How Does Your Parks Department Compare? NRPA 2026 Data
NRPA's 2026 Agency Performance Review by community size: parks, staff, spending and deferred maintenance benchmarks for small cities.
Posts about park-utilization
NRPA's 2026 Annual Report: 5 Takeaways for Small Cities
What NRPA's FY2026 annual report says about park use, youth programs and funding, and what small-city parks departments can act on now.
Running a City Park Isn’t Simple. Here’s Why.
Park and recreation leaders rarely operate in the spotlight, yet their work shapes some of the most visible and valued
Why Parks Are Becoming Cities’ Most Sensitive Infrastructure
For a long time, parks were viewed as amenities. Nice to have. Good for weekends. Important for quality of life,
How Parks Help Create a Healthy Environment and a Happy Community
Parks are often seen as simple green spaces within cities. Places to walk, relax, or let children play. Yet their
Smart Lighting in Parks: From Better Visibility to Better Operations
For many cities, park lighting is still treated as a basic utility. Lights go on at dusk, turn off at
3 Emerging Trends in Park Technology: From Smart Benches to Climate Resilience
As urban landscapes evolve, so do the green spaces within them. Today’s parks are no longer just passive recreational areas;