2010 NRPA Congress&Exposition Best of Show Don't miss these local favorites By Margie Walz V isit four of the best parks located in the Twin Cities regional park system including: North Mississippi Regional Park (Three Rivers Park District and City of Minneapolis), Silverwood Park (Three Rivers Park District), Tamarack Nature Center (Ramsey County Parks), and Bunker Hills Regional Park (Anoka County Parks). This tour offers park and recreation officials the opportunity to see the best of county/regional park facilities in the Twin Cities regional park system as well as the chance to network with other county park officials. Participants will be exposed to facilities that exhibit the benefits and effectiveness of cooperative multi-agency efforts; how arts and the environment can be integrated into a natural park setting; the benefits and challenges of incorporating environmentally sustainable features into park development; how public/private partnerships, concession agreements, and a variety of grants and public financing tools can be Kroenig Interpretive Center used in development and programming; and how a transformative approach was used to engage the public site design and program development and facility design. Many newly developed and award-winning outdoor recreation facilities will be featured. The " Best of Show " is offered to Congress delegates through the efforts of the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, an affiliate of NRPA. Margie Walz is Associate Superintendent, Parks and Natural Resources, Three Rivers Park District, mwalz@threeriversparkdistrict.org Tamarack Nature Center Silverwood Arts & Nature Center Bunker Hills Wave Pool 108 Parks & Recreation SEPTEMBER 2010 www . N R P A . O R G