The Weekly Parks and Rec Post

March 29, 2026

DPRS Media Network is the official media production arm of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, a storytelling-driven platform dedicated to elevating voices in the Parks & Recreation and Youth Sports communities. We create compelling content that educates, entertains, and empowers professionals, athletes, and local leaders alike.

Through our growing podcast network, livestream shows, community-based video series, and documentary-style storytelling, DPRS Media is redefining how impactful stories are told at the intersection of community, recreation, and youth development.

OUR MISSION

To provide high-quality media production that strengthens community impact, showcases leadership in parks and rec, and builds lasting partnerships with brands aligned with youth, health, education, and positive development.

NEW EPISODES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

How Military Experience Shaped a Parks & Rec Career

What does it take to lead in Parks & Recreation for over 30 years?

In this powerful Leadership Series episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, Ken Wilson shares his incredible journey, from the U.S. Army to cattle ranching in Montana, to becoming a Parks & Rec Director in Texas, and even leading a department in Alaska.

Ken dives into:

✔️ Building high-performing teams

✔️ Raising future leaders

✔️ Funding multi-million dollar parks projects

✔️ Managing explosive community growth

✔️ Lessons learned from saying “yes” too often

✔️ Creating work-life balance in Parks & Rec

How Young Leaders Are Bringing Innovation to Local Parks

What does it look like to build a career in Parks & Recreation without taking the traditional college route?

In this episode of the Young Professionals Network on The Daily Parks and Rec Show, hosts Aidyn and Michael sit down with Evy Brown from Louisiana to talk about leadership, networking, financial management, social media marketing, and breaking generational expectations.

From starting as a front desk receptionist to taking on financial responsibilities and running her park’s TikTok strategy, Evy shares how trust, work ethic, and perspective helped her grow fast in the industry.

The Leadership Playbook for Modern Parks & Rec Directors

What does it take to lead one of the most dynamic parks systems in the country?

In this episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, we sit down with Justin Cutler, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation for the City of Atlanta, for a powerful conversation on transformational leadership, emotional intelligence, financial accountability, and building authentic culture in public service.

From hiking trails in Washington State to leading major urban park systems, Justin shares how situational leadership, empathy, and consistent communication can transform organizations from the inside out.

How Parks & Recreation Is Powering the Future of STEM Education

What if your Parks & Recreation department could launch robotics teams, NASA programs, and STEM camps and grow from 8 programs to over 700 annual participants?

In this episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, we sit down with Kenny Michaels, Director of Parks & Recreation in Wallingford, CT, and Chris Stone, founder of Connecticut STEM Academy, to explore how a small-town partnership built a nationally recognized STEM program inside a community center.

The Hidden Role of Recreation in Military Services

In this powerful episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, host Craig LeBlanc sits down with Navy veteran, Georgia State Representative, and gubernatorial candidate Derrick Jackson to talk about:

✅ Why Parks & Rec is critical for mental health

✅ The military connection to recreation & quality of life

✅ Protecting green space from overdevelopment

✅ Funding parks as a priority for families

✅ The future of community wellness in America

YOUTH SPORTS MASTERY: ELEVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ATHLETES

Every Thursday, join us for a game-changing episode of Youth Sports Mastery, sponsored by the National Academy of Athletics and hosted by Aaron Locks, CEO of the National Academy of Athletics, to brings you expert insights, tips, and strategies to help shape the future of youth sports.

This Show is for Anyone Who Cares About Kids, Community, and the Power of Play

Whether you're a coach, parent, recreation professional, or youth sports enthusiast, Youth Sports Mastery offers practical insights, fresh ideas, and real stories that help you create fun, inclusive, and impactful sports programs. From coaching tips and parenting wisdom to managing in-house programs or outsourcing them, we dive into what really works to build healthy kids, strong communities, and a lifelong love of sports.

Tune in, get inspired, and help us keep the joy in youth sports alive!

Join Us Each Thursday:

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from the best in the business. Tune in every Thursday at 1:30 PM EST to Youth Sports Mastery and get the insights you need to help the next generation of athletes reach their full potential.

Aaron Locks (CEO of National Academy of Athletics)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 866-90-SPORT / 707-527-2071

Website: http://www.NAofAFranchise.com

Want to know more? Read the full article here: 👇🏻

Vendor Spotlight: Youth Sports Mastery

parks-and-rec-post-newsletter-b90b18.beehiiv.com/p/vendor-spotlight-overview-insights-and-opportunities

HER SPORTS: THE VOICE OF WOMEN’S SPORT IN SAN DIEGO

Her Sports is creating a space where anyone can follow the women’s game and celebrate its impact on our community. By connecting fans, athletes, and institutions, we’re building a city-wide network that champions women’s sports, strengthens visibility for female athletes, and ensures their stories are seen, heard, and celebrated. At Her Sports San Diego, we’re on a mission to elevate the voice of women’s sports in our city. National media coverage of women’s athletics remains shockingly low at less than 15% overall and under 8% for professional sports. The numbers don’t lie- women’s athletics are underrepresented. We aim to change that by providing accessible, high-quality coverage of San Diego’s professional and collegiate women athletes.

THE ATHLETE’S COMMUTE PODCAST

The Athlete’s Commute is a podcast from Her Sports that features candid conversations with guests on their way to training. Hosted by Jourdan Ziff, the show captures athletes and people contributing to the women’s sports movement in a relaxed, in between moment, creating space for authentic stories about their routines, careers, community ties, and life beyond the game.

Be Part of the Movement Elevating Women’s Sports

Join Her Sports San Diego as we amplify the voices, stories, and impact of women athletes across our city. Follow along, share the stories, and help us build a stronger, more visible future for women’s sports.

🔗 Explore Her Sports San Diego: https://hersportssd.substack.com/

HOW OUTDOORLINK HELPS PARKS DO MORE WITH LESS

Outdoorlink supports Parks & Recreation departments in managing today’s parks more efficiently by providing cellular-based remote device management technology. Designed for teams working with limited staff and tight budgets, the platform allows park professionals to monitor and control critical infrastructure without needing to be physically on site.

With real-time visibility over assets such as lighting, signage, gates, and other powered equipment, Outdoorlink helps reduce manual checks and speed up issue resolution. The result is more reliable daily operations, better use of existing resources, and greater confidence managing multiple facilities.

Why It Matters

Parks departments are being asked to manage more facilities, more technology, and more expectations with fewer resources. Outdoorlink helps meet that challenge by simplifying operations and reducing unnecessary site visits.

With Outdoorlink’s platform, park teams can:

Monitor lighting and powered assets in real time
Receive instant alerts when outages or issues occur
Remotely turn systems on or off and reboot equipment
Automate schedules based on local sunrise and sunset
Manage multiple parks and facilities from one centralized dashboard

By reducing after site visits and manual inspections, Outdoorlink helps departments save time, control operational costs, and improve overall system reliability.

Outdoorlink’s cellular-based technology also removes the need for complex network infrastructure, making it easier to deploy across both urban and rural parks. The result is a more efficient, scalable approach to park operations that supports sustainability goals and long-term asset performance.

Discover how Outdoorlink simplifies monitoring, automation, and asset management—without complex networks or added staffing.

Vendor Spotlight: Smart Parks Forward: Lighting the Way to Smarter, Safer, and More Efficient Parks

parks-and-rec-post-newsletter-b90b18.beehiiv.com/p/vendor-spotlight-how-outdoorlink-is-helping-parks-recreation-departments-work-smarter

ON THE FRONTLINE: SPOTLIGHTING THE VOICES OF MILITARY RECREATION PROFESSIONAL

On the Front Line – The Military Rec Show expands The Daily Parks and Rec Show’s reach as a powerful addition to the DPRS Media Network, shining a spotlight on military recreation professionals serving armed forces communities around the world. Airing every Tuesday at 1:30 PM EST, the show focuses on the individuals who support millions of service members and their families across the Department of Defense under uniquely demanding conditions.

At the helm of the show is host and content coordinator John Prue, whose nearly four decades of service in Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) with the United States Navy bring unparalleled depth and credibility to the podcast. John’s career includes leadership roles such as MWR Program Analyst for Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, where he evaluated program effectiveness across 23 installations in nine states, and Installation Program Director at Naval Station Great Lakes—home to the Navy’s only boot camp.

Beyond his operational leadership, John has been a longtime advocate and contributor within the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), serving the organization for more than 30 years through conference leadership, presentations, published articles, and board service. Today, as Founder and CEO of JDP Services – Management Consulting, he continues to support and guide Parks and Recreation professionals nationwide.

Want to know more? Read the full article here: 👇🏻

Vendor Spotlight: Voices of Military Recreation Professionals

parks-and-rec-post-newsletter-b90b18.beehiiv.com/p/vendor-spotlight-voices-of-military-recreation-professionals

🌊 Introducing “The Aquatics Life” with Wesley King

The Daily Parks and Rec Show has launched our newest series, “The Aquatics Life,” hosted by aquatics expert Wesley King and the first episode delivers a powerful look into the role of aquatics in our communities.

With nearly three decades of experience, Wesley brings insight into how aquatics goes far beyond lifeguards and swim lessons. From instructors and coaches to facility leaders, aquatic professionals play a critical role in safety, health, and community engagement.

💡 More Than Just Swim Lessons

Aquatic programming is evolving. Facilities today can offer:

Water fitness and wellness programs
Adaptive and therapeutic activities
Intro-level sports and creative experiences

What stands out immediately in this episode is how Wesley redefines the term aquatic professional. It’s not just about lifeguards. It includes anyone responsible for people in and around water—from swim instructors and coaches to facility operators and program leaders. This broader perspective highlights just how vital aquatics is within parks and recreation.

The conversation also challenges the traditional view of aquatic programming. While swim lessons remain important, they are only one piece of the puzzle. Aquatic centers today can offer a wide range of experiences—from water fitness and wellness programs to recreational sports and even therapeutic or meditative activities. The key idea is simple but powerful: if something works on land, it can often be adapted for water.

At the same time, the episode doesn’t ignore the challenges facing the industry. Wesley points to a growing disconnect between families and swimming, increased competition from private providers, and messaging that can unintentionally limit participation. In some communities, a large portion of people may not feel comfortable around water at all. Because of this, he encourages agencies to shift their approach—focusing first on creating welcoming, enjoyable experiences rather than leading solely with swim instruction.

More importantly, the episode reframes aquatics as more than just a facility—it’s a driver of real community impact. From drowning prevention to youth development and inclusive access, aquatic programs play a critical role in building safer and stronger communities. Wesley emphasizes the importance of telling that story clearly and proving the value these programs bring to everyday lives.

As the series moves forward, “The Aquatics Life” will dive deeper into topics like revenue strategies, workforce development, and operational best practices, while also highlighting the voices of professionals across the field.

This first episode sets the foundation for something bigger. It’s not just about aquatics—it’s about the people behind it, the communities it serves, and the impact it creates every day.

📅 Catch new episodes every Friday at 1:30 PM EST on The Daily Parks and Rec Show

UPCOMING SHOWS SCHEDULE

OUR HOSTS

EDITOR’S PAGE

FEATURE WRAP UP

Thank you for reading!

Thanks for reading this week’s edition of The Weekly Parks and Rec Post! Here’s what’s new across The Daily Parks and Rec Show:

📣 Want to be part of the story?

Share how your favorite park has shaped your life or neighborhood. Your story might be featured in an upcoming edition of The Weekly Parks and Rec Post!

📺 Catch All New Episodes:

Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of The Daily Parks & Rec Show on our YouTube Channel for exciting updates and insights!

🔗 https://youtube.com/@thedailyparksrec-q8l?si=48OpUSw63to_pZKw

🤝 Want to Co-Create a Show with Us?

If you're a vendor or agency with deep expertise in a particular Parks and Rec field, DPRS wants to hear from you. Co-producing a show can elevate your visibility and serve the greater mission of educating and inspiring parks professionals across the country.

🔗 Get in touch with us via LinkedIn to explore collaboration ⬇️ www.linkedin.com/company/the-daily-parks-and-rec-show