Open Space Radio

Latest Episodes:

Don't Miss Coffee Talks at the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference — Bonus Episode Aug 24, 2021

Show notes

Things have been very busy here at NRPA as we gear up for the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference coming up September 21-23. So busy, in fact, that we don't have a new episode of Open Space Radio for you today, but I wanted to take the opportunity on our regularly scheduled release day to release a bonus episode just to give you a sneak peak of what I've been working on for conference.

Over the past couple weeks, I've been recording some really incredible conversations for our Coffee Talks that will be taking place at the conference. These Coffee Talks will be airing each morning and evening during the conference on the virtual platform, and I'll be talking with park and recreation professionals, program participants, community leaders, NRPA staff and more, about the important work and the incredible stories that happen in parks and recreation. So, here are the brilliant guests who will be joining me for Coffee Talks at this year's conference:

Day One

Morning: Autumn Saxton-Ross, NRPA's vice president of education and chief equity officer, will join me for the first Coffee Talk to discuss how her first year at NRPA has gone, what she's been up to, and provide an update on how NRPA is continuing to center equity in all we do.
Evening: Ignacio Gallegos, a participant at Fox Valley Special Recreation Association in Illinois and his grandmother, Leticia DeLaFuente, will share how the programs at Fox Valley have made Ignacio, who was born blind, feel included, helped him participate and given him purpose in life.

Day Two

Morning: Jodie Adams, a parks director emeritus and past president of the NRPA BOD, will talk about an NRPA oral history project that we'll be integrating into the podcast in the months ahead. We'll be discussing the history of NRPA as an organization, lessons learned and some amazing stories from previous leaders.
Evening: Luis Romahn, the president, CEO and founder of Parques de México and the National Association of Parks and Recreation Mexico, will discuss all the great work he and his organization are doing to build a park and recreation movement in Mexico and areas of Latin America, and how professionals in the U.S. can support.

Day Three

Morning: Kim and Claude Walker of the Tennessee-based Abundant Life Adventure Club (who have also previously been guests of Open Space Radio) will be updating me on all the incredible things they've been up to and how they're empowering Black people to spend time in nature to inspire wellness, abundant living and connection.
Evening: Brodrick Clarke, vice president of programs for National Summer Learning Association, Daniel Hatcher, director of community partnerships for Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and Allison Colman, NRPA's director of health, join me for a conversation about the importance of out-of-school time programs and how they can continue to support equitable access to learning, community healing, and the health and well-being of youth.

I sincerely hope you will join us for the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference, whether in Nashville or virtually. And, I hope you'll join me and the guests above for some great conversation each morning and evening on the virtual platform. So, be sure to head over to the conference webpage to register! But, if you aren't able to join, don't worry — some of these Coffee Talks also will be released throughout the year as episodes of the podcast!

As always, thank you for everything you do and thanks for your continued support of the show. I'll be back in two weeks, and we'll be back to our regularly scheduled stories that showcase how essential parks and recreation truly is. Talk to you then!

Our Park and Recreation Community Poem: Everything Around You… — Episode 097 Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Park and Recreation Month — which is obviously the best month in the park and recreation profession, just wrapped up at the end of July, and I'm excited to share one of the many things we did this year on today's episode. This year for Park and Recreation Month, in partnership with New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander, we created a community poem — one poem compiled from many voices, about what parks and recreation means to people.

We asked members of the park and recreation community to submit original poems about parks and recreation, and Kwame took pieces from each poem and combined them into one single community poem, titled, "Everything Around You…" So, I thought it would be fun to unveil the poem on a special edition of the podcast today.

You can hear Kwame read the final community poem on this episode, as well as read the full text of the poem in the description. You also can see Kwame read the poem if you are planning to join us at the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference in Nashville this September.

Thank you to everyone who submitted to our community poem this July, and a huge thank you to Kwame Alexander for using his incredible talents to help bring everyone's voices together into one beautiful collective message.

Everything Around You: Our Park and Recreation Story

You arrive and everything around you is green:

The trees, the flowers, the very soil that feeds this planet and that's just the start.

All day everything around you is performing a classic symphony of breathtaking outdoor beauty grounded in the magnificence of wild simplicity in picturesque form:

bison, coyotes, swans, eagles a mama duck prodding her ducklings a sunbathing frog the Lady Slipper anxious squirrels wrestling for their fair share of forbidden fruit.

This is your place.

A sanctuary of hammockers battered straw hats picnic blankets labradoodles and pugs toddlers and mums in blue and red frocks, the gardener weeding in mismatched socks.

Everything around you is alive and well and it occurs to you that you're part of something bigger that when you step into a park it feels so good to congregate with family and friends to walk through woods to take a pulse check—slow down, breathe clean air to be one on one with the sun syncing life's rhythm inside you.

A day like today you simply can't stay inside.

Though rain may fall, on the trail you'll glide.

Everything around you is quiet and chill.

Days like today you don't want to be still.

Everything around you is history Days like today will never grow old.

O, in my soul I am a child again

I am nine years old The paths are covered in brown leaves They're crunchy! The air smells beautiful.

O, in my soul I am free again.

I am fifteen. Running to baseball practice a few minutes late again. Coach smiles pats my shoulder. An osprey flies by O look he has gone fishing.

Everything around you is a bridge—connecting you to nature, to neighbors, to yourself.

Everything around you is home. A place we've always dreamed about: sustainable systems supporting economies crossing boundaries solving problems a sense of belonging growing community a sense of belonging.

Everything around you is a story is a fallen tree is a soaring heron is a lazy river is a drumbeat of dragonfly wings is purple and blue hues is a paintbrush palette of botanical shades is mountain air, glass mirror lakes, and open skies is the cold gray of the past year. is heartbreak is lockdown is love is nature anticipating is tranquil peace is poetic meditation is no more class is children playing in summer is hiking is heat is hope is family reunion.

This. Is. Your. Place.

To live to learn to work to farm to play with everything around you.

A Community Poem compiled by Kwame AlexanderFor the National Recreation and Park AssociationAugust 2021

A Podcast for Any Chapter in Your Parks and Rec Journey — Episode 096 Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

With the rise in digital content, it's easier than ever to deliver a targeted message to your intended audience. And, one type of digital content that I'm a particular fan of is podcasting, which continues to be a platform that is seeing tremendous growth. On today's episode, you'll meet the hosts of two other podcasts related to parks and recreation, as we discuss why we're so passionate about podcasting, what listeners can gain from each one of our podcasts, and how easily accessible content and resources — like podcasts — are benefiting park and recreation professionals in their careers.

I'm joined today by Becky Dunlap, who is one of the hosts of the Let's Talk Parks podcast, and Paul Gilbert, who hosts a podcast called Strategic Leadership with Paul Gilbert. While all three of our podcasts are different, our missions are very much aligned — to support park and recreation professionals, provide inspiration and lift up stories of the good work going on in the field.

Tune in below to learn about each one of our podcasts, as well as:

What park and recreation professionals can gain from listening to podcasts about our field.
How podcasts and other digital content are different from materials and resources that have been previously available.
How our three podcasts can help a wide range of park and recreation professionals, regardless of where they are in their careers.
How digital content has evolved and where it might be going in the future.
What moments have been meaningful for us as podcast hosts, and more!

To learn more and listen to Let's Talk Parks and Strategic Leadership, visit:

Enhancing Stewardship and Access to the Tennessee River — August Bonus Episode Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

The August issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today's episode, we're diving deeper into one of this month's feature stories, titled, "A River Runs Through It." The article explores the Tennessee RiverLine and the partners who worked to advance stewardship and equitable access to the 652-mile Tennessee River.

Joining me today is the author of the article, and previous guest of Open Space Radio, Kathleen Gibi, the executive director for Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful. Kathleen is also a member of Parks & Recreation magazine's Editorial Advisory Board. We're also joined by Brad Collett, the director of Tennessee RiverLine, to have a conversation about the good work that's happening on the Tennessee River and in the surrounding communities.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about the Tennessee RiverLine's vision of establishing a continuous system of paddling, hiking and biking trails that spans the route of the 652-mile Tennessee River. You'll also learn:

Why so many people turned to the water during the COVID-19 pandemic.
How the Tennessee RiverLine can be used by visitors spending weeks exploring or those just taking day trips to enjoy a certain section of the river (think the water version of the Appalachian Trail).
How Tennessee RiverLine is ensuring all people have equitable access to the river and recreational opportunities it provides.
What a system like the Tennessee RiverLine means for all the communities along the river that it connects.
What efforts are being made to make sure people take pride in the river and help keep it clean, maintained and protected.
How partnerships have been critical in making this vision a reality, and more!

Learn more:

The Genesis Project: How a Mother Is Keeping Her Son's Spirit Alive — Episode 095 Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

*Content note: In this episode, you will meet Jennifer Holmes, a mother who tragically lost her son, Genesis, in a drowning accident. This episode contains an emotional account of her traumatic experience, so please listen with care when you feel you are able to, as the content may be triggering for some listeners. If you are unable to listen but want to learn more, please visit the links below for more information on The Genesis Project.

We are just about at the halfway point of Park and Recreation Month, and it has been so inspiring to see how many people are embracing the theme of "Our Park and Recreation Story" and sharing their heartfelt stories, memories and experiences related to parks and recreation.

One story that caught our attention — and really moved a lot of us on NRPA staff — is that of Jennifer Holmes from Charleston County, South Carolina, and I'm honored to welcome her, as well as Gina Ellis-Strother, the chief administration officer for Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC), to the show today.

In 2014, Jennifer's 13-year-old son, Genesis, tragically drowned in a local pond because he didn't know how to swim. After Genesis' drowning, the Genesis Project was established, which aims to raise funds to offer aquatic safety programs in rural areas of Charleston County, alongside CCPRC. Despite her grief and her own fear of water, Jennifer not only conquered her fears and learned to swim, she also volunteered with the Charleston County Parks Foundation to offer swim lessons and water safety instructions to rural areas of the community.

What's more, when CCPRC opened the West County Aquatic Center in June 2019 in the same small town in which Genesis drowned, Jennifer was one of the lifeguards on duty. And, in keeping Genesis' spirit alive, the pool at the aquatic center is now named, "The Genesis Pool."

Tune in to the full episode to learn more about the incredible young man Genesis Holmes was, as well as how Jennifer has channeled her grief into ensuring other families in rural Charleston County don't have to experience the same loss she and her family experienced. You'll also learn:

How Jennifer's faith and the support of her community gave her strength in a time of pain.
How The Genesis Project is raising awareness and providing education about swim lessons and water safety.
How CCPRC is addressing access to water safety resources and education in rural areas of Charleston County and meeting community members where they are.
How Jennifer felt when she conquered her own fear of water and received her lifeguard certification.
What the relationship between Jennifer and Gina has meant to each of them during this time, and more!

Additional Resources:

Fostering an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Environment in Parks and Recreation — Episode 094 Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

As we continue to lift up stories of inclusion in celebration of Pride Month, my colleagues Allison Colman, NRPA's director of health, and Teresa Morrisey, a program manager on NRPA's Park Access team, recently published a blog post on the Open Space blog titled, "A Pathway to Trans Inclusion in Youth Sports." I highly recommend checking it out to learn more about building more inclusive environments where all people, regardless of their gender identity or expression, are welcomed, accepted and fully able to participate in park and recreation facilities and programming — including recreational sports. One of the individuals featured in the blog post was Peyton O'Conner, AICP, CPRE, CNP, CYSA (they/she), the parks and recreation director for Buncombe County in Asheville, North Carolina. I'm thrilled to welcome Peyton to the show today to have a conversation around LGBTQ+ inclusion in parks and rec, as well as discuss the good work they're doing in Buncombe County.

When NRPA released guidance on transgender inclusion in youth sports back in April, Peyton reached out in support, and expressed the need for expanding this guidance to adult recreational sports, as well. Peyton has been instrumental in advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in their community and in park and recreation programming, and has been on a mission to implement an inclusion policy for trans kids at their agency. And, as we're also looking ahead to Park and Recreation Month in July and this year's theme of "Our Park and Recreation Story," I thought it would be a great opportunity for listeners to hear Peyton's story, as well.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about how Peyton is using their own experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community to advocate for creating more inclusive spaces and programs in parks and recreation. You'll also learn:

What compelled Peyton to reach out to NRPA when they first noticed the guidance on transgender inclusion in youth sports.
The importance of approaching conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion the same as any other anti-discrimination policy — based on a set of facts and not up for discussion or debate.
How Peyton's agency realized they needed a formal inclusion policy for trans kids, and how their staff and community responded.
How park and recreation professionals can advocate for more inclusive policies in their own communities.
How small changes, like using individuals' preferred pronouns and gender-neutral restrooms, can have a huge impact, and much more!

Our Park and Recreation Story: How One Family Finds Peace in Parks — July Bonus Episode Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

The July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, which not only means it's time for a bonus episode, it also means that we're only a few days away from July, and Park and Recreation Month is extremely close. As you may know, each year for Park and Recreation Month, we host a cover contest for the July issue of the magazine. Each year we receive so many incredible photos and stories illustrating how parks and recreation is impacting communities across the country, and this year was no different. While you'll be seeing many of the submissions throughout Park and Recreation Month on NRPA's social media, there was one photo and story that really stood out to our esteemed selection committee – and that's the photo on the graphic for today's episode, as well as on the cover of the July issue.

A great photo isn't just a photo, though — it tells a story. I'm so thrilled to be joined by three individuals on the show today — who you can also read about in the July cover story — who all play a role in the story behind this year's winning photo. Joining me are Jenna Brinkman, the public affairs manager for Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD) in Elk Grove, California; Craig Pattenaude, the marketing and communications specialist for Cosumnes CSD (who is the photographer who took the incredible photo); and David Phommavong, a member of the Elk Grove community and the father of the child in the photo, Khuan.

On today's episode, they share the heartwarming story behind this photo and how Jenna and Craig's team are helping David and his family find peace in what can be a painful world for Khuan, who was diagnosed with moderate to severe Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was 2 years old, as well as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn about how Cosumnes CSD is helping Khuan, and others, experience the world without barriers, as well as:

How photography has helped Cosumnes CSD better tell the stories of their diverse community, as well as the various offerings their district provides.
How connecting with David and Khuan made the staff at Cosumnes CSD feel about the important work they do.
How Cosumnes CSD's parks are helping the Phommavong family "find bearing in life."
Why parks and nature are some of the only places Khuan can find peace and not experience the physical pain that comes with sensory processing disorder.
What Jenna, Craig and David's favorite park memories are, and more!

Why the Essence of Equity-Centered Work Is Organizational Change — Episode 093 Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

In line with keeping equity at the center of all we do, NRPA recently released a suite of diversity, equity and inclusion resources for park and recreation professionals. NRPA's mission of advancing parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people depends on equity being central to our work. An important piece of this – which is included in these DEI resources in the form of a very insightful story map — is understanding how our history brought us to the inequities in access to parks and recreation that still exist today. In fact, we estimate that as many as 100 million people (or 30 percent of the U.S. population) lack access to the lifesaving and life-enhancing benefits parks and recreation provides.

In considering how we work to close that gap, NRPA has been on a journey to strengthen our organizational culture and practices centered around equity. One individual who has played a big part in some of our NRPA all-staff conversations around this work is Mickey Fearn. Mickey has been a public servant — and parks, recreation and conservation professional — for over 50 years, and recently retired after seven years at North Carolina State University's School of Natural Resources, where he taught about diversity and equity in parks and recreation. He previously served as the National Park Service's Deputy Director from 2008-2013, and was a long-time employee of the City of Seattle, where he worked on social justice issues, access to nature and other critical work.

Tune in to the episode below to learn more about Mickey's extensive career, why he's so passionate about equity-related work, and why he loves the Stevie Wonder lyric, "I reach out for the part of me that lives in you." You'll also learn about:

Some of the defining moments of Mickey's life and his obsession with learning how relationships work.
How he felt after attending the March on Washington in 1963 and witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech.
How his perspective and experience working in innovation, community engagement and equity have given him a unique view of how systems need to change in order to serve everyone.
Why he feels "your job chooses you, you don't choose your job."
How park and recreation professionals play an important role in teaching about and celebrating differences among our community members, as well as the history of our communities.
The significance of celebrating Juneteenth (which is coming up on Saturday, June 19) and much more!

Creating a Culture of Transgender Inclusion in Sports — Episode 092 Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Today is the first day of Pride Month, yet, as we kick off this month-long celebration designed to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community, we continue to see many states introducing harmful legislation aimed at preventing transgender youth from participating in sports. At NRPA, it's our position that being recognized as the gender with which you identify is a basic human right. Meaning that for the purposes of recreational sports, youth should be allowed to participate in the gender with which they identify. Last month, NRPA published guidance to empower park and recreation professionals to build more inclusive sport environments that welcome all youth into programming. Today we look forward to building on this guidance through a conversation with someone who is doing incredible work in this space.

We are thrilled to welcome Chris Mosier (he/him) to the podcast today. Chris is a trailblazing athlete, coach and the founder of TransAthlete.com. He is a six-time member of Team USA, and in 2015 he became the first openly transgender man to represent the United States in international competition. He was the catalyst for change for the International Olympic Committee policy on transgender athletes and has been called "the man who changed the Olympics" by the BBC and New York Magazine. He is also a two-time National Champion and the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympic Trials in any sport in a category different than their sex assigned at birth. Chris is a go-to source for policy and information on transgender inclusion in sports, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the show today.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about Chris's story, what all of these 'firsts' mean to him, and why his motto is, "Be who you needed when you were younger." You'll also learn:

How we can apply the same principles used in changing the International Olympic Committee's policy on trans athletes for adult and youth recreational sports.
Why Chris started Transathlete.com, a resource for students, athletes, coaches and administrators about trans inclusion in athletics.
What advice he would give to park and recreation professionals trying to create cultures of inclusion in their communities where everyone can thrive.
How to take action against recently proposed bills in many states that would prevent transgender youth from participating in sports.
Why we need to consider people and our facilities when implementing more inclusive policies.
What Chris has planned for Pride Month, and more!

Additional resources:

Transathlete website
Transathlete action items (to see state bills and take action)
Follow Chris on Instagram
Follow Chris on Twitter
Chris Mosier's website
NRPA: Supporting Transgender Inclusion in Youth Sports
NRPA Webinar: Transgender Inclusion in Sports: 101 (taking place June 17, 2021 at 3 p.m. EDT)

Caring for the Mental Well-Being of Our Staff and Communities — June Bonus Episode May 20, 2021

Show notes

The June issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today's bonus episode of the podcast, we'll be diving deeper into one of this month's feature stories, "Mental Health Care in a Pandemic." In the article, Parks & Recreation's Associate Editor Lindsay Hogeboom explored the ways park and recreation agencies have provided mental health services to their staff and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On today's episode, I'm thrilled to be chatting with two individuals who were featured in the article to learn a little more about how their agencies have navigated supporting their communities during a difficult time, while also experiencing many of the same challenges their community members have been facing. Joining me today are Shelly Strasser, the director of recreation and community services for West Allis-West Milwaukee School District in Wisconsin, and Mike Shull, the general manager of City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks in California.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn how Shelly and Mike are caring for the mental health of their staff members and community, as well as:

How their departments have been navigating the mental health challenges of COVID-19.
How staff at West Allis-West Milwaukee School District have partnered with a heroin/opiate community task force, as well as participated in a trauma-informed care task force.
How nearly 100 percent of the staff at City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks work on emergency response and have provided shelter for people experiencing homelessness throughout the pandemic.
What kinds of mental health resources have been provided to staff at both departments.
What lessons each of them will be taking away from the pandemic, and more!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected