Hello everyone! We have exciting news - we are bringing the Let's Talk Parks podcast BACK, this time with the support from BerryDunn! My hope is that you continue to feel inspired and motivated to make a difference in your communities by listening to these stories.  I'm personally both excited and relieved for this support so I can focus on having amazing conversations with Parks & Recreation professionals like yourself. I think you'll hear in the first episode (releasing 9/15) that we now have capacity for greater creativity and storytelling.   A couple of things to know:  ..read more

Link to donate to the CPRA fundraiser for Parks & Recreation Professionals who lost their home in the Marshall Fire: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTM1NDI1 Throughout the podcast, we've asked a consistent question: How can we raise the bar to make a positive difference in the communities in which we work?  But collectively as we've all reached the end of our ropes, we're all really, stinkin' tired.  And I'm starting to reject the idea of constantly needing MORE and BETTER.  What if we allowed ourselves to be okay, just this once, being RIGHT HERE.  And ..read more

There are so many phrases thrown around in the field of Parks and Recreation, but "best practice," may be one that we finally retire. In this episode, Marissa sits down with Jason Elissalde to talk about why that term can be detrimental to our success.  Thank you to our sponsor, Landscape Structures for sponsoring this episode.  Learn more, find a playground consultant, and earn CEUs by visiting playlsi.com.  Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Jason on LinkedIn ..read more

In this episode, Becky sits down with Jill Moore, Inclusive Play Specialist at Landscape Structures, to discuss what a playground really means to be inclusive.  We talk about the definition of accessible versus inclusive (and why they're so different!).  Jill opened my eyes to our need to involve people of all backgrounds and abilities to the table when it comes to planning and designing our parks.  There is so much to learn when designing our parks to be safe spaces for our children to take risks and grow as human beings. I am so excited to share this episode with you!  A ..read more

Did your agency pivot to virtual programs during the height of the pandemic?  Are you still using those programs today?  On this episode, Nate Bibat, Senior Naturalist at the Dunes Nature Center, comes on the Let's Talk Parks show to share how his organization was able to quickly pivot to online environmental education programs.  He shares the various tools and methods they used for the hundreds of students in their programs - including making videos on YouTube, launching a podcast, creating virtual tours on Google Earth, and so much more!  He also talks about how him and h ..read more

In this episode, Dustin Graham and I talk about the risks and rewards of intentional playground design. We talk about how we can make our playgrounds more inviting, and share some examples of different parks across the country that have used their cultural heritage as part of their community space design.  While the audio version will give you a taste of this topic, you’ll want to head over to the video to SEE these parks and truly experience them for yourself!  https://youtu.be/-Z8spRYJtGQ Thank you to our sponsor, Landscape Structures for sponsoring this episode.  Learn more ..read more

This is a quick preview to a new upcoming series on the podcast about how to make our parks and playgrounds more inclusive and innovative. I can't wait to share these new interviews with you soon! Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-dunlap/ Connect with Marissa on LinkedIn--> https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissa-moravec-cprp ..read more

In this episode, Marissa and Becky talk about how imposter syndrome has impacted them throughout their careers.  If you think that you've suffered from this, be sure to tune in for how this might affect your work within the parks and recreation field. This episode was inspired by Jai Cole from Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission who had a recent session at NRPA about this topic. Here is the link to the recent article about imposter syndrome from HBR magazine and some strategies for reducing this phenomenon in the workplace - and finally, the link to the Brene Brown podc ..read more

The answer is yes! Marissa went through middle school, high school, and college assuming that she would never need to get in front of a crowd to present information. She was totally wrong and gets on the mic during this episode to explain the times you may be faced with public speaking and what you can do to overcome that hurdle.  Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-dunlap/ Connect with Marissa on LinkedIn--> h ..read more

The field of parks and recreation is very seasonal. But so are you!  In this episode, Becky talks about how to embrace the season of your career wherever you are.  Whether you've been feeling burnt out or in need of a change, hopefully you find a bit of peace in knowing that it's all a part of your rich and unique career experience. :) Join our weekly newsletter -->> https://letstalkparks.com/ Follow us on Instagram -->> https://www.instagram.com/lets_talk_parks/ Connect with Becky on LinkedIn --> https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-dunlap/ Connect with Marissa on LInke ..read more