Open Space Radio

The Power Of Kindness — Episode 181

As we get closer to the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference, we're excited to welcome this year's keynote speaker, Shola Richards, to Open Space Radio. Shola is the CEO and found

The Power of Your Stories — Episode 180

Park and Recreation Month is one of our favorite times of year here at NRPA, and as we celebrate, we wanted to give one of our favorite episodes another spin. This episod

The Power of Leading With Empathy — Episode 179

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we explore what it means to lead with empathy and why people-centered leadership can have a lasting impact on our teams and our commu

The Power of CAPRA Accreditation — Episode 178

CAPRA accreditation sets the national standard for excellence in parks and recreation and agencies that go through the process are really committing to operating at the h

The Power of Understanding the World Around Us — Episode 177

Each Earth Month, we're reminded of the important role parks and recreation plays in building more resilient communities and connecting people to nature. A key piece of h

The Power of Your Stories: Inside the Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest — Episode 176

Each year, NRPA hosts its Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest. But before one story makes the cover of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, countless submis

The Power of Getting Girls in the Game — Episode 175

What does it take to increase the number of girls participating in sports? On this episode of Open Space Radio, we explore the obstacles, the breakthroughs, and how park

The Power of Mentorship in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia — Episode 174

January is National Mentoring Month — a time to celebrate the transformative power of mentorship and spotlight the essential role park and recreation professionals play i

Honoring Native American Heritage Month — Episode 173

November is Native American Heritage Month — a time to honor and celebrate Native people in the United States. On this episode, we are resharing a conversation from 2021

An Open Space Radio Halloween: Spine-Chilling Tales from Parks and Recreation — Episode 172

Halloween is here, and Open Space Radio is celebrating with one of our most hauntingly fun episodes yet. In this special episode, we sit around the virtual campfire to sh

The Insider's Guide to the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference — Episode 171

On this very special episode of Open Space Radio, we discuss all things 2025 NRPA Annual Conference! It's hard to believe we'll be in Orlando with thousands of our friend

Reflections From the MRPA 2SLGBTQIA+ Summit — Episode170

This Pride Month, we are proud to spotlight the powerful work happening in Maryland to build more inclusive and welcoming park and recreation spaces for the 2SLGBTQIA+ co

Centering Community and Connection at Anacostia Park — Episode 169

Earlier this spring, we had the chance to attend an incredible event in Washington, D.C., where we caught up with Akiima Price, co-founder and program advisor for Friends

Introducing Guardians of Greenspaces — Episode 168

Happy Earth Month! On today's episode, we're excited to share a collaboration with NRPA's new podcast, Guardians of Greenspaces. Guardians of Greenspaces is a podcast f

Celebrating Women's History Month in Parks and Recreation — Episode 167

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're celebrating the incredible women in parks and recreation who are shaping the profession and making a difference in their commun

Youth Sports: If She Can See It, She Can Be It — Episode 166

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we explore the critical role that parks and recreation plays in advancing sports opportunities for all youth — especially girls. Prov

Mentoring: A Positive Impact for All — Episode 165

Pictured: Teen Leaders in the HYPE program at City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities participate in an exercise to overcome obstacles. Photo courtesy of

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Inspiring Park and Recreation Stories — Episode 164

It's our final episode of Open Space Radio for 2024! Did you know we released 15 episodes this year and talked with 27 amazing community leaders for a whopping 758 minute

Sustainability and Environmental Resilience in Parks — Episode 163

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,

From Newcomer to Seasoned Professional: Navigating the NRPA Annual Conference — Episode 162

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 2024 NRPA Annual Conferen