June 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 60

NRPA Update

With mySidewalk, Online
Engagement is a Walk in the Park

our park is the heart of
your community, with a
pulse that infuses neighborhoods with life and
activity. As much as local residents
love their parks, it's often challenging to gather relevant feedback from
them - even when their responses
could inform a decision about the future of their parks.
With mySidewalk, powered by
MindMixer, you have the opportunity to start a conversation for free and
get feedback from a passionate and
engaged network of local community members.
NRPA has partnered with mySidewalk to provide members with a dedicated space to address the needs and
concerns of their parks, recreation fa-

cilities and community park and recreation agencies. mySidewalk's unique
platform allows users to engage a
broader audience and meet changing
communication needs for free.
NRPA members can also take advantage of a 15 percent discount on
mySidewalk's robust data platform,
which will help you make sense of the
local feedback you receive. You'll join
communities around the country who
are helping citizens preserve and improve where they live, work and play.
Visit www.nrpa.org/MindMixer to
learn more about mySidewalk. Questions? Email Hayley MacDonell
at hmacdonell@nrpa.org or call
703.858.2148.
- Hayley MacDonell, NRPA's Membership Programs Manager

Nurturing Nature Play

n April 25, NRPA
joined American Water
Charitable Foundation
(AWCF) and almost 100
volunteers in a joint dedication-workday for a new natural playground
in Belleville, Illinois. Made possible through a $109,000 grant from
AWCF, Bellevue Park now boasts a

58 Parks & Recreation

tree fort with climbing net and log
shimmy, rock slide, climbing wall and
sand box with water sluice. The city
also installed a pollinator slope with
interpretive signage. These are just a
few of the aspects that make this new
natural play area unique in the region
and one of few like it nationwide.
If your agency is thinking about
developing a natural playground,
consider talking with the city of Belleville. If you are planning to join the
2016 NRPA Annual Conference in
St. Louis, Bellevue Park is only 45
minutes outside the city.
This project was made possible through a partnership between
NRPA and AWCF. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org/buildingbettercommunities.

| J U N E 2 0 1 5 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

Test Your Park
and Recreation
Knowledge
The following question is a sample
Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination question.
An individual with an emotional
disability would experience the
LEAST amount of inclusion in a:
A) Basketball game
B) Drawing class
C) Soccer game
D) Dance class
Calling all beginning to mid-level
professionals! The Certified Park and
Recreation Professional (CPRP) is the
national standard for all park and recreation professionals who want to be
at the forefront of their profession.
For more information on the CPRP
certification program, please visit
www.nrpa.org/cprp.

June 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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