Let's Talk Parks Podcast: Stories of Purpose-Driven Parks and Recreation Professionals

Jason Hendrix is a local government professional with 15 years of government experience and is currently a Community Services Supervisor with the City of Menifee. Jason is extremely passionate about the Parks & Recreation industry and has coordinated or supervised numerous program areas including: youth sports, special events, after school programs and now also supervises the Park Ranger Program and Homeless Task Force. Jason holds an AA from the University of Phoenix and holds several Park & Rec certifications including being a certified trainer of trainers for California School Age Consortium, and a certified youth and adult sports official. Jason has served as Vice President on the California Parks & Recreation District 11 board and has held the office of President of the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation on two separate occasions.  In his spare time, Jason can be found cheering on his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish, recording his ‘Dos Leprechauns’ podcast with his son, or training for 5k’s. Jason lives in Riverside with his wife.  

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

In this episode, Becky gives you a rundown of her top 5 favorite tips for the National Recreation and Parks Association Conference.  Recorded prior to the 2018 NRPA conference in Indianapolis the tips themselves are timeless so be sure to check this episode out!

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

A LOT is changing in the world of parks and recreation. Becky had the privledge of sitting down with Arthur Graham Thatcher to talk about the ways the young professionals are changing the face of recreation.   They talked about Entrepreneurship of millennials in our field and beyond; The specialization of parks and rec career paths; The changing on-demand nature of programs; How social media and connectivity will impact our field; The need for flexible workplaces and schedules.      

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

Keri Konold joined Becky for another episode on the podcast this week to talk about public engagement in relation to conservation and recreation.  It can be difficult to achieve a balance between conservation and recreation; they seem like opposing sides, and yet one in the same.  Keri talks about using the SHIFT principles to reframe the conversation to make progress.  They also dove into her philosophy behind public engagement and some of the ways she has found success when talking to communities, large or small.   Keri is currently the Community Relations Officer at City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, in addition to being a Project Consultant for GreenPlay, LLC.    

“I encourage professionals to not be daunted by public engagement, but rather embrace it and leverage it to provide a better product so our communities whom we serve can go out and have the experiences that they value.”  

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

What does the future of parks look like?  What happens when cookie cutter playgrounds get replaced by unique, creative, and imaginative structures?  In this episode, Dustin Graham talks about trends in parks and playground design.  We get deep into how playgrounds are the foundation for skill building and risk taking.

Dustin Graham, a Designer and Territory Manager, for Great Southern Recreation, has been working in the parks and recreation industry for 15 years. Dustin’s eclectic recreation experience has lead him to the wonderful world of play space design and construction. Dustin services East Tennessee and East Georgia providing design/build services in the playground and splash pad space.

 Dustin is Raising the Bar By: Creating spaces that impact our communities beyond the park Advocating for risky elements in playgrounds for the benefit of child development Asking the big questions like…“How do we make our communities say, ‘I love my park system’?”   Things you’ll learn in this episode: Trends in parks and playground design; The rise of splash pads (less maintenance, less staff, and less insurance!); How topographic challenges won’t limit a playground, but will actually be an advantage The potential of using old inhabitable places and transforming them to new gems What to say when someone remarks, “That’s dangerous!!” to a new piece of playground equipment The new features that make playgrounds come alive:

How technology can impact the way kids interact with natureFuture use of QR codes and augmented reality App-based social fitness challenges How sound and light features will become integrated in parks in conjunction with smart phone technology (similar idea w/ Disney lights –>  watch video )“Playgrounds are great natural classrooms for kids to learn about themselves” – Dustin GrahamResources:Gametime Fitness Challenge Course (must watch video!) Beltline Park in Atlanta Great Southern Rec 

  

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

Jay Tryon is the Director of Parks & Recreation for the Town of Indian Trail.  This is a fairly new department that was started in 2013. Since its creation Jay led his team to open over 100 acres of parks and currently is finishing the Towns first Strategic Masterplan.  While in Indian Trail he has built a department known for providing top-notch programming and facilities and leading the way with innovative amenities in the region. Prior to this position he spent 7 ½ years with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. Throughout his time with Mecklenburg County he held a few different roles including operations director of special event facilities and athletics supervisor coordinator. Jay is a member of NCRPA and NRPA and is the past chair of Young Professional Network. He is also a member of the CAPRA Commission.  In 2015 he was awarded one of NRPAs Young Professional fellowships. He is a graduate of SUNY Brockport with a major in Recreation & Leisure Studies and a concentration in Recreation Management. 

Jay is Raising the Bar By trusting his team, their decision-making, and their ability to get the job done Investing in professional development and educational opportunities for his staff Taking a unique and engaging approach to communicating their offerings to their community.   In this episode, you'll learn the steps Jay took to lead a new parks and recreation department from scratch; the philosophy behind creating a positive and trusting workplace culture; advice for young professionals who are looking for a career in parks and recreation.

“There’s really no such thing as failure because we are constantly learning and growing as a team -- and also as an individual --  to help the community.” - Jay Tryon 

 If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

“We’re gonna help you be somebody.”

Angela is a Recreation Services Manager with the City of Henderson in Nevada.  And during her 20+ year career, she has worked for recreation facilities in California, Hawaii, Japan, and Nevada.  She is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and has presented at various conferences across the country for the past 10 years.  Her areas of focus include promoting positive leadership, strengthening workplace culture and relationships, and inspiring today’s “new age” workforce.  Angelasupervises over 250 employees, many of whom are of the millennial generation; through her passion she shares positive insights that help recreational professionals not only survive the millennial invasion but also learn to embrace it.

In this episode, you’ll learn new ideas and tactics for interviews and onboarding; specific advice for both interviewers and potential employees How to set a strong foundation for staff culture from day 1; Why Imposing our own expectations and using scare tactics on others is not a good way to maintain relationships“A leader should never prevent somebody from being highly motivated.” 

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

Welcome back to the podcast, this is episode #8.  Today, we are talking to Jo Burns, the co-founder of the Colorado Public Health/Parks and Recreation Collaborative.  We talk all about the ways local parks and recreation agencies can partner with health organizations to improve the health of local communities. Most everyone would agree that HEALTH is a vital part of your quality of life. When you get sick, if you have a chronic illness, when you are injured, you know that being healthy is something that we should be constantly grateful for.

As parks and recreation professionals, we also know that health means something a little different. Naturally, parks and rec facilities provide safe places for people to improve their health for exercise, but we also now have the opportunity to partner with health organizations to create long-lasting change. These partnerships can help expand health benefits to underserved populations, which can be powerful. In this episode, Jo talks about what local agencies can do to take steps towards building health into your core services.

 

If you enjoyed this episode and are looking for more information on the topic or would like to learn how you can become a contributor or guest visit us at www.letstalkparks.com.

In addition please be sure to follow us on Instagram @Lets_talk_parks for more great content from purpose-driven Parks and Recreation Professionals like yourself.

Check it out!

Prepared to be involved in the podcast as we prepare for summer!