Open Space Radio

Latest Episodes:

What Does It Take to Be a Courageous Leader? — February Bonus Episode Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

The February issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and we recently had the opportunity to chat with Jamie Sabbach about her article, "Leading With Courage," for this month's bonus episode. Jamie is the president and CEO of 110% Inc. and Amilia Consulting USA, and she joined us to talk about true courageous leadership, as well as explain why it is so important to the field of parks and recreation.

On this episode, Jamie expands on the idea that the term "leadership" is often confused with other words like "management," and that there is a misrepresentation of authority figures as leaders simply because of the seats they occupy and the titles they hold. We talk about the idea that a person is sometimes seen as a leader based on their title, not necessarily their "leadership" qualities. And while this is true in many cases, it can also be said that someone doesn't have to wait to be in a certain "position" to be a great leader.

We also chat about why good leadership is essential to the smart growth and sustainability of a park and recreation agency. In her article, Jamie says that leadership requires the ability to say things that are not necessarily the easiest or most popular. She mentions maintenance backlogs and deteriorating infrastructure being a concern for many park and recreation professionals across the country, and that it's easier to appeal to those who are attracted to the novelty of growth and new development than to have the less popular and more difficult conversation telling people that they simply cannot have the bright, shiny object without contributing to its ongoing care and maintenance.

Jamie also shares some things that park and recreation professionals can do to make sure their voices are heard in the bigger conversations about some of the major challenges in the world today, such as homelessness, obesity and the opioid crisis.

What are your thoughts on how park and recreation professionals can be courageous leaders in their communities? Email us and let us know!

The Future of Adaptive Programming — Episode 057 Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

On today's episode of Open Space Radio, we're going back to the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, where we met with Julianne Mills, a program manager for Disabled Sports USA. Disabled Sports USA is a national leader in community-based adaptive sports, and has focused on one goal since 1967: To improve the lives of wounded warriors, youth and adults with disabilities by providing sports and recreation opportunities.

We chat with Julianne about why inclusive and adaptive programming is critical to ensuring all people have access to quality park and recreation offerings, as well as some examples of unique adaptive programming that she's seen in her work (such as the Adaptive Cycling Center at Magnuson Park in Seattle, Washington, that has a fleet of over 200 adaptive bikes).

We also talk about ways that park and recreation professionals can implement more adaptive programming at their agencies. Julianne shares that the best way to get started is to make a commitment and know that it is possible. She also shares the mantra, "Do what you do best, and partner for the rest," as a way to encourage park and recreation professionals to reach out to other organizations that can assist in these efforts, like your local chapter of Disabled Sports USA.

Julianne also shares the various resources available from Disabled Sports USA, like Adapt2Achieve, which contains free or low-cost training manuals, webinars and other educational resources that park and recreation professionals may find useful in advancing inclusive and adaptive programming.

Other useful resources discussed in this episode:

Roxanne and Cort's New Year's Resolutions — Episode 056 Dec 31, 2019

Show notes

Since New Year's Eve falls on the same Tuesday as the release of a new episode, we felt it would be fitting to reflect on the past year and share some of our resolutions moving into 2020.

On this episode, we discuss the ways we're both going to make sure self-care is a priority in the new year. As much as it gets thrown around as a buzzword these days, it's so important, and absolutely necessary in order to be our best selves. Whether it's getting more sleep, exercise or water — or whatever it means to you — self-care should always be at the top of the list.

We also share some of our mantras for the new year, such as:

"Because I love myself enough to keep going."
"Don't feel guilty for doing what's best for your body."
"Eat lunch, don't be a jerk."

Tune in to the episode below to hear the inspiration behind these mantras and how they're going to motivate us in 2020. We also talk about our excitement for the future of Open Space Radio, some new things we have in store and the ways we want to better connect with you (for starters, come say hi and follow us on Instagram)!

Thank you so much for your continued support of the show, and Happy New Year!

Diving Deeper Into the 2020 Park and Rec Trends — January Bonus Episode Dec 26, 2019

Show notes

Are you ready for a bonus episode of Open Space Radio? In addition to the episodes we release every other Tuesday morning, we are adding an extra episode each month that takes a deeper look at Parks & Recreation magazine's feature article. Starting with the January 2020 issue of the magazine, you can now enjoy a bonus episode of Open Space Radio and expanded content on the magazine every month!

To kick it off, we are diving deeper into one of our most popular annual magazine articles, written by none other than NRPA's Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Rich Dolesh. This highly-anticipated article in Parks & Recreation magazine explores upcoming trends in the field and we're excited to chat with Rich on the show today.

On this episode we explore how one of the hottest topics of 2019 (check out eSports at the Rec Center? — Episode 046) is going to continue its momentum into the new decade. Not only is the Sports Emmy Awards going to have an awards category for outstanding eSports coverage, but we may also see a rise in demand for eSports coaches in parks and recreation.

Tune in below to hear about other technology that park and recreation professionals may start to see more of in 2020, like commercial drones (to deliver pizza to your park event) and micromobility devices that are faster, quieter and better able to navigate various types of terrain.

We also talk about:

How conservation efforts of park and recreation agencies are going to increase in 2020.
How agencies will ban Glyphosate — an herbicide that has links to negative impacts on human health and wildlife, despite the EPA declaring it safe earlier this year.
Green burials and human composting — which is exactly what it sounds like.
"The Mosquito" — a sonic disruptor device that emits a high-frequency noise that can only be heard by people ages 13-2.

Check out the full episode to hear Rich's thoughts on all this and more.

Are you seeing these trends? We'd love to hear your personal experience. What else do you see popping up in parks and recreation in 2020? Email us your predictions to openspace@nrpa.org! You can even send us a voice memo with your story and we may play it in an upcoming episode.

Wow Your Community with an Epic Fireworks Display — Episode 055 Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, many cities and towns are gearing up for their annual celebrations to ring in the New Year. And while there are a lot of ways you can make your celebrations special, nothing quite brings it all together like a good fireworks display.

On today's episode, we're joined by two people who not only know a lot about putting on an epic fireworks display, they also take a lot of pride in it. They presented a session at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore on the anatomy of a great fireworks display, and recently had an article in the December issue of Parks & Recreation magazine — and we're excited to chat with them on the show today.

We're joined by John Prue, Installation Program Director at Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR), Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. John is also currently serving as the Chairperson for the NRPA Conference Program Committee, which is currently evaluating over 600 education session proposals that were submitted for the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference. He is also an elected member of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA)

We're also joined by John's co-presenter from the conference, Wynn Cramer, an event producer with Melrose Pyrotechnics, a fireworks display company.

Tune in to the full episode below to hear us chat about the things park and recreation agencies should consider when deciding on a fireworks display at an event. We talk about everything from doing the initial research and using resources from organizations like the American Pyrotechnics Association, to finding the right vendor, to using music and narration to add another layer to your fireworks display.

We also discuss ways you can ensure people at your events aren't negatively impacted if they suffer from conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or sensory sensitivities.

What Is Your Park and Recreation Life Hack? — Episode 054 Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

A life hack is a clever tip or technique for accomplishing a familiar task more easily and efficiently. And, with so many park and recreation professionals having to wear multiple hats — sometimes in the course of a single day — anything that can efficiently simplify a task and save time is usually welcomed pretty warmly.

On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're looking back at one of the questions that we asked attendees at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland: What is your park and recreation life hack?

With everything from duct tape and zip ties, to quotes from Michael Jordan and love, you're sure to find some inspiration when you hear the life hacks of these people who were brave enough to get on the mic with us:

Elena Messenger, Therapeutic Recreation Programmer, Stafford County Parks and Recreation
Gabby Anglin, Recreation Coordinator, Victoria Parks and Recreation
Aaron Davis, Director, Mebane Recreation and Parks
Kristy Lintz, Recreation Program Specialist, Rapid City Parks and Recreation
Kasey Mahony, Cadillac District Supervisor, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Lisa Mansfield, Recreation Supervisor, City of Findlay Parks & Recreation
Nicole Moore, Recreation Programmer II, Stafford County Parks and Recreation
David Heath, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Bullhead City

Do you have your own park and recreation life hack that you'd like to share with us? Send us an email at openspaceradio@nrpa.org and we'll send you some stickers!

As a special bonus for listening to this episode, you can get a discount on NRPA Live — the virtual version of the NRPA Annual Conference. By using the coupon code OPENSPACE, you'll get 15 percent off the 18 full education session options that are available now!

Serving Our Nation's Capital: A Chat with DCDPR's Delano Hunter — Episode 053 Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

As a native Washingtonian, a park and rec kid, and a long history of serving the community, Delano Hunter is well suited for the role of director of D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation (DCDPR).

Delano says he's honored and privileged to serve the city he loves alongside some of the people who shaped him growing up, and we were honored and privileged to have him join us at NRPA headquarters recently to talk about how DCDPR is finding ways to serve members of the D.C. community through innovative programming, special events and community partnerships.

We also discuss Delano's path to a career in parks and recreation, and how there really isn't one right/prescribed way to work in this field. Prior to joining DCDPR in 2018, Delano was the Chief Service Officer for Serve DC, a D.C. government agency dedicated to promoting service as an innovative, sustainable solution to pressing social challenges. Before that, he helped develop a mentoring program at Nike. While they may not have been directly related to parks and recreation at the time, these types of diverse backgrounds are what make parks and recreation capable of impacting lives on so many different levels.

Delano also touches on why it's important for parks and recreation to be an extension of the education system, and why it's critical to reach kids in out-of-school times. We discuss how partnerships with organizations like Aetna and Lululemon are helping DCDPR reach people of all ages in D.C. Delano also shares about his #30DaysofDPR campaign, where he went on a citywide tour of DCDPR's 63 recreation facilities last January to highlight the programs, activities and people who make those centers so special.

Tune in to the episode below to learn about all the things DCDPR is doing (and they're doing a lot of things) to help make the nation's capital a better place to live.

Note: The morning we recorded this episode, we were saddened to learn about the passing of a great advocate for parks and recreation, Karla Kelley. Karla was a highly-involved member of NRPA, the Chief of Programs for the Bureau of Recreation for City of Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks and worked for DCDPR for many years. Delano shares his memories of Karla, who was so loved in the parks and recreation community.

Don't Wait! Take the Jump in Your Career Now! — Episode 052 Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

Please note: This episode was recorded on the exhibit hall floor at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference, so you may hear some background noise - it's the sound of over 8,000 passionate park and recreation advocates.

"I do everything around here."

"Do you think that's fair?"

"I gotta go master the monkeys [bars]."

These wise quotes have been in the back of Sue Yerkes's mind for much of her career. They have also been a staple in Sue's efforts to help others take the jump to advance in their careers. You may be wondering which insightful philosophers are credited with these quotes. Aristotle? Emerson? Steve Jobs?

Try again. These inspiring quotes came from Sue's nieces, nephews and own kids — who are all under the age of 6. And sometimes, it's the innocent minds of children that remind us of the most valuable life lessons.

We had the chance to sit down with Sue, who is the director of Grandview Parks & Recreation in Missouri, at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, to find out about her journey into the field of parks and recreation and some of the "aha" moments she's had along the way.

Tune in to the episode below to learn how Sue interpreted the advice from children in her family to not only advance in her own career, but also motivate and inspire others to do the same. She also shares her philosophy on how even though it may not always seem like the "right" time to do something, sometimes we have to get out of our comfort zones and "take the jump" in our careers.

Providing Outdoor Recreation in the Big City - Episode 051 Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

When people think of outdoor recreation, their first thought may not of an urban setting. On this episode of Open Space Radio, we're talking with two people who know a lot about the challenges of providing outdoor recreation opportunities in urban areas. When we were at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore last month, we had the chance to sit down with a few of the staff from our local host agency, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks.

Tune in below to hear our conversation with Molly Gallant, an outdoor recreation programmer (aka the park princess), and Bob Wall, the deputy director of Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, about programs they've implemented to make sure kids in the city of Baltimore have access to quality outdoor recreation opportunities close to home — like their youth fishing program, among others.

We talk about the importance of providing access to outdoor recreation opportunities — and park and recreation's role as a mentor — in fostering future stewards of public lands. We also discuss the ways that outdoor recreation can break down barriers, the partnerships that have helped along the way, and what access to outdoor recreation opportunities means to Molly and Bob personally.

And, as a special bonus for listening to this episode, you can get a discount on NRPA Live — the virtual version of the NRPA Annual Conference. By using the coupon code OPENSPACE, you'll get 15 percent off the 18 full education session options that are available now!

What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self? — Episode 50 Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

Today's episode of Open Space Radio is a special one because it is officially our 50th episode! It was hard to imagine having 50 episodes when we launched two years ago, but we're here and we're thriving. Open Space Radio has consistently been in the Apple charts for non-profit podcasts, and often in the top ten!

The timing of our 50th episode is pretty appropriate. We just got back from the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, and it was amazing to meet so many of our listeners and chat with those of you who have never even heard of the show. We were thrilled to get some of you on the mic, and we're looking forward to sharing the great answers to six questions we asked people who stopped by the Open Space Radio booth.

So, thank you to everyone who visited us and thank you for listening — whether this is your 50th episode or your first — we really appreciate you tuning in.

And since it's our 50th episode and we've been reflecting on when we first started, we thought it would be appropriate to use this episode to explore one of the questions we asked while we were in Baltimore: What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Tune in to the show below to hear the sage advice from the following people who were brave enough to get on the mic with us:

Stacie Anaya, Director, City of Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department
Anthony Iracki, MS, CPRP, Recreation Supervisor, Whitefish Bay Recreation
Brissa Ibarra, California State University, East Bay
Beeg Johnson, Recreation Director, City of Eagle Parks, Pathways & Recreation
Tony Phillips, Director, City of South Fulton Parks and Recreation
Donna Lindenmeier, Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Oklahoma State University
Gabriel Passos, Aquatics Recreation Programmer II, Stafford County Parks and Recreation
Jenny Cox, Conservation Program Manager, NRPA
Tom Ellis, CPRP, Parks Superintendent, Oro Valley Parks and Recreation

And of course, we couldn't have a 50th episode celebration without sharing some of our own advice that we would tell our younger selves, like making sure to make yourself proud first and the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone.

To finish out our celebration, we have officially launched an Instagram just for the podcast. So be sure to follow us @openspaceradio and say hi, tell us your ideas for future episodes and tag us in photos of you listening to the podcast! You can also send feedback or episode ideas to openspace@nrpa.org, and we'll send you an Open Space Radio sticker!

Again, a huge thank you to everyone who sat down with us at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference and thank you to everyone who has listened and helped us get to 50 episodes. We could not have done it without all our amazing past guests, listeners and colleagues at NRPA who support Open Space Radio!

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