Partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Co-Manage Parks. Strengthen Communities. Expand Your Mission.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) invites nonprofit organizations and nonfederal public entities (such as state and county government agencies) to join us in a groundbreaking opportunity to co-manage and enhance recreation areas at our nation’s lakes and rivers.
Through a Challenge Cost-Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement, nonprofits can take an active role in managing USACE recreation sites—keeping parks open, improving visitor services, and ensuring that fee revenue stays right where it belongs: in the community.
Read more:
https://nacpro.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/USACE-co-management-opportunity.pdf
House T&I Chair Vows 'No Money for Bikes or Walking' in Fed Transportation Bill
Courtesy of Streetsblog USA
By Kea Wilson
Representative Sam Graves (R-MO), chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has indicated he plans to eliminate federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure in the next major surface transportation reauthorization. Graves told Punchbowl News that he envisions a “traditional highway bill” focused solely on roads and bridges — with no money for bike paths, walking trails, or multimodal “nice-to-have” infrastructure.
Active transportation advocates are sounding the alarm. The League of American Bicyclists has launched a letter-writing campaign urging Congress to preserve critical grant programs like the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside and Reconnecting Communities. Without that support, they warn, “all of our gains for bicycling and walking are at risk.”
Read more:
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2025/11/12/gop-pol-no-money-for-bikes-or-walking-in-fed-transportation-bill
Research Finds Urban Parks Connected to Lower Crime, Better Community Health
Courtesy of City Parks Alliance
By Jessica Nelson
A cross-disciplinary team of researchers at the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of New Hampshire found a surprising connection between urban park size, crime and community health. The results point to a new understanding of the value of community parks in urban neighborhoods.
“We found that larger community parks are significantly associated with less crime,” said Dr. Lewis H. Lee, an associate professor in UA’s School of Social Work. “But there’s no direct effect from urban park size and mental health in our analysis. However, larger park size is associated with better mental health at the community level through its impact on the crime risk.”
Read more:
https://news.ua.edu/2025/10/urban-parks-connected-to-lower-crime-better-community-health/
Milwaukee County showcases beach renovation
Courtesy of NACo
By Meredith Moran
Wisconsin - Milwaukee County has reopened South Shore Beach following a major renovation aimed at solving long-standing water quality issues. Guided by research from UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences, the county relocated the swimming area about 400 feet south to a spot with better water circulation and significantly lower E. coli levels. The project also added ADA-accessible trails, green infrastructure, a vegetative barrier, and other visitor amenities.
County leaders say the upgraded beach enhances safety, accessibility, and environmental resilience. The project—made possible through partnerships among state, federal, and local agencies—highlights the important role park districts play in improving public health and expanding equitable access to high-quality recreation spaces.
Read more:
https://www.naco.org/news/milwaukee-county-showcases-beach-renovation#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=f1f08cad-aba6-4bb5-8d9b-d38620d60300
States and Nonprofits Are Helping National Parks Run During the Shutdown. Could Their Efforts Backfire?
Courtesy of Inside Climate News
By Jake Bolster
Nonprofits and state governments are stepping up to keep national parks running amid a protracted federal shutdown, but some worry their assistance could have long-term consequences. These outside partners are helping fund visitor centers, staff costs, and basic park services to fill gaps left by furloughed National Park Service employees.
While their support helps maintain public access and protects wild lands during the crisis, critics fear this could undercut arguments for full federal funding. Some park advocates warn that these emergency measures might be misused as justification for cutting permanent staffing down the line. Partner groups emphasize that their efforts are temporary — not a substitute for long-term federal investment.
Read more:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/07112025/states-nonprofits-help-national-parks-run-during-government-shutdown/
Evaluating Your Agency: An External Perspective
By John Prue
Third-party assessments enable parks and recreation departments to evaluate and enhance services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. These independent reviews
find organizational strengths and areas for improvement, aid with funding applications, and ensure compliance with national standards. This overview outlines the significance of such assessments, details their typical components, and provides information on consultants offering high-quality evaluations for less than $1,500, thereby increasing accessibility for agencies operating under budget constraints.
Read more:
https://nacpro.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/Evaluating-Your-Agency_J.Prue.pdf
Outdoor Recreation on Public Lands Pumps Millions Into U.S. Economy Every Day
Courtesy of Recreation Management
Outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is fueling America’s economy, according to a new report by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR). The report, “Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands & Waters: A Valuable American Asset,” conducted by Southwick Associates, reveals the immense, often overlooked value these landscapes and waterways generate every day. This new analysis underscores that conserving and maintaining access to our shared natural resources for recreation is not only a business imperative but also a consistent, high-return investment in the nation’s health and economic growth.
Read more:
https://recreationroundtable.org/news/new-economic-report-shows-outdoor-recreation-on-federal-public-lands-and-waters-as-a-valuable-asset-on-americas-balance-sheet/
A California City’s Groundbreaking Path to Water Self-Sufficiency
Courtesy of Governing
SANTA MONICA, CA - The city’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) is a state-of-the-art water recycling system that has helped bring Santa Monica 85 percent of the way to complete water self-sufficiency. Groundwater from the Santa Monica Basin is the major source of supply for the city, augmented by purchases from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
SWIP receives three kinds of water: stormwater, urban runoff and municipal wastewater. It uses advanced purification processes to bring them to drinking water standards. It’s the first underground water treatment project to accomplish this with both stormwater and raw wastewater in the same facility.
Each day, the facility produces 1 million gallons of purified water, enough to meet the needs of more than 20 percent of the city’s population. It reaches 50 to 60 feet into the ground.
Read more:
https://www.governing.com/resilience/a-california-citys-groundbreaking-path-to-water-self-sufficiency
PHTA Completes Revision of APSP-11 Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas
Courtesy of Recreation Management
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, welcomes public review and comments on revisions to the ANSI/APSP/ICC-11 2019 American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Spas. Public review is a fundamental part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards consensus development process.
Read more:
https://www.phta.org/standards-codes/phta-standards/find-a-standard/phta-11/
LA County Adopts Strategy for Greener, More Resilient Communities
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Clement Lau
CALIFORNIA - On November 4, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan, the nation’s most ambitious regional sustainability roadmap. Building on the 2019 plan, the updated plan includes 179 action items designed to strengthen community well-being and resilience. Since 2019, the County has made major strides, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions from County operations by 40%, creating over 110 acres of new parkland in unincorporated areas, installing 1,500 EV chargers, and investing nearly $1 billion in multi-benefit stormwater capture projects.
The plan also introduces several new and expanded focus areas, including wildfire risk management, community resilience, Tribal and Indigenous partnerships, ocean and marine systems, green goods movement, green economy, and resource circularity. These initiatives highlight the County’s forward-looking approach to climate action, emphasizing clean energy, sustainable materials, equitable workforce development, and local innovation.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/11/136338-la-county-adopts-strategy-greener-more-resilient-communities
California Cuts Funding for E-bike Rebates
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Diana Ionescu
The California Air Resources Board is defunding its e-bike incentive program due to budget constraints despite — or because of — the program’s massive popularity. Writing in Smart Cities Dive, Dan Zukowski explains that the program, which issued over 2,100 vouchers in its first two rounds, offered up to $2,000 to Californians to offset the cost of electric bikes. Now, $17 million that was allocated to the program will be redirected to CARB’s Clean Cars 4 All program. “CARB said the cancellation ‘is a recent outcome of legislative direction,’ and it has ‘just started informing program partners.’”
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/11/136378-california-cuts-funding-e-bike-rebates
Water-based recreation as critical community infrastructure
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business +
By Clement Lau
When temperatures rise, children and families across the country seek relief in the water—at local swimming pools, lakes, beaches, and/or splash pads. Yet for many communities, especially those that have been historically underserved, access to water-based recreation remains limited or nonexistent. While some residents enjoy the privilege of regular trips to the beach or afternoons at a swimming pool, other residents are left without any safe or affordable options close to home. This disparity is deeply concerning, given the well-documented benefits of water-based recreation for physical health, mental well-being, social connection, and climate resilience.
Read more:
https://www.prbplus.com/more-than-fun/
