Open Space Radio

The Fairfield Hills Edible Fruit Trail in Newtown, Connecticut, is more than a walking path. It's a place where people can connect with nature, learn about native plants, harvest fresh food and come together as a community. On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Amy Mangold, director of Newtown Parks and Recreation, and her son, Andrew Mangold, whose vision helped bring the fruit trail to life.

Now celebrating 10 years, the fruit trail features fruit trees, berry bushes, native wildflowers and medicinal plants along a one-third-mile section of the Fairfield Hills campus. What began as an ambitious idea has grown into a unique community amenity that brings people of all ages together while creating opportunities to learn, volunteer and reconnect with the natural world.

Throughout this conversation, Amy and Andrew share how the trail came to be, the community effort that helped get it started and the many ways they've seen it make an impact over the past decade. From helping people discover native edible plants to creating a space for multigenerational connection, the fruit trail demonstrates how parks can be reimagined to serve communities in new and unexpected ways.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn how to:

• Create unique park experiences that connect people with nature, food and their communities.
• Build community support for an unconventional idea and navigate the process of bringing it to life.
• Use edible landscapes to create opportunities for education, volunteerism and multigenerational connection.
• Start small, learn along the way and create sustainable projects that can inspire other communities to do the same.

Whether it's an edible landscape, a community orchard or simply planting a native tree, Amy and Andrew remind us that meaningful change can start with something small. As Andrew says, the goal is to keep learning from what works, share those lessons with others and make these kinds of projects a more common part of our parks and communities.

Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!

If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA. Your gift will support our storytelling efforts and our mission to advance parks, recreation and environmental resilience efforts that enhance the quality of life for all. Give today at nrpa.org/donate.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke

Park and recreation professionals help create communities where people can play, thrive and enjoy the outdoors together. BCI Burke is proud to share that purpose and looks forward to connecting at the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference. Visit them at Booth 625 to share ideas, explore innovations and discover thoughtful solutions for outdoor spaces designed for more movement, inclusion and belonging.

Learn more at bciburke.com.

Thanks to BCI Burke for supporting this episode and for their continued commitment to Play That Moves You®.

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 founder of Go Together Global, a best-selling author and host of the Kindness Extremist podcast. His work focuses on helping people build kinder workplaces through practical, actionable strategies; something that feels especially relevant for park and recreation professionals dedicated to serving their communities.

Throughout this conversation, Shola reminds us that kindness isn't just a feel-good idea. It's a skill that can strengthen teams, improve communities and help us better care for ourselves and one another. From the importance of rest and setting boundaries to the ripple effect of everyday interactions, this conversation is full of practical takeaways you can put into practice right away.

And, if you're joining us at the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference, you'll have the opportunity to hear even more from Shola during his keynote in Philadelphia. He'll share practical tools you can use to build more resilient teams, create more welcoming spaces and lead with kindness in your agency and beyond. If you haven't secured your spot yet, there's still time to register!

Tune in to the full episode to learn how to:

• Turn kindness into action by understanding the difference between simply being nice and creating meaningful connections.
• Protect your well-being by embracing rest, setting boundaries and asking for help without guilt.
• Create lasting impact through everyday interactions that shape experiences for your community.
• Lead with hope using practical strategies you can apply immediately with your team and in your own life.

And if you enjoy this conversation, keep an eye out for the September issue of Parks & Recreation magazine later this month, where you'll find an exclusive feature story with Shola that dives even deeper into the power of kindness, hope and leading with intention.

Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!

If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA. Your gift will support our storytelling efforts and our mission to advance parks, recreation and environmental resilience efforts that enhance the quality of life for all. Give today at nrpa.org/donate.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke. Park and recreation professionals create spaces where communities connect, move and thrive. BCI Burke is proud to support that work by designing outdoor play environments that inspire movement, exploration and belonging for people of all ages and abilities. If you're attending the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference, visit Burke in the Exhibit Hall at booth #625 to connect with the team and discover new ideas for your community. Learn more at bciburke.com.

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 episode originally aired as Episode 176, and it captures exactly what this month is all about: a collection of powerful stories showing how parks and recreation strengthens communities and changes lives.

We're revisiting our conversations with:

• Shannon Barrett, CPRP, recreation coordinator for City of Kerman (California) Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and participants from the Walk With Ease program, who share how a simple walking initiative has built a tight-knit, supportive community.
• Danielle Bachelder, CPRP, senior parks manager for Broward County (Florida) Parks and Recreation, and a young participant in the Pony Tales program, who discuss how a literacy-based initiative that invites children to read to horses is making an impact on children, families and the horses alike.

You'll also hear:

• How a program can start small and grow into a lasting, self-sustaining community
• Why the person leading a program can make or break the participant experience
• What "progress, not perfection" looks like for both program participants and the staff who lead them
• Why the simplest programs (the ones built on nothing more than walking, reading or just showing up) are often the most powerful

One More Reason to Celebrate

Speaking of Park and Recreation Month, don't forget there's still time to enter the Park and Recreation Month Sweepstakes for a chance to win:

• A complimentary full-package registration to the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia
• Three nights of lodging at a hotel in the official NRPA housing block
• A $500 gift card to help cover travel expenses

Entries close Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT

Want another shot at a free registration? Listen to a new episode of Guardians of Greenspaces and submit your feedback for an additional chance to win.

Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!

If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA to support not only our storytelling efforts but also our mission to advance parks, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke. July is Park and Recreation Month, a celebration of the people and places that help communities thrive. At BCI Burke, they're proud to support park and recreation professionals as they create welcoming outdoor spaces that inspire connection, movement and belonging. Learn more at bciburke.com.

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 communities as a whole.

Joining us for the conversation is Shannon Harris, CPRE, CPO, executive director of the Carson Valley Swim Center and past president of the Nevada Recreation& Parks Society. Throughout her career, Shannon has built a reputation as a thoughtful, compassionate leader. Someone who shows up, listens, builds trust, and creates opportunities for others to grow and thrive.

After spending some time with her at the Nevada Recreation & Parks Society Annual Conference, as well as this conversation, it's extremely clear that Shannon prioritizes her people, relationships and continuous growth. And, on this episode, she shares lessons learned from leading intergenerational teams, creating supportive workplace cultures and empowering others to discover their own leadership potential.

So whether you're leading an organization, managing a team or just looking for ways to make a positive impact in your community, Shannon's insights are a powerful reminder that leadership starts with recognizing the humanity in others (and in ourselves).

Tune in to the full episode to learn:

• Why showing up and being present are foundational leadership skills.
• How empathy and active listening help build trust and create healthier workplace cultures.
• Ways leaders can use policies and organizational culture to demonstrate care and support for staff.
• The importance of empowering employees at every level to see themselves as leaders, regardless of their title.
• How kindness, vulnerability and community partnerships can create spaces where people feel valued and supported.
• And much more!

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke Play brings people together through connection, creativity and growth. At BCI Burke, they design outdoor recreation environments that inspire exploration and support the work of parks and recreation professionals — including the next generation of leaders shaping the future of play. Together, we're creating spaces where everyone feels welcome to move, play and belong. Learn more at bciburke.com

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 highest level across everything they do.

From strengthening day-to-day operations to helping agencies plan for the future, CAPRA accreditation plays an important role in delivering the best possible services to our communities.

On the latest episode of Open Space Radio, we explore how CAPRA accreditation is shaping park and recreation agencies, leadership and communities across the country. We also dive into how the newly reimagined 2027 CAPRA standards are helping make accreditation more adaptable and accessible for agencies of all sizes.

Joining us for the conversation are three leaders with deep experience in the CAPRA process:

• Janet Bartnik, director of parks and recreation for Prince William County, Virginia, and member of the CAPRA standards reimagination team (and currently serving as deputy chief transformation officer for the Prince William County Transformation Management Office)
• Chris Bass, director of parks and recreation for DeKalb County, Georgia, and former CAPRA Commission chair
• Ray Bivens, director of recreation and parks for St. Mary's County, Maryland, and current CAPRA Commission chair

Together, they share insights on what CAPRA accreditation looks like in practice, how it shapes agency culture and leadership, and why it should be viewed as more than just a checklist or designation. Tune in to the full episode below to learn:

• How CAPRA accreditation helps agencies build a culture of continuous improvement
• Why the updated 2027 standards are designed to be more flexible and adaptable for agencies of all types
• The unexpected benefits of accreditation, from staff development to recruitment and retention
• How accredited agencies use CAPRA standards in their day-to-day operations, not just during accreditation reviews
• And much more!

Ready to experience the power of CAPRA? Check out The Power of CAPRA Accreditation to access a helpful toolkit so you can make the case for CAPRA within your organization. And, from May 20 through July 31, 2026, agencies beginning the CAPRA accreditation process will receive a waived application fee — a $130 value. To qualify, agencies must submit their CAPRA application and complete the checkout process by July 31, 2026.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke Outdoor play creates opportunities for connection, creativity and growth. At BCI Burke, they design play environments that inspire exploration and support the high standards park and recreation professionals strive for — including CAPRA accreditation — helping create spaces where everyone feels welcome to move, play and belong. Learn more at bciburke.com

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 helping that connection grow is through curiosity, learning and a deeper awareness of the world around us.

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're joined by Erica Flocke, parks and recreation director for the City of Wimberley, Texas, to talk about how the Texas Master Naturalist program has shaped the way she sees her work and her community.

After reading Erica's recent article in Parks & Recreation magazine, we wanted to dig deeper and explore how learning about our local ecosystems can strengthen community connection and transform everyday park experiences into something more meaningful.

Whether you're looking to grow as a professional or simply deepen your connection to the parks in your community, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is learning to notice what's already there. And bonus! Christina also shared their experience completing the Virginia Master Naturalist program and Cort may have been inspired to sign up based on this conversation.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about Erica's work and how the Master Naturalist program helps people see parks not just as beautiful spaces, but as living ecosystems worth understanding and protecting. You'll also learn:

• Why curiosity is at the heart of this program (you don't need a background in something like environmental education to get started!)
• How small moments of education can spark stewardship and turn visitors into advocates for the places they love
• Why this type of learning is valuable professional development for park and recreation professionals at any stage of their career
• How engaged volunteers can strengthen your work and expand your department's impact in meaningful ways
• The power of bringing people together across generations through a shared appreciation of nature
• And much more!

Additional Resources:

• Parks & Recreation magazine: The Naturalist Advantage
• NRPA's environmental resilience resources
• Tip: Most U.S. states have a version of a Master Naturalist program. To find one in your state, search something like: "[your state] Master Naturalist program."

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke.

Swing into play this season with the Burke Spring Playground Sale. Save up to 40% on select playground designs and stretch your budget further while bringing more movement, inclusion and lasting value to your community.

Learn more at bciburke.com/sale

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 submissions remind us just how powerful this work truly is.

With submissions now open for this year's Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest, this episode of Open Space Radio looks back at a few stories from last year that stayed with us. From older adults building connections through a simple walking program to children strengthening literacy skills by reading to horses, these stories capture what parks and recreation does best: create spaces where people connect and grow.

Tune in to hear our conversations with:

• Shannon Barrett, CPRP, recreation coordinator for City of Kerman (California), Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and participants from the Walk With Ease program, who share how a simple walking initiative has built a tight-knit, supportive community.
• Danielle Bachelder, CPRP, senior parks manager for Broward County (Florida) Parks and Recreation, and a young participant in the Pony Tales program, who discuss how a literacy-based initiative that invites children to read to horses is making an impact on children, families and the horses alike.

Both stories may seem simple on the surface. But as the team reflects in this episode, simple ideas often create the most meaningful impact.

Listen below to hear the full episode. You'll learn:

• How simple programs can create transformational impact across generations
• Why effective leadership, care and passion are often the keys to program success
• How partnerships expand access and broaden community reach
• The importance of starting small and building over time
• How storytelling helps elevate the power of parks and recreation
• And more

If your agency has a story that reflects "The Power Of" parks and recreation, share your photo and story by March 13 for a chance to be featured in the cover story of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine. Pictured: Isabella Mangum reads to a horse named Cash at Tradewinds Park and Stables as part of the Pony Tales Program. Photo by Katherine Garces, courtesy of Broward County Parks and Recreation.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke: Outdoor play builds confidence, leadership skills and social networks. At BCI Burke, they design outdoor spaces that support movement, opportunity and connection, helping park and recreation professionals create environments where more girls feel encouraged to step in, play hard and lead the game.

Learn more at bciburke.com

Thanks to BCI Burke for supporting this episode and for their continued commitment to Play That Moves You®.

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 and recreation professionals are at the center of it all.

We know sports offer lifelong physical and mental health benefits, helping girls build strength, confidence and connections. But when it comes to getting more girls and women involved in sports, participation alone isn't the goal. The real work is creating environments where girls feel like they belong, and feel supported, safe and excited to stay in the game as they grow. And right now, as girls' and women's sports are gaining national attention, it's a pivotal moment to rethink how youth sports actually show up for girls in our communities.

On this episode, we chat with two incredible local leaders who are putting these ideas into action in their communities: Sally Pennington, CPRE, director of parks and recreation in Eudora, Kansas, and Amy Tessier, recreation program supervisor in Twentynine Palms, California. We're also joined by Allison Colman, senior director of programs at NRPA, who helps lead our youth sports strategy and shares insight into NRPA's role in advancing this work nationwide.

Tune in below to hear how you can be part of the movement to get more girls in sports. You'll also learn:

• What participation gaps between girls and boys still exist, even as girls' and women's sports gain national visibility
• How early experiences in youth sports can shape long-term confidence and retention
• What a systems-change approach looks like in parks and recreation, from coach recruitment and training to programming
• Why increasing women coaches and role models is critical to keeping girls engaged
• How local programs are creating ripple effects beyond the field
• And much more!

Additional Resources

• Get Her in the Game
• NRPA Youth Sports Framework
• NRPA Youth Sports in Parks and Recreation Report
• Level Up: Coaching Tools to Inspire, Connect, and Lead Through Sports

Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us!

If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA. Your gift will support our storytelling efforts and our mission to advance parks, recreation and environmental resilience efforts that enhance the quality of life for all. Give today at nrpa.org/donate.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by BCI Burke: Outdoor play builds confidence, leadership skills and social networks. At BCI Burke, they design outdoor spaces that support movement, opportunity and connection, helping park and recreation professionals create environments where more girls feel encouraged to step in, play hard and lead the game.

Learn more at bciburke.com

Thanks to BCI Burke for supporting this episode and for their continued commitment to Play That Moves You®.

January is National Mentoring Month — a time to celebrate the transformative power of mentorship and spotlight the essential role park and recreation professionals play in fostering youth development in communities across the country.

On our first episode of 2026, we chat with JaCory Bazell, CPRP, CYSA, CPO, the center supervisor at Bloomfield-Gilead Recreation Center in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia, to explore how mentoring takes shape in his community. Through the Macon-Bibb County Recreation Department, JaCory leads two youth mentoring programs: a teen media program focused on topics such as photography and videography, as well as leadership skills and teamwork, and Macon Ambitious Young Men, a group mentoring program that prioritizes holistic youth development.

What began with just a handful of participants has grown over nearly five years into programs that equip more than 100 young people with real-world skills, confidence and meaningful connections. As JaCory shares, mentorship isn't just about teaching, it's about showing up consistently, advocating for youth, and creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported and empowered to thrive.

We're also joined by Olivia Peterson a program manager at NRPA on our youth mentoring team. Olivia reflects on how park and recreation agencies are uniquely positioned to integrate mentorship into everyday programs and interactions, from workforce development and sports to after-school and community events. Olivia also shares the importance of adults investing in young people's well-being and growth, as well as some helpful resources from NRPA.

Listen to the full episode to hear how mentorship is shaping futures in Macon-Bibb County and what it means for communities everywhere. You'll also learn:

• How mentorship relationships built through consistent support make a difference.
• How even small beginnings can grow into long-lasting impact.
• How parks and recreation naturally supports youth development and helps young people build confidence, belonging and leadership.
• How mentors who show up through the good times and bad times help youth build resilience and trust.
• How self-care, shared leadership and community backing help sustain mentoring efforts.

Helpful Mentoring Month Resources

• National Mentoring Month — NRPA: Learn more about the month-long celebration and access resources to support your youth mentoring programs.
• NRPA's Youth Mentoring Framework offers a 16-week curriculum of sample topics and activities that can be used in 1:1 or group settings. Other resources such as Career Pathways Through Youth Mentoring and Community Service Through Youth Mentoring offer best practices and ideas for local programs.
• NRPA's Building Local Partnerships to Support Youth in Parks and Recreation resource offers strategies and case studies for connecting youth to services to support their overall mental health and well-being.
• NRPA's Amplifying Youth Voice in Parks and Recreation resource equips park and recreation professionals with practical strategies to embed youth voice in programs.
• NRPA's Mentoring Through Youth Sports guide aims to help weave mentoring into all youth sports programs.
• MENTOR's Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™ highlights six evidence-based standards that are intended to be applicable for any type of mentoring program.
• The National Mentoring Resource Center is the nation's premier source of training, technical assistance, tools, research summaries and other information for youth mentoring programs.

This season of Open Space Radio is sponsored by: For more than 105 years, BCI Burke has worked alongside park and recreation professionals to design outdoor environments that support well-being, inclusion and Play That Moves You®. That focus aligns closely with NRPA and the purpose of Open Space Radio — sharing insights and stories that strengthen parks, recreation and open spaces in communities everywhere.

BCI Burke approaches play and movement with intention, believing that connection, learning and community all thrive outside. Through Open Space Radio, Burke is proud to support the sharing of ideas and experiences across the parks and recreation field.

Thanks to BCI Burke for supporting this episode and for their continued commitment to Play That Moves You®.

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 with Stephanie Lozano, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation tribe and a tribal liaison for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, and Sara Sinclair, an oral historian of Cree-Ojibwa and German-Jewish ancestry, Columbia University professor and editor of How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America.

While this episode originally aired in 2021, there are still so many relevant pieces, from activating land acknowledgments to climate resiliency. Each second is impactful. We have also provided more current resources, external research and history, as well as stories from Parks & Recreation magazine for you to turn to below.

Tune in to the episode below for 55 minutes of powerful history, examples of actions we can take, the importance of leading with curiosity and humility, and a whole lot more. We hope Sara and Stephanie inspire you to continue learning, just as they have done for us.

Additional Resources:

• Design, Place and Indigenous Ways: Working with Local Communities (Parks & Recreation magazine, December 2016)
• Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day: Lessons in Leadership and Risk-Taking (Parks & Recreation magazine, January 2020)
• Protecting the Land and Its History (Parks & Recreation magazine, December 2021)
• To Relate: Indigenous Views on Native American Historical Events in Texas (Parks & Recreation magazine, March 2022)
• https://illuminative.org/
• https://voiceofwitness.org/
• https://seedingsovereignty.org/
• https://www.firstnations.org/
• https://native-land.ca/
• https://www.saraesinclair.com/

Sara Sinclair's Book Contributions:

• A Steady Brightness of Being: Truths, Wisdom and Love from Celebrated Indigenous VoicesTruths, Wisdom, and Love from Celebrated Indigenous Voices
• You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People
• Who We Are: Four Questions for a Life and a Nation
• How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America