Parks & Recreation Feburary 2019

FEBRUARY 2019 W W W. N R PA . O R G

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contents february 2019

PHOTO COURTESY OF J. SCOTT AT NYC PARKS

volume 54 | number 2 | www.parksandrecreation.org

FEATURES

44 Something to Talk About Vitisia Paynich

Americans fear public speaking more than heights, bugs and drowning. For park and rec professionals, interacting with community members and the public at large comes with the territory — no matter their level of experience.

Review best practices for public speaking that can help build your confidence to effectively engage community members, successfully communicate your point of view and impart your industry expertise in a clear and concise manner.

6

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50 Addressing Public Injection and Syringe Disposal in NYC Parks Julien Scott

Every syringe collected at a park represents a risk not just to the public and staff, but also to those individuals suffering from addiction and possibly at risk of a fatal overdose. As an agency that prides itself on improving the quality of life of all New Yorkers, especially those for whom parks are perhaps the only safe space they have or their only opportunity to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of green space, NYC Parks staff felt increasingly unable to fulfill its basic mission without addressing this issue head on.

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contents february

columns 10 Perspectives

departments 14 Research Fed Measures the Impact of Parks and Rec Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

16 Park Pulse The Importance of Learning to Swim at a Young Age

T. he Digital Transformation of Parks and Rec Brian Stapleton

How Are You Leading?

Sonia Myrick

28 Advocacy ‘Hey, Can I Advocate?’

Jayni Rasmussen

Shallow Water Diving Injury Contributory Negligence Defense James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

36 Conservation

22 Member to Member Professional Growth for Industry Success 22 Jan Arnold Seattle, Washington’s Camp Long Great American CampOut 24 Becca Reilly

56 NRPA Update Helping to Advance Pollinator Health 56 Some FAQs about the Gold Medal Awards 60 Time to Apply for an NRPA Award 61 My Journey to Becoming a CPRE 62 Developing Transformational Leadership Skills 63 Remembering Richard ‘Dick’ Moe: A Life Lived with Gratitude 64 Call for NRPA Board of Directors Nominations 65 Parks & Recreation Crossword 66 Connect Hot Topics 68 Member Benefit: New Year, New Employees? 68 Member Spotlight: Patti Machado 69 How to Effectively Prepare for the CPRP 70 Professional Development Calendar 71

72 Operations Getting More Eyes on Your Playground Safety Sonia Myrick

74 Products 75 Park Essentials 79 Advertiser Index 80 Park Bench Parks Helping Parks Suzanne Nathan Cover image: Letter Art by istockphoto.com

Parks & Recreation

12 Editor’s Letter

30 Law Review

18 Community Center

8

Building an Effective and Innovative Workforce Jack Kardys

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Protecting and Managing Parklands to Reduce Wildfire Risks Robert Doyle

40 Health & Wellness Protect the Health and Wellness of Your Park and Recreation Staff Cassie Pais and Lauren Kiefert

42 Social Equity Introducing the Parks for Inclusion Policy Guide, Because Everyone Is Welcome at Parks Maureen Acquino and Suzanne Nathan

Page 42

FOUR LETTERS. UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES.

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Staying informed of recent and new trends beyond the internals of our departments sends a message to the communities that we serve - hey, not only do we hold the degrees but we’re certified!

Daniel Stines, CPRP Parks & Recreation Director, Town of Harrisburg, NC

Become a Certified Park and Recreation Professional Apply by February 28 to Get a FREE CPRP Prep Course (up to $250 value)

To learn more, visit www.nrpa.org/CPRP-VIP

P E RS P E C T I V E S A M E S S A G E F R O M N R PA’ S L E A D E RS

Building an Effective and Innovative Workforce One of the distinguishing characteristics of a true park professional is the intellectual curiosity and commitment to life-long learning. At the intersection of strategic planning and operational implementation, park and recreation agencies and their professional staff are challenged to identify the “next” innovative and best practice that produce solutions to new problems and meet new challenges that come from a rapidly changing world.

Demographic, social, technological and economic changes force us to adapt quickly and to embrace change at a pace for which we are not always well-prepared or funded to achieve.

The fact that “talent” and “the best people” find themselves at the starting point of all great park agencies is no coincidence. The right level of investment in human capital is the fundamental ingredient for all great organizations, and yet, it is our training and travel that are often the first cuts in balancing our budgets! Ultimately, a comprehensive and efficient approach to building effective and innovative human resource capacity requires a commitment to succession planning and investing in the recruitment, retention and professional development that enables a department to promote from within and grow its future managers and executives.

Through our Innovation Labs (I-Labs), NRPA brings together some of the sharpest minds in and outside the field of parks and recreation to collaborate and explore how innovative thinking can meet emerging challenges, reduce costs and better serve the public.

The new paradigm for our profession uses parks and public spaces as the framework for healthy, livable, resilient and prosperous community building. Systems of great parks, public spaces, natural and cultural areas that are equitably accessible and connected by greenways, waterways, trails and complete streets 10

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serving as linear parks have created a need for new skill sets that include strategic planning, negotiations, public/private finance, urban planning, transportation, philanthropy and, most importantly, communications and messaging. I-Lab thought leaders possess and share their skills through intimate and up-close learning sessions in park systems throughout the country where great work is accomplished.

The success of our workforce members, including our directors, depends on providing opportunities to learn.

Impactful organizational learning and agility in today’s ever-changing, globally competitive environment demands continual organizational learning. Disruptive events are occurring with greater frequency and are triggered by innovative technologies and product introductions, economic upheaval and stress, major weather events driven by climate change and societal demands.

NRPA’s I-Labs emphasize experiential learning and making transformational changes in an ever-shorter time cycle. Knowledge and application are learned through both personal and environmental experiences, where participants are actively engaged by using analytical skills to conceptualize solutions required to make simulated problem-solving decisions and are then given time to reflect on the experience.

Congratulations to all the host cities that have worked with NRPA to develop our I-Lab series. I-Labs have covered everything from creating healthy and resilient communities to providing solutions to homelessness and nature-deficit disorder. However, the most important contribution has been recognizing and emulating those agencies whose commitment to continuous learning includes an investment in human capital through progressive NRPA education, certification and training.

JACK K ARDYS NRPA’s Chair of the Board of Directors

2 2377 Belmont Ridge Rd. | Ashburn, VA 20148 703.858.0784 | www.nrpa.org

NRPA’S MISSION: To advance parks, recreation and environmental conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all people.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board of Directors Jack Kardys J. Kardys Strategies Miami, Florida

Chair-Elect Michael Kelly Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois Treasurer Xavier D. Urrutia City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation San Antonio, Texas

Secretary Karen Bates Kress Park Advocate Emigrant, Montana

President and CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, Virginia

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Abbaté, FASLA

Karen Bates Kress Park Advocate Emigrant, Montana

Joanna Lombard University of Miami School of Architecture; Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences Miami, Florida

Carolyn McKnight, CPRP Former BREC Executive Director East Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Joshua Medeiros, CPRP, AFO Town of Cheshire Parks and Recreation Cheshire, Connecticut

Herman Parker City of San Diego, California, Parks and Recreation Department San Diego, California

Ian Proud Playworld Systems Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Nonet T. Sykes

Formerly of Portland Parks & Recreation Portland, Oregon

Atlanta Beltline, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia

Neelay Bhatt

Xavier D. Urrutia

PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation San Antonio, Texas

Hayden Brooks

Greg A. Weitzel, CPRP

American Realty Corporation Austin, Texas

City of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Idaho Falls, Idaho

Kong Chang

LIFE TRUSTEES

City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Saint Paul, Minnesota

Carol Coletta Memphis River Parks Partnership Memphis, Tennessee

Kevin Coyle National Wildlife Federation Washington, D.C.

Beverly D. Chrisman Lexington, South Carolina

Anne S. Close Fort Mill, South Carolina

James H. Evans New York, New York

Rosemary Hall Evans

Jose Felix Diaz

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Ballard Partners Miami, Florida

Earl T. Groves Gastonia, North Carolina

Victor Dover

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D.

Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning Miami, Florida

Richard Gulley City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department San Diego, California

Jack Kardys

Richmond, Virginia

Harry G. Haskell, Jr. Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Kathryn A. Porter Mendham, New Jersey

Perry J. Segura

J. Kardys Strategies Miami, Florida

New Iberia, Louisiana

Michael Kelly

Round Hill, Virginia

Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

1/4 Page 3.625” x 4.75” Color

Grants Available to Support HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS IN PARKS AND RECREATION

Applications are now open for $30,000–$35,000 grants that support healthy eating and food access in park and recreation settings.

Learn more and apply at nrpa.org/grants Applications due March 6, 2019 Funding for this grant is supported by the Walmart Foundation.

R. Dean Tice Eugene A. Young, CPRP

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EDITOR’S LETTER PRESIDENT AND CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE

How Are You Leading?

In the pages of this month’s issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, we look at some aspects of leadership, such as mentoring the next generation of park and recreation professionals and being able to anticipate the needs of your constituency in order to provide the services/programs they value. With the rate at which change happens today, driven primarily by technology, it’s more important than ever for leaders not only to learn to anticipate the changes in their community, but also to be able to communicate and bring their staff, legislators and others along with their vision.

For many of us, public speaking is an anxiety-filled experience.

Nevertheless, to be an effective leader, it’s a skill that needs to be honed. In this month’s cover story, “Something to Talk About” on page 44, contributor Vitisia Paynich details some best practices for public speaking that can help build confidence to effectively engage community members, successfully communicate your point of view and impart your industry expertise in a clear and concise manner.

Leadership is also about being courageous enough to experiment with new ways of doing things to determine the best course of action. No one likes to fail, but failure is inherent in success, as it may take several tries to arrive at that best program or plan. In “Addressing Public Injection and Syringe Disposal in NYC Parks” on page 60, contributor Julien Scott shares details about a pilot program undertaken by New York City Parks to combat a growing byproduct of the opioid epidemic — syringe refuse in parks. Every syringe collected at a park represents a risk not only to the public and staff, but also to those individuals suffering from addiction and possibly at risk of a fatal overdose. The program is a work in progress that requires a comprehensive approach, so NYC Parks is partnering with the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York Harm Reduction Educators and Parks Enforcement Patrol to address the issue, seeking a longterm solution for all.

Good leaders continually seek out learning opportunities to not only keep abreast of industry changes, but also to keep their leadership skills sharp. On this front, NRPA has certification as well as certificate programs to help you develop or maintain those skills. Whether through an inclass experience, where you can network with and bounce ideas off colleagues, or the convenience of self-paced, online learning, there’s something for everyone. Check out the information in the NRPA Update section of this issue, starting on page 62, or visit www.nrpa.org and click on the “Careers and Education” or “Certification” tabs to learn more.

Finally, don’t forget to share your achievements and those of your staff with others by applying for one of NRPA’s awards (www.nrpa.org/awards). Doing so is equally as important as being a courageous innovator. How else can others learn from what you’ve accomplished and vice versa? And, as Daniel Burrus, considered one of the world’s leading futurists on global trends and innovation, says, “Look at what you are certain about and what you can do, rather than what you are uncertain about and can’t do, and you’ll emerge a much better leader.”

SONIA MYRICK Executive Editor 12

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VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sonia Myrick smyrick@nrpa.org EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR Suzanne Nathan snathan@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Kim Mabon/Creative By Design CreativeByDesign.net SENIOR SALES MANAGER EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE Kip Ongstad 703.858.2174 kongstad@nrpa.org SENIOR SALES MANAGER WESTERN REGION AND ASIA Michelle Dellner 949.248.1057 mdellner@nrpa.org SALES COORDINATOR Meghan Fredriksen 703.858.2190 mfredriksen@nrpa.org PHOTOGRAPHY Dreamstime.com or NRPA (unless otherwise noted) MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Michael Abbaté, FASLA Anthony-Paul Diaz Ryan Eaker Robert García Kathleen Gibi Paul Gilbert, CPRP Tim Herd, CPRE Brian Johnson, CPSI Michele Lemons Sam Mendelsohn Maria Nardi Lisa Paradis, CPRP Gil Peñalosa Paula Sliefert Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO Anne-Marie Spencer Stephen Springs

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APPLY FOR THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD RECOGNIZING ONLY THE BEST IN PARKS AND RECREATION. Applications will be accepted January 7–March 29.

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RESEARCH Fed Measures the Impact of Parks and Rec

By Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

T

his column typically features how NRPA research findings promote the park and recreation field. First, we strive to produce data that help park and recreation professionals better serve the public through benchmark data, including that presented in Park Metrics and the Agency Performance Review. Second, the NRPA Research team identifies data and insights that help support your agency’s mission for more stable and greater funding. The Americans’ Engagement with Parks Survey, Economic Impact of Local Parks study, and Park Pulse polls demonstrate this mission.

This past September, the BEA released its Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account report, which states that outdoor recreation accounted for $412 billion of GDP in 2016.

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This month, we will highlight two data series from outside of NRPA, namely, the federal government, that highlight parks and recreation. One series celebrates the field’s impact, the other notes recent investment trends.

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Outdoor Recreation’s Contribution to the GDP In 2016, Congress enacted the “Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act,” which charged the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) with conducting “an assessment and analysis of the outdoor recreation economy of the United States and the effects attributable to such economy on the overall economy of the United States.” The BEA is the federal agency that reports on the size of the U.S. economy with its quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates that you may read about in the news. Prior to passage of this act, the BEA already had created “satellite” accounts for several other sectors of the U.S. economy; including, arts and cultural production, travel and tourism, and healthcare.

This past September, the BEA released its Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account report, which states that outdoor recreation accounted for $412 billion of GDP in 2016. This is the equivalent to 2.2 percent of the total value of output produced by the United States that year.

Nearly as notable, the outdoor sector of the economy grew faster than that of the overall economy: +1.7 percent versus 1.6 percent, respectively.

This report is another watershed moment for outdoor recreation, and, more specifically, for parks and recreation. Whereas these activities are often viewed in the light of simply being fun and relaxing, the BEA

report builds on the growing literature that parks and recreation also is a critical facet of a dynamic economy. Having the federal government agency that’s charged with measuring U.S. economic activity place a dollar value on outdoor recreation’s contribution to business activity provides irrefutable evidence of the importance of investments in parks and recreation.

In recent years, NRPA has worked closely with George Mason University on measuring the economic impact of local park and recreation agencies on the U.S. economy. The most recent report — released early last year — found that local park and recreation agencies’ operations and capital spending alone were responsible for $154 billion in economic activity (including $81 billion contribution to GDP) in 2015.

The BEA and NRPA analyses reach similar conclusions even though they measure different things. The BEA only considered outdoor recreation activities, whereas NRPA looked at the full spectrum of indoor and outdoor park and recreation offerings. Further, the NRPA study narrowed its focus on solely local public park and recreation agencies, while the BEA report includes a full spectrum of public and private outdoor recreation organizations and companies (including manufacturing and retail sales associated with outdoor activities, private-sector concerts and tourism). However, the message of the two reports is the same: parks and recreation and outdoor recreation bring many benefits to Americans, including a robust economic contribution to local communities throughout our nation.

Construction Spending According to another report, capital spending by state and local government gained traction in 2018, eight years into the economic recovery.

The bad news is that parks and recreation has not necessarily benefited from this largess…at least not yet.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the value of publicly funded construction put in place over the first 10 months of 2018 totaled nearly $239 billion. This was 7.9 percent ahead of the same 10 months in 2017 and suggests that 2018 was the best year for publicly funded construction spending since 2009.

This is noteworthy as public-sector construction experienced a drastic slump during and after the Great Recession. The value of public-sector construction bottomed out in 2013 after having fallen 14 percent below its 2009 peak value.

Should data trends through October hold for the remaining final two months, 2018 will go down as the second-best year ever for state and local government construction spending. A December article in The Wall Street Journal attributed the increase in state and local gov-

ernment capital spending to higher tax collections, boosted by surging sales tax receipts (helped by greater consumer spending and improved real estate valuations).

Unfortunately, the increase in capital spending on parks has not been as robust. In fact, state and local government spending on parks totaled $4.352 billion through the first 10 months of 2018, down 8 percent from the same 10 months of 2017. Also falling behind their 2017 paces were spending on neighborhood centers (down 15 percent from the first 10 months of 2017 to $908 million) and social centers (down 9 percent to $1.149 billion).

So, what does this foretell for 2019? Will the surge in public-sector construction spread over to park and recreation agencies, driven in part by the growing appreciation of the economic benefits of these amenities? Or, will a wobbly economic recovery lead to a pullback in public spending, further pressuring park and recreation capital expenditures? Time will tell.

Kevin Roth, Ph.D., is NRPA’s Vice President of Professional Development, Research and Technology (kroth@nrpa.org).

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WE ASKED THE PUBLIC: How important, if at all, is it for children to learn to swim at an early age?

NRPA PARK PULSE BOOMERS

95%

OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN TO SWIM

97% GEN XERS

95% NEARLY

70%

OF PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES PROVIDE AQUATICS PROGRAMMING

MILLENNIALS

93%

Each month, through a poll of Americans that is focused on park and recreation issues, NRPA Park Pulse helps tell the park and recreation story. Questions span from the serious to the more lighthearted. The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com).

Visit www.nrpa.org/Park-Pulse for more information.

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COMMUNITY CENTER The Digital Transformation of Parks and Rec How the latest tech is reshaping the role of park and rec directors

By Brian Stapleton

I

t is difficult to think of any role in public service that is as rewarding as that of a park and recreation director. What could be more satisfying than promoting natural resources, helping citizens connect with nature, teaching children the confidence that comes with new skills and helping to improve population-level wellness through the exploration of local parks, lakes and trails? A career that enables — and even requires — time spent outdoors and allows those passionate about nature to share that love with others, from children to seniors, may be the best form of public service.

The role of the municipal park and recreation director is changing, however, and not solely because of deforestation or climate change or even conservation efforts. It is changing because of a factor that some may argue is the antithesis

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Parks & Recreation

of the great outdoors: digital tech.

Tech’s Initial Impact You may think that the impetus of technology impacting park and recreation departments involves the amount of time young people, and even adults, now

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spend on internet-enabled devices.

The reality, however, is that park and rec director roles have changed not because of a conflict of tech and public parks, but because of their alignment.

Traditionally, the park and rec director role for a municipality included: • Overseeing the maintenance of public spaces • Leading the planning, organization and execution of community events • Managing a staff of employees across roles and departments that range from administrators to event and activity facilitators, to maintenance crews

• Managing budget, assigning work duties, tracking revenue and expenses, and communicating and interacting with other public entities • Managing a mountain of paperwork, including instructor applications, participant waivers, grant applications, ADA-compliance forms, attendee lists, schedules, permits and other critical administrative documents.

Thanks to the latest advancements in digital technology, many of these administrative tasks that used to take hours of manual labor have been streamlined and/or automated, providing directors with more time for strategic and longterm planning. Digitally tethered

citizens expect device-agnostic capabilities to research upcoming events, register for classes and pay online for sports league participation from their mobile phone. It means park and recreation directors need to know just as much about software stack integration as they do about golf course grass irrigation or hydraulic lawn mower specs — maybe even more so.

This digital transformation of government marks a paradigm shift in responsibilities and in the very essence of the rec director role itself.

The Recasting of Park and Rec Director’s Role Today’s park and recreation leaders are embracing roles beyond

Digitally tethered citizens expect device-agnostic capabilities to research upcoming events, register for classes and pay online for sports league participation from their mobile phone. traditional facility management and activity execution. They are expected to be agents of change in the era of digital transformation and be as adept at leading the implementation and management of digital systems as they are knowledgeable about local parks and trail maintenance.

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COMMUNITY CENTER

With the speed at which new technology is introduced and changes, municipal park and recreation directors must proactively enhance their skill set and embrace the latest tech solutions to elevate their department’s digital offerings to meet patrons’ expectations.

Park and rec directors also have more visibility into program utilization statistics than ever before, which means they are expected to be able to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of core programs and services and use data to make informed decisions regarding programing and facility budget allocations.

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New expectations for park and rec directors are not only coming from within municipalities. Citizens are raising the bar on their expectations as well. In an era of smartphones and digital proliferation, citizens want multichannel, digital two-way communications with their municipal leaders to ask questions, make requests and provide feedback. Over the next five years, park and rec directors who embrace the access that modern tech provides between municipalities and the people they serve will be best positioned to build successful, future-proofed strategies for innovative and desirable community offerings.

How to Become an Agent of Change With the speed at which new technology is introduced and changes, municipal park and recreation directors must proactively enhance their

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skill set and embrace the latest tech solutions to elevate their department’s digital offerings to meet patrons’ expectations. As a park and recreation director, to maintain a relevant leadership role in your park and rec department, consider the following:

1

Proactively establish a digital transformation strategy for your park and rec department. Be sure to keep the lines of communication open between your staff and community members to understand the level of digital access and engagement they expect, want and need. If you haven’t already done so, build a multiyear strategic plan to elevate systems and solutions to meet those needs, factoring in staffing, budget and other compounding considerations.

2

Learn to anticipate the needs of the community. In a column, titled “Let Your Digital Strategy Emerge,” in the MIT Sloan Management Review (https:// sloanreview.mit.edu/ar ticle/ let-your-digital-strategy-emerge/), Jeanne Ross, principal research scientist for MIT’s Center for Information Systems Research, says, “Digital strategies must tackle two questions that are shrouded in uncertainty: What can data and digital technologies do to help us solve customer problems? What solutions will customers find valuable?” By collecting data about your community and drilling down into it to truly understand the wants and needs, you can begin to anticipate the solutions it’ll find valuable. The NRPA Facility Market Reports (www.nrpa. org/publications-research/FMR/) are a great tool for gaining insight into your community.

3

Seek out educational opportunities. Make time to seek out the education you need to stay ahead of the rapidly changing leadership skills and technological trends. Evolution requires training and knowledge, and any public leader at any point in his or her career should feel validated in acknowledging the need for better understanding. NRPA provides several leadership training opportunities (see www.nrpa. org/careers-education/) to help in this area.

4

Choose solutions that streamline workflows and enable citizen engagement. Embrace parks and rec management systems that allow administrators to spend less time managing program details, such as waiver forms, payment processing and course catalog production, and more time creating innovative initiatives that encourage all generations to take advantage of their local park and rec offerings.

If your tech isn’t making your administrative processes easier, investigate other marketplace solution alternatives. A system replacement in the short term will enable greater success in the long term.

5

Accept the role of change manager. Not only will you be expected to lead the department’s digital transformation, it will be critical that you help all staff in all departments understand the value of new systems and processes and embrace opportunities to learn new skills and modify workflows.

6

Don’t forget digital communication. Communication is key, so use the range of communication channels — email, social media, your website — and have a cohesive plan for reaching out to your community and receiving feedback.

Looking Ahead The role of director is vital in the digital transformation of a park

In a world that’s predicated on connectivity, easy access and digital engagement, the park and rec director must be nimble, versatile and open to expanding his or her role from park maintenance and staff manager to digital revolutionary. and recreation department. In a world that’s predicated on connectivity, easy access and digital engagement, the park and rec director must be nimble, versatile and open to expanding his or her role from park maintenance and staff manager to digital revolutionary.

To quote Steve Jobs, “Technologies can make life easier, can let us touch people we might not otherwise. These things can profoundly influence life.”

Brian Stapleton is a Solution Architect for CivicRec® (stapleton@civicplus.com).

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MEMBER TO MEMBER Professional Growth for Industry Success

By Jan Arnold

A

s park and recreation professionals, we often discuss not only how to impact the quality of life for our residents, but also how to ensure this great industry continues to improve with our youngest professionals. I was very fortunate during my undergraduate and graduate studies to have professionals who believed in me and challenged me to be the best that I could be. These early mentors shaped the professional that I have become.

One of my greatest passions over the course of my career has been providing young professionals with the preparation needed to excel in their current position and to prepare them for future opportunities. As the executive director of the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, I worked with the board to create a Lead-

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ership Academy: a three-tiered, six-month program that provides a well-rounded exposure to leadership and supervisory skills. Then, when I became the executive director of Illinois’ Park District of Oak Park, I worked with the leadership team to design a paid, one-year fellowship that includes a rotation through all aspects of the

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park district, from programming, park maintenance and human resources, to finance, safety, facility management, marketing and more. This fellowship provides the hands-on approach, with the real-life successes and failures that are so important for growth.

Depending on the department, the fellow spends from two to six weeks working with a variety of leaders in each department to learn about their specific area. For example, in the parks and planning, the fellow spends time with the turf manager, building and parks supervisors, and the superintendent of parks and planning.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARK DISTRICT OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

Along the way, the fellow has specific deliverables, and at the end of the program the fellow receives help with identifying job opportunities and making contacts as appropriate. This program not only is a great career development opportunity for young professionals, but also provides our leadership team with the perspective of a recent graduate and a glimpse into the future leaders of the industry.

Jamaal Hines, who completed our inaugural fellowship program, provided us with the following feedback:

to expand on my professionalism, versatility, leadership and organizational management skills in a way that would have been unattainable in an entry-level position. Moreover, it has set me on an expedited career development pathway, as it has exposed me to areas to which I would not have otherwise been exposed. Furthermore, this experience will help me to work more effectively with all departments once I land a full-time position. I believe this opportunity has now put me a step ahead of the competition, and for that, I am extremely grateful!

Jamaal Hines

A Fellow’s Reflection Regardless of your field of study, there are three areas of priority that are emphasized during one’s journey through postsecondary education: professional development, job attainment and career prosperity.

While professors and other influential figures in the lives of college students spend an ample amount of time promoting professional growth, leadership, occupational awareness and interview preparedness, there is no guarantee that your degree will secure a professional position in your desired career field. To be a standout applicant in today’s job search processes, one must possess a suitable amount of both educational achievement and occupational experience.

Often, just having a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree is not enough to land an entry-level position. Like me, many recent graduates are left wondering, “How am I supposed to gain experience if entry-level positions won’t provide any hands-

on job knowledge or applicable skills training?” With both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, I was overlooked by multiple employers for applicants with more years of experience in the field.

Fortunately, the Recreation Fellowship at the Park District of Oak Park offered the opportunity to develop my skill set and gain the experience needed to boost my marketability.

With the cross-departmental training and the multifaceted nature of the fellowship, I gained an equal amount of experience within both recreation programming and facility management at all levels of the organization, instead of being bound by one job title and one list of corresponding responsibilities.

As a result, I’ve gained a much greater understanding of how all the departments work together in the functionality of a community recreation organization.

This fellowship has enabled me

Continuing to Grow Professionals As we wrap up our first year of the fellowship, I can attest that the process takes the time and dedication of all the professional staff. It also highlights the importance of teaching not only the skills to do the job, but also an understanding of the “why” of the things we do for our community. With the knowledge and experience from the first year, we have realigned the amount of time spent in some of the departments to ensure the fellow is in a department when key activities are occurring. We have also added more frequent check-ins with the fellow’s supervisor.

The park district is again offering this opportunity for 2019–2020, and I hope other agencies may be interested to learn how they too can make a lasting impact on the profession. For more information about the fellowship, contact Jan Arnold at jan.arnold@pdop.org.

Jan Arnold is the Executive Director for the Park District of Oak Park (jan.arnold@pdop.org).

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| FEBRUARY 2019 |

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MEMBER TO MEMBER

Seattle, Washington’s Camp Long Great American CampOut An urban, nature-immersion program for an underrepresented community

By Becca Reilly

T

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BECCA REILLY

he last place you might expect to find a lush, 68-acre forested campground with 10 wooden cabins is in the middle of a large city park, but that is exactly what you’ll find at Camp Long in Seattle, Washington. This past summer, Camp Long hosted the ninth and 10th Great American CampOuts, which provided a free overnight weekend retreat for 46 families, most of whom live in public housing in the surrounding neighborhoods.

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Families gather around the campfire and listen to longtime CampOut supporter Brian Heerdt (far left, wearing straw hat), tell traditional Coast Salish stories. The Coast Salish are indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.

How the Camp Long CampOut Began The idea for CampOut originated with program founder, Jeanie Murphy-Ouellette, who provided nature programming and enrichment for the Early Childhood Learning program at High Point Neighborhood House. The Neighborhood House, which helps communities with limited resources attain self-sufficiency, financial independence, good health and community, is located just one mile from Camp Long. In bringing these families to Camp Long, Murphy-Ouellette discovered that most families didn’t know that Camp Long was a public park that was open to them, and they really wanted an outdoor camping experience. She also learned that cost was preventing the families

from participating in outdoor education programs.

As a result, in 2013, Seattle Parks and Recreation environmental education staff partnered with Courtney Sullivan from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to create the Camp Long Great American CampOut, a free overnight event that offers nature activities, environmental learning opportunities, forest walks, night hikes, a campfire program with songs and s’mores and shared community meals. This is part of the NWF’s nationwide Great American CampOut program, an online campaign that encourages families to go out and camp, whether it’s in a remote national park or right in their own backyard. We contacted NWF about combining its initiative and extending it to low-income, immi-

These campers were treated to a guided nighttime walk through the forest, where owls and other creatures can often be seen and heard.

The primary goal of the Camp Long Great American CampOut is to provide High Point families with a nature-immersion program where they could feel safe, explore nature and share their culture with others. grant and refugee families who may not have the means to or know about camping out.

The primary goal of the Camp Long Great American CampOut is to provide High Point families

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MEMBER TO MEMBER

Excitement is written on the faces of this family of first-time CampOut campers.

The CampOut program not only invites and welcomes immigrant and refugee families to Camp Long, but also sets an example for welcoming and inclusive programming, as many families are feeling the stress of increasingly restrictive immigration policies in the United States.

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with a nature-immersion program where they could feel safe, explore nature and share their culture with others. Seattle Parks and Recreation environmental educators wanted to ensure this nearby and historically underrepresented, low-income community was reached and had opportunities to be involved in nature and learning.

Given the High Point neighborhood’s proximity to Camp Long, it was also easy for park staff to engage with this community.

How It’s Grown In its first two years, 34 families from a variety of cultures participated in the CampOut program. Latino, Somalian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, African-American and Caucasian

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ethnicities were represented. The families enjoyed storytelling around a campfire, learning about composting and recycling, listening to multicultural stories being told by public library representatives, making nature crafts, night hikes to search for owls and stars, and a forest walk.

Around the campfire, children shared stories and songs from their cultures, and in the second year, a Samoan family borrowed one of the educator’s ukuleles to lead the group in song. Families also learned about the health of Seattle’s urban forests and helped remove invasive plant species and put mulch on newly installed native plants.

The Camp Long Great American CampOut program has expanded since its inception, in large

part because of a partnership developed with the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association (DNDA). With this support, Camp Long was able to host two CampOut programs each summer starting in 2015. This increase in capacity has allowed twice the number of families to experience this joyful and rejuvenating weekend.

Between the two 2018 CampOut programs this past summer, 262 guests from 46 families called Camp Long home for the weekend. The CampOut program not only invites and welcomes immigrant and refugee families to Camp Long, but also sets an example for welcoming and inclusive programming, as many families are feeling the stress of increasingly restrictive immigration policies in the United States.

The Camp Long Great American CampOut is very effective in getting families excited about spending time in nature. In the beginning, families were skeptical of this new program and were gently persuaded into attending. After years of building trust within the community, families lined up at community outreach events to register starting in February!

This program differs from many others in that it is entirely cost-free and entire families are welcomed. There is no age restriction, so families with infants and/or grandparents can participate in a wide variety of activities: outdoor rock climbing, oil painting lessons outside on the field, nature games, volunteer naturalist-led forest and beach walks, bubble making, face painting, African drumming workshops, soccer and badminton, a nighttime forest hike and a traditional campfire with songs, storytelling and, of course, roasting marshmallows for s’mores!

Yeggy Michael, a major partner from the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association, describes the experience for many of the families this way: “Many first-time new families came, and everyone had a great time. One of the things that stood out to me while talking to some of the families who attended the CampOut for the first time was how surprised they were this type of place existed in their neighborhood.

“They were so surprised to find this wonderful place hidden in West Seattle,” he continues. “Some of the families asked how they could bring their families to other events or reserve a space for their families in the future. I think the experience left a positive impression on the kids, as well as the parents.”

Seattle Parks and Recreation is proud to be able to host this event year after year and is grateful for the generous support from Disney, ABC, ESPN and NRPA of the 2018 Great American CampOut season.

Becca Reilly is the Naturalist for Seattle Parks and Recreation (becca.reilly@seattle.gov).

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Parks & Recreation

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ADVOCACY

‘Hey, Can I Advocate?’

And the answers to other questions about policy that you’re too afraid to ask

By Jayni Rasmussen

A

dvocacy can seem like a scary word! It’s not as bad as the Kafkaesque implications evoked by the word “lobbying,” but it is a term that’s almost guaranteed to cause anxiety for public employees. Why? Advocacy is a good thing, and yes, as a public employee, you’re allowed to advocate.

What Is Advocacy?

Advocacy can be defined in a few different ways, so here’s a definition of advocacy as a park and recreation professional or community advocate: It’s sharing your knowledge of how parks and recreation impacts the community you serve to inform decision makers about making better public policy. Lobbying is just one, specifically defined form of advocacy, and having a conversation with an elected official does not constitute lobbying.

As a private citizen, it is your 28 Parks & Recreation

First Amendment right to participate in advocacy and express your views on policy and specific legislation. As a public employee, states and municipalities may define their own rules about how public employees can advocate.

In general, public employees can liaise with elected officials. However, check with your state or local government to see if there are any specific rules on advocacy.

Lean on Us If you’re unsure about your ability to advocate, you can rely on

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NRPA! NRPA can lobby and has developed a legislative platform on your behalf. Preface your conversations with elected officials by recognizing your status as a public employee, but share positions on specific legislation as a member of NRPA. If you’re not sure how to proceed in a discussion, reach out to the NRPA Public Policy team at advocacy@nrpa.org — we’re always available to assist.

NRPA offers several tools and resources to help you advocate. For example, if you’re concerned about using public resources to advocate, try our new texting tool! Text the keyword “PARKS” to the number 52886 to sign up for text alerts from NRPA. We’ll send alerts to your mobile phone, so you can take action in just seconds.

Why Should I Advocate?

NRPA’s Public Policy team works hard to represent you and the field on Capitol Hill. However, we’re not the only ones vying for the attention of members of Congress! Park and recreation professionals aren’t only constituents — they also represent a multitude of constituents that the agency serves. We need you to speak up and share your stories so members of Congress can see why it is important to invest in local parks and recreation. When we send out an action alert asking you to call, email or Tweet your members of Congress, it’s because we need you to make the connection between the policy discussions we’re having on Capitol Hill to the programs impacting real people on the ground.

Educate, Educate, Educate!

The safest way to participate in advocacy as a public employee is to focus on educating elected officials on how policy affects your agency and the community you serve. Now, what better way to teach, than to show and tell?

That’s what NRPA’s Park Champion initiative (www.nrpa.org/ park-champions) is all about — helping NRPA members across the country to invite their members of Congress along with congressional staff to see, firsthand, their parks and programs at park dedications, program kickoffs, special events and more.

From inviting members of Congress to help pass out meals at your summer or afterschool meal program, to having them cut the ribbon at your park opening, you can provide elected officials with a powerful, memorable experience.

These site visits, or Park Champion events, strengthen your relationship with your elected officials and help make the connection between federal policy and your programs without putting too much pressure on you to discuss policy at length. After the event, the NRPA Public Policy team will meet with your member of Congress’ DC office to get “wonky in the weeds” on your behalf.

Use the step-by-step Park Champion Advocacy Toolkit to invite your members of Congress to your next event. If you don’t have anything on your calendar, here are some great ideas for getting your members of Congress out for a visit: • Demonstrate why the Land and Water Conservation Fund should be reauthorized by having them attend an event at an LWCF-funded park!

• Make the case for child nutrition programs by having them help pass out meals at your summer or afterschool meal program!

• Ag-vocate for parks and recreation in the Farm Bill by having them plant or harvest at your community garden!

• Talk the talk and walk the walk (or bike the bike!) by having them take a hike or bike ride on a federally funded trail project!

• Show the community behind your Community Development Block Grant by giving them a tour of a CDBG-funded park or program!

What If I’m Not a Public Employee?

If you’re a private citizen, it is your First Amendment right to advocate.

From inviting members of Congress to help pass out meals at your summer or afterschool meal program, to having them cut the ribbon at your park opening, you can provide elected officials with a powerful, memorable experience.

Nonprofits and their employees are absolutely allowed to participate in advocacy and lobbying, as long as it doesn’t make up the majority of your organization’s activities.

What’s the Question That You’re Too Afraid to Ask? Do you have a question about policy, advocacy or government that at this point, you’re too afraid to ask?

Send your questions to advocacy@ nrpa.org, and we’ll answer it on the Open Space blog! There’s no such thing as a dumb question, but we’ll post your question anonymously if you like.

Now that advocacy is a bit more demystified for you, don’t forget to take action!

• Invite your members of Congress to your next event: www. nrpa.org/park-champions • Send a message to your members of Congress through our action center: www.nrpa.org/ our-work/advocacy/advoca cy-engage/ • Sign up for advocacy text alerts from NRPA! Text PARKS to 52886.

Jayni Rasmussen is NRPA’s Advocacy and Outreach Manager (jrasmussen@nrpa.org).

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LAW REVIEW

Shallow Water Diving Injury Contributory Negligence Defense

By James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

I

n the case of Core v. N.C. Div. of Parks & Rec., 2018 N.C. App. LEXIS 1040, the state tort claims commission (the Commission) denied plaintiff ’s negligence claim against the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation based on a determination that plaintiff ’s “contributory negligence,” (i.e., plaintiff ’s own negligence in failing to look out for his own safety) contributed to his injuries.

Plaintiff James Core and members of his college fraternity went to Lake Waccamaw State Park, a state park located approximately 75 miles south of Fayetteville, North Carolina, for a camping trip on the weekend of October 3–4, 2014. The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation owned and maintained the park, including a portion of the shoreline located in the southern section of Lake Waccamaw ( see https://vimeo. com/150438538).

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A visitor information kiosk, located in the park, showed a map of the park and provided information about several recreational activities, including swimming. The “swimming” portion of the information available at the kiosk stated the following: From the picnic area boardwalk, a pier extends 375 feet into the lake and provides a perfect place for swimming and sunbathing.

Swimming is permitted in any area of the lake but be aware that

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lifeguards are not on duty. Always use caution around water. Be alert for aquatic wildlife and watch out for sharp muscle [sic] shells on the lake bottom.

A sign posted at the entrance to the picnic area boardwalk listed the North Carolina State Park Rules and Regulations, but made “no reference to swimming, diving, or the depth of the water at the end of the pier.”

Core and several other fraternity members went jogging in the park before sunrise on the morning of October 4, 2014. When they returned to the campsite around 7 a.m., Core and at least one other fraternity member, Nate Middleton, decided to go swimming from the pier.

Core looked into the water, but the water appeared “very dark” and he could not see the bottom.

According to the Commission’s findings, the lake had a high botanic acid content that could “darken the water, making it difficult to determine its depth.” Core testified he looked for signs around the pier regarding the depth of the water but found none. Core “recalled seeing boats on the lake and various invitations around the park to swim from the pier.” Core further “noted the presence of ladders going down into the water from the pier.” Based on these and other observations, including the length of the pier, Core concluded the water around the pier “was deep enough to allow for diving.”

Middleton testified that he and other trip attendees checked the water’s depth the day of Core’s injury right before they jumped in.

They watched the sun rise and “the water looked pretty clear, and we couldn’t see the bottom.” According to Middleton, before anyone entered the water, they threw rocks down to the bottom of the lake.

They didn’t see the rocks at the bottom and assumed the water must have been deep enough.

Moreover, because the dock was 200 yards offshore, a mile across the lake, they thought it was “safe to assume it was deep.” Middleton testified he and others “assumed the water at the end of the pier was deep enough not to break anyone’s neck.” When Core indicated he

planned to perform a shallow dive from the end of the pier, Middleton — an experienced swimmer and certified lifeguard — said he “almost did the same.”

Core, who was a competitive swimmer in high school and a member of his college club swim team, “took a running start and attempted [to perform] a shallow dive from the end of the pier.” Core struck the bottom of the lake with his head and felt a sharp pain in his right arm and stiffness in his torso. Core thought he had broken his arm and rolled over into a sitting position.

Middleton jumped in feet-first right after Core and “landed on his tailbone.” The water at the end of the pier was approximately 18 inches deep.

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LAW REVIEW

After Middleton stood, he looked over at Core and realized Core was “not standing up” and “probably something bad” had happened. Middleton asked if Core was okay. Although Core did not lose consciousness, he did not move and was just not responsive or getting up. Middleton assisted Core back onto the pier while maintaining the stability of Core’s neck and spine. A fraternity member called for emergency medical services 10 minutes later, and an ambulance arrived within approximately 35 minutes.

Core was airlifted to a regional medical center, where he underwent spinal surgery for a broken cervical spine. Core subsequently underwent physical therapy and regained many of his physical abilities, but “continues to lack sensation on his right side and right lower extremity and has weakness in his left hand.” It is also expected that Core will have some pain associated with arthritis in the future.

Core incurred medical expenses totaling $146,083.69.

In an incident report prepared after Core’s accident, a park ranger stated that he asked numerous fraternity members three separate times if anyone had checked the depth of the water before Core conducted the dive. They responded that no one had checked the depth at the end of the pier. According to the park ranger, different members of the group had told him they thought the depth of the water was deeper than the actual depth of the lake at that location.

The park ranger also noted in the incident report that “the lake’s color was dark due to the tannic acids from the organic matter, which 32 Parks & Recreation

makes judging the depth of the water very difficult.”

Reasonable Person Standard Core filed a claim with the Commission seeking damages from the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR) under the North Carolina Tort Claims Act, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-291 et seq. (“Tort Claims Act”). Core alleged NCDPR and its agents were negligent in that they “failed to keep the park’s premises reasonably safe and failed to warn of shallow water conditions” that NCDPR “knew or should have known were dangerous to visitors of the park.” NCDPR denied Core’s allegations of negligence and further asserted that Core’s claim should be “barred” based on his “own contributory negligence.”

The Commission filed a decision and order on August 22, 2017, concluding the defendant NCDRP negligently failed “to warn Plaintiff of the hidden danger of shallow water at the end of the pier at the park.” The Commission, however, denied Core’s claim after concluding: “Plaintiff ’s injuries on 4 October 2014” were “proximately caused by Plaintiff ’s own contributory negligence.”

Core appealed.

On appeal, Core claimed that “the shallow water beneath the pier constituted a hidden danger.”

Moreover, Core argued the Commission’s conclusion that he was “contributorily negligent” was not supported by the evidence, regardless of “any level of knowledge” of the hazardous condition attributable to Core.

The appeals court acknowledged “well-settled law” that “the

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Tort Claims Act does not authorize recovery, unless the claimant is free from contributory negligence.” As noted by the appeals court, an individual is “guilty of contributory negligence” when the failure to exercise ordinary care concurs with the negligence of the defendant and contributes to the plaintiff ’s injury.

Every person having the capacity to exercise ordinary care for his own safety against injury is required by law to do so. Ordinary care is such care as an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances to avoid injury…. A plaintiff ’s conduct on a particular occasion must be viewed in light of what a reasonable person would have done under the same or similar circumstances.

Under the circumstances of this case, Core had argued “a person of ordinary prudence would have concluded that the water was deep enough to safely perform a shallow dive without verifying the water’s depth.”

What You See Is What You Get? According to the appeals court, “specific findings of fact” were required before determining that an adequate legal basis existed to conclusively establish contributory negligence. As a result, before determining whether Core’s claim was “barred by his own contributory negligence,” the appeals court would require the Commission to determine “whether Plaintiff ’s conduct on 4 October 2014 did or did not conform to an objective standard of behavior — the care an ordinarily prudent person would have exer-

cised under the same or similar circumstances to avoid injury.”

As noted by the appeals court, Core had claimed the following alleged facts indicated he had acted reasonably under the circumstances: On 4 October 2014, he looked for warning signs regarding diving into the water at the end of the pier but saw none. He looked into the water but was unable to see the bottom. He described the water as ‘very dark.’ Plaintiff recalled seeing boats on the lake and various invitations around the park inviting visitors to swim from the pier. He noted the presence of ladders going down into the water from the pier. As a result, Plaintiff determined the water was deep enough to allow for diving.

In response, NCDPR had cited the following facts to indicate Core’s failure to act like “a reasonably prudent person” under the same or similar circumstances: As an experienced competitive swimmer, both in high school and with his college swim club, Plaintiff received extensive training and coaching in swimming and diving, including the method of shallow diving....Despite describing the water at the park as ‘very dark,’ such that he could not see into it, Plaintiff testified that he assumed the water at the end of the pier was deep enough for shallow diving….

Plaintiff admitted in his direct testimony that he should not have performed a shallow dive into the lake without first confirming the water’s depth.

As characterized by the appeals court, the Commission had determined Core was contributorily negligent based on the following points: (1) Plaintiff ’s admitted failure

to ascertain the actual depth of the water at the end of the pier, and his subsequent statement that he ‘should have checked’ the depth of the water before diving; and

(2) Plaintiff ’s failure to avoid the danger of the shallow water by entering the lake via the ladders on the pier, or by jumping in feet first instead of diving.

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LAW REVIEW

Reasonable Observations?

While recognizing the applicability of the “the reasonable or ordinarily prudent person standard,” the appeals court found “the Commission made no assessment of the reasonableness of Plaintiff ’s conduct in light of the circumstances that existed on 4 October 2014.”

Moreover, the appeals court noted that one of the commissioners had expressed the following dissenting view regarding the reasonableness of Core’s behavior and contributory negligence under the circumstances: 34 Parks & Recreation

Plaintiff ’s assessment of the surrounding circumstances, looking for signs of danger and attempting to ascertain the depth of the water, was reasonable on his part and Plaintiff made reasonable conclusions that it was safe to perform a shallow dive based on the circumstances...

The greater weight of the evidence in the instant case fails to show that a reasonably prudent person would have or should have anticipated a water depth of eighteen inches at the end of the pier. The pier extended a distance greater than a football field in length out into the water, allowing for the reasonable conclusion that it was long enough to provide access to a deeper part of the lake....There are numerous notices around the park inviting visitors to swim at the pier in question, without warning of shallow water. There is a complete lack of signs or information warning against diving off the pier. (Emphases added by the Court).

On appeal, NCDPR cited the earlier state courts of appeal decisions, which had held “a plaintiff ’s failure to first determine the depth of water prior to diving constitutes contributory negligence.” Accordingly, NCDPR argued there was “little question that a reasonably prudent person would not dive, head first, into a natural body of water without first checking to determine if it was safe.”

While past state appeals court decisions may have held “plaintiffs were contributorily negligent in sustaining their diving-related injuries,” the appeals court noted these earlier appellate decisions had included findings of fact, specifically

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“observations about certain contemporaneous circumstances surrounding the plaintiffs’ conduct.”

However, in this instance, the appeals court found the “pivotal question” in determining contributory negligence was left unresolved by the Commission; i.e., whether Core “failed to exercise such care for his own safety as a reasonably careful and prudent person would have used under similar circumstances.”

Accordingly, the appeals court found the Commission had erred in concluding “the mere act of diving into a body of water without knowing or checking its depth and striking the bottom constitutes contributory negligence per se, “(i.e., in and of itself, the act alone established contributory negligence).”

In reaching this conclusion, the appeals court held: “The determination of contributory negligence cannot be predicated on the automatic application of per se rules which do not take into account the particular state of facts presented.”

Case-by-Case Approach As described by the appeals court, the Commission had concluded Core was contributorily negligent because he failed to confirm “the water’s depth before diving and not using a safer available means of entering the water.” In the opinion of the appeals court, this “per se,” one-size-fits-all approach taken by the Commission reflected “a fundamental misunderstanding of the case-by-case approach required to determine whether a particular plaintiff was contributorily negligent on a particular occasion.” (Emphasis of Court). According to the appeals court: “No inflexible rule

can be laid down as to what constitutes contributory negligence as a matter of law, as each case must be decided on its own facts.”

While Core was “a first-time visitor to the park” and he had “made numerous observations before concluding the water at the end of the pier was deep enough for diving,” the Commission had noted Core had “extensive training and coaching in swimming and diving, including the method of shallow diving.”

In concluding Core was “contributorily negligent,” the appeals court, however, found “the Commission did not indicate which of these or any other circumstances rendered Plaintiff ’s actions unreasonable.”

In the opinion of the appeals court: “To say that one has failed to use due care or that one has been negligent, without more, is to state a mere unsupported conclusion.”

20-20 Hindsight In this instance, Core had admitted to the Commission that, in retrospect, he “should not have performed a shallow dive into the lake without first confirming the water’s depth.”

According to the appeals court, this admission by Core after the fact “did not alone support a conclusion that a reasonable person would have acted differently in the moment”: The negligence analysis does not judge people’s actions based on 2020 hindsight. Rather, it asks whether a person’s actions were reasonable in light of the circumstances at the time of the actions.

The Commission had also observed that there were “alternative means available” to Core for entering the water and Middleton had jumped into the water feet first. In the opinion of the appeals court,

these observations, standing alone, would not conclusively support the Commission’s determination that a “reasonable person” in Core’s position would necessarily have “avoided diving from the end of the pier.”

Unknown Obvious Danger?

As noted by the appeals court, the Commission had characterized the shallow water surrounding the pier as “a danger unknown to Plaintiff, and subject to being hidden visually by water conditions.” The appeals court found this point particularly relevant to the question of Core’s contributory negligence because state appeals courts had generally held that “a party cannot be guilty of contributory negligence unless he acts or fails to act with knowledge and appreciation, either actual or constructive, of the danger of injury which his conduct involves.” (Emphasis of Court) While Core may not have been aware of the water’s shallow depth, within the context of contributory negligence, the appeals court acknowledged that Core could still be charged with constructive knowledge of the danger “if his conduct ignored unreasonable risks or dangers, which would have been apparent to a prudent person exercising ordinary care for his own safety”: Where a plaintiff is injured by an unsafe condition, the doctrine of contributory negligence will preclude a defendant’s liability if the Plaintiff actually knew of the unsafe condition or if a hazard should have been obvious to a reasonable person.

Whether a particular risk or danger should have been apparent in the exercise of ordinary care depends on the unique factual circumstances presented in each case.

No inflexible rule can be laid down as to what constitutes contributory negligence as a matter of law, as each case must be decided on its own facts.

While finding Core “lacked actual knowledge of the dangerous condition of shallow water,” the appeals court found the Commission had erred in making “no specific finding(s) as to whether or why the danger should have been obvious” to impute Core had constructive knowledge. (Emphasis of Court) Conclusion Because the existence of contributory negligence required a determination of “reasonableness that depends upon the particular facts of each case,” the appeals court found “the Commission’s conclusion that Plaintiff was contributorily negligent was not supported by sufficient findings of fact.” The appeals court, therefore, remanded (i.e., sent back) Core’s negligence claims to the Commission to determine which specific facts would prove whether Core had failed to exercise ordinary care for his own safety under the circumstances of this particular case.

See Also: Fateful Dive into ‘Closed’ Park Pond Pool, James C. Kozlowski, Parks & Recreation, Dec. 2016, Vol. 50, Iss. 12, http://cehdclass.gmu.edu/ jkozlows/lawarts/12DEC16.pdf.

James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D., is an Attorney and Associate Professor in the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism at George Mason University (jkozlows@gmu.edu). Webpage with link to law review articles archive (1982 to present): http:// mason.gmu.edu/~jkozlows.

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Protecting and Managing Parklands to Reduce Wildfire Risks

East Bay Regional Park District parkland before forest management activities to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.

By Robert Doyle

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he face of wildfire fuel management is shifting rapidly in the western United States. Unsettlingly described as the “new normal,” today’s wildfires are burning faster and hotter, are behaving more unpredictably than ever before and are often occurring year-round in the West. Large public landowners, such as park districts and forest agencies, play an important role in meeting this new challenge. By protecting fire-prone wildland areas from new development and carefully managing those public wildlands, park agencies can help protect lives, property and natural resources. So, what are the unique fire prevention challenges facing the East Bay Hills area of Northern California, and what are some of the parkland management tools being employed to successfully meet them?

Unique Fire Prevention Challenges The East Bay Hills, a ridgeline on the east side of the San Francisco Bay that stretches from the city of Richmond to Castro Valley, Cal36 Parks & Recreation

ifornia, includes 3,000 acres of wildland-urban interface that is owned and managed by the East Bay Regional Park District (Park District). The Park District is the largest regional park agency in the

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country, managing a two-county regional park system that includes 121,391 acres of land and 73 parks on the eastern side of California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Its wildfire forest landscape is uniquely challenging, as the forest management area borders some of the most expensive real estate in the nation, occupied by a population of more than a million citizens.

Much of the area contains the habitats for several threatened and endangered species, including the California red-legged frog and Alameda whipsnake, and large swaths of vegetation that is not native to the state, most notably plantations of blue gum and red gum eucalyp-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT

CONSERVATION

tus and non-native pine that, arguably, create severe wildfire risks if not managed. Resource agency permits for implementation of wildfire forest reduction activities include specific conditions for working in these habitats and around special-status species. The Park District’s wildland forest reduction team coordinates with dozens of partners, including environmental consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, academia from nearby U.C. Berkeley, utility companies with easements through parkland, community organizations and federal, state and local government agencies, in accordance with permitting and funding conditions.

Wildland Forest Management Tools For decades, the Park District has performed various forms of forest management activities to reduce wildfire risks in ridgeline areas.

These efforts have historically included maintenance of a 200-footwide fuel break between regional parklands and the urban border, goat grazing to control vegetation growth and manual removal of hazardous vegetation in fire-prone areas.

The catastrophic Oakland Hills Fire in 1991 significantly changed the scope and scale of fire-prevention efforts. The fire started in a residential backyard, adjacent to wildland managed by East Bay Regional Park District, in a canyon above a freeway tunnel where many fires had burned before. It

caught in dry grass and brush, but quickly exploded into the densely packed homes along the steep canyon and the 100-foot-tall eucalyptus plantations, becoming an immediate conflagration. At the time, the Oakland Hills fire was the most devastating fire California had ever seen, claiming 26 lives and nearly 3,000 structures. Unfortunately, only the 2018 Paradise, California, fire has eclipsed the Oakland fire in terms of loss of life and property. These fires are examples of the complex fire landscape that many land managers in the western United States grapple with: a combination of challenging terrain, roaring winds and a fuel mix of overgrown, fire-prone vegetation and dense housing.

In the aftermath of the Oakland Hills fire, wildfire prevention efforts began to be re-examined. The Park District worked with local

community leaders and government partners to better coordinate fire response and land-management actions to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. The current iteration of this fuel management program is governed by the Park District’s Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan (WHRRMP), a prescriptive action plan incorporating ecological assessment, fire behavior and fuel modeling. The plan makes recommendations for where initial fuel treatments should be focused and emphasizes the importance of repeated treatments over the long term to ensure undesirable vegetation does not grow back.

The effort to establish the current program reflects more than a decade of work, including plan development, coordination with scientific experts, negotiation with stakeholders and comprehensive public re-

East Bay Regional Park District parkland after forest management activities to reduce the risk of devastating wildfires.

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CONSERVATION

A crew clears brush as a preventative measure against potential wildfires.

view. Today, the Park District’s fire department, biologists and full-time ecologist manage a robust program in the East Bay Hills area to reduce wildland vegetation, minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires and improve habitat conditions.

The key to successful wildland forest management lies in a diversity of means, methods and partnerships. The Park District employs a toolbox of seasonal treatment methods, allowing for a year-round commitment to sustainable fuel reduction. In the spring and early summer, goats graze much of the existing fuel break. Year-round, contractors complete large brushand tree-thinning projects and hand crews work to clear heavy brush.

In addition to these treatments, the Park District is in the final stages

The key to successful wildland forest management lies in a diversity of means, methods and partnerships.

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of developing a programmatic, prescriptive fire plan that will provide another fuel-reduction tool and improve habitat conditions.

This commitment to year-round sustainable forest management is expensive and an ongoing cost, for which East Bay Regional Park District relies on voter-approved funding, state and federal grants, and partnerships.

The Importance of FEMA The Park District’s collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has helped provide significant ongoing funding for its current forest management practices.

This FEMA- and CAL FIREfunded work has enabled the Park District to significantly reduce hazardous wildland fuels and the potential for a catastrophic fire event. For example, a 2017 fire event near Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, California, burned into a managed forest on Park District prop-

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erty, allowing crews to quickly put out the fire, avoiding any serious damage. They were able to do so largely because the vegetation had been thinned as part of the Park District’s WHRRMP. From 1923 to 1991, there have been several large, catastrophic fires occurring on the same area in the East Bay Hills, demonstrating the cyclic fire history pattern. This wildfire protection work is highly dependent on funding from FEMA and CAL FIRE. It is helping to protect lives and avoid another catastrophic event like the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire. The resources FEMA and CAL FIRE have for pre-disaster fire hazard reduction need to be protected and augmented. More resources are needed to address the evolving need statewide and throughout the West.

The immediacy of California’s fire conundrum has made clear the need for change, as well as brought about some innovative new solutions. Land managers and park agencies, like the East Bay Regional Park District, play an increasingly important role in protecting fire-prone areas. But, perhaps most significantly, several devastating years of the “new normal” have inspired a vast consensus among land managers, lawmakers and the public that a new paradigm with increased funding is needed if the landscapes of the West are to be resilient to wildfire.

Robert Doyle is the General Manager for the East Bay Regional Park District (rdoyle@ebparks.org).

It’s Your Time to Shine

Get Recognition with an NRPA Award: Innovation Awards - Honor agencies improving their communities in inspirational ways.

Spotlight Awards - Honor individuals for their commitment to the field.

Scholarships & Fellowships - Give up-and-coming professionals access to the NRPA Annual Conference.

Submissions will be accepted January 7 – March 29

nrpa.org/Awards

Participants in the city of Westminster’s Employee Wellness Program work their core at the end of Tabata class, where high-intensity, timed intervals (including strength and cardio) are used to get the maximum benefit.

Protect the Health and Wellness of Your Park and Recreation Staff

By Cassie Pais and Lauren Kiefert

A

s the health and wellness leaders in their communities, park and recreation staff members work tirelessly to ensure all community members can enjoy the social, physical and emotional benefits of parks and recreation. However, in prioritizing the health of their community, it can be easy for them to sacrifice their own well-being. Between the long hours, physically demanding responsibilities and stress of trying to consistently provide a safe and nurturing environment to all park users, staff can be burdened with limited opportunities for their own exercise, nutrition planning, relaxation and stress management.

And, today’s emerging challenges only exacerbate these pressures.

In many communities, staff members are confronting the anguishing realities of the opioid epidemic, including cleaning up needles and working with law enforcement and emergency medical services to respond to overdoses in parks. They are also mentors in the community and can be tasked with responding to a host of adverse childhood experi-

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ences, traumas, violent and dangerous behaviors, and other challenges beyond the traditional scope of a park and recreation professional.

Leading the Way The private, nonprofit and governmental sectors are evolving to meet the needs of a working population that seeks better employee wellness

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offerings and greater work-life balance. Employee well-being is vital to fostering a productive and safe working environment, improving productivity and increasing employee retention. Park and recreation agencies can lead this trend by ensuring their health and wellness priorities are extended to their employees.

Following are some examples of agencies that are leading the way in safeguarding the physical health and emotional well-being of their employees:

West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation & Community Services Department, Wisconsin

Pais and Kiefert: What are you doing to ensure the physical health and emotional well-being of your employ-

STEVE HOSTETLER PHOTOGRAPHY

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

West Allis-West Milwaukee’s Advice to other Park and Recreation Agencies:

ees regarding the opioid epidemic?

Shelly Strasser, Director: Our fulltime staff and some part-time staff have participated in mindfulness training to learn techniques for calming and focusing. We are also building a new Recreation and Community Services Center, where staff will receive free memberships to access open gyms and use the walking track. In the summer, we offer a free 30 Days of Yoga program and encourage staff to participate.

All employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program, which offers professional counseling, telephone support and online resources 24 hours/7 days a week.

Employees may be referred to shortterm counseling at a nearby location.

Employees are entitled to up to three in-person sessions, per incident.

Pais and Kiefert: Picking up needles, interacting with users, serving highrisk youth — these can be traumatic experiences for park staff, especially younger staff. What guidance do you offer about these challenging experiences?

Strasser: Treat everyone with respect, offer resources for help if they suspect use, and don’t be afraid to contact the local authorities if they are in a situation they cannot control or do not feel is safe.

Be cognizant of the impact that this has on children, families and co-workers. We often think these challenges are someone else’s when, in fact, some of our staff might be experiencing this in their personal life.

We also offered our out-of-schooltime (OST) site coordinators the opportunity for training in Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Care/Trauma Sensitive Schools/Afterschool programs.

City of Westminster, Colorado

Pais and Kiefert: What is your Employee Wellness Program?

Nicki Leo, Wellness Coordinator: Our Wellness Program is an integral part of our efforts to provide a quality work environment, with effective employees who are prepared to deliver quality service to our citizens. The city’s approach to wellness is strategic, with a focus on cost containment, education and chronic disease management.

We address sky-rocketing healthcare costs with a long-term and strategic approach to the city’s benefits package, as well as by driving consumer awareness and personal involvement in healthcare. The city supports a productive cost-containment strategy through The Center for Healthy Living and our on-site employee health clinic, which provides free and convenient healthcare options to those in our self-insured plan: all other employees in the Wellness program utilize the clinic for wellness HRAs and program activities.

The city of Westminster was awarded “Colorado’s Healthiest Employer” in 2015 and 2016 by the Denver Business Journal and named the 5th Healthiest Employer in the U.S. by the Healthiest 100 Employers program in 2017 and 2018.

Pais and Kiefert: What was the catalyst for this program? How is it funded?

Leo: The program was inspired by requests for activities that would bring staff together, provide safety information and support a health fair. From there, a wellness committee was formed, and employees were surveyed about what kind of activities they wanted. At this time, the com-

Don’t try and go it alone...reach out to local resources to partner with or see if they can help. Remember that mental health and physical health are intertwined and both are equally important. Staff members need to take care of themselves so they can be at their best when serving others!

mittee members were volunteer staff who represented each department within the city. In 1998, based on the desire to expand the program and begin implementing ROI information, cost/benefit strategies and address increasing health insurance costs, a full-time wellness coordinator was brought into the Human Resources department. The program is a line item in our budget, of approximately $70,000 per year (not including staffing). We are very fortunate to have management support at all levels in the organization — which is one of the reasons it has been so successful.

Pais and Kiefert: Has the program met its intended outcomes?

Leo: Our healthcare cost trend over time, as compared to the Colorado average, remains consistently lower than what other organizations experience. Our six-year average trend in our self-insured plan is 3.5 percent, which is extremely low and why we are able to keep our annual premium increases at nearly half of what others experience, all the while maintaining a quality and financially sustainable plan. We continue to experience an average of 80 percent participation in both the wellness program and on-site clinic.

This program has created an employee-centered culture and resulted in many examples of early diagnosis of life-altering diseases, including cancers, diabetes, coronary artery disease and other chronic conditions.

Cassie Pais is an NRPA Development Officer (cpais@nrpa.org). Lauren Kiefert is an NRPA Program Specialist (lkiefert@nrpa.org).

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HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

SOCIAL EQUITY

Children at Shady Lane Park put handprints in newly poured cement.

Introducing the Parks for Inclusion Policy Guide, Because Everyone Is Welcome at Parks

By Maureen Acquino and Suzanne Nathan

T

rue to the very philosophy of public parks and recreation is the idea that all people – no matter where they come from, what they look like, the neighborhood they live in or how they identify – have access to quality programs, facilities, places and spaces that make their lives and communities more enjoyable. In theory, this is great.

In reality, this can be a challenging goal to achieve.

With this in mind, NRPA launched the Parks for Inclusion (www.nrpa.org/ParksForInclu sion) initiative in September 2017, in response to a formal pledge made to the global Commit to Inclusion program. The goal of Parks for Inclusion is to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of parks and recreation, especially historically marginalized groups, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ 42 Parks & Recreation

community, and refugees and immigrants or New Americans.

These historically marginalized groups face significant health, economic and environmental disparities in relation to the social determinants of health, including diminished access to good jobs, quality housing and education, healthy food, and physical activity opportunities. Park and recreation agencies have the power and the responsibility to address these disparities by creating welcoming and

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inclusive spaces that promote positive health outcomes physically, socially and mentally for our most vulnerable populations and community members.

Shortly after Parks for Inclusion was launched, NRPA membership was surveyed to get a sense of how agencies were creating inclusive spaces in their facilities and programs, and what challenges existed that acted as barriers to inclusion.

Agencies were also asked what resources would be valuable to them, with the goal of inclusion in mind.

Survey results were released in February 2018 in the Park and Recreation Inclusion Report (www.nrpa. org/inclusionreport), which found that while park and recreation professionals agree their facilities

+

INCLUSION A community that prioritizes inclusion works to ensure that all community members feel that they can access what they need to be successful.

CARMEL CLAY PARKS & RECREATION

EQUITY A community that prioritizes equity works to ensure that all community members have access to what they need to be successful.

The result of equity and inclusion working together is a vibrant community, strong in its efforts to create environments in which everyone feels welcome, safe and respected. and services should be available to all, they may lack the resources to make that a reality. One of the most identified needs was policy creation – how to write and establish an agency-wide policy that ensures all community members feel welcomed in facilities and programs.

To meet that need, NRPA created a best practices guide for developing an inclusion policy, as well as a policy template, Parks for Inclusion: Guidelines for Developing an Inclusion Policy. The guide highlights the key components of a policy, while the template is a customizable piece for agencies to create their own unique inclusion policy and be able to hit the ground running.

In addition to practical applications and providing a step-by-step process for creating and adopting an inclusion policy, the guide acknowledges the intersection of equity and inclusion, and how the two components working together create a vibrant community, strong in its efforts to foster environments where everyone feels welcomed, safe and respected.

Available on NRPA’s website, the best practices guide (www.nrpa.org/ ParksForInclusion) walks agencies

through the steps to create a policy: • What is a policy • Why it’s important to specifically call out inclusive practices • How to assess community needs and involve the community and target audiences in policy creation • How to measure the effectiveness of the guide • How to implement the policy among agency staff and the greater community The guide also includes policy examples from agencies across the country and was reviewed by NRPA members involved in the association’s Social Equity and Health and Wellness Advisory panels.

In addition to creating a formal inclusion policy, NRPA encourages members to make an inclusion pledge to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of parks and recreation, especially historically marginalized groups. For more information on the Parks for Inclusion initiative, and to download the guide, visit www.nrpa.org/Parks ForInclusion.

Maureen Acquino is NRPA’s Program Manager (macquino@nrpa.org). Suzanne Nathan is NRPA’s Media Specialist (snathan@nrpa.org).

Key Findings from the Park and Recreation Inclusion Report Park and recreation professionals often serve diverse populations with differing needs and desires.

Agencies offer programming and activities for many community members, including: • Individuals with physical disabilities (74%) and/or cognitive disabilities (62%) • Members of multicultural/racial/ethnic communities (71%) • Members of the LGBTQ+ communities (30%) • Members of the refugee or immigrant communities (27%) What they have in common is how they define “inclusion” for parks and recreation. Industry leaders agree that park and recreation facilities, programs and services should be accessible to people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic position or physical/cognitive ability. Inclusion means removing barriers that can deprive some people of the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of parks and recreation.

Survey respondents also see inclusiveness at park and recreation facilities as a way to bring people together and celebrate the diversity of the communities in which they live.

Two in 5 park and recreation agencies have a formal policy that ensure their offerings and facilities are inclusive to all members of the community.

The greatest challenges keeping park and recreation agencies from being more inclusive to all members of the community include: • Insufficient funding (57%) • Inadequate staffing (46%) • Facility-space shortages (29%) • Lack of staff training (25%)

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Something to

Tl

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lk About

R

Using public speaking to put yourself and your park agency on the map

By Vitisia Paynich

emember in elementary school when you made your very first oral presentation in front of your entire 4th grade class? No matter how many years later, the vivid details come streaming back: the nervous knots in the pit of your stomach, the beads of sweat forming above your brow, along with that feeling of dread at the thought of the teacher calling your name and summoning you to the front of the classroom.

Although you likely came out

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PUBLIC SPEAKING

Being able to present oneself in a professional and confident manner is paramount to delivering high-quality customer service to community members. of that experience relatively unscathed, for many, that anxiety can follow them into adulthood.

According to the Chapman University Survey on American Fears, 25.3 percent of Americans fear public speaking more than heights, bugs and drowning. Put into more clinical terms, those who experience such trepidation suffer from glossophobia. However, for those in parks and recreation, interacting with community members and the public at large comes with the ter-

ritory — no matter their level of experience. But, do park and rec professionals really need training in public speaking?

“I think it’s important because park and rec professionals serve the public,” says Debbie Trueblood, executive director at the Illinois Park & Recreation Association.

“They need to be prepared to address audiences at public meetings, as well as at parent groups. And, executive-level staff [members] need to be able to present recommendations to their board and communities.”

An avid public speaker at industry events, Trueblood presented a session, called “Public Speaking Like a Pro,” during the 2018 NRPA Annual Conference this past September. She believes public speaking training should be offered to all park agency staff, not just those at the executive level. “I think the professionals in all types of positions within our professional community will become experts in their work, and they may choose to share that knowledge as content experts at conferences, in-house training and those kinds of things.”

Following are some best practices for public speaking that can help you build your confidence to effectively engage community members, successfully communicate your point of view and impart your industry expertise in a clear and concise manner.

Career Advancement Did you know that public speaking anxiety can actually affect your 46 Parks & Recreation

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earning potential? What’s more, fear of public speaking has a 10 percent impairment to salary and a 15 percent impairment to potential job promotions, according statistics featured in a Columbia University publication.

Trueblood believes many professionals in the park and rec field are so intimidated by the idea of public speaking that “they just absolutely don’t want to take on any kind of responsibility where this might be a part of it.” She views it as a self-inflicted limitation that holds people back in their careers.

“There are a lot of opportunities and positions where [people] could be moving up in their career, if they’re willing to do some training to get comfortable in public speaking,” Trueblood says.

“If they do, it might be the difference between a manager position and a director position.”

Connecting with the Community Regardless of your level or position, a park and recreation team does interact with the public in some fashion. Thus, being able to present oneself in a professional and confident manner is paramount to delivering high-quality customer service to community members.

For senior-level staffers, who must gain community support for proposed programming, exuding confidence as well as competence is required for effective outreach.

After all, if you make a presentation to “try to communicate a new plan to your community and you’re so nervous to be on stage, it won’t necessarily convince the public that you’re a content expert,” Trueblood asserts.

However, if you’re prepared,

you have your research and statistics and you present that information in a confident way, “you’re going to be much more communicative to your community,” she continues, “and you’ll know that [the plan] you are presenting is a good one.”

A Better Communicator, A Better Manager While public speaking enables park professionals to promote their agency’s service offerings more effectively, developing these skills also allows managers to communicate more productively with their staff. Trueblood says people with this type of training can become better managers, “because they have the skills to help them lead groups.”

She adds: “If you’re trained in public speaking, you will become more comfortable and more willing to volunteer to lead a team….”

For executive-level professionals, the more you hone these skills, the better you’ll be at listening to your staff ’s needs and making recommendations. In addition, you’ll have the skill set to succinctly convey your objectives and expectations to your team.

Breaking the Ice As content experts, it’s advantageous for park and recreation professionals to share that knowledge with colleagues by speaking at conferences, seminars and other industry events. It not only creates networking opportunities, but it can also enhance the profile of you and your agency among peers.

However, not knowing how to engage the audience from the get-go may be why some people shy away from making presentations or giving speeches. They avoid this type

of social engagement for fear of rejection and harsh criticism.

So, how do you get the audience’s attention? “There’s really not one right or best way,” admits Trueblood. Some speakers prefer to open their presentation with a joke, while others choose to tell a story to break the ice. The key is authenticity.

“The first rule is do what feels comfortable to you,” Trueblood suggests. While telling a joke might not feel authentic, she says introducing herself and then telling a story within the first 5 minutes of her presentation feels more natural to her and helps to engage the audience. She adds that telling a story offers audience members a visual experience that brings people into a narrative.

Another option for breaking the ice is to open with a participation survey. “For example, you ask attendees, ‘How many of you have ever done public speaking before?’ And, they raise their hands or they don’t raise their hands,” Trueblood explains. Or, perhaps, you offer multiple options: (a) You’ve done public speaking a lot; (b) You’ve done some public speaking; or (c) You’ve never done public speaking. By creating that physical experience, where people are participating, you’re forming a bond between the speaker and the audience, according to Trueblood. Thus, the audience is committed to listening and providing feedback.

Preparing for Different Presentations Those who do public speaking frequently know that preparation is critical. And, depending on the type of presentation, the

3 Quick Tips for Calming Your Nerves Before Public Speaking Making a speech is not an easy endeavor, especially when the adrenaline is rushing through your body minutes before your presentation. Here are three valuable tips from Forbes.com contributor Nick Morgan that may help put your mind and body at ease.

1

Focus on the ‘offstage beat.’ Before your presentation, take a few moments to get into an appropriate emotion. This is a method actors generally follow. Think to yourself, “I’ve just got a promotion, received a big grant — I’m having a great day!” The goal is to find an appropriate emotion that will enable you to face the audience with excitement. What’s more, it will help distract you and re-channel your adrenaline.

2

Breathe deep ‘belly’ breaths. Take a deep breath of air in through your belly, expanding it as you take air in. Refrain from moving your shoulders upward the way most people do when they breathe, as it makes your lungs smaller. Instead, expand your belly and pull the air into your stomach.

3

Take a walk or engage in moderate exercise. Schedule an hour or two prior to speaking. However, don’t overdo it. After all, you don’t want to wear yourself out before your speech.

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PUBLIC SPEAKING

The Role of Technology When it comes to technology, there are definite pros and cons. As Trueblood puts it: “While I think technology is a wonderful thing, much of the advice I give to people, as they plan and build their skills in public speaking, is about how to prepare for the likely possibility that technology will not go the way that you planned.” Here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

1

Bring a flash drive. “When I’m public speaking, I have my PowerPoint slides usually on a flash drive,” Trueblood says.

Some conference venues provide their own equipment, such as a laptop, for educational programming and request that speakers bring their presentations on a flash drive.

2

Back up to the Cloud. Consider saving your PowerPoint file to the Cloud as a backup to your flash drive.

3

Keep a printed hardcopy on hand. Trueblood says she always brings at least one hardcopy printout of her presentation or speech. That way, if the tech equipment — such as the laptop, projection screen or teleprompter — fails to work,

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simply break out the hardcopy and continue with your presentation.

4

Have your laptop ready to go. Even though some conference hosts prefer that speakers use their laptop computer, it’s best to have your own laptop standing by in case something goes wrong with the A/V. In addition, be sure to bring your own power cords, adaptors, etc.

5

Keep time with a portable clock. Although smartphones generally keep accurate time, constantly staring down at your mobile device might send the wrong message to the audience. Are you checking your text messages or Twitter feed while speaking?

Instead, invest in a small clock to track your time and place it discreetly on the podium.

6

Consider a remote device. “I bring my own clicker and an extra set of batteries,” notes Trueblood. She says this gives her the freedom to advance her slides remotely while moving about the room and engaging the audience, rather than being tethered to a laptop.

“What you want to do is focus on good, meaty detailed information in your session, so that your attendees walk away with something new and important to them.” preparation process will vary. For example, a formal speech will usually require the speaker to memorize the content. “There will also likely be less visual aids,” Trueblood notes. She also advises speakers to avoid rattling off too many statistics, as it won’t resonate with the audience. Instead, use imagery and storytelling to advance the listener’s knowledge.

In addition, a formal speech presentation requires more practice than a presentation for a typical education session. “You’ll need to rehearse your speech until it is almost or totally memorized,” says Trueblood. That way, you avoid reading the script, because “you never want to stand in front of an audience only to have them look at the top of your head while you are reading your notes,” she warns.

“Also, because of that lack of visual aids, you likely will need to practice your presentation using much more of your voice, your body and your gestures to engage the audience — only because they have less to look at. Audience members are more likely to [mentally] check out if you’re not prepared to bring them along for the ride.”

If you’re delivering a traditional presentation for an education session at a conference, where you have a PowerPoint deck be

hind you, be sure to avoid just reading your slides. Instead, add your own narrative to the slides to get your points across to the audience. Prior to your scheduled session, make sure to practice thoroughly — rehearsing your presentation aloud while standing up. Also, use a timer.

“Practice your presentation many times over so that as you’re looking at those slides, you know the triggers to the information that is coming next,” she says. You should know where to access the stories and what slides you can go more quickly through.

Lastly, for a panel presentation where there are multiple speakers, make sure you all rehearse together to ensure a smooth, cohesive presentation. Otherwise, you run the risk of constantly speaking over each other or creating friction between speakers vying to become the main speaker.

Making an Impact How do you ensure your presentation is making a big impact? “What you want to do is focus on good, meaty detailed information in your session, so that your attendees walk away with something new and important to them,” advises Trueblood.

It could be a topic that many different speakers could present on, such as customer service, strategic planning or budgeting. The objective is to present a new angle or perspective so that, hopefully, your attendees leave your session with unique and valuable takeaways that they can share with their own park agency.

What’s more, how do you make sure that you have the confidence to deliver this material that you’ve worked so hard to create? “The

way that you gain that confidence is to practice,” says Trueblood.

Also, keep in mind, the audience wants the information you have to share. You are the communication vehicle by which they receive it, but their focus is on the content.

Public speaking can open many doors for park and rec professionals who dare to take that leap. You just have to be willing to put in the hard work in order to reach the endgame. As far as Trueblood is concerned: “I want folks to feel so comfortable in public speaking that it allows them to advance in their careers, because that’s what I’m really passionate about.”

Vitisia Paynich is a Southern California-based Freelance Writer for Parks & Recreation magazine.

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Newly installed syringe collection kiosk at Patterson Playground in the Bronx (left of bench) is designed to prevent refuse collection by using small holes, rather than the large drawer seen in most commercially available models. Made with a heavy gauge steel, it is also more resistant to vandalism.

Addressing Public Injection and Syringe Disposal in

NYC Parks

By Julien Scott

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF J. SCOTT AT NYC PARKS

O

n May 23, 2017, the City of New York Police Department, commonly known as the NYPD, led a massive, multi-agency operation to clear “The Hole.” This stretch of abandoned railway tracks in the South Bronx had become ground zero for the borough’s often-intertwined crises of opioid addiction and homelessness.

Just across the street from the area’s largest green space, the 35acre St. Mary’s Park, the encampment had been cleared before, but this would be the last time. The NYPD announced plans to build a new headquarters for its 40th precinct on the site, in a district with an opioid overdose death rate twice that of the rest of the city and increasing five times as fast.

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Every syringe collected represented a risk not just to the public and staff, but also to those individuals suffering from addiction and possibly at risk of a fatal overdose in a secluded area of a park or a restroom.

Tipping Point The closure of “The Hole,” coming just at the beginning of NYC Parks’ peak operating season, sent shock waves through the area. The borough’s maintenance and operations staff went from regularly picking up hundreds of syringes each week to collecting thousands.

While St. Mary’s Park and a smaller neighborhood park, Patterson Playground, bore the brunt of the influx, more than a dozen parks across the South Bronx saw a dramatic increase in public drug

use and discarded syringes littering lawns, play equipment, benches, basketball courts and athletic fields.

It was affecting nearly every aspect of park maintenance, as staff was removing syringes from horticultural beds, leaves and vegetation, clearing them from sewer lines and emptying trash bins to pick through the contents before re-bagging them.

Every syringe collected represented a risk not just to the public and staff, but also to those individuals suffering from addiction and possibly at risk of a fatal overdose in a secluded area of a park or a restroom. As an agency that prides itself on improving the quality of life of all New Yorkers, especially those for whom parks are perhaps the only safe space they have or their only opportunity to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of green space, NYC Parks staff felt increasingly unable to fulfill its basic mission.

Crisis Intervention NYC Parks had partnered with other agencies and community-based organizations specializing in harm reduction (often referred to as syringe exchange programs — a misnomer that belies their commitment to meeting all the immediate and long-term needs of those suffering from addiction) to address drug use in parks. However, the South Bronx was in crisis on a scale no one had ever seen.

Armed with an internal audit that revealed staff was picking up close to 5,000 syringes a week over the course of the summer, NYC Parks contacted the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Field researchers immediately toured the parks most affected and were alarmed by what they found — many people, who had been evicted from The Hole, were crowding neighborhood parks, openly injecting drugs amid park patrons and staff, with some desperately asking for the encampment to be reopened.

NYC Parks and DOHMH immediately held a series of meetings to define the scope of the intervention required to ensure the public’s safety, reduce syringe litter and address the needs of a vulnerable and suffering population, and convened a task force to implement each aspect of the response. The monthly meetings of more than 75 individuals brought together city agencies, such as the health, homeless services and police departments, harm reduction organizations, healthcare and treatment providers, housing advocates and community residents.

The 35-acre St. Mary’s Park in the Bronx includes a track, basketball courts, athletic fields, a recreation center with an indoor pool and three playgrounds.

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Syringe Disposal and Working with Vulnerable Communities DOHMH researchers spent six months conducting field observations and interviews with people who use drugs in parks, assessing factors regarding park utilization and drug use, along with service needs and barriers. They also met with community stakeholders, service providers and area residents, and distributed more than 250 naloxone (overdose reversal) kits. This work would inform the task force’s efforts to develop and focus outreach capacity. Respondents also indicated high levels of support for syringe collection kiosks, which were central to reducing syringe litter.

The New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE), a harm reduction organization, proposed an innovative solution to both address syringe litter and provide outreach to those using drugs in the parks.

NYC Parks would purchase, install and maintain 47 kiosks in 16 parks throughout the South Bronx, while NYHRE staff would empty the kiosks and assist with picking up syringes at the parks where the boxes were located. NYHRE would also distribute personal sharps containers and naloxone, promote safe disposal and provide a variety of services, including treatment and housing referrals, HIV/HCV testing, basic medical care, overdose reversal, Medicaid application assistance and referrals to local drop-in centers where these and other services are always accessible. “Syringe disposal kiosks are simply one tiny practical step in a different direction toward building a comprehensive solution grounded in reality,” explains Liz Evans, NYHRE’s executive director.

Kiosk locations were determined by long-term, persistent syringe lit

Custom syringe disposal kiosks, with messaging, are checked and emptied on a weekly basis.

ter — the 16 sites represented more than 99 percent of syringes discarded in Bronx parks — but also by direct engagement with the drug-using population. In addition to interviews conducted by DOHMH, NYHRE surveyed program participants about where they were injecting and seeing the most syringes. Outreach teams also canvassed surrounding neighborhoods to assess syringe litter, so kiosks might improve these conditions for area residents. Highly unstable behavior patterns also had to be factored into the process, influenced by a range of factors, including weather, geography, proximity to services and the frequency of NYPD patrols.

Concurrent with the rollout of the kiosks and additional outreach, Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers partnered with NYPD to increase patrols at all playgrounds where kiosks were installed, and within larger parks receiving kiosks.

Both agencies agreed that patrolling all the area’s parks at all times was impossible and would only displace those using drugs to other parks and public facilities. However, the playgrounds would be patrolled as frequently as possible while children were present, notably before and after school and during recess. NYC Parks issued naloxone to all PEP officers and education-focused Urban Park Rangers and trained them in overdose reversal. After two lives were saved in the parks, Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver made the practice standard procedure citywide for these employees.

A Work in Progress Just as there are no easy or immediate solutions to the opioid epi-

demic, the issues of public drug use and discarded syringes will not be solved overnight. However, over the first six months of the program, encouraging signs of progress were visible. While slightly more than 10 percent of syringes collected in the parks were deposited in kiosks, this represents a staggering 7,314 syringes to which both members of the public and NYC Parks staff were not exposed. Some kiosks were used 100 percent of the time, while others remained empty, even

Just as there are no easy or immediate solutions to the opioid epidemic, the issues of public drug use and discarded syringes will not be solved overnight.

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Patterson Playground includes basketball courts, two playgrounds, a newly constructed synthetic turf field, and serves the local community and school.

though syringes still littered the ground nearby.

Working in close consultation with NYHRE and with input from those using the drugs, NYC Parks relocated several of the sharps disposal units and, in some cases, installed additional units to sites where public injection surpassed expectations. These changes led to an immediate reduction in syringe litter in those locations as kiosk use increased. NYHRE also had teams of outreach workers in the parks every day promoting the use of the kiosks and educating people on safe sharps disposal, recording an astounding 31,697 individual inter-

Is your agency doing similar work? NRPA would like to hear about your program(s). Please contact Lauren Kiefert at lkiefert@nrpa.org to share your story.

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actions — connections made with people who use drugs that offer the full array of services the organization provides. During this time, they also distributed more than 500 naloxone kits, connected more than 100 people with treatment or other care, and intervened in scores of overdoses in area public spaces.* NYC Parks’ partnership with the NYPD led to a marked decrease in drug use and discarded syringes at Patterson Playground, but displacement did occur, with an increase in syringe litter at nearby parks, public housing complexes and in the surrounding streets. This brought the issue of displacement to the forefront of the discussion surrounding how to address public injection, highlighting the need for better information sharing and coordination of resources. It also underscores the importance of the city’s commitment to combatting this crisis by bringing help to people wherever they are.

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“The actions around The Hole demonstrated that displacing people doesn’t solve anything. People who are vulnerable, mentally ill, addicted and experiencing homelessness just get forced into more precarious situations and some die.

Shifting them is simply about optics, rather than about creating real solutions that are better for all of us and our communities,” says Clara Cardelle, Washington Heights Corner Project outreach specialist who worked extensively in The Hole.

This commitment was the basis for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s November 26, 2018 announcement of the Bronx Action Plan, an investment of $8 million to combat the opioid epidemic specifically in the South Bronx. This allocation of funds is in part due to the successful efforts of NYC Parks and Health, as well as NYHRE, to address public injection and discarded syringes in a comprehensive and lasting way.

It has provided all three organizations with the ability to devote additional resources to these efforts and ensures that early successes can be sustained and expanded.

For the first time, many people are cautiously optimistic they may be witnessing a turning point in one of the nation’s communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis. *NY State does not require location specifics for overdose interventions, only an outdoor/public space designation. Most of these locations would have been parks, but not all.

Julien Scott is NYC Parks Bronx Operations Manager (julien.scott@ parks.nyc.gov).

IS YOUR CAREER FULLY CHARGED? Reach the pinnacle of the profession and demonstrate that you are a true leader by becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Executive.

Apply by March 31, 2019 to get 25% off the Management of Park and Recreation Agencies book the perfect resource to prepare for the CPRE exam.

nrpa.org/CPRE

NRPA UPDATE Helping to Advance Pollinator Health

By Michele White, CAE, IOM

I

f you have been paying attention to the news lately, you have probably heard about the dire situation facing pollinators, like honey bees and butterflies. Their population counts around the world are dwindling, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Since 2016, eight pollinator species in the United States have been added to the endangered species list, the most recent being the rusty patched bumble bee. Pollinators are vital to our ecosystems. Without them, life as we know it would be drastically different. Not only do our agricultural systems rely on these mighty workers, (1 in 3 bites of food are here because of them), but our local ecosystems do as well. mine the public’s knowledge of pollinators and protection strategies, and determining if members of the public understood how their personal actions can make a difference. Two different surveys were conducted: a national online omnibus survey and a public survey conducted in five park agencies across the country. The results are important for our field to understand, so we can educate our com-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELA ALTOM

Understanding the urgency for action, NRPA launched Parks for Pollinators, a national campaign focused on raising public awareness about the current pollinator crisis, to encourage local action and position parks as a national leader in advancing pollinator health. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation supported the launch of this campaign, including sponsoring a national survey to deter-

56 Parks & Recreation

munities and help them make a difference to save pollinators.

Omnibus Survey Results The omnibus survey, reporting the views of more than 1,000 nationally representative adults, ages 18 and over, was conducted this past summer. These survey results tell a very encouraging story but also highlight that park and recreation agencies have some work to do. We learned that nearly all Americans (95 percent) agree communities should make special efforts to create designated areas for plants that support the health and growth of pollinators — with more than 2 in 3 Americans (68 percent) completely or strongly agreeing with this statement. Parents (74 percent) are more likely than non-parents (65 percent) and Americans overall (68 percent) to also completely or strongly agree with this statement. Knowing that most Americans support these actions can help inform the way we plan when building or updating our public spaces.

We also learned that while most Americans (66 percent) indicate they want to see pollinator efforts made in and by the community, they are not completely or very confident in knowing what to do when it comes to their own actions in helping to conserve pollinators.

One in 3 bites of food are possible because of pollinators like this bee. | F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 9 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

Regional Surveys Results The regional surveys had similar results. Five agencies: Chicago Park District, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, City of Providence Department of Public Parks and Seattle Parks and Recreation, conducted an intercept survey with adults in their communities. More than 800 people were surveyed in parks within these agencies’ jurisdictions, with at least 100 participants from each agency. Questions ranged from basic pollinator knowledge, to the steps (if any) those surveyed individuals take at home to help pollinators and to how surveyed individuals would like to learn more about pollinator species and their habitats.

The results showed that a clear majority of participants were knowledgeable about pollinators and what issues negatively affect them. And, almost all (94 percent) agreed their personal actions play a role in the health of pollinator species. When participants were asked what barriers, if any, kept them from helping pollinators, more than half (56 percent) stated they were not sure where to start or needed

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFFANY SOUKUP

Parents and millennials are more likely to feel completely or very confident than Americans overall (43 percent and 46 percent versus 34 percent, respectively), but still more than half of all those surveyed are not as confident in the actions they can take to help conserve this vital species.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION

Volunteers plant a pollinator garden in Seattle, Washington.

more information on how to help.

Respondents were also asked what steps at home or within their community do they take, consciously or unconsciously, to support pollinators. Ninety peri-

This dragonfly is one of several other types of pollinators, which includes beetles, butterflies and moths, feral bees, wasps and flower flies.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEATTLE PARKS & RECREATION

N R PA U P DAT E

(Top) Seattle Parks and Recreation staff conduct intercept survey with community members to gauge their pollinators knowledge. (Above) A volunteer workday before the Chicago Park District’s August 2018 “Monarchpalooza” event.

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cent stated they do something to support pollinators, with the most noted responses being that they plant pollinator-friendly and native plants, buy and use organic, natural cleaning and gardening products, plant colorful flowers and look for outdoor garden products that are free of pesticides that are harmful to bees.

Regardless of their knowledge, a clear majority (82 percent) responded they would follow suggested actions to help protect pollinators if shown quick, easy and inexpensive ways. Nearly all respondents (96 percent) also indicated they would like to learn more about pollinators and their habitats. The most sought-after knowledge included topics, such as the types of pollinators found in their areas, gardening tips to encourage pollinators to visit and gardening products they can use that will reduce harm to pollinators.

While there is an abundance of information to comb through, it tells a great story. The public overwhelmingly supports initiatives that help pollinators and pollinator health. But they are looking for information and ways they can help make a difference.

Park and recreation agencies have an opportunity to effect real change in their communities regarding saving pollinators by educating members of the public about what they can personally do to help pollinators thrive.

“We are committed to helping Americans connect with and protect the pollinator habitats in their own local parks and backyards,” says Carol Nowlin, ScottsMiracle-Gro manager for corporate social responsibility.

“That’s why we are partnering

with NRPA to grow people’s understanding of these vital creatures and their confidence in how to protect them.”

Many agencies are already taking steps to help educate their communities. The Dallas Park and Recreation Department, for example, places pollinator habitats in central locations throughout the city, including at City Hall, to demonstrate that pollinator habitats are suitable for all spaces. Dallas also hosts bio blitzes to engage citizen scientists and help their agency survey pollinator populations. Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, in collaboration with the University of Florida IFAS Exten-

sion Office in Miami-Dade County, hosts workshops and tabling events to educate the public about the importance of pollinators and how to help. St. Louis County Parks in Missouri partners with a local botanical garden, local gardening clubs, for-profit garden centers and universities to host educational workshops and disseminate information through its Pollinator Pantry program. It even has a Master Pollinator Steward program.

And, many other agencies host volunteer days to plant pollinator habitats, hold festivals focused on pollinators and raise monarchs, just to name a few.

Through a multitude of educational offerings, any agency can

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Through a multitude of educational offerings, any agency can find ways to share knowledge with its community members to encourage local action. find ways to share knowledge with its community members to encourage local action. Whether its hosting workshops, partnering with your local conservation groups, providing general education or hosting a bio blitz, parks and recreation can make a difference!

– Michele White, CAE, IOM, an NRPA Program Manager

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N R PA U P DAT E

Some FAQs about the Gold Medal Awards

A

pplications are now being accepted for the 2019 Gold Medal Awards, the Oscars for parks and recreation. The online application consists of 25 questions, which all applicants must complete by the March 29 deadline.

In Parks and Recreation, we’ve often highlighted the benefits of, and provided tips on, applying for this award (for example, see the January 2018 article, “The National Gold Medal Award,” (https://tinyurl.com/yaqh 8kd3) by Merry Moiseichik, a University of Arkansas professor, and Carolyn McKnight, the current American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) president).

This year, we reached out to Jodie Adams, chair of the Gold Medal Committee, and Susie Kuruvilla, the committee’s head judge, to get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the application process, such as:

Q A

What is the most common error you see on applications?

A common error is not providing the number of examples specifically requested in the question. Some other mistakes are using the same example multiple times and not highlighting what is unique and special about

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the services and facilities. Judges are looking for quantifiable information and descriptive narratives, and using different examples gives them a broader picture of the agency. Agencies need to tell the overall story in narrative, while also providing enough details and data.

Q A

If you’ve applied before, is it acceptable to recycle previously submitted answers?

If the answers are still relevant, then yes; however, it is always important to re-evaluate and make changes based on new and different elements from year to year.

Q A

How are judges chosen?

A committee under oversight of the AAPRA selects five judges: four permanent-term judges and one guest judge. Judges are carefully selected to ensure they are individuals with a high level of integrity and can be objective.

Q A

What’s the difference between public support and citizen involvement?

Public support shows how the agency is benefiting from the support of the public; i.e., passage of a referendum, public support of a project, etc. Citizen involvement is how residents of the district are engaged/ volunteering with the operations of the agency on an ongoing basis.

Can you give an example of social equity for question 21 (In what

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ways has your agency addressed the NRPA Pillar of Social Equity in the last three years?)

Agencies can address their role in various aspects of social equity in their community; for example, engagement with those who have special needs, cultural diversity, socioeconomics, age diversity, etc.

Q

When asked about innovative or creative projects, are the judges basing this on the individual agency’s innovation or against what other agencies are doing?

Judges are basing the scores on how creative and innovative the project sounds from its description. It is important to demonstrate how the project or initiative is improving the systems or services of the agency in a new, unique way.

A

Q

Can we reference future planned projects/initiatives? Does planning need to be “in progress” at the time of submission?

Future planned projects/initiatives can be referenced, as long as they are in progress or are ready to begin.

Additional information to help you complete the application is available at www.nrpa.org/goldmedal.

The Gold Medal Committee and judges thank all the agencies, state parks and military bases that have applied for the award over the years. They are continually looking for ways to improve the application process and create public awareness for the esteemed Gold Medal Award. Please contact them with questions/comments at any time during the year at goldmedal@ nrpa.org.

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Time to Apply for an NRPA Award

I

s your agency innovative in problem solving and addressing your community needs? Do you have a program or project that is a shining example of NRPA’s three pillars: Health & Wellness, Conservation and Social Equity? Or, do you know someone who excels in the field or is an amazing advocate for it?

If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” then you should apply or nominate a deserving individual for one of the NRPA Awards! We want you to tout your achievements and be recognized for the work you do.

Your accomplishment may help to inspire others.

The NRPA Awards program high­ lights the most innovative and creative programs and initiatives in parks and recreation and honors the best and brightest in the field.

These outstanding initiatives and exceptional people remind us daily of the work that is being done in parks and recreation to improve the quality of life for communities across our country.

This annual awards program includes several Spotlight Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships, and five Innovation Awards, all of which are presented at the annual Best of the Best ceremony during the NRPA Annual Conference. The awards are as follows:

evelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research Award

Scholarships and Fellowships • Young Professional Fellowships • Student Scholarships • Diversity Scholarships

Innovation Awards • Innovation in Health Award • Innovation in Conservation Award • Innovation in Social Equity Award • Innovation in Park Design Award • NRPA Best in Innovation Award

Nominations are also being accepted for inductees to the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have worked to improve the quality of life in America through parks and recreation.

NRPA Award recipients are selected by the NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee, except for the NRPA Best in Innovation Award where the winner is determined by public vote. Each award has specific eligibility criteria, and all applicants must be current NRPA members. To learn more about each award, scholarship and/ or fellowship and to apply, visit www.nrpa.org/awards. Applications for all NRPA Awards are now being accepted, with a deadline of March 29, 2019.

Spotlight Awards • Robert M. Artz Advocacy Award • Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)-NRPA Award for Health Equity • National Distinguished Professional Award • Theodore and Franklin Roos-

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N R PA U P DAT E

My Journey to Becoming a CPRE

By Shannon Sonnier, CPRE

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s park and recreation professionals, we are always striving to help our agencies stand out. We design new activities with the hope they’ll grab our patrons’ attention, and we vie for the public’s time, funds and trust among countless other available options. We know our work is fruitful and serves the physical, emotional and mental well-being of our community. In short, we show the public a variety of fun ways to get and stay healthy, as well as how to build strong, resilient communities.

Meeting the criteria and the successful completion of the CPRE exam announces to those making hiring and promotional decisions that you have the aptitude and experience and are not afraid of a challenge.

Who qualifies to take the CPRE exam?

You may qualify for the exam if you…

promotional decisions that you have the aptitude and experience and are not afraid of a challenge.

When I passed the CPRE exam in 2017, I was ecstatic to learn that I was only the fourth person in the state to have done so.

It took me the better part of a year to prepare for the test. The thick study guide delves into the various aspects of parks and recreation — even the less-than-exciting ones — and the test is challenging.

This is not your college 101 “skim through the book and you’ll be OK” test.

You must study, especially those items with which you have had little experience. If you can wake up at 2:30 a.m. and set out cones for a triathlon or can explain to an angry patron why there are snakes in parks, you can do this.

For more information on CPRE eligibility and resources, visit www. nrpa.org/cpre.

The Johnson County Have a Park & Recreation Discurrent CPRP trict in Shawnee Mission, Certification Kansas, where I’m the AND sports and facilities south Have a manager, has an amazing bachelor’s staff, evidenced by the fact degree and that, in 2017, our agency 5 years of received the NRPA Class professional full-time I Gold Medal Award. On manager this team of high-performexperience, ing individuals, standing out as an individual can be OR somewhat of a challenge.

So, how can park and Have a recreation professionals master’s continue to grow profesdegree or sionally and stand out as higher and individuals? By becoming 4 years of a Certified Park and Recprofessional reation Executive (CPRE). full-time manager While I’m very happy with experience my position in the organization, I desire to develop and further my career. MeetShannon Sonnier, CPRE, is the Sports and ing the criteria and the successful Facilities South Manager for Johnson completion of the CPRE exam anCounty Park & Recreation District nounces to those making hiring and (shannon.sonnier@jocogov.org).

Apply to become a CPRE by March 31, 2019, to get 25 percent off the Management of Park and Recreation Agencies book — the perfect resource to prepare for the CPRE exam. Learn more at www.nrpa.org/CPRE. 62 Parks & Recreation

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Developing Transformational Leadership Skills

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re you looking for a flexible, convenient way to develop or hone your leadership skills? Look no further than NRPA’s Leadership Certificate, designed to provide individuals with practical and applicable methods for transforming themselves and their agency. This online learning opportunity was developed from industry research that identified the most requested and important topics for developing park and recreation professionals. It also complements the current CPRP and CPRE certifications and covers concepts and ma-

terial presented in the NRPA Directors School curriculum.

The Leadership Certificate helps you navigate through • Strategic thinking • Human capital management • Operational leadership • Diversity and cultural awareness to take you and your agency to the next level. The four courses will help you either to expand on the leadership foundation you have developed as a current senior leader within your organization or to build a foundation for those who are aspiring to leadership roles

within park and recreation. Whether you come from a large or small agency, the NRPA Leadership Certificate will prepare you to handle any decision that comes your way.

Register for each course individually, or, for the best deal, purchase all four as a package. Enrolling in the package will provide you with instant access to each course as they become available. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org/ leadership-development.

NEXT LEV EL LE ADERSHIP T RAINING

Learn the skills necessary to be a great leader, with the flexibility of easy-to-manage online courses.

NRPA’s Leadership Certificate navigates through the latest in leadership principles, including four courses on Strategic Thinking, Human Capital Management, Operational Leadership, and Diversity and Cultural Awareness. Whether you come from a large or small agency, the NRPA Leadership Certificate will prepare you to handle any decision that comes your way.

www.nrpa.org/Leadership-Development

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N R PA U P DAT E

Richard ‘Dick’ Moe: A Life Lived with Gratitude

PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER HALEY

By Richard Dolesh

A

true advocate for parks and recreation, Dr. Richard Moe of Tacoma, Washington, passed away on December 28, 2019, at age 90. “Dick,” as he was known to all, even if you just met him, was a passionate believer in the value of parks and recreation, and he worked tirelessly on the local, state and national level to assure funding and policy for parks and recreation.

Moe was a professor emeritus and former dean of the School of Fine Arts at Pacific Lutheran University. As he neared the end of a 30-year career at Pacific Lutheran, he was elected to the board of MetroParks Tacoma for a six-year term as a district commissioner. His post-retirement volunteer work in his community included not only parks and recreation, but also local arts and civic organizations. In the early 2000s, Moe was elected successively to two terms on NRPA’s Board of Trustees.

Everyone who knew Moe spoke of his passion for parks and recreation. Tom Farrell, director of parks and recreation in New Brunswick, Maine, who served with him on the NRPA Board says, “Dick was a

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passionate advocate for the importance of quality park and recreation services being accessible to all, as well as a thoughtful, sincere, caring member of the NRPA Board.”

Arvilla Ohlde of the Washington Parks and Recreation Association noted his years of work on NRPA’s Public Policy Committee in support of full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). “All of us in the field of parks and recreation will miss his commitment and positive support,” he states. “He really was a wonderful person and very committed to parks and recreation.”

“Dr. Moe brought his experiences from the local level in Tacoma to the national level. He was passionate about parks and recreation and

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passionate about Tacoma,” says Shon Sylvia, executive director of MetroParks Tacoma.

In an especially heartfelt tribute, Pau Simmons, director of parks and recreation in Olympia, Washington, writes, “I did not know him very well, but will never forget the time that I was in Washington, D.C., for the NRPA Legislative Forum. I was very young, but had my eyes opened wide in a meeting on the Hill. We were in one of our legislative visits with a group of 10–12 people meeting with a very young congressional staffer. I remember it so clearly. As we went around the table offering our two cents, the young staffer was taking notes, but he appeared to be checked out a bit and the vibe was going stale.

It was at that moment, when Dick went out of turn and slammed his hands on the table and shouted: “It’s about PARKS AND RECREATION!!!” He certainly captured everyone’s attention! He went on to talk about how parks and recreation has so many benefits in almost every aspect of our lives.

His remarks changed my approach to all future legislative meetings. It is so sad to hear of the loss, but I am so grateful to have had that one brief experience with him.”

Dick Moe’s infectious sense of humor and kind and humble personality will truly be missed. “I’ve tried to live my life with gratitude,” he told the Tacoma News Tribune in 2015. We in parks and recreation certainly are grateful for having known this remarkable man.

– Richard Dolesh, NRPA’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives

Call for NRPA Board of Directors Nominations

H

ave you ever thought about being a board member or know someone you think would excel as one? NRPA is looking for both professional and citizen leaders who are passionate about parks, recreation and environmental conservation. Candidates should be active leaders who wish to further the mission of the association and who have demonstrated talent and expertise in the field or in their community. NRPA values and seeks diverse leadership as defined by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation,

nationality, disability, appearance and geographic location. We also encourage candidates from all types and sizes of park and recreation organizations.

For more information and to apply, go online to www.nrpa.org/ About-National-Recreation-and -Park-Association/leadership/.

Applications must be submitted or date-stamped by February 15, 2019. If you are interested in serving, know someone who is or have questions about the nomination process, please email Lindsay Collins at lcollins@nrpa.org or call 703.858.2196.

NOW ACCEPTING

SPEED SESSION PROPOSALS! Submit your Speed Session proposals for the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. These unconventional 20-minute sessions are meant to share and incite new ideas. Share an innovative strategy, tell an inspirational story, or get attendees out of their chairs and participating with you!

The deadline to submit your proposals is March 30, 2019. nrpa.org/Proposals

2019

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 24–26 | BALTIMORE, MD

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©MYLES MELLOR

Parks & Recreation Crossword

Down 1 Block, as a river 2 BBQ food 3 Big ape 4 Subject dealing with bridge building and infrastructure projects, abbr.

6 Before as a prefix 7 Colorful flower 8 Show 10 Natural energy alternative 14 Glacier material 15 Who Uncle Sam wants, per the posters 16 “You don’t say!”

17 U.S. Army medal 19 Containers for disposal of hypodermic needles 20 Beacon ____ 21 I-95, e.g., abbr.

23 For-sale classified letters 24 Mega- or giga- ending 25 Playground equipment for two 27 Murals, sculptures, etc.

30 Establish 31 Amount to be paid 32 Like many beaches 33 Frying item 36 Regulation 37 New England catch 40 Addition to a letter Complete the crossword and visit www.nrpa.org/crossword to verify your answers and to enter into a drawing for 50% off one of NRPA’s current certificate programs. A winner will be randomly selected February 28, 2019.

Across 1 Unmanned fliers that can be used for surveying landscapes 5 National epidemic that’s seriously impacting parks 9 Parks offer it fresh 11 Business degree 12 Technological devices for locating people in park areas 13 Trending activity where you do poses and play with a farm animal, 2 words 17 Practice handling an emergency or any activity 18 Time periods 19 Keep safe 22 Letters before opt and operative 24 Through 26 Shore inlet 28 Provide fun and entertainment 29 Digital games now becoming a trend 33 Person of equal standing 34 “Wonderland” drink 35 China has banned the import of this recyclable item, 2 words 38 Santa ___, California 39 Managed to deal with 41 Group of team members 42 Garden pests

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2019 FREE WEBINARS ene ber B fits

Me

s

PR

ER I M E mber B

fit

Mem

for NRPA Premier Members

ene

Webinars occur on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m. E.T.

To register, please visit nrpa.org/webinars

JAN 10

FEB 14

MAR 14

APR 11

The ADA Is 27 Years Old in 2019...Are You Celebrating Yet?*

Congressional Preview - What to Expect from This Congress for Parks and Recreation

Innovation Lab Resilient Parks*

Park Champions Bring Capitol Hill to a Park Near You

MAY 9

JUN 13

JUL 11

AUG 8

Marketing and Public Relations Trends

LGBTQ/Parks for Inclusion*

Why and How You Should Conduct Evaluation Surveys

Parks and Recreation Hot Topics

SEP 12

OCT 10

NOV 14

DEC 12

Aquatics - Preparing for 2020 Summer Staff*

Imagine Your Park Without Water Protecting and Conserving Water Resources

Annual Review of Research Findings

Playgrounds - From Planning to Opening Day and Beyond*

*Premier members are eligible to receive free CEUs when they participate in live premier webinars that offer CEUs and complete the associated quiz.

To learn more about your Premier Member Benefits visit: nrpa.org/Premier

N R PA U P DAT E

New Year, New Employees?

Hot Topics It’s been a busy month on NRPA Connect, the only professional networking platform dedicated to the latest hot topics and newest trends in parks and recreation: Volunteer Coach Training – Volunteer coaches are an important component of successful park and recreation programs. So, how often should you have your returning volunteer sport coaches recertify their coaches training and their background checks? Do you ask the coaches to pay for their background check or training? Chime in today!

Durable Easter Eggs – It’s that time of year to start planning for your agency’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. Durable Easter eggs are a vital part of this popular event. NRPA members share their favorite places to buy the eggs, and their alternatives for candy.

Coyotes – Dealing with wildlife is one of the many challenges park and recreation professionals face in their day-today activities. What advice can you offer to a member regarding coyotes getting too close to civilians using their trails?

Spring Concert Series – Has your agency ever hosted a concert series?

What are the pros and cons of hosting such an event? A colleague currently is putting together a Spring Concert Series and has reached out to bands for pricing, what will be needed for the band to perform, how large of a venue is needed, etc.

What other details are they missing?

Have a question or idea you would like to share? Connect (www.nrpaconnect. org ) with colleagues across the country today.

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W

hen park and recreation professionals want to land their next job or break into the field, they turn to the NRPA Career Center. With more than 18 million page views since its inception, the NRPA Career Center is the online resource for reaching qualified park and recreation professionals you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a new year and it’s time to start thinking about hiring qualified individuals for your open positions. Here are four reasons employers should be using the NRPA Career Center:

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New Year Discount – Use the code NEWYEAR19 before midnight ET February 28 to receive 20 percent off any NRPA 7-day posting or the 30 Single Job Posting Package.* 1,093 Average Views Per Job – There’s no better place to find a qualified park and recreation professional. Employers receive an average of 10 applications per posting. The Career Center provides access to roughly 7,000 searchable résumés.

New resources for employers include sample job descriptions, tips to conduct a successful interview and background screening information.

Free Internship Postings – Since you’re already thinking about summer hiring, why not post your open internship positions? NRPA members receive FREE internship and seasonal

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3

4

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position packages.

Easily Manage Your Applications – After your job listing is posted, it’s time to manage all the applications you’ve received. Stay organized by marking candidates you are interested in and deleting applicants whose qualifications don’t fit the position. Don’t forget to check out your job statistics to find actual numbers of views, applications, clicks and job forwards. *Bonus: This can be applied to already dis-

4

counted NRPA member pricing!

Don’t fall behind in 2019. Create an employer account on the NRPA Career Center and gain access to qualified individuals who are eager to make a difference at your agency, today!

Visit www.nrpa.org/careers for more information.

Member Spotlight: Patti Machado

By Vitisia Paynich

P

atti Machado’s love for parks and recreation can only be matched by her love for her hometown of Barnstable, Massachusetts. She has participated in the town’s recreation department activities since the age of 3 when she began swim lessons.

By high school, Machado was taking a class, called P.E. Major, learning the different disciplines of physical education — a class, she admits, “opened the door,” to her future career path. Today, Machado not only serves as director of recreation for the Town of Barnstable, but also acts as a mentor to promising, young recreation professionals.

Parks & Recreation magazine recently caught up with Machado to learn about the most challenging aspect of her job, her proud accomplishment in 2018 and one new program that her agency will be launching in 2019.

Parks & Recreation: What’s the most challenging part about your job?

Patti Machado: I would say over the past year, it’s been about running our beaches, trying to get 105 lifeguards and having them trained and able to do waterfront lifeguarding.

had completed their training, be successful. It changes the entire attitude toward lifeguards from the community, as well as among lifeguards who are working throughout the area. That’s because it doesn’t just affect your own county, it affects all the communities on Cape Cod. And so, people start looking at lifeguards as more professional — as they should.

P&R: Can you share details about one new program that you will be launching in 2019?

Machado: We have a youth center that’s 10 years old, and we just got a grant for an afterschool program.

It’s a joint effort with our schools, in which kids, grades 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, will be bused to our youth center every afternoon. The program will provide them with healthy snacks and physical activities, while

the schools will help with homework tutoring. It’s a free program that will launch in the Fall 2019 school year.

P&R: Tell us one fun fact about yourself.

Machado: Last year, I completed my 42nd summer. I love working with youth, and I’m still passionate about it after 42 years. I think that says a lot about the communities I serve and their level of support.

I do a lot of mentoring within the profession, and I’m feeling pretty good about the fact that many professionals who work in the [recreation field] on Cape Cod either grew up here or got their first opportunity to work in recreation through [my agency]. A lot of people who are directors now in other towns are people who I had mentored and worked with first. There are a lot of people who have stayed in the field. So, as long as I’m passionate, then I’ll stay too.

— Vitisia Paynich, Freelance Writer for Parks & Recreation magazine

P&R: Reflecting on 2018, what’s one accomplishment that you’re most proud of and why?

Machado: We had a successful rescue at our beach, where we had a 17-year-old lifeguard and four other lifeguards rescue and save a 17-year-old girl from drowning.

She had a seizure in the water, and the 17-year-old lifeguard, the primary rescuer, performed CPR and revived her. So, it was pretty rewarding to watch staffers, who

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N R PA U P DAT E

Three Tips for Becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Professional Calling all park and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession. Now is the time to become a Certified Park and Recreation Professional or CPRP! Apply by February 28 and get a free, online CPRP Prep Course, then follow these tips to get you on your way: Set a date to take the exam. Doing so can help motivate you properly prepare for the CPRP examination and provide the focus needed to complete this professional development goal.

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Form or join a study group.

This is a very effective way to prepare as it can help with procrastination, absorbing the study information and maintaining a positive high, especially during those times of intense studying. Group study can also provide an opportunity to share ideas and discuss concepts in greater detail, helping you to absorb the information more quickly and effectively.

Relax and get into the zone.

Test anxiety can affect the most prepared test taker, as feelings of dread combined with physical symptoms can affect

3

SHARE YOUR STORY Whether it is a new program, a special event, or a partnership with another organization, we want to highlight your achievements and the great work you are doing! Submit your park and recreation success story to the NRPA Success Story Database and showcase the power that parks and recreation has on communities nationwide. nrpa.org/Success-Stories

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your ability to concentrate and, sometimes, your overall score.

Prior to taking the exam, make sure to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy meal and develop a positive mental attitude. During the exam, remember to take deep breaths, slow down and carefully read the questions.

Attaining the CPRP designation shows your knowledge and understanding of key concepts within parks and recreation as well as your commitment to the profession. To learn more about becoming a CPRP, visit www.nrpa.org/ CPRP-VIP.

NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities. Find out more at www.nrpa.org/education.

NRPA SPLASH PAD CERTIFICATE COMING SOON!

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NRPA Education is proud to announce that in March, we will release a new online certificate focusing on aquatic splash pads. Splash pads have grown in popularity across the nation and this certificate program provides aquatic professionals with insight into the planning, design, operation and maintenance of these features. NRPA’s Splash Pad Certificate Program is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to create and implement a water play recreation area for your agency and community. While the certificate is only available to current AFO- and CPO-certified individuals, the courses on planning and design will be open to anyone. The entire certificate will be worth 1.2 CEU. Learn more at www.nrpa.org/splashpad.

FEB

5-7 5-7 6-8 6-8 13-15 13-15 19-21 19-21 26-28 26-28

El Paso, Texas Hendersonville, Tennessee Worcester, Massachusetts Winter Haven, Florida Merriam, Kansas Phoenix, Arizona Clackamas, Oregon Newport News, Virginia Commerce City, Colorado New Brighton, Minnesota Sacramento, California Bismarck, North Dakota Wheeling, Illinois St. Charles, Missouri

www.nrpa.org/CPSI

March 10-15, 2019

Oglebay Resort and Conference Center, Wheeling, West Virginia www.nrpa.org/Revenue-School

August 18-22, 2019

Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook, Illinois www.nrpa.org/Directors

AFO PROGRAM

MAR

FEB

18-20 20-22 26-28 27-Mar. 1

MAR

CPSI PROGRAM

SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES

5-6 11-12 14-15 19-20 21-22 21-22 28-Mar. 1 28-Mar. 1 5-6 7-8 11-12 12-13 13-14 14-15 14-15 19-20 20-21 25-26 26-27 27-29 28-29 28-29

Nashville, Tennessee Leavenworth, Washington Jacksonville, Florida Wilmington, North Carolina Dallas, Texas Hampton, Virginia Margate, Florida Frisco, Texas

September 24-26, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland www.nrpa.org/Conference

www.nrpa.org/education

Anderson, South Carolina Canton, Michigan Milpitas, California Blue Springs, Missouri Phoenix, Arizona North Miami, Florida Austin, Texas American Canyon, California Lawrence, Kansas Seattle, Washington Phoenix, Arizona Cheney, Washington Bradenton, Florida Worthington, Ohio

www.nrpa.org/AFO

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OPERATIONS Getting More Eyes on Your Playground Safety

By Sonia Myrick

T

he number of playgrounds found in neighborhoods, parks and school and church yards across the country far exceeds the number of people qualified to inspect and maintain them. It’s a daunting task to be sure, but not keeping up with the maintenance of your playground could potentially lead to a child being injured and your agency paying millions of dollars in fines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year, “emergency departments treat more than 240,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries,” and “about 75% of injuries related to playground equipment occur on public playgrounds. Most occur at a place of recreation or school.”

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recognizes that despite the great health benefits of playgrounds, they can also be common places where kids get hurt.

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Parks & Recreation

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recognizes that despite the great health benefits of playgrounds, they can also be common places where kids get hurt.

Falls that result in broken bones or more serious traumatic brain injuries are still the leading cause of injuries on playgrounds. In addition to caretakers providing strong supervision and steering kids to

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age-appropriate play areas, agencies can ensure equipment is free of potential hazards by having a solid maintenance plan. For example, it’s important to ensure the proper height between the equipment and the surfacing below it, and that the surfacing is properly maintained.

Playground Maintenance Certificate To meet the need to have more eyes on this problem, NRPA recently rolled out its new Playground Maintenance Course. This one-day (6.25 hours) educational course is designed to provide maintenance and recreation staff, university seniors and anyone responsible for a public playground with an understanding of the most prevalent playground hazards and how to

apply safe maintenance practices on playground equipment, playground surfacing and other related site items.

Participants will learn about playground owner responsibilities and methods of establishing proper record-keeping practices. They’ll also visit a local playground where they’ll be able to expand on the information presented in the course via handson learning. Individuals must be 18 years or older to attend this training and will receive the Playground Maintenance Course Certificate once they complete the course.

“I believe the Playground Maintenance Course is one of the most important things in our industry right now,” says Jeff Barber, president of Playground Specialists.

“Even with vast improvements in playground design over the past decade, a lack of maintenance, and, more importantly, the lack of understanding on how to maintain both new and old is still missing.

“I wanted to see a course for those men and women who are around these playgrounds regularly and have the chance to make a real difference in children’s safety by inspecting and maintaining them properly,” he adds. “This course is general, thought provoking and very visual, covering a broad range of equipment and surfacing. My hope is that this class fills a major gap in playground safety by reaching many more people each year around the country.”

The first official Playground Maintenance Course was held during the NRPA Annual Conference in Indianapolis this past September. Currently, there are 15 Playground Maintenance Course instructors available to lead this

day-long training, and NRPA is seeking additional qualified individuals to share their playground safety knowledge. Individuals interested in becoming a course instructor must have the following qualifications: • Six years full-time experience in playground maintenance, playground safety, park operations and management or related fields • Experience teaching adult education • A current CPSI Certification and have maintained it for a minimum of 6 years • Current member of NRPA Those who qualify can visit www. nrpa.org/Playground-Maintenance and click on the button at the bottom of the page to download the application and return the completed form to Karen Snyder at ksnyder@ nrpa.org.

For an even deeper dive into playground maintenance, individuals are encouraged to augment their Playground Maintenance Certificate by taking the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) course also offered by NRPA. “The CPSI course is great for in-depth knowledge of all the standards and guidelines,” Barber says.

By becoming a CPSI, participants learn to identify hazards on public playgrounds and playground equipment, how to rank those hazards according to injury potential and how to apply that knowledge and establish a playground safety program.

To become a CPSI, candidates must be 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as successfully pass the CPSI exam.

It is a two-day course and pro-

How to Host a Playground Maintenance Course: Browse the list of Playground Maintenance Course instructors available to teach courses for you, secure an instructor and confirm details, including location, date and instructor fees.

(A complete Host Handbook is available to assist you with planning. Request a copy by emailing playgrounds@nrpa.org).

Once the instructor and course details are confirmed, fill MAINTENANCE COURSE out a course reservation form and send to playgrounds@nrpa.org.

Order course manuals through the NRPA online store.

Course manuals may only be purchased by course hosts. A direct web link to purchase the manuals will be provided once your course has been scheduled.

PLAYGROUND

vides the most comprehensive training on playground safety issues, including hazard identification, equipment specifications, surfacing requirements and risk-management methods.

Professionals are provided with the current ASTM standards and CPSC guidelines that are applicable to playground safety, and this information is discussed in detail.

The two-day course is followed by the CPSI certification examination, and individuals who successfully complete the exam become recognized Certified Playground Safety Inspectors.

If you have any questions about the Playground Maintenance Course or CPSI certification, contact Karen Snyder, NRPA’s director of certification, at 703.858.2153 or via email to ksnyder@nrpa.org.

Sonia Myrick is the Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine (smyrick@nrpa.org).

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PRODUCTS Hauler Vehicle Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announces the launch of its new Cushman® Hauler® 4x4. The Hauler 4x4 has a 2,000-pound towing capacity, 1,500-pound payload and 1,000-pound cargo box. It also features a dashboard with a multifunction display that communicates vehicle performance and diagnostics. Hauler 4x4 models offer several storage locations, including behind and under the seat, and a glove box that’s ideal for transporting everyday gear, such as gloves, goggles and tools. The Hauler 4x4 series has been built to handle the toughest jobs at any facility, including golf courses, rental facilities, construction sites and municipal parks. CUSHMAN, 706.798.4311, WWW.CUSHMAN.COM

Enzyme and Phosphate Remover PRO SERIES® ProBlend® by Natural Chemistry combines the benefits of SMARTZyme™ technology to reduce non-living, filter-clogging grime with Natural Chemistry’s phosphate removal technology. It is formulated to provide superior water quality for commercial aquatic facilities with less work. Available in 1-gallon, 5-gallon, 55-gallon and 250-gallon sizes for pool professionals and aquatic facilities treating high volumes of water. NATURAL CHEMISTRY, 800.753.1233, WWW.NATURAL CHEMISTRY.COM

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Fountain Scupper Fountain People now offers a “Mediterranean Scupper” for use in pools and water features. Scuppers are perhaps the oldest known fountain feature, where people gathered to fill their vessels to take water to their homes. The Fountain People Mediterranean Scupper imitates the classic beauty of ancient fountains using a traditional dark bronze finish with green highlights to accent the detailed decorative etching on the surface. The clean, simple design complements both traditional and modern fountain designs — ideal for park and recre3 ation fountains. Measures 5 /8 inches in diameter with a 51/4-inch projection and supplied with a 11/2-inch FPT connection. FOUNTAIN PEOPLE, 512.393.5263, WWW.FOUNTAINPEOPLE.COM

Eco-Friendly Permeable Paving Material Porous Pave is a highly porous, durable and flexible paving material consisting of chips of recycled rubber, aggregate and a liquid binding agent. An eco-friendly green building product made in the U.S.A., Porous Pave is a pour-in-place, permeable paving material with 27 percent void space and superior permeability for stormwater retention. It offers exceptional versatility for a wide variety of applications, including sidewalks and walkways, patios, pool decks, tree surrounds, trails and cart paths, and golf course bunker liners. Its durability has been proven for more than a decade in installations across North America. POROUS PAVE, INC., 888.448.3873, WWW.POROUSPAVEINC.COM

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American Swing Products........................................................... 75

Kay Park Recreation.......................................................................77

Amish Country Gazebos............................................................... 75

Landscape Structures Inc.........................................................4, 5

Aquatix by Landscape Structures.............................................. 17

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Salsbury Industries......................................................................... 11

DOGIPOT............................................................................................. 27

Scoremaster Goals........................................................................ 78

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Easi-Set Buildings...........................................................................77

Willoughby Industries.................................................................. 78

Gothic Arch Greenhouses.............................................................77

The Wood Carver, Inc./Goldenteak............................................ 79

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(ISSN 0031-2215) is published monthly by the National Recreation and Park Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148, a service organization supported by membership dues and voluntary contributions. Copyright Š2019 by the National Recreation and Park Association. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of NRPA. Issued to members at the annual subscription price of $30, included in dues. Subscription: $46 a year in the U.S.; $56 elsewhere. Single copy price: $7. Library rate: $58 a year in the U.S.; $68 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148. 703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

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Parks & Recreation

79

Park Bench

Mission San José Church through West Gate

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Parks Helping Parks The partial federal government shutdown is having a profound impact not only on the federal workforce, but also on our national parks. However, out of each challenging situation comes positive stories of people rising above it to help however they can. Bexar County Heritage & Parks Department in San Antonio, Texas, is the source of one of those stories.

Bexar County Parks Division sponsors cooperative parks in association with the cities of San Antonio and Schertz, the San Antonio River Authority, the National Parks Service and the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.

When Bexar Parks Division saw the maintenance needs increase at the San Antonio Missions, a national historic park, it approached NPS and asked if it could help. “We created an in-kind arrangement to maintain the park. Bexar provides the labor and NPS provides the supplies,” explains Ken McGlamery, Bexar County Parks manager. “For parks, visitation is everything. We want visitors to have a good experience at the missions, and we want to be good community partners.”

Bexar (pronounced Bear) employees are helping to maintain bathrooms, collect trash and cut grass at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. And, the department is prepared to continue to help as long as necessary, even if it means deferring some of its internal projects. “We have worked with the park rangers before and have a good relationship. We felt compelled to offer our assistance at this time,” McGlamery states.

Other organizations are stepping up to offer services too. The San Antonio River Authority has volunteered to help with landscaping and the city of San Antonio has offered to fund a limited number of staff.

The Missions receive more than 1 million visitors per year. During the shutdown, the chapels are closed because of security concerns, but Bexar Parks Division is doing what it can to ensure visitors continue to enjoy their experience.

– Suzanne Nathan, NRPA’s Media Specialist 80 Parks & Recreation

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