Advocates of parks and recreation must face the challenge of seeing beyond traditional boundaries, embracing new alliances, and translating hopes into actions. Vision, strategy, and grassroots strength and strong leadership skills are critical to the future of parks and recreation. (CJ)

This article considers the concept of accreditation as a proper method of evaluating public park and recreation systems. Arguments for accreditation are presented, and the system used to evaluate college park and recreation curricula and administration is described. (MT)

The 1984 SPRE curriculum study was part of an ongoing process to monitor park, recreation, and leisure studies programs in higher education. This article concentrates on findings about enrollment and graduation levels and on student composition. (CB)

This document describes the citizen survey process as it relates to study of the parks and recreation field. A community parks and recreation survey consists of identifying the interests, desires, priorities and awareness factors of citizens regarding parks and recreation programs, resources, and facilities as well as the nature and frequency of…

The authors argue that it is time to place park and recreation professionals in K-12 schools on a permanent basis. Their proposal is based on the following observations: (1) school facilities are grossly underutilized; (2) the majority of a child's life takes place outside the classroom; (3) park and recreation programs are effective…

Explored men's and women's perceptions of workplace equity in public parks and recreation. Surveys of American Parks and Recreation Society members highlighted significant differences between men and women in their perceptions of equity and in levels of organizational citizenship. Perceptions of inequity appeared to be precursors to lower levels…

In this commentary the authors share their experiences on the design and implementation of community-centered early intervention programs in Prince George's County, MD. Their aim in designing community-centered programs was to provide infants and toddlers opportunities for learning, language, and motor development in natural environments with…

The greatest obstacle facing the park, recreation, and conservation movement today and in the future is adequate financing. Competition for both tax dollars and contribution dollars is so intense that park and recreation agencies must develop more effective finance programs and requirements attuned to total community needs. Although the need to…

This directory provides a guide to higher education institutions offering park and/or recreation classes and programs. The first section presents institutions, by state, with mailing addresses, department identification and chairs, telephone numbers, enrollment (1982-83 academic year), and available course options. Section 2 presents a listing of…

After-school programs (ASP) are a long-standing activity historically facilitated by organizations such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, social service/community centers and, in the past decade, an increasing number of municipal park districts. Staffing usually consist of recreation professionals, social and youth workers, and volunteers. In…

Information in this booklet was obtained from a survey questionnaire completed by individual municipal parks and recreation agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. An overview is presented of parks and recreation agencies in the state with respect to such issues as budget strategies, personnel, use of volunteers, salaries, citizen…

The present connection between parks and recreation education and leisure studies inhibits the training of practitioners for leisure delivery systems as well as the accumulation of knowledge about leisure behavior. Therefore, leisure studies should not be housed with college level programs in parks and recreation education. (Author/MT)

The park and recreation profession can make a major contribution to the improvement and maintenance of the physical and mental health of community members through a training program for cardiac wellness. The Cardiac Wellness Training Project, designed to help park and recreation professionals develop cardiac prevention and rehabilitation programs,…

This report is part of an annual national survey that examines salaries of full-time teaching faculty in 54 selected academic disciplines. Data for the study were collected from a total of 296 public and 390 private four-year institutions from the baseline year of 1996-97 to the trend year of 1999-2000. A data table lists average salaries for both…

Previews the new thrust in funding of park and recreation by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development." The article should aid park and recreation departments seeking opportunities to expand programs and facilities. (AN)