Reflecting on Earth Month: A Look Back at Sustainability and Climate-Focused Episodes — Episode 133

April is Earth Month, and all month long, NRPA is celebrating the
ways that parks and recreation is a climate hero. I encourage you
to check out some of the top ways that park and recreation
professionals are creating healthier, more sustainable
communities and tackling the world’s toughest climate issues.


On today’s episode, we take a look back at a few episodes from
the past year, in which my guests talked about climate solutions,
sustainability, and all things protecting and preserving nature
and the spaces that do so much for us.


Tune in to the full episode below to hear clips from these
previous episodes (and I encourage you to listen to each full
episode, as well):


On one of our most recent episodes, episode 131, I spoke with
Norma Edith García-Gonzalez, director of Los Angeles County Parks
and Recreation, to discuss how she's leading with equity, as well
as L.A. County's recently adopted 30x30 plan to address climate
change and conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by
2030

On episode 124, I was joined by staff from City of Detroit
Parks and Recreation: Jac Kyle, a manager I for nature
programming, and Rachel Felder, a naturalist, to learn more how
partnerships are helping advance their work, fight environmental
injustices, and create a new generation of environmental stewards
in Detroit.

On episode 122, I was joined by Maneula Barón, a
Colombian-American sustainability activist, artist and founder of
The Girl Gone Green, an inclusive community that fosters social
and environmental change and encourages people to live more
consciously. We discussed where to start with your own
environmental programming at your agency, as well as how to
effectively communicate environmental issues through the lens of
others.

On episode 112, I was joined by Jad Daley, CEO of American
Forests, to discuss how trees play a critical role in building
environmental resilience, cooling our neighborhoods, and
improving the health of our communities. We discuss why trees in
urban areas are so important and the various roles that trees
play when it comes to our health, in terms of reducing heat,
filtering air pollution and more.

And finally, we take it all the way back the 2022 April bonus
episode, when I talked with my colleague, Ayanna Williams, NRPA’s
director of community and environmental resilience, about all
things Earth Day. We discussed ways park and recreation
professionals are building more resilient communities, ways to
ensure decision-makers prioritize environmental justice beyond
Earth Month or Earth Day, and more.



 


Related Links:


NRPA Earth Month

Five Ways Parks and Recreation Is a Climate Hero



 


This episode is sponsored by Merrell’s "Good things come to
those who hike" campaign. The real magic of hiking is about the
moments that happen along the way. Each hike, another discovery.
Another moment that we can share, remember and relive as we move
through our lives. Those are the good things that come to those
who hike. Visit www.Merrell.com and start discovering
your #goodthings when hiking.