What's trending in parks and recreation this year
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Short mat bowls and walking soccer are the social sports to watch this year, according to recreation workers.
The big picture: According to a National Recreational Park Association's (NRPA) 2025 trends report, indoor activities are expected to gain popularity as extreme weather persists nationwide.
What they're saying: Climate change, technology and wellness all shape this year's trends, Richard Dolesh, former vice president of strategic initiatives at NRPA, tells Axios.
- Dolesh, who authored the report, conducted interviews and surveys throughout the year with parks and recreational professionals to inform his predictions.
Here are the 2025 predictions:
⚽ Short mat bowling and walking soccer
Short mat bowls or short mat bowling, already popular in Europe and Canada, is the indoor version of sport lawn bowling, played on a small mat with the goal of rolling a ball to a target closer than opponents.
Walking soccer is modified soccer to be played at a slower pace. (It's easier on the joints.)
🏊 Aquatics could boom
Extreme heat is driving demand for public swimming. The use of natural waterways, specifically in underserved communities, is also rising.
- New York State announced a $150 million investment to improve and expand public swimming.
🤖 New tools for meetups and safety
Technology will help parks evolve as social and safe spaces.
- Pie: Apps like Pie could use free and low-cost park spaces for meet-ups and events.
- CyberDogs: These robotic dogs paired with AI software could be programmed to get rid of invasive fire ants better than humans.
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