Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, Becky Dunlap hosts Shane Mize, Parks and Recreation Director in Pflugerville, Texas. Nikki Ginger and Jason Genck join the conversation to discuss Shane’s leadership approach and innovation in parks and recreation.

Let's Talk Park with BerryDunn

Pflugerville Wants to Be the Best: Innovation in Parks and Recreation

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, we’re talking about recruitment and retainment in a very challenging environment. Host Becky Dunlap welcomes BerryDunn colleagues, Barbara Heller and Nikki Ginger, and members of the parks and rec team from Loudon County, Virginia, Nicole Falceto and Fernando Avellanet. They discuss effective hiring and retainment strategies and supporting a strong culture to enhance efforts.

Recruiting and Retaining All-Star Employees

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to create more inclusive public spaces. Host Becky Dunlap welcomes Lane Gram, a Manager for the Parks and Recreation team in Gilbert, Arizona. Lane provides insights on Gilbert’s efforts to improve inclusivity and the implementation of changes to make spaces more inclusive. Meredith Tekin, President of the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, joins the conversation to provide perspective on the optimization of spaces for people with sensory needs and autism.

The Future of Parks and Recreation: Creating Inclusive Spaces

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, we’re talking all things AI. Host Becky Dunlap welcomes Ryan Hegreness, an experienced parks and recreation professional and the current Deputy Director of Business Services at South Suburban Parks and recreation. They discuss AI both in broad terms and in the parks and recreation setting, how parks and recreation agencies can utilize it now, and potential uses for AI in the future.

Practical Uses for AI in Parks and Recreation

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks, recreation, and libraries.

 In this episode, host Becky Dunlap discusses the differences between strategic planning and master planning. She is joined by BerryDunn colleague Barbara Heller to discuss the necessity of these plans and implementation best practices.

The Differences Between Strategic Planning and Master Planning

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks, recreation, and libraries.

In this episode, host Becky Dunlap discusses strategic planning. She is joined by Ally Bujacich, Executive Director of PenMet Parks in Gig Harbor, Washington, and BerryDunn colleague Barbara Heller. They discuss the ins and outs of the strategic plan process and their necessity.

The Ins and Outs of Strategic Planning

The Ins And Outs Of Strategic Planning

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks, recreation, and libraries. 
 
In this episode, host Becky Dunlap continues her discussion with Ally Bujacich, Executive Director of PenMet Parks in Gig Harbor, Washington. The topic? The importance of reviewing and including strong mission and vision statements as part of the strategic planning process.

Reimagining Visions and Missions During Strategic Planning

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks, recreation, and libraries. 
 
In this episode, host Becky Dunlap continues her discussion with Ally Bujacich, Executive Director of PenMet Parks in Gig Harbor, Washington. They discuss the importance of identifying, developing, and operationalizing your values as an integral part of strategic planning.

The Value of Values in Strategic Planning

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation. 
 
In this episode, host Becky Dunlap continues her conversation with Ally Bujacich, Executive Director of PenMet Parks in Gig Harbor, Washington, about strategic planning. The topic? Implementing a strategic plan and holding each other accountable to ensure that the plan becomes a reality.

Strategic Plan Implementation

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation. 
 
In this episode, host Becky Dunlap welcomes Diana Garcia, Assistant City Manager and former City Librarian of Monterey Park, CA. The topic? Building a post-pandemic strategic planning process that engages every part of the community.

Community Engagement in Library Strategic Planning

In this episode, host Becky Dunlap welcomes her new co-host, BerryDunn colleague Lakita Frazier. They discuss the importance of creating a culture of innovation, finding time to build innovative thinking in your organization, and how important innovation is to building successful projects, programs, and departments.

How to Create a Culture of Innovation

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, host Lakita Frazier welcomes BerryDunn colleague Lisa Paradis. They discuss the importance of using parks and recreation to foster a sense of belonging in communities throughout the country, this month and every month.

Where You Belong: Celebrating National Parks and Recreation Month

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation. 
 
In this episode, we discuss the importance of using data to make informed, data-driven decisions that improve operations and justify resources, staffing, and funding needs. We also highlight how dashboards can make complex data more accessible and interactive, helping teams to better understand and communicate their impact.

Dashboards: Transforming Data into Actionable Insights

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, you’ll hear from experts in the field on how they are using AI in the parks and recreation departments today. Joining host Becky Dunlap are team members from the parks and recreation department in the Village of Park Forest, Illinois, and Brookline, Massachusetts.

AI in Practice Among Parks and Recreation Departments

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this special NRPA edition of the Let’s Talk Parks podcast, our parks and recreation consultants ames Mickle, Lisa Paradis, Ryan Hegreness, Becky Dunlap, Elsa Fishcher, and Nikki Ginger share both their conference and non-conference highlights from their time in Atlanta.

Coming Together at NRPA: The Voices of BerryDunn's Parks and Recreation Consultants

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Becky Dunlap and guest Art Thatcher as they share strategies for successfully implementing your master plan.

Implementing successful master plans

In this episode, we turn our focus to the future, exploring the exciting trends and innovations we expect to shape the parks, recreation, and libraries industry in 2025. Hosted by Becky Dunlap, we hear from industry experts, to get their predictions and insights on what's next for public spaces and community services. 

Looking Ahead: 2025 Trends in Parks, Recreation, and Libraries

In this episode of Lets talk parks, we flip the script and turn the spotlight on our hosts. Join us as we learn about their careers in the parks and recreation sector, and uncovering the challenges they've faced, the lessons they've learned, and the emerging trends they’re seeing in the field. From overcoming obstacles to embracing innovation, this conversation is a candid look at the personal journeys that shape the professionals who are driving the future of parks and recreation. Whether you’re a seasoned industry expert or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights into Parks, Recreation, and Libraries. 

Personal journeys: An interview with Women in Parks

Welcome to Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn, a podcast focused on helping you navigate the changing field of parks and recreation.
In this podcast, we sit down with Chris Bass, a seasoned professional whose journey in the parks and recreation field has led him to become the Chair of the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). We explore Chris’ background, his path to leadership in the field, and the key moments that shaped his career.
Additionally, we dive into the importance of CAPRA accreditation for parks and recreation. Chris shares valuable insights on the CAPRA accreditation process and discusses how consultants play a crucial role in helping agencies navigate this journey.


The Importance of CAPRA Accreditation and the Role of Consultants

Welcome to the Let's Talk Parks Podcast. 

In this episode of our Let’s Talk Parks podcast, we celebrate National Parks Month by sharing some of our favorite projects and ways we play/connect with our communities.

Build together play together

Welcome to the Lets Talk Parks Podcast. 

In this episode of our Let’s Talk Parks podcast, we prepare for the National Recreation and Parks Association Conference. We offer tips and tricks for navigating the conference, as well as a sneak peek into the sessions we will be presenting.

Get Ready for the NRPA Conference: Tips, Tricks, and Session Previews

Let’s Talk Parks with BerryDunn is a podcast hosted by Becky Dunlap, a member of our parks, recreation, and libraries consulting team. Our goal with this podcast is to empower listeners to innovate, experiment, and ultimately change the way they think about their impact within parks and recreation.

Let's Talk Parks with BerryDunn

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