Parks and recreation spaces should provide meaningful opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities through inclusive, thoughtful design and programming. This panel discussion will bring together experts in therapeutic recreation, accessibility, and community engagement to explore how inclusive multigenerational recreation fosters well-being, social connection, and a sense of belonging. Panelists will share best practices for integrating therapeutic recreation principles into programs, ensuring all individuals—regardless of age, ability, or background—can fully participate in play, recreation, and social experiences. This session is part of the four-part Beyond the Minimums webinar series. Real-time captioning will be provided. Video remote interpreting (VRI) is available upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or alternative formats, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks before the live webinar date.

The accessibility standards for playgrounds have been the minimum requirement for all newly constructed and altered playgrounds for 13 years, yet their application remains inconsistent and often misunderstood in new playground designs. Ensuring compliance while fostering inclusive and engaging play experiences for all requires a deep understanding of both the ADA Standards and ASTM public playground safety requirements. Join Jennifer Skulski and Bill Botten, both national experts in the accessibility of playgrounds, as they address some of the most complex and frequently asked questions surrounding playground accessibility. This session will explore the practical application of accessibility requirements, clarify common misconceptions when integrating new play trends, and examine the ongoing challenge of selecting and maintaining accessible playground surfacing. Attendees will gain actionable insights to enhance accessibility and inclusion in playground design beyond the minimum standards. This webinar includes real-time captioning. Video remote interpreting (VRI) is provided upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Discover how inclusive playgrounds support active play for children of all abilities. In this session, we will share research using GPS and accelerometer data to track. where and how third-grade children—with and without disabilities—play during recess. Findings reveal key differences in playground equipment use and activity levels, with children with disabilities slightly more active overall. Learn how the evidence-based design best practices of the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground can guide data-informed decisions to create engaging, equitable spaces for every child.

Access to Recreation - Chapter 10 - This webinar will review scoping and technical provisions for recreation facilities addressed in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (Chapter 10). These minimum requirements ensure access to a diverse group of recreational facilities. The requirements for amusement rides, recreational boating facilities, exercise machines and equipment, fishing piers and platforms, golf facilities, miniature golf facilities, play areas, swimming pools, wading pools, and spas, shooting facilities with fixed firing positions, and sports facilities will be addressed. This is the first session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning. Video remote interpreting (VRI) is provided upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Providing a truly inclusive play or park experience requires thoughtful planning and attention to ensure that site furnishings and amenities are more usable by more people, including those with disabilities, to the greatest extent possible. The placement or location of site furnishings and amenities and their operability is key to providing an inclusive play and park experience. Site amenities and design considerations within the built environment should be integrated throughout park destinations to support inclusive, intergenerational play and recreation. Scoping and technical guidelines for benches, picnic tables, grills, waste and recycling receptacles, picnic pavilions, drinking fountains/bottle fillers, telescopes, docks and piers, fitness equipment, toilet rooms, signage, and temporary events will all be addressed. This is the fourth session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Meeting the minimum accessibility design standards for play and recreation areas is the first step to ensuring everyone can participate, enjoy, and experience park and play area facilities. During this session, a panel of individuals with disabilities and professionals who support persons with disabilities will discuss features that can “make or break” play and recreational opportunities for individuals with autism or who are neurodivergent or have developmental, physical, sensory, or communication needs. Strategies, design elements, barriers, and accessibility will be discussed from their unique perspective. We hope you will join us for this look beyond the minimum accessibility design standards to discover how your community can make your park and play areas more inclusive for everyone. This is the third session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar will feature real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI).

Sustainable maintenance programs are essential for safer, accessible, and long-lasting playgrounds in schools and communities. In recognition of National Playground Safety Week 2025 (April 21-25), this webinar will provide actionable strategies for maintaining compliant and hazard-free play environments. Participants will gain insights into finding qualified playground inspectors, understanding key ADA compliance requirements for maintenance staff, and implementing surfacing maintenance best practices. Routine inspections and proactive maintenance help preserve playground investments, support accessibility, and create safer play spaces that promote healthy risk-taking and fun for all children.

Sustainable maintenance programs are essential to positive outdoor play experiences for children at their school and community playgrounds. This year, National Playground Safety Week is observed on April 22-25, and this webinar is designed to create awareness, maximize the value of playground investments, and create safer outdoor play destinations that promote healthy risk-taking and fun! Routine maintenance and visual inspections are key to preserving play and recreation environments, and properly identifying and addressing potentially hazardous conditions supports safer opportunities to engage in the lifelong benefits of play.

The Advocating for Maintenance to Upper Management session will offer play facility owners and administrators information on the needs and benefits of these spaces. In addition, financial consequences of poorly maintained areas, and duties to manage and operate the facility to the highest safety levels will be covered. Special attention will be given to the role of the agency management to establish a proactive inspection, maintenance, and repair philosophy throughout the agency/department. During the session, we will discuss the key points of a written policy and procedures document to manage public play areas, the importance of hiring qualified inspectors and maintenance technicians to implement the policy, and the importance of continuously training staff.

The Advocating for Maintenance to Upper Management session will offer play facility owners and administrators information on the needs and benefits of these spaces. In addition, financial consequences of poorly maintained areas, and duties to manage and operate the facility to the highest safety levels will be covered. Special attention will be given to the role of the agency management to establish a proactive inspection, maintenance, and repair philosophy throughout the agency/department. During the session, we will discuss the key points of a written policy and procedures document to manage public play areas, the importance of hiring qualified inspectors and maintenance technicians to implement the policy, and the importance of continuously training staff.

Join us for a dynamic and informative session that brings together the CORE (Center for Outreach, Research, and Education) and NRPA’s Ethnic Minority Society (EMS) to explore how research, partnerships, and education fuel innovation across the field of parks and recreation. This webinar will introduce attendees to CORE’s robust library of free CEU-eligible trainings, including on-demand webinars designed to strengthen your practice. Learn how professionals are using tools like the National Demonstration Site (NDS) program and evidence-based data to tell compelling stories that support funding, inclusion, and community wellness. You’ll also gain insight into the mission and momentum of EMS, including upcoming events, national summits, and the NRPA conference experience. Together, CORE and EMS are aligning research and real-world application to elevate the entire field—don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and lead.

This session explores how Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) between school districts and municipal park agencies can transform underutilized schoolyards into vibrant, community-serving parks, making parks more accessible for everyone. We’ll address community-informed decision making, the importance of shared goals between local schools and parks, equity in access to new recreational spaces and equity-focused site selection and ensuring these spaces welcome people of all abilities. We will overview operational issues, solutions, and staffing models and how, when, and why to partner with non-profits. The session will also highlight the use of data-driven approaches for identifying sites and monitoring success. Participants will leave with practical frameworks to implement shared-use solutions that foster health, sustainability, accessibility, and social equity.

Join us for an insightful webinar discussing the intricate landscape of securing funding within municipal governments. We'll explore the complexities of government structures, the nuances of agency contracting processes, and the potential pitfalls along the way. Discover why adopting innovative approaches is crucial and explore alternative contracting methods to mitigate risks. Uncover the importance of understanding funding source deadlines and leveraging community health and wellness data to strengthen proposals. Gain invaluable insights into maximizing funding opportunities while ensuring the well-being of your community.

Many park and recreation agencies and other public organizations, struggle to fund capital and operating expenses with traditional funding sources typically generated through tax dollars. This session will introduce alternative funding opportunities that can assist agencies, no matter how large or small, in identifying potential new funding sources to help diversify their financial portfolios. Specific topics to be presented include an overview of alternative funding options, methods to evaluate the suitability for an agency and its community, and success stories that have utilized alternative funding for community projects and services.

In August 2020, via the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanently was funded at $900 million annually, offering funding opportunities for eligible projects to support land acquisition, recreational facility improvements and park planning projects. The National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers has developed a roadmap to help navigate the process, understand the requirements, and create a successful project application. Every project starts with a great idea! This session will provide a program overview, offer helpful tips to submit a standout application, and review a variety of resources to arm you for success!

Learning objectives: Summarize the LWCF funding expectations after being awarded and for long term sustainability and compliance; List important considerations to take as you prepare for the completion of your project; Summarize a community case example that used LWCF funding to deploy evidence-based best practices to support health and wellness; List three helpful resources to assist in project completion, celebration, and sustainability.

Play is one of the most essential and rewarding parts of being human. In this session, Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, explores the science behind why we play, what play looks like across the lifespan, and how it supports emotional health, resilience, and connection. Backed by decades of interdisciplinary research, participants will learn how play helps us navigate life with more joy, creativity, and purpose.

Play isn’t just for children—it’s a fundamental part of living a vibrant, healthy life at any age. Join physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker Dr. Bowen F. White for an insightful and inspiring conversation on the power of play in promoting physical, emotional, and social well-being. Drawing from decades of work in preventive and stress medicine, Dr. White will explore the critical role of playfulness in reducing stress, improving mental health, and fostering genuine human connection. This session invites recreation professionals, wellness advocates, and lifelong learners to embrace the health benefits of play and lead by example in creating joyful, thriving communities.

This session explores how Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs) between school districts and municipal park agencies can transform underutilized schoolyards into vibrant, community-serving parks, making parks more accessible for everyone. We’ll address community-informed decision making, the importance of shared goals between local schools and parks, equity in access to new recreational spaces and equity-focused site selection and ensuring these spaces welcome people of all abilities. We will overview operational issues, solutions, and staffing models and how, when, and why to partner with non-profits. The session will also highlight the use of data-driven approaches for identifying sites and monitoring success. Participants will leave with practical frameworks to implement shared-use solutions that foster health, sustainability, accessibility, and social equity.

Join us for a dynamic and informative session that brings together the CORE (Center for Outreach, Research, and Education) and NRPA’s Ethnic Minority Society (EMS) to explore how research, partnerships, and education fuel innovation across the field of parks and recreation. This webinar will introduce attendees to CORE’s robust library of free CEU-eligible trainings, including on-demand webinars designed to strengthen your practice. Learn how professionals are using tools like the National Demonstration Site (NDS) program and evidence-based data to tell compelling stories that support funding, inclusion, and community wellness. You’ll also gain insight into the mission and momentum of EMS, including upcoming events, national summits, and the NRPA conference experience. Together, CORE and EMS are aligning research and real-world application to elevate the entire field—don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and lead.

Play isn’t just for children—it’s a powerful contributor to wellness across the lifespan. This cross-generational session explores how play impacts physical, emotional, and social health, featuring neuroscience insights, lived experiences, and actionable takeaways for today’s recreation professionals.

Discover how playful placemaking can transform the way you engage communities and design meaningful spaces. In this interactive session, we’ll demonstrate the power of play as a tool for visioning and engagement by working through real-world examples in real time. Participants will learn how playful strategies can spark creativity, build trust, and uncover the deeper needs of the communities they serve. Designed for both parks and recreation professionals and design professionals, this session will explore how combining play with the design process fosters inclusive, resilient, and community-driven environments. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your community engagement process or enhance your design approach, this session offers practical insights and techniques you can apply immediately. Join us as we bring a project to life using playful placemaking methods, and leave inspired to reimagine the possibilities for your own work.

The Unleashed: Off-leash Dog Park Design Trends and Planning Tips guidebook helps communities effectively advocate for the many benefits of off-leash dog parks. Dog parks provide enjoyable ways to recreate and exercise for both dog owners and their dogs. They also create community destinations. Research shows there are many positive effects for individuals that own a dog(s); as well as health and social benefits of owning a dog, caring for it, and recreating outdoors with pets. In addition, design considerations and case study examples are outlined to effectively design a dog park and champion initiatives that provide meaningful outcomes supporting overall health and social benefits for the community.

Determining what makes an outdoor setting ideal for early childhood development and how to craft such spaces is essential. Equally vital is educating future designers and educators to create environments that support age-appropriate play and learning. This lecture will tackle these inquiries, discussing the characteristics of effective outdoor environments that cater to the developmental needs of children aged 0-8. It will explore the connection between children's developmental requirements and various design features and landscape elements. Additionally, the session will delve into methodologies for evaluating the effectiveness of these environments and identify strategies to design interactive, engaging, natural, and healthy outdoor spaces that promote holistic development in children.

Plants increase community value in a number of ways beyond just their natural beauty. In this session, we’ll discover the many benefits that plants can provide communities, examine how a number of sites, from playgrounds to dog parks to bus shelters increased play and recreation value through the addition of key plants, and share tools to help parks, schools, and communities identify the unique benefits of a variety of plants to promote activity, imagination, sensory stimulation, and more. Attendees will come away with confidence on how to choose plants that will thrive in their region, and provide health, wellness, and recreation value for generations to come.

Join us for our "Summer Programming Survival Guide" webinar, designed to equip park and recreation professionals with essential strategies for a successful summer season. This engaging session will cover best practices for summer planning, leadership techniques with a social equity focus, and methods to prevent burnout. Additionally, discover creative ideas to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month and ensure your community enjoys a memorable and inclusive summer.

Schools are considered ideal settings for advancing health and wellness initiatives for youth. Most youth attend schools, most schools have resources for health and wellness, and most schools are located in communities with park and recreation agencies. National frameworks even exist for school health and school physical activity where community engagement is identified as a key component for building healthier generations of youth. The challenge is how. How can park and recreation professionals successfully engage and partner with schools to collectively support health and wellness initiatives for youth?

The webinar contains examples and tangible steps to implementing Play Streets in any community as well as case studies illustrating how each of our four community partners created and implemented Play Streets.

Get amazing new ideas for your Traverse Wall®! This recorded session will cover best practices and safety and risk management protocols, instructional design tips and ideas on how to manage a traverse wall, and a variety of dynamic climbing wall activities. Special guest panelist and physical educator, Matt Barrows, will share information about his innovative climbing program in the North Kansas City Schools. Mr. Barrows will share the benefits of climbing for children, tips for success implementing climbing in your program, and a variety of engaging activities utilizing the traverse climbing wall.

The Youth Engagement and Action for Health (YEAH!) project works nationally with African American, American Indian, Latino, Asian, and Pacific Islander lower-income urban/rural middle schoolers to take an in-depth look at their neighborhood’s strengths and weaknesses that are most likely to affect physical activity. Using a group-based program curriculum that is designed to help youth advocate for policy/environmental changes that promote physical activity, youth collect information through small groups and are taught to set priorities for improvements around problems they identify.

A comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) is the guiding framework for implementing physical activity opportunities across the school day and school context. The goal of a CSPAP is to provide daily opportunities and support structures for youth to engage in and benefit from a physically active lifestyle. Regular health-enhancing physical activity behaviors among youth can be accomplished across five CSPAP components: a) physical education, b) physical activity during school, c) physical activity before and after school, d) staff involvement, and e) family and community engagement. This comprehensive approach to active school settings has advanced evidence-based practices and opportunities for community collaborations.

Choosing an appropriate playground surfacing is one of the most important factors in developing a safe outdoor play environment. This useful resource was created to raise awareness about some considerations to make when planning, purchasing, and protecting your playground surfacing investment. Case examples are highlighted to provide a comprehensive overview on the features and benefits of the variety of types of safety surfaces available. Considerations are also explored that can further enhance play value at your parks and playgrounds. The guide offers planning checklists, resources, and inspection tools to help assist in simplifying the selection, installation, and maintenance process to ensure the safety and enjoyment of users.

Equitable and safe access to parks and recreation facilities begins with firm, stable, and slip-resistant ground surface materials along accessible, connecting routes. Thoughtful planning ensures people who use mobility devices or other adaptive equipment can move independently from site arrival points and throughout each park, play, and recreation setting. This session will address requirements for exterior routes and surfaces in outdoor recreational settings and offer design considerations to go beyond minimum compliance to make certain everyone has the ability to participate. Accessibility Specialist, Bill Botten, will review best practices for planning accessible routes, sidewalks, shared-use paths, routes to and within recreation facilities including play areas, sports fields, outdoor recreation areas, trails, and beaches. This is the first session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Play is one of the most essential and rewarding parts of being human. In this session, Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, explores the science behind why we play, what play looks like across the lifespan, and how it supports emotional health, resilience, and connection. Backed by decades of interdisciplinary research, participants will learn how play helps us navigate life with more joy, creativity, and purpose.

Parks and recreation spaces should provide meaningful opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities through inclusive, thoughtful design and programming. This panel discussion will bring together experts in therapeutic recreation, accessibility, and community engagement to explore how inclusive multigenerational recreation fosters well-being, social connection, and a sense of belonging. Panelists will share best practices for integrating therapeutic recreation principles into programs, ensuring all individuals—regardless of age, ability, or background—can fully participate in play, recreation, and social experiences. This session is part of the four-part Beyond the Minimums webinar series. Real-time captioning will be provided. Video remote interpreting (VRI) is available upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or alternative formats, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks before the live webinar date.

Play isn’t just for children—it’s a fundamental part of living a vibrant, healthy life at any age. Join physician, author, and internationally recognized speaker Dr. Bowen F. White for an insightful and inspiring conversation on the power of play in promoting physical, emotional, and social well-being. Drawing from decades of work in preventive and stress medicine, Dr. White will explore the critical role of playfulness in reducing stress, improving mental health, and fostering genuine human connection. This session invites recreation professionals, wellness advocates, and lifelong learners to embrace the health benefits of play and lead by example in creating joyful, thriving communities.

Play isn’t just for children—it’s a powerful contributor to wellness across the lifespan. This cross-generational session explores how play impacts physical, emotional, and social health, featuring neuroscience insights, lived experiences, and actionable takeaways for today’s recreation professionals.

Advancements in adaptive cycling equipment are expanding opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage in cycling as recreation, transportation, and social connection. This panel discussion, the first session in the four-part Beyond the Minimums webinar series, brings together professionals in accessibility, recreation, and inclusive design to examine inclusive strategies for biking facilities and adaptive cycling programming in parks and community spaces. Through expert perspectives, real-world examples, and applied discussion, panelists will explore accessibility requirements, design considerations, and programmatic approaches that move beyond minimum compliance to support equitable, multigenerational participation in cycling environments. This webinar includes real-time captioning. Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) is available upon request. To request interpreting services and/or materials in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Short-term bike parking is an easy enough concept to understand. If someone needs to park their bike for less than two hours, it’s considered short-term. So why is the mark often missed? This session will help practitioners to plan bike parking for shoppers, diners, errand runners, visitors, students, sports fans, concertgoers, and much more. The session will include benefits of short-term parking, design strategies, and fundamental approaches to comprehensive short-term bike parking standards.

From Boomers to Gen Alpha, it's not uncommon for aquatic facilities to see five generations visiting for wellness and play opportunities. Join the leadership from the Association of Aquatic Professionals as we discuss trends in aquatic design to meet the needs of guests of all ages and abilities and dig into programming ideas that can be incorporated into new and innovative spaces as well as traditional aquatic facilities.

As climate change accelerates, cities must rethink how they manage water, mitigate flooding, and create sustainable environments. PlayCore, in partnership with The Cultural Landscape Foundation, presents an on-demand series featuring global leaders in landscape architecture and urban water management. Hear from visionaries including Kongjian Yu (China), Kotchakorn Voraakhom (Thailand), Herbert Dreiseitl (Germany), Jasper Hugtenburg (Netherlands), and Mia Lehrer (USA) as they share case studies and strategies on sponge cities, river restoration, blue-green infrastructure, and water-conscious urban design. This international series highlights how nature-based solutions transform water from a threat into a resource, building healthier, more resilient cities worldwide.

People of all abilities should have access to the many health benefits aquatic play and recreation environments can offer. Well-designed aquatic facilities provide opportunities for rehabilitation, exercise, socialization, play, rest, and relaxation for community members across generations. It is critical to consider the needs of individuals with disabilities when planning, designing, and programming these environments. This session will review provisions in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design that address independent access to swimming pools, water play destinations, splash parks, and spas. Accessibility Specialist, Bill Botten, will review the application of the requirements for aquatic facilities, as well as the scoping and technical requirements for pool lifts, sloped entries, transfer steps, transfer walls, and accessible stairs. Additionally, the session will provide suggestions to go beyond the minimum requirements to enhance inclusive aquatic recreation facilities, including lazy rivers, wave action pools, water play elements, and other site amenities to support the diverse needs of all visitors. This is the second session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

In order to ensure equitable use by all, aquatic agencies and facilities must understand, embrace and respond to inclusive guidelines and programming, align to community needs, and implement innovative ways to offer environments that serve diverse individuals. This session will explore evidence-based health benefits of water immersion, share meaningful facility design strategies, and review ADA and ABA guidelines to make your facility a place for everyBODY to enjoy.