We were thrilled to round out an incredible year of Mayor of the Mall events yesterday by welcoming Jacey to WEM! In support of Alberta Dreams, Jacey and her family had an action packed day filled with shopping, attractions, special performances, and so much more! We look forward to continuing our partnership with Environmental 360 Solutions in the new year to honor many more incredible children with one of a kind experiences at WEM through the Mayor of the Mall program. #MyWEMMyWay#ExploreWEM
Community parks and recreation programs are critical in promoting well-being and fostering a sense of community. As demonstrated in the video, parks provide not just physical space but also emotional and social benefits that enrich communities.
Parks help reduce stress, promote physical activity, and foster social connections by providing safe and inclusive environments for relaxation, recreation, and social interaction. Our parks and recreation services are dedicated to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can feel included and thrive.
Let's come together to further invest in and advocate for our community parks, fostering wellness and cultivating a true sense of belonging.
#ParksMakeLifeBetter#ParksAndRecreation#CommunityWellBeing#SenseOfBelonging#InvestInParksAndPrograms
This post draws on insights from the video 'Parks Make Lives Better':
The National Park Foundation is excited to invest $2.2 million in grants to affinity groups to build lifelong relationships with national parks.
Everyone should be able to fully experience the benefits of the outdoors. The 62 projects selected for funding this year span 59 parks and focus on representation, accessibility, and interpretation – all things that leaders in outdoor recreation and equity spaces identify as barriers for communities that have been historically excluded from parks.
https://lnkd.in/eQceMF-E
Funding parks and recreation 🟰 Funding a bright future for your community 🌟
Janet Bartnik, Deputy Director Prince William County Parks and Recreation, shares her journey into the field, and the impacts and future of parks and recreation. Watch the full video and others: https://bit.ly/43M6tUF
Park and recreation professionals wear many hats, they're community builders, advocates, mentors- to name a few. We've found the stories they have to tell incredibly powerful. That’s why we started the video-storytelling project, Park and Recreation Stories.
Through uplifting voices in the field we aim to highlight the power of parks, as well as significant events experienced by our members, partners and advocates.
We’re excited to continue sharing these stories with you throughout 2024 and into 2025 as we begin celebrating our 60th anniversary.
#ParkAndRecStories#NRPA60#PowerOfParks#WhereYouBelong#ParkAndRecMonth
Mobility in Central Park has evolved significantly since its opening in 1858 — from horses and carriages to bicycles, motor vehicles, and ultimately the ban on personal vehicles in 2018. Now, we once again are reimagining the future of movement within one of the world's most beloved urban parks. Plans are underway to update Central Park's iconic Drives, which still largely resemble traditional roadways, to better serve the needs of today’s diverse park users.
I am honored to have worked on and excited to announce the release of the Central Park Drives Safety and Circulation report. Take a look at our study and recommendations in the link below. Thank you to the team Mike Flynn, Lian Farhi, and Colin Brown, AICP - among many others at TYLin | Sam Schwartz City Solutions, the Central Park Conservancy, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, and New York City Department of Transportation.
🏆🌳 JUST IN: City of Plano Plano Parks and Recreation park system has retained the ranking of #1 in Texas and #16 in the nation based on the Trust for Public Land annual ParkScore! 🎉
The #TPLParkScore is based off how Plano compares on five characteristics of an excellent park system: access, investment, acreage, amenities, and equity. The report found that 82% of residents are within a 10-minute walk to a local park.
Read the full report at tpl.org/city/plano-texas.
Creating The Future of Sustainable Entertainment, Tourism, Hospitality & Service Industry Careers | Historically Accurate Educational Experience Park & Destination Resort
As Taylor evolves, so do the challenges we face: from housing and homelessness to economic opportunity and cultural preservation. Haunted Texas Theme Park is more than just a business; it’s a project rooted in social impact and driven by the needs of our community. With a focus on historic preservation, sustainable entertainment, and community-first initiatives, this development seeks to address some of the most pressing issues we face in Taylor today, such as:
1. Homelessness and Poverty Relief: The park is designed to generate revenue that can be reinvested in our community, specifically to support programs aimed at ending homelessness in Taylor. By partnering with local nonprofits and organizations, such as Mobile Loaves & Fishes, we can create jobs, provide emergency and affordable housing options, and offer support systems to uplift the most vulnerable among us.
2. Job Creation and Career Development: With Haunted Texas Theme Park, we envision hundreds of local jobs, ranging from hospitality and event management to technical roles in maintenance and operations. These jobs would prioritize Taylor residents, ensuring that our community benefits directly from this influx of opportunities. Additionally, we plan to incorporate skills training, internships, and career development programs in partnership with local schools and workforce agencies.
3. Economic Growth that Benefits Everyone: As businesses move into Williamson County, Haunted Texas Theme Park can serve as an anchor destination that drives tourism, promotes small business partnerships, and boosts our local economy. Our planned events, retail spaces, and collaborative initiatives with local vendors will ensure that Taylor's charm and character are integral parts of this growth.
4. Preserving Our Unique Heritage: Haunted Texas Theme Park and the USA History Preservation Project are built around preserving Texas' rich history, particularly the unique stories that define communities like Taylor. Through historical reenactments, educational programming, and storytelling, our park will celebrate our past while inspiring future generations to take pride in our town’s roots.
5. Sustainability as a Core Value: Recognizing the environmental challenges we face, Haunted Texas Theme Park is committed to green building practices, renewable energy integration, and sustainable business operations. Our project aligns with the goals of a sustainable Silicon Valley, not only by attracting economic investment but by ensuring that development is responsible, thoughtful, and beneficial to the environment.
https://lnkd.in/gyehwZGr#TaylorTX#CommunityFirst#EndHomelessness#HauntedTexasThemePark#SustainableGrowth#EconomicDevelopment
Since 2022, the Department for Environment and Water has hired 15 new Aboriginal park rangers as part of a $5 million initiative to support First Nations leadership in caring for Country.
The rangers have been employed to work in national parks across SA, including the Fleurieu Peninsula, Limestone Coast, Eyre Peninsula, Far West Coast, Flinders Ranges and Kangaroo Island and are playing an invaluable role in conserving our natural landscapes, sharing cultural knowledge, and ensuring park visitors have a safe and memorable experience.
The Aboriginal Rangers Program is part of a broader commitment that aims to ensure First Nations knowledge is central to how we manage and protect our parks, for generations to come.
That commitment also includes a co-management model for some parks, forging a partnership between the state government and Aboriginal groups that combines traditional knowledge with contemporary park management and which helps to advance the process of reconciliation and matters relating to traditional land ownership.
Learn more about how we’re working together in South Australia’s national parks: https://lnkd.in/gxUCvfz9#npws#environment
