Economic Impact Advisory Panel

NRPA is recruiting a volunteer to serve on a 2.5-year (June 2021 – October 2023) project advisory panel, who will inform the strategic direction of NRPA’s research initiative examining the economic impact of the health benefits of equitable access to parks and recreation.

The goal of this initiative is to build a robust body of research that quantifies the economic benefits provided by the physical and mental health benefits, including environmental resilience benefits that impact our health, of parks and recreation at the national and local scale. The research will be used to equip park and recreation professionals with the tools and resources that advocate for needed and sustained investment and support from elected officials, philanthropic partners and the public.

Activities

• Participation in three, two-hour virtual and one, full-day in-person (September 2022 – TBD; travel stipend negotiable) convenings to set priorities, inform research strategy, advise and test tools and resources, and network with like-minded professionals.
• Provide subject-matter expertise, oversight and feedback, including review and input of strategies, created resources and activities (~five hours every other month).
• Regularly report any relevant information that you receive at various conferences, training sessions or meetings that could further this research initiative.
• Support dissemination of the resource through magazine articles or blogs, webinar presentations, and/or meetings or calls as needed.

Qualifications

• Employee of a municipal park and recreation agency
• Has capacity to commit to the above activities between June 2021 – October 2023
• Understands the environmental and health benefits of parks and recreation, as well as unintended consequences and equity impacts
• Enthusiastic and willingness to collaborate with NRPA and like-minded professionals

A stipend of $500 will be provided to cover the panelist’s contributions, in addition to being recognized in the final tools and resources. For questions, please contact Jenny Cox, Program Manager at jcox@nrpa.org.