The Weekly Parks and Rec Post

NEW EPISODES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

From Social Anxiety to Session DJ: Michael’s Inspiring Parks & Rec Story

In this episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, Veronica sits down with Michael from Clayton County Parks & Recreation, and trust us, this interview is full of energy, heart, and one unforgettable DJ story!

Whether you're a Parks & Rec professional, a student considering the field, or someone who loves community impact, this conversation will leave you inspired.

What It's Really Like Working in Parks & Recreation

Why do people choose a career in Parks & Recreation, and stay for decades? 🌳

In this episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, we’re coming to you from the GRPA Conference with leaders from the City of Alpharetta. Veronica sits down with Christine Young, Recreation Services Manager, and Angel Cornista, Facility Coordinator, to talk about career journeys, servant leadership, mentorship, community impact, and why Parks & Rec truly feels like family.

Why Cutting Parks & Rec Budgets Hurts Communities

Is Parks & Recreation really an essential service?

In this powerful episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, host Craig LeBlanc sits down with Dadrian Cosby, incoming GRPA President and Director of Bulloch County Recreation & Parks, live from the GRPA Annual Conference at Jekyll Island.

Dadrian shares his inspiring journey from youth sports and coaching to leading one of Georgia’s most impactful recreation departments. He speaks candidly about leadership, community impact, fighting budget cuts, and why Parks & Rec professionals are essential 365 days a year.

The Hidden Challenges Behind Youth Sports Programs

In this episode of The Daily Parks & Rec Show, host Craig LeBlanc sits down with KP (Kevin Patterson) from Henry County, Georgia Parks & Recreation, live from the 2025 GRPA Annual Conference at Jekyll Island.

KP shares real-world insights on:

✔️ The most commonly broken rules in youth athletics

✔️ How illegal equipment, rosters, and uniforms impact fairness and safety

✔️ Managing parent and coach conflicts before they escalate

✔️ What makes a great sports parent

✔️ Why Parks & Recreation is more than a job—it’s a lifelong calling

This Is Why Parks & Rec Professionals Do What They Do

What makes a career in Parks and Recreation more than just a job? 🌳

In this episode of The Daily Parks and Rec Show, we’re live from Day 3 of the GRPA Conference 2025, joined by Jessica, Dave, and host Veronica as they share powerful career journeys, meaningful community programs, and why Parks & Rec truly is a calling.

From managing recreation centers and aquatic facilities to teaching kids how to fish and mentoring the next generation of professionals, this episode highlights the real-life impact Parks & Rec professionals make every single day.

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 two powerhouses in the industry: Aaron Locks, CEO of the National Academy of Athletics, and Craig LeBlanc, founder of The Daily Parks and Rec Show. This dynamic duo 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

What You Can Expect:

Each week, Aaron and Craig dive into the essential topics that every youth sports coach, athlete, and parent needs to know to succeed in the world of youth athletics. Whether you're looking to improve your coaching skills, enhance an athlete’s performance, or learn about the latest trends in youth sports, Youth Sports Mastery is your go-to resource.

Key Topics:

• Building Strong Athletic Foundations: Aaron and Craig discuss how to lay the groundwork for athletes at all levels, from youth beginners to aspiring professionals. They'll focus on physical conditioning, mental toughness, and the importance of fostering a love for the game.

• Coaching Strategies for Success: Coaches, this segment is for you! Get practical advice on developing effective practice plans, creating a positive team culture, and motivating young athletes to perform at their best while maintaining fun and enjoyment.

• Parent and Athlete Relationships: Youth sports are not just about the athletes—they're about the families supporting them. Aaron and Craig share ways parents can foster growth, confidence, and resilience in their young athletes while ensuring the experience remains positive and fulfilling.

• Tackling the Mental Game: One of the most critical aspects of youth sports is the mental side. Aaron and Craig delve into how athletes can develop focus, discipline, and a winning mindset, teaching young athletes how to push through challenges and stay mentally strong on and off the field.

• Injury Prevention and Recovery: Keeping athletes healthy is paramount. Learn from the experts on how to minimize the risk of injury through proper training techniques, recovery strategies, and maintaining peak physical condition.

Our Guest

Each week, we’re joined by an incredible lineup of guests, ranging from:

• Sports Coaches

• Professional Athletes

• Youth Sports Program Managers

• Parks & Rec Leaders

• Sports Officials

Why You Should Tune In:

• Expert Insights from Industry Leaders: With years of experience in both coaching and sports management, Aaron and Craig provide a wealth of knowledge on building athletic talent and achieving success in youth sports.

• Practical, Actionable Tips: Whether you're a coach or a parent, every episode is filled with strategies you can implement immediately to make a difference in your athlete’s performance and development.

A Community of Support: This show is not just for listeners; it’s a platform for like-minded individuals to connect and share ideas, challenges, and successes. Through this community, we aim to create a supportive environment where youth athletes and those guiding them can thrive.

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.

For Franchise 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

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

Managing today’s parks means balancing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, often with limited staff and tight budgets. That’s where Outdoorlink comes in.

Outdoorlink provides cellular-based remote device management technology designed to help Parks & Recreation departments monitor and control critical infrastructure without being physically on site. From lighting and signage to gates and other powered assets, Outdoorlink gives park teams real-time visibility and control, helping them operate smarter while making the most of existing resources.

For Parks & Rec professionals, this means fewer manual checks, faster issue resolution, and greater confidence in daily operations across 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.

🔗 See How Outdoorlink Works: https://outdoorlink.com/

MORALE, WELFARE, AND RECREATION (MWR): ENHANCING MILITARY COMMUNITY LIFE

The U.S. Department of War (DoW) operates an essential network of support programs collectively known as Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR). Encompassing more than 5,000 individual programs, MWR serves to enhance the quality of life for U.S. military communities worldwide. These offerings are not just amenities but play a crucial role in building resilience among service members and their families. By fostering personal well being, MWR directly contributes to overall mission readiness.

With a workforce of over 65,000 MWR civilian employees, there is a wealth of career opportunities at U.S. military locations globally. Notably, MWR also includes programs for the U.S. Coast Guard, which, while part of the Department of Homeland Security, is woven into the broader MWR armed forces recreation network.

What is MWR? 

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs are comprised of activities, programs, and services located on military installations or property. Their primary objectives are to provide mission sustainment, support the military community, and generate revenue for authorized personnel. These programs promote active living and significantly improve the quality of life for service members, their families, and other eligible individuals.

MWR is a fundamental component of the military’s non-pay compensation system and is regarded as a valued part of the overall military benefits package. The organizational entities that oversee MWR manage non-appropriated funds (NAF), which are generated mainly through user fees and sales from MWR, Exchange, and Commissary operations rather than direct congressional appropriations. While NAFs are a primary source of

funding for many activities, Appropriated Funds (APF) from taxpayer dollars also provide substantial support for programs deemed essential to the military mission.

Core Mission of MWR

The central mission of MWR programs is to maintain the readiness of individuals, families, and the broader mission, both during peacetime and throughout declared wars or other contingencies. MWR serves the diverse needs, interests, and responsibilities of the entire military community including all service members, their families, civilian employees, retirees, and other eligible participants no matter where they are stationed. The overarching goal is to deliver high-quality, customer-focused programs and services that directly contribute to resilience, retention, readiness, and overall quality of life.

On the Front Line: Spotlighting the Voices of Military Recreation Professionals

The Daily Parks and Rec Show continue to expand its reach with On the Front Line – The Military Rec Show, a powerful addition to the DPRS Media Network that shines a spotlight on the dedicated professionals serving military communities around the world.

Airing every Tuesday at 1:30 PM EST, On the Front Line is uniquely focused on armed forces and military recreation professionals—individuals who support more than six million eligible service members and families across the Department of Defense. These professionals operate under extraordinary circumstances, often balancing mission readiness, community wellness, and recreation programming in environments unlike any other in the Parks & Recreation field.

What sets On the Front Line apart is its dual focus. Each episode explores relevant industry topics, programs, and best practices while also diving deep into the personal experiences of its guests. These candid conversations bring forward the real stories, challenges, and insights of military recreation professionals, turning lived experience into meaningful education for listeners across the Parks & Recreation profession.

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.

On the Front Line offers listeners a rare opportunity to hear directly from those working at the intersection of recreation, service, and community support within the military system. By amplifying these voices, the show not only educates but also honors the professionals whose work strengthens quality of life for service members and their families—often far from home.

For Parks & Recreation professionals seeking insight, inspiration, and perspective from one of the most specialized sectors of the field, On the Front Line – The Military Rec Show is essential listening.

The Breakfast Club: Where Our Day and Our Bond Begins

By Jamey Dixon, Henry County Parks and Recreation

At Henry County Parks and Recreation, our workdays don’t begin with emails, task lists, or calendars. They begin with the Breakfast Club.

The Breakfast Club is our daily motivation session, a standing, unofficial, absolutely essential gathering that sets the tone for everything that follows. Before we head out to serve our community, we come together to eat breakfast, talk things through, and prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for the day ahead. It’s equal parts planning meeting, support group, comedy hour, and team-building exercise.

Every morning, we tackle the world’s problems. By “the world’s problems,” I mean everything from staffing challenges and weather forecasts to broken equipment and the occasional existential crisis, all handled with a healthy dose of sarcasm. We know we’re not actually solving global issues, but laughing about them helps us keep perspective and start the day grounded.

Beyond the humor, the Breakfast Club serves a very real purpose. It’s where we talk through what the day will look like, what needs to be accomplished, and how we can support one another to make it happen. Instead of working in silos, we align ourselves as a team. Everyone knows the goals, the challenges, and where help may be needed.

One of the most important roles of the Breakfast Club is encouragement. Not every team member walks in feeling confident. Some are facing major professional or personal challenges. Breakfast Club gives us a space to acknowledge those moments, lift each other up, and remind one another that no one is facing anything alone. Sometimes a few words of support or a well-timed joke can make all the difference.

Speaking of jokes, humor is the heartbeat of the Breakfast Club. We tell stories. We relive past mishaps. We poke fun at each other relentlessly. No one is safe, especially Thomas. If there’s an opportunity to make fun of Thomas, it will be taken swiftly and without remorse. Thankfully, he’s a good sport, and the laughter that comes from those moments is part of what keeps our environment light and healthy.

Those morning antics do more than entertain us; they bring us closer together. Over time, we’ve forged a bond that goes far beyond being coworkers. We spend countless hours together, often in high-pressure situations, serving the residents of Henry County. Inevitably, that means we’ll annoy each other at some point. The Breakfast Club gives us a way to address small frustrations, clear the air, and keep issues from growing into something bigger than they need to be.

In many ways, the Breakfast Club is our daily team-building exercise. It blends professional planning with personal connection. We talk about work, but we also talk about life. That balance builds trust, strengthens communication, and creates unity. Because of that, no single person is working alone to deliver services. Instead, we operate as a connected group of people working together toward a common goal.

The Breakfast Club isn’t just a social gathering. It isn’t just a meeting. It’s the birthplace of a force of nature, a team that is motivated, connected, and ready to serve. Because of that, the residents of Henry County receive the very best version of us every single day.

OUR HOSTS

UPCOMING SHOWS SCHEDULE

EDITOR’S PAGE

FEATURE WRAP UP 

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:

🎙️ Special Guest

We've lined up some incredible guests in these episodes. Don’t miss out on their inspiring stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes perspectives!

🍩 The Breakfast Club: Where Our Day and Our Bond Begins

In this week’s feature, Jamey Dixon of Henry County Parks and Recreation offers a candid and refreshing look into how strong workplace culture is built long before the first task of the day begins.

Through The Breakfast Club, Dixon illustrates how a simple daily ritual—sharing a meal, a laugh, and open conversation; can transform a team’s mindset, communication, and cohesion. More than an informal meeting, the Breakfast Club functions as a space for alignment, encouragement, and trust-building, allowing team members to face daily challenges with clarity and confidence.

What stands out most is the intentional balance between humor and purpose. By addressing both professional priorities and personal well-being, the team creates an environment where challenges are met collectively rather than individually. The result is a connected, resilient group that shows up each day ready to serve the Henry County community at their best.

Jamey’s reflection is a powerful reminder for Parks & Recreation professionals everywhere: strong teams aren’t built by schedules and checklists alone, but by shared moments that foster trust, accountability, and genuine human connection.

📣 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!

🤝 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