Navigating the NRPA Annual Conference — Episode 162
Open Space Radio
We are getting very excited to travel to Atlanta (in just one week!) to connect with thousands of our closest park and recreation friends at the . And on today’s episode, we’re talking with someone who is local to the Atlanta area and might have some insider tips if you’ll be joining us next week. Jamiah Flagg, CPRP, is the operations coordinator at Douglasville Parks and Recreation in Georgia, and after sharing a with us about her 2023 conference experience, we knew we wanted to chat with her further since this year’s conference is right in her backyard. We discussed what receiving...
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Roving Leaders: Decades of Empowering Youth in D.C. — Episode 161
Open Space Radio
On today’s episode, we welcome a superstar of out-of-school time programming! The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is making a huge impact on youth in the DC area through its weekly after-school group mentoring program, Roving Leaders. Among countless initiatives and opportunities that are part of the program, top of mind this time of year is the fact that Roving Leaders visit with students in schools outside of program times. They are truly going the extra mile. DPR’s Roving Leaders program has been around since the 1950s, building relationships of trust...
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NRPA Annual Conference Tips for First-Time Attendees — Episode 160
Open Space Radio
In less than 40 days, thousands of park and recreation professionals from across the country will gather in Atlanta for the . This is, without a doubt, the best park and recreation conference you can attend — it’s filled with tons of amazing opportunities to learn, build your network, and of course, have a little fun with your peers. As we get closer to the conference, we know there are probably some professionals out there who are attending for the first time and have a lot of questions. Cort recently asking for previous attendees to share their best tips for first-timers,...
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From Access to Action: How We Can Thrive Like a Meadow — Episode 159
Open Space Radio
On today’s episode of Open Space Radio, we’re excited to chat with someone very influential in the outdoor recreation industry who is doing a ton of good work to raise awareness about protecting our environment. Not only that, but he is also a leader when it comes to making the outdoors more equitable and accessible. José Gonzáles is the founder of Latino Outdoors, an organization working to bridge the gap and create more inclusive and accessible outdoor experiences and opportunities for Latino Communities. He also currently serves as the equity officer at East Bay Regional Park District...
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Promoting Healthy Aging Through Tai Chi — Episode 158
Open Space Radio
As you may know, May was Older Americans Month, and NRPA celebrated by sharing how older adult programs in parks and recreation are making a big impact in communities across the country. On today’s episode, we’re excited to explore one of the most popular programs in NRPA’s Healthy Aging in Parks portfolio: Tai Chi. Through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), NRPA has been working with park and recreation agencies across the country for the last 11 years to increase the availability of and participation in the CDC’s Arthritis Appropriate Evidence-Based...
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Inclusive Adventures: Building Belonging Through Adaptive Recreation — Episode 157
Open Space Radio
As we continue to celebrate , we’re excited to highlight a story that truly embodies our theme of “Where You Belong.” Today’s episode is all about ensuring opportunities to recreate and spend time in nature are available to all, regardless of ability. And, it’s perfect timing because July is also Disability Pride Month! We are so thrilled to chat with Caitlin Marcotte, an operations specialist IV adaptive manager at Charlottesville (Virginia) Parks and Recreation, and Sarah Kyriacopoulos, a member of the Charlottesville community who has participated in the city’s adaptive...
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Fostering Belonging Through Community Theater — Episode 156
Open Space Radio
Happy Park and Recreation Month! On today’s episode, we’re excited to bring you a story that truly embodies this year’s theme of “Where You Belong.” Each year, the NRPA team hosts a cover contest to find a cover photo and story for the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine that supports the year’s theme, and this year’s winner is a gem. Today we’re joined by the winner, Rachel Kohler, a recreation coordinator for cultural arts and community engagement for The Majestic Theatre, part of Corvallis Parks & Recreation in Oregon. If you haven’t yet in the July issue,...
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Celebrating Pride: The Power of Partnership and Allyship — Episode 155
Open Space Radio
Happy Pride Month! On today’s episode we’re discussing an important partnership in Nevada that provides safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to recreate outdoors, build a relationship with nature and build a sense of belonging. We learned about this partnership when Mihaela Genova, Volunteer Program Manager for Get Outdoors Nevada, submitted a photo (pictured) featuring Angelique Burton, director of advocacy of The Pride Tree, contributing to her community by volunteering for public land maintenance activities at the National Wildlife Refuge outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The event Burton...
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Building Belonging: Neurodivergent Perspectives in Parks and Recreation (Part 2) — Episode 154
Open Space Radio
As you may recall, our final episode of 2023 was . It was a wonderful conversation with Kande Jones, the Development Director for Mulvane Recreation Commission, and Dave McDaniel, the Operations Coordinator for City of Mobile Parks and Recreation about their experience as neurodivergent individuals. Well, we’re finally back with part two of the conversation! The inspiration for these episodes came from a 2023 NRPA Annual Conference session, “Neurodiversity and Inclusive Workplaces: Insights from Park and Recreation Professionals.” The session explored the individual strengths...
info_outlineI was recently pulling some of the Open Space Radio statistics for a presentation to NRPA staff, and while I was presenting, I kept thinking to myself, “The numbers are great, it’s important to track these kinds of metrics. But also, we have had some truly remarkable guests and amazing conversations over the course of this show, and you can’t really put that through quantitative analysis.”
So, it inspired me to do a little 2023 so far recap episode. Throughout this episode, I’m featuring little nuggets from a few episodes we’ve released so far this year until August. We’ve released a lot more episodes than the ones featured here, so if something in this episode doesn’t resonate, be sure to check out all of our previous episodes. However, these are just a few from this year that have resonated with me and continue to replay in my head.
I also know not everyone gets a chance to listen to every single episode (but for those of you who do – thank you!), so I thought this would also be a jam-packed opportunity for you to get a bunch of good stuff in one less-than-an-hour package. We're also in autumn mode now, so enjoy the photo of fall foliage :)
I hope you find a little inspiration in one of these clips and I encourage you to go back and listen to the full episodes, which are all linked below. I can’t wait to continue sharing these stories of the impact that parks and recreation is having across the country for the remainder of this year and into the future. We have some exciting things lined up, and I can’t wait to bring you along!
Tune in to the full episode to hear clips from:
- Vicky Stott (she/her), senior program officer for racial equity and community engagement at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, who discusses how racial healing is connected to love, cherishing and respecting humanity, and acknowledging others’ lived experiences. Listen to the full episode 127 here.
- Will “Akuna” Robinson (he/him), who was the first Black man to complete the triple crown of hiking. We discuss his beginnings in outdoor recreation to heal from PTSD from his previous military experience and how we can continue breaking down barriers so everyone can experience the power of outside. Listen to the full episode 129 here.
- Cal Dobbs (he/they), a queer transgender ultra marathoner and long-distance hiker who recently ran across the country — from California to Florida — fighting for the inclusion of transgender people in sports and access to gender-affirming healthcare. Bonus: Cal will also be joining us at the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference in Dallas, Oct 10-12, discussing youth sports equity! Listen to the full episode 132 here.
- Mike Cimprich (he/him), the city arborist for Marion Parks and Recreation in Iowa, who was honored with Merrell’s Changing Nature of Work Award for his critical work in the city of Marion after the 2020 Central Severe Weather-Derecho, known as the “costliest thunderstorm event in U.S. history.” Listen to the full episode 134 here.
- Daniel Hatcher (he/him), the senior director of strategic partnerships at Alliance for a Healthier Generation, who discusses why park and recreation professionals are critical to physical, mental, and social-emotional health – and the overall health and well-being of our communities. Listen to the full episode 136 here.
- Laine Fabijanic, the community and therapeutic recreation supervisor for City of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, who is leading a therapeutic recreation program that is bringing recreational opportunities to all members of the community, regardless of their ability, to increase quality of life for all. Listen to the full July bonus episode here.
- Kelly Messer, PE, a project manager for Columbus Recreation and Parks, who discusses how an entire community of supportive skateboarders, and community members alike, led to the completion of the Tuttle Park Skatepark and overall park improvements. Listen to the full episode 139 here.
- Sarah Olson, deputy director of Lynnwood (Washington) Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, who discusses a community-driven, comprehensive park and trail capital project plan and prioritization project that the department is utilizing to center equity in its park system planning. Listen to the full episode 140 here.
This episode of Open Space Radio is sponsored by Niagara Water. This Summer, Niagara Water is providing communities across Texas, California, and Georgia with a chance to upgrade their local park to the outdoor space of their dreams. 9 parks are nominated. 3 will be selected to receive a $75,000 refresh. Support your favorite park daily through September 18th at NiagaraPerkYourPark.com. Niagara Water. Now that’s refreshing.