Parks Employees Surveyed on Sustainability

National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) surveyed its members about their efforts as "stewards of the environment." Rachel Dovey notes in Next City that, "despite their natural role as builders of environmentally friendly infrastructure and stewards of ecology, few agencies have a formally documented sustainability plan."

The study found that the three "sustainability activities" agencies most commonly cited as part of their work were: Providing opportunities for healthy activities in nature, protecting and managing wildlife and wildlife habitats, and responsibly managing natural land (in descending order). Their top three challenges were: lack of funding, lack of dedicated staff, and limited expertise in developing sustainability measures.