Latest Trends in Parks and Recreation

To plan for and meet the growing and diverse needs of communities, it is important to be aware of the latest trends. Within the field of parks and recreation, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)'s Parks & Recreation magazine is the source that many turn to for up-to-date information. In this article, Richard J. Dolesh, NRPA’s retired Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Editor at Large for Parks & Recreation magazine, tells readers about the trends that park and recreation professionals should pay attention to. Highlights include:

Technology

• Rise of artificial intelligence to perform tasks such as responding to the public, preparing speeches, summarizing meetings, preparing reports, counting visitors, monitoring building systems, planning new parks, etc.  
• Use of mobile phone data to track and understand park usage.

Climate change

• The growing role of parks to address or mitigate the impacts of climate change, including mitigating urban heat-island effects, preventing destructive effects of stormwater and flooding, improving air quality in cities and densely populated urban areas, and enhancing community health, livability, and sustainability.  

Workplace changes

• The idea of the four-day work week is gaining in popularity.
• While the COVID-19 pandemic may have led employers to allow and even encourage fully remote work, many are requiring staff to return to the office.

Recreation preferences

• Although the pandemic caused many people to spend more time in parks and walk outside, walking trips have actually declined nationwide.
• The rise of pickleball continues, with demand for new courts and the conversion of underutilized tennis courts is increasing.
• The need for facilities for cricket is growing, aided in part by the launch of Major League Cricket, a professional league that began play in July 2023.

For more information, please read the source article.