The American Red Cross has launched its freshly updated lifeguarding program, backed by science and including new virtual reality capabilities. 

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has received funding to support its Healthy Aging in Parks initiative, grounded in research. With support from RRF Foundation for Aging, NRPA is tapping into the power of parks and recreation to support aging in place, foster social connection and combat the epidemic of loneliness and isolation among older adults.

While states like Colorado and Utah might be the most likely places you think of when you think about mountain biking trails, the truth is that mountain biking can happen anywhere. And the International Mountain Bicycling Association is encouraging community leaders and stakeholders in every part of the country to develop close-to-home trails so everyone can have access. 

While research shows that children and teens can gain many physical and mental health benefits by participating in sports, research shows that about 70% drop out of these organized activities by the time they are 13 years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling attention to the potential causes of these sport drop-out rates in its report "Overuse Injuries, Overtraining and Burnout in Young Athletes."

Launched in 2020, the next round of USA Swimming Community Impact Grants is now open. Supported by the USA Swimming Foundation, these grants are awarded to clubs nationwide to increase programming for underserved communities, support diverse coaches and create additional competitive opportunities in the U.S.

The nation's local parks have a vast economic impact, according to a new report from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The Economic Impact of Local Parks report states that the shared impact of operations and capital spending by U.S. local park and recreation agencies in 2021 resulted in nearly $201 billion in economic activity and $196.8 billion in added gross domestic product (GDP). They also supported more than 1.1 million jobs that paid salaries, wages and benefits totaling $63 billion.

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association's (SFIA) examination of 2022 participation and market trends revealed that the total number of participants in team sports in the United States was 70.8 million in 2022, the same amount as in 2019, reflecting the highest annual participation in team sports in the past 10 years. This comeback is measured against the 2020 team sport participation figure of 67 million, driven by the closure of facilities and the shutdown of leagues and teams.

From tennis courts and pickleball facilities to sports fields and running tracks, the American Sports Builders Association is recognizing the best of the best, and has announced the winners of its annual awards. Awards are presented each year to facilities built by ASBA members, which best exemplify construction excellence. 

ORR's new ranking of state outdoor recreation economies, based on new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, identifies the top states in terms of overall size, top year-over-year growth, top growth since before the pandemic, and contribution to state GDP.

A new resource from the National Recreation & Park Association (NRPA) will provide park and recreation professionals and advocates with a simple method for communicating the economic benefits that come from improving park access equity and the associated improved health outcomes.