Centering Community and Connection at Anacostia Park — Episode 169

Earlier this spring, we had the chance to attend an incredible event in Washington, D.C., where we caught up with Akiima Price, co-founder and program advisor for Friends of Anacostia Park — an organization with a mission to enrich the lives of D.C. residents by preserving the park and connecting the surrounding communities to its restoration. We met Akiima at NatureFest, a lively week-long celebration during D.C. Public Schools' Spring Break that provides a safe, engaging space for kids and their families to explore nature, have fun and create lasting memories. From boat rides and scavenger hunts to roller skating and live animal encounters, the joy was infectious. This event was a wonderful reminder of how parks can nurture community and connection. After hearing Akiima speak at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference, we were inspired by her commitment to restorative park engagement — a human-centered approach to environmental education and programming. One that focuses on a person's immediate environment and all the factors that contribute to it. In this episode, Akiima shares how her lived experience shapes her work and why centering humanity is crucial when building deeper relationships with nature and community. And, some very enthusiastic attendees, both kids and parents, shared with us why they appreciate NatureFest so much and all the things they learned. Tune in to learn: What restorative park engagement is and why it matters How NatureFest helps families build lasting memories in Anacostia Park Why meeting someone's basic needs is essential for deeper environmental engagement How lived experience and empathy drive Akiima's approach What it looks like to design nature programs with the community, not just for them And much more! Learn more: Friends of Anacostia Park

You can listen to Centering Community and Connection at Anacostia Park — Episode 169 online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Centering Community and Connection at Anacostia Park — Episode 169 is an episode from Open Space Radio by National Recreation and Park Association.

This episode is 48:23 long.

This episode was published on May 27, 2025.

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