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Understanding the forces that are shaping our profession is critical for park and recreation professionals and citizen advocates. Knowing how to plan for, react to, and anticipate change readies us for what's next and buffers us against negative impacts from unexpected shifts.

Our world is moving at an accelerated pace, and it is imperative that we anticipate change and respond adeptly to trends that affect our field and the public we serve.

In addition, certain emerging trends affecting public parks and recreation are so compelling and so far-reaching that they require a direct response. Examples include what parks and recreation must do in response to climate change, rising energy costs, or economic downturns. We must stay ahead of the curve on these and other issues or risk serious disruption in the provision of services to our communities.

Recently, members of NPRAs editorial, public policy, and education staffs convened a group of experienced park and recreation professionals and invited them to identify the most important emerging trends in our field and how these issues will affect parks and recreation locally and nationally in the coming months.

These senior professionals identified the following as among the most important emerging trends facing public parks and recreation today:

* The need to develop effective relationships with the private sector for the acquisition and management of parks and public lands.

* In facing growing demand, positio...

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