Environmental Sustainability Training Center

Welcome to the Environmental Sustainability Training Center. This 101-level learning journey is designed to aide park and recreation professionals in implementing practical sustainability practices across ten key categories identified in NRPA’s Sustainability Assessment: leadership, sustainable communities, water, land, energy, agency operations, waste and recycling, climate, economic development, and transportation and access. Through this pathway, you’ll gain resources that help equip your agency with the necessary knowledge to begin creating a culture of sustainability within your agency that ultimately help create more resilient communities. 

Section Breakdown: 

1. Leadership: The purpose of this learning track is to help park agencies begin to build the capacity to implement sustainability in their internal culture, operations and values.

2. Sustainable Communities: The purpose of this learning track is to provide community-driven solutions to park agencies through strategic community engagement, partnerships, and environmental education.  

3. Water: The purpose of this learning track is to provide park agencies with tools to help improve water conservation and begin implementing green stormwater infrastructure. 

4. Land: The purpose of this learning track is to provide is to equip park agencies with nature-based solutions in land management and enhance the resilience of natural areas.

5. Energy: The purpose of this learning track is to provide park agencies with tools and strategies to reduce energy consumption in a way that reduces costs and supports climate solutions.

6. Agency Operations:  The purpose of this learning track is to provide park agencies tools and resources to implement sustainable practices in their daily operations.

7. Waste and Recycling: The purpose of this learning track is to equip park agencies with strategies to enhance waste management practices both in their internal operations and in the communities they serve.

8. Climate: The purpose of this learning track is to offer park agencies actionable resources to integrate climate solutions in daily operations, fostering more sustainable and resilient practices.

Key:

Complete
Failed
Available
Locked
Leadership
Glossary of Key Terms in Sustainability
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Document that highlights common terms and their definitions regarding sustainability.
You must register to access.
Who to include in Sustainability Planning
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Document to help understand various stakeholders to involve in sustainability planning.
You must register to access.
Guardians of Greenspace Ep. 1: Staff Engagement
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Select the "Click Here to View Podcast" button to begin. In this podcast episode, you’ll hear San Antonio River Authority staff, Peter Pierson, Tommy Mitchell and Brian Laechelin, discuss how leadership at the River Authority has prioritized training, educating and celebrating staff — and seen amazing results.
You must register to access.
Agency Culture
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Document that includes information and resources on how to create a culture of sustainability within your agency.
You must register to access.
Choosing The Right Sustainability Practices
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Document providing information and resources on how to choose the right sustainability practices for your agency.
You must register to access.
Sustainable Communities
Empowering Community Voice Through Equitable Engagement
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin.
You must register to access.
Fish, Feathers, and Hooves: Wildlife as a Catalyst for Community Engagement
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. In this webinar, Denver Parks and Recreation describes how they use wildlife as a tool for community connection, education, and reconciliation.
You must register to access.
The Importance of Community-Based Organizations in Parks and Recreation
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Select the "Click Here to View Article" button to begin. This article highlights some ways that CBOs positively benefit communities through their involvement in parks and recreation.
You must register to access.
Environmental Education
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document provides information and resources on educating community on environmental sustainability.
You must register to access.
The Resilience of New Orleans Leading to Workforce Development
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Select the "Click Here to View Blog" button to begin. This blog details how New Orleans' stormwater management project lead to green jobs for the community.
You must register to access.
Water
Guardians of Greenspace Podcast Episode 4: Smart Irrigation in Denver
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Select the "Click Here to View Podcast" button to begin. In this podcast episode, Lynn Fulton and Michael Sabin explore how smart irrigation supports maintenance staff in implementing water conservation in Denver.
You must register to access.
City of New Orleans' Stormwater Resilience Plan for Parks and Playgrounds
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. In this webinar, learn about the City of New Orleans' stormwater resilience plan for park and playground and how it helps create equitable and resilient communities with Larry Barabino, Jr., CEO of New Orleans Recreation Department Commission.
You must register to access.
Water Quality
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document provides information and resources on protecting the quality of existing freshwater sources and reduce water consumption.
You must register to access.
Green Infrastructure
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document provides information and resources on how to implement green infrastructure in park systems.
You must register to access.
Land
Preserving Natural Areas
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This webinar is a panel discussion including City of Houston and City of Redmond P&R Departments on best practices in regard to preserving natural areas.
You must register to access.
Naturalization
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document provides information and resources on restoring natural habitats and communicating changes to the community.
You must register to access.
Guardians of Greenspace Episode 2: Native Planting in Snohomish County
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Select the "Click Here to View Podcast" button to begin. This podcast episode discusses the impact of native plants on water-cost savings, looking to climate adaptation for the future, addressing community engagement around native plant palettes and more.
You must register to access.
Nature-Based Solutions for Environmental Resilience Programs
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document is a guide that include case studies for implementing nature-based solutions in parks.
You must register to access.
Turf Talk: Best Practices In Turf Management
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This webinar is about how Denver Parks and Rec sets expectations, meets standards, and manages priorities set forth by the organization as it relates to turf management.
You must register to access.
Energy
Adopting Greener Equipment and Transportation
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. Webinar on Bend Parks and Rec journey in electrifying their fleet and equipment.
You must register to access.
Equipment and Fleet
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Information and resources on how to transition to more energy efficient equipment and fleet.
You must register to access.
Energy Audits
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. Information and resources on the benefits of conducting energy audits.
You must register to access.
Portland Parks & Recreation’s Sustainable Park Pathway Lighting Efforts
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Select the "Click Here to View Article" button to begin. Article on how Portland (Oregon) Parks & Recreation's recently completed landmark energy efficiency project improves lighting at many sites while lowering the agency’s costs and maintenance needs.
You must register to access.
Agency Operations
What Sustainability Looks Like In Suburban Parks
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This webinar discusses how Park District of Oak Park, Illinois implements and educates the community on sustainability elements in parks.
You must register to access.
How to Create a Culture of Sustainability at Your Agency
Recorded 06/11/2025
Recorded 06/11/2025 In this blog Chris Lindgren of Oak Park, Illinois discusses what it means to build a culture of sustainability within your agency.
You must register to access.
Sustainability in Recreation and Parks: Building a Better Future
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Select the "Click Here to View Article" button to begin. This article by David M. Pearlman discusses what it means to integrate sustainability into parks and recreational spaces.
You must register to access.
Agency Culture
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource.
You must register to access.
Sustainability Plans in Action
Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin.
Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This webinar with Five Rivers MetroParks in Ohio and The Maintenance Institute discuss best practices for implementing sustainability goals.
You must register to access.
Waste and Recycling
Improving Waste Management Practices
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This webinar discusses strategies for how FiveRivers Metro of Dayton, Ohio improved waste management practices within their agency.
You must register to access.
Composting for Waste-Free Programs and Events
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This article written by Tim Pritchard is about Dayton, Ohio’s journey of adopting a Waste Management Policy that specifies agency-produced programs, meetings and events be conducted waste free.
You must register to access.
Reducing Waste and Recycling
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document includes information and resources for agencies to advance efforts in reducing waste and recycling.
You must register to access.
Recycling in Philadelphia: A Green Journey
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Select the "Click Here to View Blog" button to begin. This blog discusses NRPA's site visit to Philadelphia to gain a better understanding of recycling in a parks and recreation context.
You must register to access.
Through Urban Spaces
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Select the "Click Here to View Blog" button to begin.
You must register to access.
Climate
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Urban Park Landscapes
Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin.
Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. Webinar on how Seattle Parks and Rec maintenance staff evolve cultural ideas of what parks should look like to enrich ecological value and resilience.
You must register to access.
Air Quality
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document provides information and resources on what park agencies can do to improve air quality.
You must register to access.
Climate.Park.Change.
Select the "Click Here to View Toolkit" button to begin.
Select the "Click Here to View Toolkit" button to begin. A web-based platform that compiles data on how climate change affects park and recreation spaces and suggests physical design solutions that address climate impacts as well as other community challenges.
You must register to access.
Economic Development
Making The Case To Invest in Sustainability
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document contains information to help park agencies make a case to leadership to invest in sustainability.
You must register to access.
Triple Bottom Line
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document includes information on how parks can implement practices that address people, the planet, and profit.
You must register to access.
The Resilience of New Orleans Leading to Workforce Development
Select the "Click Here to View Blog" button to begin.
Select the "Click Here to View Blog" button to begin. This blog details how New Orleans' stormwater management project lead to green jobs for the community.
You must register to access.
Using Evaluation Findings
Open to download resource.
Open to download resource. This document talks about how to Use evaluation findings to support grant-writing, advocating for funding, and establishing partnerships.
You must register to access.
Transportation and Access
Trails as Transportation Corridors
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Select the "View On-Demand Recording" button to begin. This webinar presented by the City of Raleigh, North Carolina details how updating the Capital Area Greenway System Master Plan lead to the greenway system being more accessible for transportation purposes.
You must register to access.
Park Access: More Than Just Proximity
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Select the "Click Here to View Blog" button to begin. Blog written by Clement Lau on factors to consider when improving park access.
You must register to access.
Ensuring Equitable Trail Access
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Select the "Click Here to View Article" button to begin. In this article Tish Scolnik and April Wolfe discuss their approach to ensuring equitable trail access.
You must register to access.