In this episode, Austin Parks and Recreation’s Juan Hernandez and Paul Slutes talk pools, splash pads and how they got a splashpad design team fired. With more than 50 years of combined experience in the field, Juan and Paul help maintain life-saving spaces as Austin summer temperatures continue to rise. Tune in for their hot takes on regenerative filters, digital controllers and why they’re pivoting away from activators.

For a limited time only, ⁠⁠⁠⁠share your thoughts⁠⁠⁠⁠ on an episode within two weeks of the drop for a chance to win a FREE 2026 NRPA Annual Conference registration!

Transcripts for all episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nrpa.org/guardiansofgreenspaces ⁠⁠⁠

Take your community connection to the next level! From Lewisville, TX, to Boston, MA, Chris Chastain and Luis Perez Demorizi talk stakeholder engagement, what works (and doesn’t!) and how all of that ties in to rising heat. Listen in to hear the answer to the age-old question: why does the city get to stop mowing their grass and I don’t?

For a limited time only, ⁠⁠⁠share your thoughts⁠⁠⁠ on an episode within two weeks of the drop for a chance to win a FREE 2026 NRPA Annual Conference registration!

Transcripts for all episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nrpa.org/guardiansofgreenspaces ⁠⁠⁠

Historic parks have always served as place we jump, dance and feast, according to Josh Altidor (General Superintendent, Boston Common) . These centerpieces, like the park system in St. Joseph, Missouri, come with increased — and unique — maintenance challenges. Listen to hear how two park and recreation departments are taking on rats, aging infrastructure, ADA accessibility and more.

For a limited time only, ⁠⁠share your thoughts⁠⁠ on an episode within two weeks of the drop for a chance to win a FREE 2026 NRPA Annual Conference registration!

Transcripts for all episodes can be found at ⁠⁠⁠nrpa.org/guardiansofgreenspaces ⁠⁠⁠