Building awareness of your park and recreation offerings is key to getting more residents to use them, says a report commissioned by the National Recreation and Park Association. The report offers guidance on how to develop a long-term strategic marketing plan that includes specific segments, channel-specific communication skills and measurements of success, writes NRPA's Kevin Roth.

A May 25 opening day has been set for an improved children's pool and water play area at The Waterpark at the Monon Community Center in Carmel, Ind. The upgrades include interactive water elements, spray features and a slide.

The 21st annual Susquehanna Valley Middle School Envirothon, held at a nature reserve in Washingtonville, Pa., brought together students from 10 area middle schools to explore subjects including wildlife, forestry and soil. At one station, students learned about the process of creating maple syrup all the way from tapping trees to tasting the finished product.

Park and recreation officials and community-group leaders discussed open-space issues in Norwalk, Conn., at a forum this week. Projects discussed included a bee and bird habitat corridor, expansion of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, and a possible land swap that would increase park space near the community college.

Foothills prairie grass and wildflowers are being planted in Founders Park in Rapid City, S.D., to help reduce stormwater runoff and attract pollinators. The plantings could also reduce mowing frequency.

Parks and recreation agencies need to regularly assess their compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, writes WT Group Accessibility Practice's John McGovern. He discusses trends affecting recreation programs, existing facilities and what attracts regulatory attention.

A large number of reported animal care violations at the SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium in Littleton, Colorado, has resulted in a two-year suspension of their license by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The facility will remain open and will bring in animals that are not regulated by the CPW, a spokeswoman for the aquarium said.

Influencing others starts with small steps such as listening to people's concerns, speaking simply and asking open-ended questions, writes LaRae Quy. "Go one step further -- make people feel empowered," Quy writes.

Each year, we widen the focus of the education sessions at the NRPA Annual Conference to try to meet the needs of all professions that are in the business of making communities great. This year's conference will include 200+ inspirational sessions presented by the top speakers both inside and outside the industry. To help you plan your trip, we've put together a sampling of some of the top sessions from each of our 12 education tracks. The complete education session schedule will be available online later this month. See the session highlights.