North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE)’s Post

🐊 It's all in the detail, and the difference is seen up close and personal–kids notice, adults notice, and communities notice. #themedplayground #customplayground #parks #landscapearchitect #playgroudspecifier #nrpa #Cre8Play

Here we go friends.... **Top 5 Take-Aways From Community Playmaker Issue 4** 1) Thanks to their Vision Zero initiative, Hoboken, New Jersey might be the safest place to jaywalk in the US. (Kidding. But seriously, read more to find out why) 2) Decisions made during the rise in mass production of cars have shaped cities and suburbs in a way that is being reconsidered. From adjusting zoning laws to reducing parking requirements, changes can be made to make to increase safety and walkability. 3) The Baby Boomers are turning into the Gray Tsunami. By 2030 there will be more than 73 million retirees in America. 4) Community Investment in the arts - not just for events like art fairs - but in business districts and zoning adjustments have a measurable impact on local economies as well as develop a strong sense of place. 5) Are parks critical infrastructure? When COVID hit, the answer was a resounding yes from people flocking outdoors for exercise and sanity, but four years later and parks budgets are still tight in many communities. https://lnkd.in/et2C7PAa

Struggling to keep your parks lively and engaging? Many residents feel disconnected from local activities, especially when facing financial or accessibility barriers. This lack of engagement can leave parks underutilized and communities feeling fragmented. We believe every resident deserves a vibrant park experience, and we created an informative blog to help you make that happen. \\@CivicPlus \\#ParksAndRecreation \\#LocalGovernment \\#PowerOfParks https://lnkd.in/dDBvadaM

As we know, many park and recreation agencies experienced an influx of visitors to their parks and trails during the pandemic, the vast majority were forced to cancel all indoor programming that could not be made available online. These closed spaces were especially difficult for older adults as they were strongly recommended to isolate to protect their health. However, in the months and years following the most stringent lockdowns, older adult programming in parks and recreation has been seeing a resurgence in participation. The Supporting Older Adults Through Parks and Recreation report, conducted by the our Research team in December of 2023, highlights how park and recreation professionals dealt with the lingering impacts of COVID-19 on older adults’ participation. Read the full blog from Allie Ziegler, research assistant at NRPA: https://bit.ly/3KeUS7O #PowerOfParks #WhereYouBelong #ParksAndRec #OpenSpaceBlog #Parks #Covid #Recreation

Persistence Pays Off! Today marks a historic milestone for the outdoor community. After nearly a decade of relentless advocacy and collaboration, the EXPLORE ACT has passed Congress. Next up: The President’s desk to become law. The Explore Act will achieve: - Access for People With Disabilities: New tools to ensure outdoor spaces are inclusive for everyone. - Motorized and Non-Motorized Access: National Forests now have a 10-year deadline to complete winter travel planning. - SOAR (Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act): Streamlining permits for guides and outfitters to make outdoor adventures more accessible. - Every Kid Outdoors Act Reauthorization: Free National Park passes for all 4th graders and funding for underserved SnowSchool kids to experience outdoor education. It shows how bipartisan efforts can unite us around the shared value of connecting people to nature. As someone whose purpose is to advocate for humans to get outside—to be inspired and healed—I know that moments like these are why we never stop pushing. The outdoors is more than a space; it’s a sanctuary, a teacher, and a source of resilience. Today’s win isn’t just for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s for every child who will step onto a trail for the first time and for communities that find healing in nature. Most importantly, it’s for future generations who deserve the chance to fall in love with the wild. There’s more to do. Let’s keep going. Photo: Silas and I in Moab UT, Fall 2024, our favorite outdoor playground. #outdoorrecreation #conservation #purposedriven 

93% of U.S. adults support their local park and recreation agency collecting data from monitoring systems — like cameras, counters and patrons’ cellphones — to use for specific reasons, including: 📊Preventing and lowering crime in park and recreation spaces 📊Understanding how people are using park and recreation spaces 📊Improving access to parks for all community members 📊Measuring how parks and recreation impacts the local economy As an essential community service, collecting data is critical for park and recreation agencies to best understand and respond to the specific needs of their community members. Each month, through a poll of 1,000 U.S. residents focused on park and recreation issues, NRPA Park Pulse helps tell the park and recreation story. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eacCzCqb #ParkPulse #PowerOfParks #NRPAResearch

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. This landmark legislation transformed how we connect with nature, creating our National Parks UK and securing access to the countryside through public rights of way. Today, we have 15 National Parks across the UK—vital for recreation, reflection, and well-being. Yet, 75 years on, challenges remain. Access to green space is still unequal. Recent data shows 1 in 3 people in England lack access to a green or blue space within 15 minutes of home, rising sharply in economically deprived areas. Public rights of way, the Act's cornerstone, remain critical for connecting communities to nature. However, barriers to access persist for disabled individuals. Natural England reports 20% of people face mobility challenges, while mental and learning disabilities further compound inequalities. A 2016 Mencap report found 1 in 3 adults with learning disabilities spends less than an hour outside daily. Mental health challenges, sensory impairments, and invisible barriers further limit access. If the Act’s legacy is to be fully realised, the countryside must be welcoming and accessible to all. Initiatives such as accessible trails and adaptive equipment are helping, but more is needed to ensure inclusivity. Encouragingly, the UK Government today announced new legislation to ensure protected landscapes are fit for the future. This will strengthen National Parks’ role in tackling the nature and climate crises while improving access for everyone. It’s a step forward, building on the spirit of the 1949 Act: a vision of connection and transformation. In the 1940s, John Dower envisioned access to uncultivated land—moors, downs, coastlines, and waterways—for all to enjoy. While the final Act fell short of his ambition, his vision remains powerful. As we face modern challenges, we must reimagine our National Parks as places where people and nature thrive together. Today is a time to celebrate this monumental Act but also a call to action. Let’s protect rights of way, expand access, and ensure everyone—regardless of ability, background, or income—can connect with nature. Our landscapes are not just national treasures. They are shared spaces that inspire, heal, and connect us. Let’s honour this legacy and commit to an inclusive future. #NationalParks75 #RightToRoam #AccessToNature #PublicRightsOfWay #InclusionInTheOutdoors

A recipient of Inclusive Community Grant funding, AccessABLE Aquatics aims to create more inclusive spaces for people with disabilities to access community-based aquatic recreation opportunities in The Corporation of the Town of Ajax. The project will improve accessibility by removing physical barriers associated with the change rooms through the purchase of adult change tables and Hoyer lifts. Find out about the projects across the province that are removing barriers, helping older adults and people with disabilities to participate in all aspects of community life. https://lnkd.in/gPrQ4MpH

Great to see stats like these. Data for good can be really powerful yet still underused today. The reason that stands out to me from the National Recreation and Park Association list below is understanding how people are using our parks, especially as it relates to community sports. But combining that with the WHO (think audience profile) creates really powerful information, that can, for example, attract parks & rec brand partners bringing much needed funding into our communities and making access to sports better for all. Great to see the likes of ActiveXchange Canada & USA helping our communities in this area. #dataforgood #accesstocommunitysports #brandpartnershipsforpurpose

Struggling to keep your parks lively and engaging? Many residents feel disconnected from local activities, especially when facing financial or accessibility barriers. This lack of engagement can leave parks underutilized and communities feeling fragmented. We believe every resident deserves a vibrant park experience, and we created an informative blog to help you make that happen. \\@CivicPlus \\#ParksAndRecreation \\#LocalGovernment \\#PowerOfParks https://lnkd.in/gmBPdtJZ