Parks & Recreation July 2022

J U LY 202 2 N R PA .O RG

PARK AND RECREATION MONTH RISING UP FOR THE FIELD

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contentsjuly 2022 volume 57 | number 7 | parksandrecreation.org

Piestewa Peak in Phoenix is named in honor of U.S. Army Private Lori Piestewa, who died during the Iraq War in 2003.

FEATURES

34 We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation at Phoenix’s Piestewa Peak Cort Jones

Read the story behind the cover photo of this year’s Park and Recreation Month issue.

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40 Flint: A Portrait of Resilience Vitisia Paynich

Michiganders show what it means to rise up for parks and recreation by participating in City of Flint’s Adopt a Park program.

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44 Designing a Community Gathering Place Wendy Chan

Award-winning Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park rolls out its second phase of this 126-acre development project in South Los Angeles.

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contents july

columns 10 Perspectives

departments 14

We Are Parks and Recreation Rec the Halls 14 Leveraging the Local University to Create New Programming 15 Member Benefit: Fun Express 17

18

Research The Economic Impact of Local Parks Kevin Roth

19

Park Pulse Reduce Stress With Parks and Recreation

48 Operations A Commitment to Inclusion Greg Stoks

50 Park Essentials 55 Advertiser Index 56 Park Bench A Legacy of Service in Parks and Recreation Cameron Levis, CPRE, AFO, CARSS I

I Rise Up for Parks and Recreation Kristine Stratton

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Editor’s Letter Celebrating Community Strength Vitisia Paynich

20 Advocacy Reframing the Conversation Around Parks and Recreation Dan McCarthy

22 Health and Wellness . upporting Healthy Aging Through Parks and Recreation S Colleen Pittard and Tiff Cunin

24 Equity . ethinking and More Broadly Defining Access to Green Spaces R Jameelah Muhammad

26 Conservation Restoring the Riverfront in Atlanta Andrew White, PLA

28 Law Review Youth Soccer Coach Arrest and Police Immunity James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

Page 24 The Sierra Club Outdoors for All Campaign seeks to address issues related to access in both large and small spaces throughout the United States.

Cover image: City of Phoenix

Parks & Recreation is printed using soy ink on at least 10 percent post-consumer recycled paper and is mailed in a wrap — only when required — that is plant based and certified compostable. If you are interested in helping us go even greener, email us at prmagazine@nrpa.org and ask to opt out of receiving the print magazine. Parks & Recreation is always available to read in an ezine format at ezine.nrpa.org.

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

I Rise Up for Parks and Recreation It’s Park and Recreation Month!

July is the month we celebrate the essential role of parks and recreation in communities everywhere. It’s the month when park and recreation professionals across the country are at their busiest, and it’s the month where our impact on communities is perhaps most visible. This month — Park and Recreation Month — is a wonderful chance to celebrate, promote, inspire and advocate for our field. And this year’s theme — Rise Up for Parks and Recreation — is a call to action.

Our vice president of public policy and advocacy, Elvis Cordova, has grown fond of asking, “What have you done for parks?” when talking with elected officials and our allies. This year’s Park and Recreation Month theme of “Rise Up” is our way of inspiring all of our community members to support the work that we do day in and day out. It’s especially inspiring to read the stories in this issue because they are testaments to how rising up for parks and recreation means rising up for community, for inclusion, for health and well-being, and so much more.

One story — that of Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park — is an example of what can happen when people unite to support a vision; when people rise up for community, for strength, for equity. I had the pleasure of visiting the park and community center around the time the latest phase was nearing completion. Norma García-Gonzalez, director of County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, had generously hosted a gathering of the county’s park and recreation directors to share challenges and successes and how NRPA can support them. Among the stories we heard that day was the one told in the article.

Thanks to voters across the state of California rising up for Proposition 68, there are unprecedented resources for local community investment through parks — investment that will go where it is most needed, rooted in equity. Thanks to local communi-

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ty members rising up to participate in visioning and planning, the center and surrounding land have been designed to deliver spaces, programs and resources that the community members most wanted. And, thanks to the leadership, grit and determination of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation team, parks and recreation is rising up to strengthen the resilience, health and well-being of millions of community members.

From California to Michigan to Arizona and thousands of communities in between, park and recreation professionals and advocates, like you, are rising up for your communities. Our July Park and Recreation Month theme is a call to action for you as well. You have the opportunity to rise up to support all the members of your community, especially the ones who may not be benefiting from your essential work. Rise up and tell your stories, make your voices heard, help your community leadership understand that there is more need for what we do — and that where there is more need, there is more opportunity.

We are all tired, especially from the grueling past two years, but we also are fueled by the deep conviction we have that parks and recreation makes a huge difference in people’s lives. Story after story flows through these pages, through your community centers, onto your ballfields and playgrounds, and along your trails and green spaces. Those stories — the one from this year’s photo contest winner who hosts the annual Piestewa Fallen Heroes Sunrise Memorial event and the one from last year’s winner whose son found peace in their local park — inspire us to rise up and advocate for this incredible field.

Every day is a chance for us to ask ourselves and our community members, “What have you done for parks and rec today?” And, every day is a chance for us to answer. Today, like the sun, I rise up.

KRISTINE STR AT TON President and CEO

2377 Belmont Ridge Rd. | Ashburn, VA 20148 2 703.858.0784 | 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 Carolyn McKnight-Fredd, CPRP Eagle Methods Management Consulting Dallas, Texas

Treasurer Xavier D. Urrutia Alamo Colleges District San Antonio, Texas

Mollie Marsh-Heine Earthjustice Boulder, Colorado

Carolyn McKnight-Fredd, CPRP

City of Bristol Parks and Recreation Bristol, Connecticut

Joshua Medeiros, Ed.D., CPRE

At Large Mike Abbaté, FASLA, LEED AP Abbaté Designs Portland, Oregon

President and CEO Kristine Stratton, Ex Officio National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, Virginia

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Abbaté, FASLA, LEED AP Abbaté Designs Portland, Oregon

Kathy Abbott Boston Harbor Now Boston, Massachusetts

Jesús Aguirre, CPRE

City of Bristol Parks and Recreation Bristol, Connecticut

Arnold L. Randall Forest Preserve District of Cook County Chicago, Illinois

Nonet T. Sykes Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia

Xavier D. Urrutia Alamo Colleges District San Antonio, Texas

Greg A. Weitzel, M.S., CPRP City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Las Vegas, Nevada

Philip Wu, M.D. (Retired) Kaiser Permanente Northwest Region Portland, Oregon

Rebecca Armstrong

Lexington, South Carolina

North Portland, Oregon

Anne S. Close

Jose Felix Diaz

James H. Evans

Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning South Miami, Florida

Angelou Ezeilo Greening Youth Foundation Atlanta, Georgia

You dream it. We create it.

Richland County Recreation Commission Columbia, South Carolina

LIFE TRUSTEES Beverly D. Chrisman

Victor Dover

InCord Play and NetPlay USA partner to bring you everything your park or play area needs.

Lakita Watson, CPRP

Waterloo Greenway Austin, Texas

Ballard Partners Miami, Florida

Parks • Playgrounds • Recreation Areas and MORE

Joanna Lombard

Eagle Methods Management Consulting Dallas, Texas

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia

Just Add Imagination

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

Secretary Joshua Medeiros, Ed.D., CPRE

At Large Nonet T. Sykes

InCord

Fort Mill, South Carolina New York, New York

Rosemary Hall Evans Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Earl T. Groves Gastonia, North Carolina

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D. Richmond, Virginia

Richard Gulley

Harry G. Haskell, Jr.

San Diego Parks and Recreation San Diego, California

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Kathryn A. Porter

Monica Hobbs Vinluan

Mendham, New Jersey

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Ashburn, Virginia

Perry J. Segura

Susie Kuruvilla

R. Dean Tice

Gurnee Park District Gurnee, Illinois

Round Hill, Virginia

New Iberia, Louisiana

Eugene A. Young, CPRP

w w w. P W A T H L E T I C . c o m

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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EDITOR’S LET TER PRESIDENT AND CEO Kristine Stratton

Celebrating Community Strength July is always a very special month for NRPA and the magazine, as it marks our Park and Recreation Month issue, this year with the theme, “Rise Up for Parks and Recreation.” As I reflect on this theme, I’m reminded of the different ways in which our field has stepped up during the most difficult times in service of communities across the country. This month also celebrates the community members who, through their volunteerism, advocacy and philanthropy, have risen up for the field to ensure that our professionals have the supported funding and resources to continue this essential work. The magazine team is honored to tell these stories from both perspectives, while highlighting their acts of strength and perseverance.

Among those compelling stories is the one told by NRPA’s Cort Jones, as he reveals our Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest winner in the article, “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation at Phoenix’s Piestewa Peak,” on page 34. Jones discusses the inspiration behind City of Phoenix’s photo — U.S. Army Private Lori Piestewa, “who lost her life at the age of 23 during the Iraq War in 2003.” He adds, “Piestewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe, was the first Native American woman to lose her life in overseas combat while serving in the U.S. military.” Piestewa Peak is named in her honor.

Next, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing a group of community heroes in the feature article, “Flint: A Portrait of Resilience,” on page 40. After the Flint Parks and Recreation Department disbanded in 2014, these selfless residents rose up to adopt their neighborhood parks by keeping them clean, advocating for repairs and improvements and creating programming for fellow community members, including youth sports programs. “We have parks in every ward, every neighborhood in Flint. And we have people who deserve to have equitable access and equitable facilities. They deserve the ability to use parks that are safe, clean public spaces — and the city doesn’t have the capacity to do that,” says Nancy Edwards, recreation programs and grants officer and director of Keep Genesee County Beautiful.

Shifting gears to Southern California, contributor Wendy Chan takes a closer look at the newly completed second phase of Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, a 126-acre park located in South Los Angeles’ Willowbrook community. Chan writes that the park’s comprehensive design plan shows “what a complete makeover could look like, including new recreation amenities and innovative green infrastructure, demonstrating how urban environments can be models of water conservation by reducing the negative impacts of untreated stormwater.”

I hope this year’s Park and Recreation Month theme inspires you to “rise up” further for your profession and for other issues meaningful to you that may help make life a little better for those who cannot speak up for themselves. After all, your voice and actions can help strengthen a community. And, that’s definitely worth celebrating!

VITISIA “VI” PAYNICH Executive Editor Director, Print and Online Content

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VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND ONLINE CONTENT Vitisia Paynich vpaynich@nrpa.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND WRITER Lindsay Hogeboom lhogeboom@nrpa.org MANAGER OF ONLINE CONTENT Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen jnguyen@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Kim Mabon/Creative By Design CreativeByDesign.net SENIOR CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER WESTERN REGION AND ASIA Michelle Dellner 703.858.4635 mdellner@nrpa.org SENIOR CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE Paul Semple 916.880.5225 psemple@nrpa.org DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR Melissa Hunter 703.858.2199 mhunter@nrpa.org PHOTOGRAPHY Dreamstime.com or NRPA (unless otherwise noted)

MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Anthony-Paul Diaz, Chair Michael Abbaté, FASLA Neelay Bhatt Ryan Eaker Beau Fieldsend Kathleen Gibi Paul Gilbert, CPRP Tim Herd, CPRE Brian Johnson, CPSI Denise Johnson-Caldwell Roslyn Johnson, CPRP Michele Lemons Sam Mendelsohn Maria Nardi Lisa Paradis, CPRP Paula Sliefert Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO Ronnetta Spalding Anne-Marie Spencer Stephen Springs

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WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION Rec the Halls Oklahoma’s biggest parks and recreation hosted esports event

By Tyler M. Gray, M.Ed.

E

sports, defined as competitive gaming in a structured environment, is making its way onto the park and recreation scene, and Altus Parks and Recreation is leading the way in Oklahoma. On December 18, 2021, 11 high school esports teams entered the Altus City Gym for the first-ever Oklahoma Call of Duty High School State Tournament, ready to compete against one another for the state title. Altus Esports League (AESL), Click Gaming and Oklahoma Scholastic Esports (OKSE) partnered together to host the massive esports event in Altus that included a total of 44 high school esports student-athletes, 14 coaches, 10 schools from across the state of Oklahoma, two universities (University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University), more than 200 in-person spectators, greater than 2,000 spectators live on Twitch, and more than 60 local sponsors. The event created lasting memories, friendships, rivalries and smiles from the student-athletes and coaches who competed.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSHUA NEWBERRY

Before Rec the Halls, Altus Parks and Recreation hosted multiple esports open house events to introduce the general public to what an esports event and venue could be.

Approximately 40 people attended the first event, while the second open house event grew to about 100 attendees.

Rec the Halls has been described by coaches, players and spectators as memorable, flashy, fun, exciting, intense, competitive and much more. Each coach and player who was interviewed specifically

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Rec the Halls has been described by coaches, players and spectators as memorable, flashy, fun, exciting, intense, competitive and much more.

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mentioned the atmosphere being everything you would expect an esports event of this magnitude to be and more; some even claiming, “You’ll never get an experience quite like it without coming to see it in person.” Brian Morris, executive director of OKSE, says, “Rec the Halls is an annual staple in the Oklahoma Scholastic Esports list of tournaments. It provides students a chance to compete in front of people [who] might not get to see them compete anywhere else.”

Rec the Halls II is upping the

Altus Esports League is the branding that Altus Parks and Recreation uses for any esports related activities. OKSE is the K12 organization responsible for governing and overseeing the esports competitions of more than 60 school districts as they play year-round.

Click Gaming is owned and operated by Johnny Ryan Weaver, known to the esports world as “Icychiller.”

Esports is short for electronic sports.

ante and is currently planned for December 2-3, 2022. The event is being expanded from one game to nine. Laying host to Call of Duty: Vanguard, Halo Infinite and many more games, the event will be changed from a state tournament to a playoff for a spot in the state tournament that will be hosted by Clinton High School two weeks later. Eighty-eight high school teams will compete in total. On top of hosting the Call of Duty and Halo playoffs and Super Smash Brothers qualifier for OKSE, Altus Parks and Recreation will be partnering with Texoma eSports to host its regional qualifier for Super Smash Brothers that will be open to the public. Its latest regional qualifier, “No Man’s Land,” brought in nearly 200 Super Smash Brothers players from all over the United States. Altus Parks and Recreation looks forward to Rec the Halls growing more and more as the years go on.

Tyler M. Gray, M.Ed., is a Recreation Programmer at Altus Parks and Recreation (tgray@altusok.gov).

Leveraging the Local University to Create New Programming

By Jennifer L. VanSickle, Ed.D.

A

t Garfield Park and Bethel Park in Indianapolis, youth camps are happening during spring and fall breaks without the use of park employees and at no cost to the park. How does this happen? And how can you make this happen at your park?

Service learning and experiential learning have become a prominent educational methodology in colleges and universities. These often include projects conducted with community partners that allow students to develop professional skills and apply course concepts while providing a program or service to a community partner. Partnering with a university can offer student learning opportunities while creating low-cost programming for your local park.

But how do these partnerships come together? And how do you approach a faculty member to create a mutually beneficial relationship that will lead to lowcost programming at your park?

their classes well before the start of the semester. So, if, for example, you are interested in a spring break program, you should reach out to faculty in mid-fall, around September or October, to start a conversation. This gives you several months to discuss ideas and create action plans before starting

a project. Also, remember that faculty and students have limited time, are typically only available during the academic year, and programs offered during holidays and university breaks are off limits.

Once you have found an ally, the two of you must create a mutually beneficial goal. Look for ideas or programs that benefit both parties.

Take time to determine your wants, needs and desires. For example, consider gaps in your park programming that could be satisfied by a group of college students or think of programming identified by your constituents that you are unable to provide. Share your thoughts and ideas with the faculty member and listen to their views until you come up with a goal that meets every-

Steps to Partnering First, find an ally. Look on your local university’s website for a faculty member in sport management, recreation management or physical education/kinesiology. If the university does not have a sport management or recreation program, look for an Office of Community Engagement or Service Learning.

These offices are responsible for helping faculty set up partnerships with local organizations for the benefit of community members and the institution. However, remember that faculty must plan

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PHOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER L. VANSICKLE

W E A R E P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N

one’s needs. Be clear about your vision while being accepting of what the faculty needs. Consider starting small, perhaps with a half-day event or a one-day camp. Don’t try to do too much the first time. Create a program that can be repeated, as this will require less time planning and organizing in the future.

Implementation Now that you have a goal it is time to plan the details. Decide exactly what you expect the class to deliver for you. Then, with the assistance of the faculty member, create well-defined roles for yourself, students and faculty. Write these down and provide copies to all of your staff members. Be open to allowing the students to be involved in creating the objectives and strategies to meet the goal. Next, outline what you need to provide to the class, so that they can reach the goal. This may be equipment, policies, procedures, marketing materials, access to facilities or background checks. Agree upon deadlines for the completion of planning tasks and devise a plan with the faculty member for what will happen if deadlines are missed or required tasks are not completed. Additionally, find out what the faculty member needs from you or ask what you might expect from the faculty member. For example, 16

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In Indianapolis, youth camps are happening without the use of park employees and at no cost to the park.

will they be present during the implementation phase of the project?

Also, establish communication expectations early in this process. For example, how should you contact the faculty member if there is a problem or concern? Will you provide your email address or phone number to the students and allow them to ask questions directly to you or do you prefer all questions to come weekly from the instructor? How quickly can or will you respond to students’ questions and requests? How quickly do you expect the faculty to respond to you?

Make sure you are an active participant with the faculty member in all phases of the process: goal setting, planning, decision making, marketing and implementing.

Remember that if you say yes to a project, you will need to devote some of your time to the faculty, class and students. While this program may not require money from your budget, it will require your time. Plan to attend a class session when the faculty introduces the project to the students. Offer to host this class session in your park, at the site of implementation, and be present to hear what the faculty member tells the students. Be prepared to answer questions about your park, stakeholders, facilities, existing programs, marketing procedures, general policies and

evaluation procedures. Be there during the event or program, but let the students be in charge. Allow them to lead, even if things don’t go exactly as planned. Remember, these students are learning. Allow them to come up with their own solutions or even do things differently than how you might do them, while helping them stay within the parameters set by the park, township or city government. Know that mistakes will be made, so identify your bottom-line expectation before the start of the project and adjust your expectations accordingly.

Evaluation Once the program is over, evaluate it and the performance of the students. Sit down with your staff and generate quality feedback, noting both positive and critical aspects along with suggestions for improvement. Share your feedback with the faculty member first. Allow the faculty to help you decide the best pieces of feedback to share with the students. Then attend a post-event class session to provide your perspective directly to the students. Meet with the faculty after the feedback session is over to decide on a plan for the next semester or year. Is this something that you both are willing to do again? If so, record the changes and improvements that need to be made for the next time and create a new timeline for planning and implementation.

Indianapolis Case Study For the past four years, University of Indianapolis (UIndy) students have been hosting fall and spring break camps for Garfield Park and Bethel Park. These are week-long day camps for youth in the area.

University students market, plan

and run the camps. There is a small fee for attendees at Garfield Park and the park collects and keeps the revenue from the camp. Bethel Park camps are free. Each park provides the space and equipment, assists with marketing and ensures that the camp meets park standards.

Staff members are on-site to answer questions and handle emergencies that may arise during the camp, but the students are responsible for running the camp. Students and staffers meet before the camp, when the planning begins, and staffers make themselves available for questions during the planning phase. After the camp is over, all parties meet to evaluate the camp and staffers provide feedback to the students about their plans and performance. In a separate meeting with the faculty

member, decisions are made about the future of the camp. Without this collaboration, these camps would not exist as neither park has the resources to do this on their own.

According to Pete Bolden, park manager at Garfield Park, “The relationship between UIndy and Indy Parks has expanded programming opportunities where the patrons, students and institutions all win. I would highly encourage other parks departments and universities to explore these relationship building opportunities.”

Derrick Miller, park manager at Bethel Park, notes, “The partnership we have with UIndy has been nothing short of awesome! Because of Dr. Jennifer VanSickle’s forward thinking and passion to see her students excel in all aspects

of the sport management arena, Bethel has been a constant recipient of free fall and spring break camps that are totally organized and facilitated by UIndy and advised by park managers. This partnership allows us to offer high-level programs without impeding upon our limited budget. To that end, youth in our community are able to enjoy camp for free, as well as build healthy relationships with other caring adults.”

With a little initiative and clear communication, you too can create a low-cost program that will benefit you, your community, university faculty and students.

Jennifer L. VanSickle, Ed.D., is Professor of Sport Management at University of Indianapolis (jvansickle@uindy.edu).

Member Benefit: Fun Express More than just products

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RPA members may be familiar with Fun Express/ Oriental Trading Company from a product standpoint, but did you know that Fun Express is more than that? Fun Express offers an impressive selection of more than 40,000 items, including arts and crafts supplies; holiday, seasonal and theme items; educational products; toys, games, and prizes; active play; and even custom staff gear and t-shirts.

While product is important, a partner that understands everything that goes into the buying process can save you time, money and headaches. With many agencies experiencing staffing challenges, we wanted to share more about how our member discount provider, Fun Express, can help you with more than just product. The pro-

vider’s staff can help you with: • Vendor registration, quotes and bids • Tax exempt status (and keep on file) • A credit line for purchase orders (POs) • Authorized users/buyers management • Reminder calls/emails on seasonal purchases (including complete history of prior year’s items, quantity, ship to and more) • Program ideas, substitute items, reserving inventory and future ship dates, so you can order now and ship/pay later • Quantity and budget planning, so you know how much to buy based on how many people you’re expecting or have budget for Fun Express is a proud NRPA member benefit provider with a deep commitment to the organization and

its members. Its year-round commitment to providing customer solutions has earned the company a solid reputation its Fun Express staff are proud to live up to every day.

Need a catalog, product samples or help planning for events? Contact your Fun Express representative or Tammy Jensen at tjensen@ funexpress.com or 402.939.3053.

Visit us online at www.FunExpress. com/Corporate to take advantage of your NRPA discount!

P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 2 2 |

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RESEARCH The Economic Impact of Local Parks

By Kevin Roth

T

hrough the tireless efforts of hundreds of thousands of full-time, part-time and seasonal workers — and supported by countless volunteers and advocates — local park and recreation agencies have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people. Park and recreation facilities, amenities and programming are diverse; they range from no- or low-cost fitness opportunities and access to nutritious meals at out-ofschool programs for youth, to providing our cities, towns and counties with cleaner air and water thanks to preserved open spaces.

Parks and recreation also is an engine of economic activity locally, statewide and across the nation. The latest edition of the NRPA Economic Impact of Local Parks report (nrpa.org/ EconomicImpact), finds local park and recreation agencies’ operations and capital spending generated nearly $218 billion in economic activity and supported 1.3 million jobs across the United States in 2019. This is the fourth of a series of analyses conducted by Dr. Terry Clower of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, local park and recreation agencies employed more than 385,000 full-time and part-time employees in 2019. That translates to almost $49 billion of operations spending by the nation’s local park and recreation agencies. This spending — combined with capital expenditures — ripples through the national, regional and local economies as park and recreation employees spend their paychecks, park and recreation agency vendors hire workers, and both agencies and their vendors purchase products and services to serve their clients.

The new report also features economic impact estimates for all 50 18

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states and the District of Columbia.

For example, California’s local park and recreation agencies’ operations and capital spending generated more than $23.6 billion of economic activity and supported more than 126,700 jobs.

These estimates are even more potent because they are conservative and do not reflect other ways that parks and recreation promotes economic activity and prosperity.

Beyond the impact of local park and recreation agency spending, other critical economic impact contributions from public parks include: • Conservation and resiliency • Health and wellness • Property values • Visitor spending Park and recreation agency spending generates three significant effects: • Direct effects reflect the spending by local park and recreation agencies and include wages and benefits to agency employees and spending on equipment, utilities, goods and services.

• Indirect effects capture the spending associated with local park and recreation agencies’ vendors.

• Induced effects track the impact of consumer spending (from wag-

es) by park and recreation agency employees and employees working for agencies’ vendors.

Even more exciting is that early indications suggest that park and recreation contributions to the economy held stout in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Preliminary analysis finds local park and recreation agency operations and capital expenditures generated $225 billion in economic activity during 2020. While this estimate is subject to revision after more data come in, the implications are clear.

Not only are parks leading the way in terms of health and wellness, equity, and conservation, but also they drive significant economic activity.

By committing to greater and more sustainable park and recreation funding models, localities can support a virtuous cycle of a robust economic environment that can benefit every community member.

The past few years have highlighted the need for park and recreation professionals and their advocates to educate policymakers, key stakeholders and the general public on the broad impact of their work.

When combined with the ability to deliver healthier and happier communities, parks and recreation’s powerful economic impact highlights how your agency’s offerings are critical infrastructure that transforms our cities, towns and counties into vibrant and prosperous communities for all.

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

NRPA PARK PULSE

Reduce Stress With Parks and Recreation

86%

of U.S. adults believe it is helpful to have access to the outdoors and nature during stressful times.

A majority of U.S. adults across all generations — including baby boomers (89%), Gen Xers (87%), millennials (85%) and Gen Zers (79%) — agree that dealing with stress by accessing the outdoors is helpful.

Each month, through a poll of 1,000 U.S. residents 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 nrpa.org/ParkPulse for more information.

ADVOCACY

July is Park and Recreation Month, a national month-long celebration of the vital work park and recreation agencies do to serve their communities all year long.

Reframing the Conversation Around Parks and Recreation

By Dan McCarthy

L

ocal parks and recreation centers are those special places that often provide us with our first experiences in nature and introduce us to a favorite hobby or physical activity. They are places to gather with friends and family, spaces to celebrate life’s special moments, spots of respite and healing, sites that connect us with essential community services and so much more. The services park and recreation professionals provide are vital for communities — from protecting natural resources to providing open spaces for all people.

July is Park and Recreation Month, a national month-long celebration of the vital work park and recreation agencies do to serve their communities all year long.

This year, NRPA is asking our members and supporters to rise up and help tell the story of parks in their communities. Telling stories is one of the most powerful ways that folks can influence, teach and inspire others. Storytelling forges

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connections between people and ideas; stories convey culture, history and values that unite people.

To help park and recreation professionals tell their agency’s story, NRPA put together some compelling data and perspectives.

Data Is on Our Side The data is clear: public support for local parks and recreation spaces has always been high, but it

has surged since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to NRPA’s 2021 Engagement With Parks Report (nrpa.org/ Engagement), people place a high value on the programs and services that park and recreation agencies deliver to their local communities every day and strongly support their mission.

Some key findings include: • In the United States, 260 million people visited a local park or recreation facility at least once during the past year.

• Four in five U.S. adults seek high-quality parks and recreation when choosing a place to live.

• Eighty-seven percent of people agree that parks and recreation is an important service provided by their local government.

• Nearly nine in 10 people agree it is important to fund local park and recreation agencies to ensure every member of the community has equitable access to amenities, infrastructure and programming.

Additionally, more than nine in 10 U.S. adults say it is important for local government to invest in community infrastructure, such as parks, community centers, recreation facilities and senior centers, according to a 2021 NRPA Park Pulse poll (tinyurl.com/mutnzdrm).

Despite this support, far too often park and recreation agencies are the first public services limited or curtailed in times of economic hardship. Misjudged as an extracurricular or “nice-to-have” amenity, these cornerstones of communities are forced to do more with less. So, how do we translate this overwhelming public support into action and investment in park and recreation agencies?

Reframing the Conversation NRPA pulled these data points into compelling narratives to help make the case for your agency (nrpa.org/ Essential). These impact statements highlight the many ways that park and recreation agencies positively impact their communities: Park and recreation agencies promote community health and wellness.

People who live near parks are both physically and mentally healthier than those who do not. Proximity and access to parks encourage active recreation in spaces, such as playgrounds, hiking and biking trails, senior centers, sports fields and swimming pools, resulting in

park users being three times more likely to achieve recommended levels of physical activity than nonusers. Mental health is significantly related to residential distance from parks, with people living more than one kilometer away from a green space having nearly 50 percent higher odds of experiencing stress than those living fewer than 300 meters from a green space.

Park and recreation agencies’ programming and education activities positively impact childhood development.

Park and recreation agencies are a leading provider of childcare, out-of-school time programming, healthy meals, nutrition services and education. Four in five park and recreation agencies offer outof-school time programs; 92 percent offer team sports leagues; and nearly three in five offer science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-specific programs. Children of all skills and abilities can play and learn together in nature, experiencing better emotional stability and improved mental health.

Parks and recreation drives economic opportunity.

Local park and recreation agencies generated $166 billion in economic activity and supported more than 1.1 million jobs in 2017. What’s more, the outdoor recreation economy, which includes local parks and recreation, accounted for $373.3 billion of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or 1.8 percent of the U.S. economy, in 2020. Investments in improving a community’s quality of life can create a virtuous cycle: high-quality places attract workers, which

attract employers, which, in turn, attract more investments and jobs.

Parks and recreation is everywhere, uniting people and strengthening communities.

With more than 10,000 agencies across the United States, parks and recreation counters social isolation by connecting people with nature in nearly every city, town and county.

Irrespective of age, income level and political affiliation, the public strongly supports parks and recreation’s mission, and they want their political leaders to fully fund these agencies.

Parks and recreation is essential and adaptable infrastructure that makes our communities resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change.

Local park and recreation agencies collectively manage more than 11 million acres of open space across the United States. Park and recreation agencies are on the forefront of their communities’ emergency response.

People with access to parks and green spaces live longer, healthier lives. Six in seven U.S. adults believe and want parks and recreation to protect local natural resources and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Rise Up for Parks and Recreation Parks and recreation is about bringing people together. This Park and Recreation Month, rise up and let your united voices be heard. With August recess and the midterm elections right around the corner, we have a prime opportunity to harness the public’s appreciation for parks and translate it into robust public investments in local parks and recreation.

Dan McCarthy is NRPA’s Advocacy Manager (dmccarthy@nrpa.org).

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Supporting Healthy Aging Through Parks and Recreation

By Colleen Pittard and Tiff Cunin

P

ark and recreation agencies provide older adults with a wealth of resources that improve mental, emotional and physical health, social connectedness, and meaningful community engagement — ultimately allowing individuals to age in place. During Older Americans Month and Arthritis Awareness Month, NRPA shared updates and news about how local parks and recreation continue to support healthy aging in communities across the country.

First, with support from the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC)*, NRPA recently awarded grants to 48 park and recreation agencies in 24 states across the country, with the primary goal of increasing the equitable dissemination and delivery of arthritisappropriate, evidence-based interventions (AAEBIs) in park and recreation agencies. NRPA selected grantees based on a holistic review of their applications, which illustrated community needs, in addition to objective measures, such as CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) (tinyurl.com/3zxmuu8p).

During the application process, grantees selected the most appropriate AAEBI program for their intended audience. Grantees were each awarded two instructor training grants for their selected AAEBI, in addition to program materials, such as participant books and program-specific equipment.

Additionally, communities with a high SVI score were eligible to apply for a small monetary award to support the sustainability of their AAEBI beyond the project period.

Additionally, all 48 grantees gained membership into NRPA’s Supporting Healthy Aging Through

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Parks and Recreation Community of Practice (CoP). Over an 18-month period, these CoP members will engage with each other, industry experts and health equity subject matter experts to learn how to offer arthritis programs in a way that centers equity, to ensure all people have access to the health benefits of parks and recreation. Participants will work together to learn how to apply NRPA’s Elevating Health Equity Through Parks and Recreation: A Framework for Action (nrpa.org/ ElevatingHealthEquity), and will strategize what it means to embark on systems change that centers equity in their community. Together, these efforts will result in the improved ability for each agency to sustain the delivery of AAEBIs to all community members, with a particular focus on engaging and supporting the healthy aging of historically disenfranchised populations — Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian American, low-income and rural communities.

NRPA also developed an interactive map, called PLACES: NRPA Healthy Aging Grantees (tinyurl. com/mv92ccj8), to help park and recreation professionals visualize where chronic diseases, such as arthritis, are most prevalent and to see where ar-

thritis interventions have been implemented. To develop this map, NRPA used the CDC’s PLACES data (tiny url.com/ys35jpnw), which provides community health data. The map overlays health data with the geographical locations of previous and current NRPA Healthy Aging grantees, which allows park and recreation professionals to use this map as a tool to observe how their colleagues are working to address arthritis across the country.

As the aging population becomes more diverse, it is important that park and recreation agencies learn more about centering equity in the delivery of services, programs, facilities and operations. AAEBIs not only serve as a means to manage and prevent arthritis, but also are a means to social activity and social connectivity, which are both central to healthy aging. *This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $460,551 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement,

by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

This article originally appeared on NRPA’s Open Space blog. To view the full article and references, visit tinyurl. com/muwdj5s3.

Colleen Pittard is NRPA’s Partnership Manager (cpittard@nrpa.org). Tiff Cunin is an NRPA Senior Program Manager (tcunin@nrpa.org).

EQUITY

Small green spaces offer nearby connections to nature and possess an important history.

Rethinking and More Broadly Defining Access to Green Spaces

By Jameelah Muhammad

W

hen thinking about national parks, the first thing that might come to mind is a picturesque mountainscape or endless rows of lush green pine trees. Those images might include people hiking, camping and enjoying nature in what appears to be the most remote locations. These places are treasured and beautiful parts of the public lands system, but right now, millions of people don’t have access to nature, whether it’s a sweeping vista or a local park.

The 30x30 initiative seeks to protect these landscapes to protect the green infrastructure we need to take on climate change, and to ensure future generations have access to nature for recreation and enjoyment. It is true that some of the most beautiful and aweinspiring landscapes can be found in many places that have been protected for such purposes, but we should not think that 30x30 is

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limited to the most iconic public lands. Smaller green spaces also deserve our attention, care and protection. These green spaces offer nearby connections to nature and possess an important history, often memorializing untold stories of the communities and people who did so much to shape and cultivate the land. One example is the Ancient African and Indigenous Burial Grounds (tinyurl.

com/2za7ewrr). In my hometown of Hartford, Connecticut, an Ancient African Burial Ground is an important community resource and significant piece of history.

Preserving these spaces and providing space for the community to reflect and engage with them help us remember these people and their stories, in addition to providing critical green space.

In addition to these larger protected landscapes, there are many pocket parks (tinyurl. com/3aaax3d8) and similar unprotected green spaces in cities.

These spaces not only are a source of natural beauty and healing, but also they have cultural significance worth preserving and protecting. Many places that do not

have National Historic Site status, nevertheless, have significance to community members and how they engage with the land and natural world. These places may include community gardens, urban farms, empty lots that have been converted to arts and community gathering spaces, riverfronts, pocket parks, and other outdoor recreational facilities.

Advocating for Natural Spaces The effort to increase access to traditional conserved spaces, such as national and state parks, should be prioritized and pursued at all levels of civic engagement.

Improving public transit resources to these locations would substantially improve outdoor equity and access. The information and educational materials available on public lands also is important. Advocating for educational signs and materials about the history of these lands and the people and communities that were indigenous to these lands is vital when considering access issues.

Collaborative planning around the use of the lands with Indigenous communities also seems like a critical place to start in making these spaces more equitable and accessible. Just as we often see well-maintained nature centers or visitor centers that highlight the rich wildlife of plants and animals in a region, we have a responsibility to also provide resources that highlight the rich history of native nations and enslaved populations that spent so much time on these lands.

The Sierra Club Outdoors for All campaign seeks to address issues related to access in both large and small green spaces throughout the country, and we are not alone. Many local groups, organizations and alliances (tinyurl.com/4havzxb6) see the value and importance of these places and have sought to maintain them, often with little support from local or federal government.

With the announcement of ambitious initiatives, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield Remediation and many others that can be connected with the America the Beautiful Initiative (tinyurl.com/ 46redzbx), we might see opportunities for resources and for local organizations and communities to get involved in making lasting change when it comes to preserving and activating local green spaces. The Connecticut Sierra Club Chapter (tinyurl.com/2nvrzf95) and many other groups often are working hard to protect, restore and reenvision what development and use of green spaces can be.

Parks are treasured landscapes that have provided countless people with the opportunity to make a direct connection with nature.

Parks are treasured landscapes that have provided countless people with the opportunity to make a direct connection with nature. The 30x30 initiative can help ensure generations to come will be able to do the same — both at national parks and at green spaces much closer to home. With additional funding, community partnerships and strategic planning, we can transform this inclusive vision for outdoor access into a reality.

Jameelah Muhammad is Associate Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign.

22_1380_Parks_n_Rec_JUL Mod: May 18, 2022 3:22 PM Print: 06/02/22 1:58:05 PM page 1 v7

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C O N S E R VAT I O N

The Chattahoochee River was historically a corridor of trade between the Cherokee and Muscogee people that was given over to industry.

Restoring the Riverfront in Atlanta

By Andrew White, PLA

A

n unseasonably cool and drizzly day greets me when I arrive at the Chattahoochee River on a May morning. A chorus of local birdsong harmonizes with the ever-present hum of industry as I greet a group of dedicated residents working to conserve Atlanta’s riverfront. Through my role as a landscape architect at Park Pride, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know this community of stewards who have built grassroots political support for conserving Atlanta’s riverfront in partnership with nonprofits and City of Atlanta. Thanks to decades of city planning and community activism, this movement is gaining momentum at the grassroots, municipal and regional levels.

Atlanta’s relationship with the Chattahoochee has always been complicated. Historically a corridor of trade between the Cher-

The Chattahoochee also is a vital natural resource, beautiful to behold, and necessary to support Atlanta’s growing population and native wildlife.

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okee and Muscogee people, the river was given over to industry after European colonization for manufacturing, power production and disposal of waste. Some of these industries, notoriously Chattahoochee Brick, used an abusive system of convict leasing, exposing unpaid laborers of color to agonizing working conditions.

These extractive uses left scars on the regional ecology and culture.

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The Chattahoochee also is a vital natural resource, beautiful to behold, and necessary to support Atlanta’s growing population and native wildlife. Amid these overlapping layers of natural, cultural and historical meaning, a movement co-led by community and the city is restoring the river as an iconic and accessible public corridor, offering places of memory, restoration and recreation.

Keith Sharp, one of the grassroots leaders of Atlanta’s riverfront movement, has been stewarding a vision for a five-mile system of trails and parks along the river since he first learned of it in 1994.

Called Riverwalk Atlanta, the project will reconnect Atlanta to its waterfront by providing access to the river’s edge, while also restoring local ecology through a steady cadence of volunteerism and some

well-timed real estate transactions.

In 2014, Sharp was awarded a $100,000 grant from Park Pride, a local nonprofit supporting community park initiatives, to purchase two flood-prone properties to hold in trust for a new park. This initial investment was key in attracting city funding to purchase adjacent land through the sustained efforts of The Conservation Fund, the city’s land acquisition partner. These first two lots are now part of a new nine-acre park that will provide the first public river access in City of Atlanta.

After providing seed funding for these investments, Park Pride also brought community and municipal partners together for park planning.

After a six-month process of civic engagement, led by our small-butmighty park visioning division, we recently published a comprehensive vision plan for this new park along lower Paul Avenue, bringing further attention to the potential of Atlanta’s riverfront.

City of Atlanta officials continue to play a key role in this effort.

In 2018, the Department of City Planning prioritized an ambitious new approach to the Chattahoochee River in its comprehensive planning document, The Atlanta City Design: Aspiring to the Beloved Community (tinyurl.com/3csc37ue).

Rather than displacing riverside industry (which is valuable to Atlanta’s economy), the city envisions an approach of conservation and park and trail development that will “create a wild, adventurous riverfront that provides a welcome change of pace in the city.” Working directly with the community, the city is making good on this vision with public funding directed toward strategic park acquisitions

All this investment and energy surrounding Atlanta’s riverfront also feeds into a larger regional effort led by The Trust for Public Land.

that are responsive to community priorities, including the recent purchase of Chattahoochee Brick.

All this investment and energy surrounding Atlanta’s riverfront also feeds into a larger regional effort led by The Trust for Public Land. Called the Chattahoochee Riverlands, this project will connect communities to the river along a 100-mile stretch of “continuous public realm” (tinyurl.com/3pts6zje).

Published in 2020 after two years of public engagement and input from more than 80 government and community partners, the plan offers a bold new vision for regional connectivity.

On that drizzly May morning by the river, I asked Sharp to reflect on the community’s many years of ef-

fort amid all this new momentum.

With a smile, he responded that he used to think of the project as a giant puzzle with huge pieces, which are beginning to feel more like a line of dominoes waiting to fall into place.

Though he’s grateful that more neighbors can enjoy the results, he’s quick to add that his efforts of conserving Atlanta’s riverfront won’t be ending any time soon.

Andrew White, PLA, is Director of Park Visioning at Park Pride (andrew@parkpride.org).

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L AW R EV I EW

In the case of Moore v. Gibson, Plaintiff Moore claimed Defendant Officer Gibson had engaged in “malicious prosecution and abuse of power.”

Youth Soccer Coach Arrest and Police Immunity

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

I

n the case of Moore v. Gibson, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 60416 (E.D. Ark. 3/31/2022), Plaintiff Moore claimed Defendant Officer Gibson had engaged in “malicious prosecution and abuse of power” when Gibson issued Moore a citation for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass at a youth soccer game. In his complaint, Moore alleged Officer Gibson had violated his constitutional right under the Fourth Amendment to be free from search and seizure without probable cause.

In addition, Moore alleged his arrest had violated his First Amendment right to free speech.

Soccer Game Dispute On Saturday, March 24, 2018, Moore was attending and coaching his daughter’s recreational soccer team out of Conway, Arkansas, in a game against a recreational soccer team out of Vilonia, Arkansas, at the Vilonia soccer fields. Another Conway parent, Eric, was helping Moore coach.

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Approximately five minutes into the game, the ball went out of bounds in front of the Conway team’s parents. There were two people refereeing the game: the head referee, Brandon Torling, and the line judge, who is usually a young kid, a teenager. The line judge called the ball for the Conway team. Moore and referee

Torling were on the other side of the field from where the ball went out of bounds. Torling began making his way across the field in the direction of where the ball went out of bounds while calling the ball for the Vilonia team.

There was “mass confusion” because the line referee was saying that it was Conway’s ball and Torling was saying it was Vilonia’s ball. Some parents were yelling it was Conway’s ball; some parents were yelling it was Vilonia’s ball while the kids were just standing around confused.

According to Moore, Torling then went to where the Conway parents were screaming and yelled at the parents to “shut up” because

he, Torling, was “the one running this game.” Torling then turned around and started back across the field to where Moore was located.

Because there were kids in the area, Moore began to walk onto the field to meet Torling, so no one would hear their conversation, and Moore would not embarrass Torling in front of the kids.

According to Moore, Torling came to Moore and said, “You’re going to go over there and tell your parents to shut up.” Moore laughed and replied: “No. I know better. Look, let me tell you what’s going to happen here. I know you have a kid on the other team. You are going to go back out there, and you are going to call a non-biased game today because if you do not do that, I will report you at the end of the day. So, let’s play ball and have fun.”

Moore then turned around and started walking away. According to Moore, Torling then yelled at Moore again, saying, “Coach, are you not going to tell your parents to shut up?” to which Moore replied, “No, sir. They’ve done nothing wrong.”

Torling then told Moore that he was “out of the game.” Moore then walked back to the bench to pick up his cooler and tablet to leave. He then realized that the kids would need the cooler and that the assistant coach, Eric, would need the tablet, so he flipped open the cooler, grabbed a Gatorade, and started walking “in a direct line” to his car.

The “direct line” to Moore’s car was across the middle of the field and went directly through the middle of where the Conway parents were congregated. When Moore got to the Conway parents, they

stopped him, and conversation ensued regarding why Moore was leaving the game.

Torling then yelled to Moore, “Coach, you have to leave the entire complex.” At this point, Moore was still answering questions from the Conway parents, explaining that he had been kicked out of the game and had to leave. Torling then yelled at Moore, again, that he had to leave the complex.

Moore turned to start walking to his car with his back to Torling. Torling then yelled at Moore a third time, telling him he had to leave. As Moore walked away, he made a gesture at Torling, not even looking at him. Moore claims that this gesture was a “thumbs up.”

As Moore was walking out onto the road, he heard the whistle blow, and he turned his head back toward the field. Moore was told that Torling called the game because the assistant coach, Eric, told the Conway players, “Come on kids, I guess we’ve got to go play through this biased referee calling.”

Interaction With Police Officer Officer Gibson, a patrol officer with the City of Vilonia Police Department (VPD), was flagged down by James Lathe Anderson, a Vilonia parent, who was at a soccer game at the Vilonia soccer complex. Anderson told Officer Gibson that there was an individual who had been causing a disturbance, had used obscene language, and was refusing to leave city property after being instructed to do so by park and recreation staff.

Moore did not dispute the actions taken by Anderson. Moore, however, maintained, throughout

his interactions with Torling, he did not argue. On the contrary, Moore claimed he “was calm, did not cuss, did not scream or yell, and did not wave his hands.” Officer Gibson’s dashcam video began as he was speaking to Anderson. Anderson pointed Moore out as the individual causing the disturbance.

Anderson told Officer Gibson that there was an individual who had been causing a disturbance, had used obscene language, and was refusing to leave city property after being instructed to do so by park and recreation staff.

The parties disputed the exact nature of what occurred next. Officer Gibson maintained that he believed he saw Moore “flip off ” people at the soccer game while “walking in the area of the parents, children and young soccer players.” Moore maintained that he gave a “thumbs up” and was past the parents and children when making that gesture.

Upon seeing Officer Gibson’s police car approach, Moore finally began to leave the soccer complex.

It was Officer Gibson’s understanding that Moore had been told to leave by the official and the soccer director. As a result, Officer Gibson believed Moore had committed criminal trespass for not having left the soccer complex as soon as he was told to, having stopped in the process of leaving multiple times.

In addition to criminal trespass, Officer Gibson believed he had

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probable cause for Moore committing the offense of disorderly conduct because Moore, after being asked to leave, had decided to stop, turn, and continue arguing with the officials and flipped off the officials.

Prior to detaining Moore, Officer Gibson contacted Barbara McCrory, who Moore believed to be the athletic director of Vilonia. McCrory told Officer Gibson that Moore had been argumentative with parents and referees to the point that Moore was told by the referees and the soccer director to leave.

As a result, Officer Gibson issued Moore a citation for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass based upon Moore remaining on the property and being argumentative with officials and other parents, which caused the soccer game to be cancelled.

In the course of issuing Moore a citation for disorderly conduct

and criminal trespass, dashcam video made it clear “at no time during this encounter was Moore handcuffed, put into Officer Gibson’s police cruiser, or transported anywhere.”

A bench trial occurred regarding Moore’s criminal charges, at which Moore testified, taking the stand as the last witness, being questioned by his own attorney first, and then by the prosecutor. The trial judge acquitted Moore of the charges in the criminal citation.

Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Moore subsequently brought a Section 1983 federal civil rights lawsuit against Defendant Officer Gibson and City of Vilonia, Arkansas. In response, Officer Gibson filed a motion for summary judgment, which would effectively dismiss Moore’s lawsuit.

The federal district court would grant Officer Gibson’s motion for

summary judgment “if the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party [Moore], shows that there is no genuine issue of material fact to be decided at trial.” In other words, the pretrial record would have to contain sufficient evidence that would indicate potential Section 1983 liability.

As cited by the federal district court, Section 1983 provides a cause of action against any “person” who, acting “under color of ” state law, deprives the plaintiff of “rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In addition to municipalities, the court noted individual employees are suable “persons” as under Section 1983.

In this particular instance, Officer Gibson claimed he was entitled to the defense of qualified immunity under Section 1983 from any individual liability in this case. As described by the federal district court, the doctrine of qualified immunity “shields a government official from liability in a Section 1983 action unless the official’s conduct violates a clearly established constitutional or statutory right of which a reasonable person would have known.”

In determining whether qualified immunity was applicable to a given situation, the court would conduct the following “two-step inquiry”: (1) whether the facts shown by the plaintiff make out a violation of a constitutional or statutory right, and (2) whether Officer Gibson issued Moore a citation for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass based upon Moore remaining on the property and being argumentative with officials and other parents.

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that right was clearly established at the time of the defendant’s alleged misconduct.

Accordingly, the court had to determine whether Moore had alleged sufficient facts indicative of a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights at the time of his arrest

by Officer Gibson.

Terry Stop As described by the court, a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment occurs when a police officer briefly stops and detains an individual based upon a reasonable suspicion that an individual is engaged, or about to be engaged, in criminal conduct. Further, in the event of an arrest, the court noted any such seizure, referred to as a “Terry Stop,” must be accompanied by “probable cause.” As defined by the court: “Probable cause exists when the totality of circumstances demonstrates that a prudent person would believe that the arrestee has committed or was committing a crime”: Whether probable cause exists depends upon the reasonable conclusion to be drawn from the facts known to the arresting officer at the time of the arrest. The arresting officer himself need not possess all of the available information; probable cause is assessed by the collective knowledge of the relevant officers and available objective facts.

Moreover, the court acknowledged: “An officer is entitled to qualified immunity for a warrantless arrest if there is at least arguable probable cause”: Arguable probable cause exists if the arrest was based on an objec-

tively reasonable, even if mistaken, belief that the arrest was based in probable cause. Arguable probable cause provides law enforcement officers in a qualified immunity analysis an even wider berth for mistaken judgments than the probable cause standard affords a reasonable person.

Further, in deciding whether to arrest a subject, the court indicated officers may make an arrest if a credible eyewitness claims to have seen the suspect commit the crime. In addition, the court found an officer “faced with conflicting information that cannot be immediately resolved” may still have “arguable probable cause to arrest a suspect.”

According to the court, in considering qualified immunity, it was “not material” if the person arrested is ultimately found not guilty for the alleged crimes that prompted the arrest. On the contrary, the court acknowledged: “an officer need only demonstrate probable cause to carry out an arrest for any offense arising out of an incident.”

In determining the applicability of qualified immunity for Officer Gibson in this particular instance, the federal district court would, therefore, consider whether a reasonable suspicion and probable cause existed to arrest Moore for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

Disorderly Conduct The federal district court described the misdemeanor of disorderly conduct under Arkansas criminal law as follows: The statute requires only that a person engage in fighting or in violent, threatening, or tumultuous be-

havior with the purpose of creating a public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm or that a person engages in such behavior in a way that recklessly creates a risk of public inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm.

The trial judge acquitted Moore of the charges in the criminal citation.

In addition, under state law, the court found “a probable cause determination or conviction for disorderly conduct” would exist “where a person acts erratically or loudly under the circumstances or intends to disrupt a gathering.” On the other hand, probable cause for disorderly conduct would not exist under applicable state law, “where a person was making fleeting comments or acting non-threateningly.”

Criminal Trespass As cited by the federal district court, Arkansas law also provided that “a person commits criminal trespass if he or she purposely enters or remains unlawfully in or upon the premises owned or leased by another person.”

In this particular instance, Moore claimed he had not committed criminal trespass because “the soccer complex was open to the public.” While acknowledging a person may remain on premises open to the public, the court found the privilege or license to do so is lost when the individual “defies a lawful order not to remain, personally communicated to him by the owner of such premises or some other person authorized by the owner.”

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The federal district court concluded: “Officer Gibson is entitled to qualified immunity and summary judgment in his favor on Moore’s Fourth Amendment claims.”

ees and the director of the soccer program “have all the authority.”

Based on the undisputed evidence in the pretrial record, with all reasonable inferences construed in favor of Moore, the federal district court concluded: “Officer Gibson is entitled to qualified immunity and summary judgment in his favor on Moore’s Fourth Amendment claims.”

First Amendment Retaliation Reasonable Suspicion Based on the undisputed evidence on the pretrial record, the federal district court found “Officer Gibson at the outset had reasonable suspicion to stop Moore for the suspected offenses of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass”: It is undisputed that, at that time, Officer Gibson had been flagged down by parents attending the game who then told Officer Moore that there was an individual that had been causing a disturbance, had used obscene language, and was refusing to leave city property after being instructed to do so by parks and recreation staff; the parents pointed Moore out to Officer Gibson as that individual.

The federal district court, therefore, concluded: “at a minimum, Officer Gibson had arguable probable cause to arrest for the offenses of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass at the time Officer Gibson asked Moore to wait by and 32

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outside of Officer Gibson’s police cruiser.” Moreover, “given the information relayed to Officer Gibson by parents, and his distance from Moore,” in the opinion of the court, it was not unreasonable that Officer Gibson believed Moore had made an obscene “flipping the bird” gesture.

Prior to writing the criminal citation, in addition to a statement from Torling, Officer Gibson had also obtained a statement from Barbara McCrory, the athletic director of Vilonia, indicating all the clubs were made aware of “banners indicating zero tolerance of any abuse to referees,” which would include “refusal to follow directions given by [the] referee.”

Before issuing Moore the citation, Officer Gibson also spoke with Johnny Alexander, the director of parks and recreation for City of Vilonia, about Moore’s conduct. During the soccer games, Officer Gibson was told the refer-

Moore also brought a Section 1983 claim against Officer Gibson, alleging his arrest was in retaliation for his speaking out in violation of the First Amendment. As noted by the federal district court: “The law is settled that as a general matter, the First Amendment prohibits government officials from subjecting an individual to retaliatory actions, including criminal prosecutions, for speaking out.” To establish a First Amendment claim under Section 1983, the court would require a plaintiff to show the following: (1) he engaged in a protected activity; (2) the government official took adverse action against him that would chill a person of ordinary firmness from continuing in the activity; (3) the adverse action was motivated at least in part by the exercise of the protected activity; and (4) lack of probable cause or arguable probable cause.

Further, the court acknowledged, “retaliation need not have been the sole motive, but it must

have been a ‘substantial factor’ in the decision to arrest.” The court also would require plaintiff to show “the retaliatory motive was a ‘but-for’ cause of the arrest”; i.e., Moore was “singled out because of his exercise of constitutional rights.” In other words, Officer Gibson would not have arrested Moore without a “retaliatory motive” for doing so.

Moore claimed, “Officer Gibson stopped and arrested him because Officer Gibson believed that Moore made an obscene gesture to Torling that Moore claims was protected speech.”

Without deciding whether Moore’s alleged obscene gesture directed toward Torling was protected symbolic First Amendment

speech, the federal district court determined “no reasonable factfinder could conclude that Moore’s obscene gesture was the ‘but-for’ cause of Moore’s being stopped and arrested by Officer Gibson.”

On the contrary, the court found Moore had failed to prove Officer Gibson had “lacked probable cause or arguable probable cause” for the arrest. As a result, the federal district court held Officer Gibson was entitled to summary judgment on Moore’s First Amendment retaliation claim.

Conclusion Having found “reasonable suspicion and, at a minimum, arguable probable cause to support Officer Gibson’s stopping and arresting

of Moore for at least one of the crimes” in the citation, the federal district court determined Moore had failed to establish that Officer Gibson violated Moore’s Fourth Amendment or First Amendment rights.

Accordingly, the court held “Officer Gibson is entitled to qualified immunity on Moore’s federal constitutional claims brought against him in his individual capacity under Section 1983.” The court, therefore, entered summary judgment dismissing Moore’s Section 1983 lawsuit.

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

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Piestewa Peak in Phoenix is named for Lori Piestewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe and the first Native American woman to lose her life in overseas combat while serving in the U.S. military.

at Phoenix’s Piestewa Peak

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The story behind the cover photo of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine

By Cort Jones

I

t’s no secret that July is a favorite month of the year for many park and recreation professionals across the country and members of their communities. After all, July is Park and Recreation Month. Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — who maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF PHOENIX

This year’s Park and Recreation Month theme, “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation,” brings attention to how important it is to rise up and support our field, because every day, park and recreation professionals rise up for their communities in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. And, our month-long celebration kicks off by highlighting the winner of our annual Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest.

Our July cover photo was taken during the tribal dedication of the Ocotillo Ramada at Piestewa Peak in Phoenix. Formerly known as “Squaw Peak,” the derogatory name was changed in honor of U.S. Army Private Lori Piestewa, who lost her life at the age of 23 during the Iraq War in 2003 — the same attack that injured Jessica Lynch and killed other service members. Piestewa, a member of the Hopi Tribe, was the first Native American woman to lose her life in overseas combat while serving in the U.S. military.

Since Piestewa’s death, City of Phoenix has hosted the annual Piestewa Fallen Heroes Sunrise Me-

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U.S. Army Private Lori Piestewa

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morial event to honor Piestewa’s sacrifice, as well as the sacrifices of other fallen heroes. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the memorial event was put on hold in 2020. During the fall of 2021, Piestewa’s family was finally able to gather again in person to honor her with the dedication of the newly-renovated Ocotillo Ramada.

Who Was Lori Piestewa?

Piestewa was the youngest of four children and very quiet as a child, but also very outgoing. Although they may seem like conflicting traits, these attributes manifested as her being a person who constantly wanted to help others, but never wanted the recognition that came along with it.

“She was always helping.

Whether it was her friend or somebody who was having some kind of crisis, she was always there to help somebody out,” says Percy Piestewa, Lori’s mother. “Even the way she perished; she was helping her friend Jessica [Lynch]. That’s just who Lori was.”

She also was a very active — and tough — kid. She was a commander in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and on the ROTC fitness team for four years in high school. She also was a talented softball player. Her mother recalls one time when she dislocated her shoulder and continued to compete in a fitness event the next day: “She threw her shoulder out at a softball game on Friday, and then after the game we had to travel to Las Vegas for her physical fitness competition. We iced her arm every hour — we’d ice it, then the next hour we could eat, then we’d ice it again. A doctor had to pop her shoulder back in place, and she

still competed the next day as a top athlete for the ROTC,” says Percy.

Piestewa loved her children, Brandon Whiterock and Carla Piestewa, as well. When she decided to enlist in the military, Percy and her husband, Terry, took care of the children, and some of their fondest memories are of visiting her at Fort Bliss in North Carolina every other week to enjoy time with her and Lynch before they deployed. And while Whiterock was only 4 years old when his mother passed away, he still remembers how caring she was and how she was always there for him.

“Everything I remember is just from being small, being raised in North Carolina for a couple of years, but she was always very, very caring and always there to take care of us,” says Whiterock. “Especially when my sister came into the picture, you’d think me being the oldest that I would get shut out a little bit, because you have a baby sister who is like identical to my mom and super cute. But no, she showed the exact same love. She just showed us so much love.”

What’s in a Name?

After Private Piestewa’s death in 2003, Janet Napolitano, the former Governor of Arizona, called for the renaming of Squaw Peak, due to “squaw” being a racist, misogynistic and derogatory term that is offensive to Native Americans, specifically Native American women.

In April 2003, the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names voted 5-1 in favor of changing the name to Piestewa Peak, in honor of Lori Piestewa.

“It’s like a jewel in the middle of a large metropolitan area.

I’m very humble, but proud that the name of this great mountain

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF PHOENIX

honors not only Lori, but all the veterans who have sacrificed so much,” says Percy. “From the very beginning, my husband Terry — who passed away almost five years ago — and I have insisted that the renaming of the mountain stands for all our heroes.”

Due to the large Native American population in Arizona, it was important for the city to acknowledge that it was offensive to have a major landmark with a derogatory name. Further, City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department honored local Native American tribes with a land acknowledgement statement: “The Parks and Recreation Department acknowledges the City of Phoenix is located within the homeland of the O’Odham and Piipaash peoples and their ancestors, who have inhabited this landscape from time immemorial to present day. The landscape is sacred and reflects cultural values central to the O’Odham and Piipaash way of life and their self-definition. This acknowledgment demonstrates our commitment to work in partnership with the Ancestral Indigenous Communities to foster understanding, appreciation and respect for this heritage.

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC) and the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) claim aboriginal title (Original Indian Title) to lands exclusively used and occupied by the Akimel O’Odham and Piipaash equaling 3,751,000 acres of South-Central Arizona. Ancestral O’Odham settlements are located throughout the entirety of present-day Phoenix. This land continues to be spiritually connected to the O’Odham of the SRP-MIC and the GRIC, both of which are confederations of two unique cultures with their own languages, customs, cultures, religions and histories.

Both the O’Odham and the Piipaash

Since Piestewa’s death, City of Phoenix has hosted the annual Piestewa Fallen Heroes Sunrise Memorial event to honor Piestewa’s sacrifice.

are oral history cultures, and the song cultures of these people are specifically tied to tangible places. These places can be natural landforms like the mountains that surround our valleys, but they also include archaeological sites because they are part of a cultural landscape associated with specific historic, cultural and religious values.

Those places are tangible reminders to the O’Odham and Piipaash about shared attitudes, goals and practices that characterize who they are, where they belong and how they related to each other in the past, continuing today and into the future. The Parks and Recreation Department has preserved and continues to steward several Ancestral O’Odham sites and landscapes, and is committed to honor the vital meaning and intent of this land acknowledgment statement.”

A Dedication for Fallen Heroes Due to the annual memorial for Private Piestewa being placed on

hold in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19, Cynthia Aguilar, director of City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation, knew the Piestewa family should be involved when it came time to dedicate the Ocotillo Ramada at Piestewa Peak in the fall of 2021.

The dedication included the unveiling of award-winning updates to Piestewa Peak’s Ocotillo Trailhead, where more than 77,000 square feet of improvements were made, including new trailhead access, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible restrooms, parking and drinking fountains.

The project was funded by the voterapproved Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative.

“Recognizing that this place is not like a typical park, and that there’s a lot of history involved here, we really wanted to do something that included the Piestewa family when we reopened [Piestewa Peak],” says Aguilar. “We just

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wanted it to be something significant and meaningful, and it was just such a meaningful day for us to have them present.”

The dedication and annual memorial event is extremely meaningful for the Piestewa family, as well.

“It brings healing to me in a way, because my mom’s comrades and people who were with her on the day she passed come to her memorial every year,” says Whiterock.

“They want to talk to me and they bring up the good times, the good memories of her. We also bring up the hard memories that are difficult to talk about, but it helps me heal.”

Whiterock says having that community of support has helped him get through some monumental things in life, such as graduating from Northern Arizona University, which he recently accomplished.

He now works on campus at the

Veterans Center, where he assists veterans and their dependents with military education benefits.

“Just knowing that they’re still here and supportive of our family and other veterans, and what we want the mountain to stand for, it’s just amazing,” he says. “Coming together through tragedy and finding something else is just amazing, and something that in our darkest days helps us find light.”

Making Piestewa Peak More Accessible and Honoring the Original Stewards Mountain preserves are such an important part of the history in Phoenix, and the parks and recreation department recognized there was some necessary work that needed to be done in order for Piestewa Peak to be more accessible.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF PHOENIX

The dedication of the Ocotillo Ramada at Piestewa Peak included the unveiling of awardwinning updates.

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Nearly a million people from all over the country visit Piestewa Peak each year, so it was important to invest in this space to ensure everyone is able to enjoy it.

“So many people come to enjoy and explore our trails, but we also wanted to provide space for people who maybe just wanted an opportunity to come, sit and enjoy the serene environment, and maybe pay respect to their culture or history,” says Aguilar. “We didn’t have a space like that up here before, so the Ocotillo Ramada at Piestewa Peak provides that. But it’s so much more than just a ramada, it provides a space to pay respect to Lori, her family and their culture.”

Besides the ramada, the department installed ADA-accessible restrooms and other improvements, like trail connections, so that more people could access the beautiful

A Space to Honor and Heal Percy is grateful for all the people who worked so hard to honor her daughter, especially the hikers of Piestewa Peak, who provided a lot of the funding for the Ocotillo Ramada renovation project. She also is extremely grateful for the park and recreation professionals in Phoenix who have dedicated so much of their time and energy to this space.

“We can’t forget the workers — the stewards of the mountain — who clean it up and make all of the improvements,” she says.

“We need to thank them because they are there pretty much on a daily basis to make sure the park is up to par.”

Aguilar is extremely proud of how things have come together and

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF PHOENIX

spaces within Piestewa Peak. The department also met with and solicited input from the Hopi Tribe’s cultural preservation officer, as well as historic preservation officers from the Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community.

“We work closely with the local tribes and have some really well-established relationships with them,” says Aguilar. “We work closely to maintain those relationships, so that we can make sure our projects are reflective of what they would like to see us doing in the community.”

Whiterock agrees, recognizing the significance of the inhabitants of the land Piestewa Peak sits on.

“It’s important to know that our Indigenous neighbors are there, too,” he says. “It’s just important to pay that respect, knowing this is actually their land and how important it is for us to acknowledge that.”

The Piestewa Peak Trailhead and Ocotillo Ramada can be found at 2701 Piestewa Peak Drive in Phoenix.

how the park and recreation department staff serve such a diverse population. She says it’s amazing to see so many people enjoying this space in so many different ways.

For Whiterock, he is grateful that this space is available not only to honor and remember his mother, but also for others who have lost a family member serving in the military.

“Being in the footsteps of having to lose a mom — and I’m probably not the only military dependent who has lost a parent — it’s just a true healing place where I can just be myself, talk to people and let other emotions out,” he says. “It’s just a safe place, and I want to let other Gold Star families know that it’s a welcoming place for everyone.”

Visiting Piestewa Peak NRPA is proud to be traveling to Phoenix for the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference this September 20-22. If you are attending, we encourage you to visit Piestewa

Peak and pay tribute to Private Lori Piestewa and all the others this mountain honors. Surrounding the base of the 2,608-foot Piestewa Peak, Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area and Dreamy Draw Recreation Area are gateways into diverse desert landscapes that offer everything from fantastic views to secluded valleys. This area boasts dozens of miles of multiuse trails. The Piestewa Peak Trailhead and Ocotillo Ramada can be found at 2701 Piestewa Peak Drive in Phoenix.

To hear more from Percy Piestewa, Brandon Whiterock and Cynthia Aguilar, tune in to the July bonus episode of Open Space Radio at nrpa.org/ July2022BonusEpisode.

To learn more about how “We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation” during Park and Recreation Month, visit nrpa.org/July.

Cort Jones (he/him) is NRPA’s Manager of Strategic Communications (cjones@nrpa.org).

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Flint:

A Portrait of Resilience

Michiganders show what it means to rise up for parks and recreation

By Vitisia Paynich

W

hen it comes to adversity, the people of Flint, Michigan, have experienced more than their fair share. From a devastating economic downturn and crippling unemployment triggered by the Great Recession in 2008, to the city’s ongoing lead water crisis that began in 2014, Flint residents have endured enough setbacks for five lifetimes.

However, a group of resilient community members want to change the narrative and the national conversation around the “Vehicle City.” They want to squelch years of excoriating national headlines along with an unwanted negative stigma often attributed to City of Flint. They want the rest of the country to see what they and their families, friends and neighbors see every day — that they are “Flint strong.”

Thanks to the state’s Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission (Genesee County Parks), they are telling their personal stories one Flint park at a time.

The Writing on the Wall In 2003, the Flint Parks and Recreation Department had a little more than 97 full-time equivalents (FTEs) on staff, but once the recession hit, park and recreation leaders began to see the writing on the wall.

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at the time, was among those who foresaw the city’s eventual inability to care for Flint’s parks and public spaces. Thus, West developed a framework to replace the dwindling Flint Parks and Recreation, which led to KGCB signing an agreement with the city whereby the county would assist Flint parks. This agreement paved the way for a pilot program funded by the Ruth Mott Foundation, called Adopt a Park, which enabled Flint volunteers to perform basic maintenance work and upkeep.

“Adopt a Park was created as a stop-gap measure to figure out how to deal with public space that’s not being maintained by the city,” explains Nancy Edwards, recreation programs and grants officer and current director of KGCB. By 2013, the entire park and recreation department consisted of only six FTEs: two people handling administration and four tasked with park maintenance and facilities duties. In 2014, the Flint Parks and Recreation Department

officially disbanded.

Edwards says the park and recreation responsibilities essentially rolled into the city’s Department of Planning and Development. “There was one planner who was funded about a quarter time to be the point person for anything park related,” she recalls. This meant Adopt a Park program volunteers became the primary stewards of the city’s parks.

The KGCB program became part of Genesee County Parks in 2016.

Genesee County Parks, the largest county park system in Michigan, oversees more than 11,000 acres of county park property.

An Evolving Partnership Agreement Genesee County Parks established a partnership agreement “to maintain some particular park properties that were associated with the city’s natural resources,” says Edwards.

The city’s park system features 70 parks comprising 1,881 acres.

“This partnership agreement started with us maintaining four specific parks: Flint Park Lake, Thread Lake, McKinley Park and Max Brandon Park,” she explains.

Over the past eight years, the partnership agreement has expanded to include other park property projects.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY EDWARDS

When the Flint Parks and Recreation Department disbanded in 2014, Adopt a Park program volunteers became the primary stewards of the city’s parks.

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“We have parks in every ward, every neighborhood in Flint. And we have people who deserve to have equitable access and equitable facilities,” Edwards contends.

“They deserve the ability to use parks that are safe, clean public spaces — and the city doesn’t have the capacity to do that. So, we’ve tried to figure out ways to make that happen, so that everybody has access to those spaces.”

The Water Crisis

PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY EDWARDS

In April 2014, Flint was still reeling from a crippling economy and bankruptcy when it was dealt an even bigger blow: a contaminated water crisis. As a result of the state’s bungled cost-saving measure that sourced the city’s water supply from the Flint River, adults and children contracted lead poisoning by ingesting drinking water from corroded waterpipes.

What’s more, Flint residents were forced to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

“We’re still doing waterline replacement to deal with the lead,” notes Edwards. “People are still using bottled water, and so we can’t have a conversation about Flint without recognizing that [it’s] an ongoing issue.”

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The Park Adopters For the past 14 years, Shareka Howard and her now ex-husband have been proud park adopters of Windiate Park. Both born and raised in Flint, the two saw firsthand the conditions of their neighborhood park and the lack of maintenance care. However, they knew they wanted their four kids to be able utilize and enjoy the park.

“Instead of talking about it [and] trying to get people to do something about it, we decided to do it ourselves — to start maintaining it,” Howard explains.

In addition to picking up the garbage and changing out the trash bags in Windiate Park, Howard also tended to her neighborhood’s gateway centers, grass areas dividing the streets, by planting flowers.

Dominque Strong, a Flint resident for the past 37 years, also wanted to make a difference in her community.

“I decided almost eight years ago to be a park adopter of Brennan Park,” Strong says. “We do not have any community centers in the seventh ward of Flint. So, I adopted the park to implement annual events and programming.”

In addition to Brennan Park,

After Flint Parks and Recreation disbanded, all the afterschool programming and sports programs were absorbed by other community partner organizations.

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Strong adopted McClellan Park and McKinley Park. She visits the parks at least three times a week, driving by to assess whether trash needs to be picked up or if damages to the playground equipment need to be reported.

Chad Schlosser, a Flint resident since 2011 and a father of three young children, was volunteering to clean up his local park before he even knew Adopt a Park existed. He eventually connected with Edwards and KGCB, adopting Mott Park Recreation Area and Mott Park in 2017.

“We’ll rake leaves; pick up tree branches that have fallen; cut back overgrowth around the playground, on the stairs or on the tennis courts; repair and paint benches; edge the curb; and level any holes that we find,” says Schlosser about the duties that he and his band of volunteers take on.

A Personal Connection Kevin Cronin has a unique connection to one of the neighborhood parks. “Basically, once I learned about the Adopt a Park program, I was really interested and intrigued by it,” says Cronin. “But, it also [had] a lot more sentimental [value] on my end.” The park Cronin adopted was named after his grandfather, Donald R. Cronin, who served as the mayor of Flint from 1968 to 1970.

Back in the late 1930s, the Soap Box Derby Race was a community event cherished by Flint residents.

However, the race took place on a city street. Mayor Cronin helped establish a permanent track for the event, so in 1969, Cronin Derby Downs opened to the public.

Today, the mayor’s grandson aims to honor his legacy through the Adopt a Park program. David Cronin tends to the park, picking up trash and removing leaves or

The Trash Factor KGCB hosts a spring orientation for representatives from each of the Adopt a Park groups, providing them with cleaning supplies and asking them to sign a formal agreement of participation.

For a time, there was one major barrier with the city parks: trash pickup. “In Flint, what was happening with the park adopters was that they were bagging up the trash, taking it home and putting it out with their residential garbage,” Edwards explains.

So, through its grant funding, KGCB paid to place dumpsters in the parks for one year. The following year, Edwards was able to work out a deal with the residential waste management company to pick up the garbage from the parks at no cost, but then the city changed companies. The new company agreed to pick up the trash again for free, but for just a couple of months.

Edwards was determined to solve this problem. “I kept harping on this long enough that we were able to get the grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation…increased, so that we could then hire additional maintenance staff,” she says. “So…the county parks maintenance staff is literally going to every single park at least once a week and dealing with trash.”

In 2021, NRPA named City of Flint as one of 16 grantees that received a $40,000 grant toward implementing park projects that would increase equitable access to youth sports and play.

Beyond Cleanup Although park maintenance remains a key part of the Adopt a Park program, the KGCB budget and grant funding also have been used for park improvements and enhancements. “We’ve [installed] 38 brand new playgrounds in six years,” Edwards notes. “Now, we’re redoing basketball courts, repurposing tennis courts, as well as putting in grills and picnic tables.

We’re working on the next piece of capital improvements that will give all of the parks those amenities.”

“We’ve received two brand new playground sets, thanks to Nancy and funding from the Mott Foundation,” says Schlosser. The first one, a playground set for 2- to 5-year-olds, was installed in 2016.

The second playground set, designed for 5- to 11-year-olds, went in last year. “Part of my role is just advocating for things like that, while the other part is just figuring out how to better take care of what already exists,” he says.

After Flint Parks and Recreation disbanded in 2014, all the afterschool programming and sports programs were absorbed by other community partner organizations.

“We’ve had some funding [in which] we’ve been able to make available to our park adopters so that they can do programs,” says Edwards.

Howard says, “We’re able to now focus more on doing events.” She adds that through her own nonprofit organization and KGCB, she’s able to host basketball training camps and

PHOTO COURTESY OF LADEL LEWIS

any obstacles that might hinder the city’s ability to cut the grass.

What does the future look like for Cronin as a park adopter? “I really intend to introduce at the park — in coordination and partnership with the Adopt a Park program, Genesee County Parks and City of Flint — additional methods and modalities of [soapbox car] racing and additional multipurpose events,” he says.

flag football for kids.

Edwards says collaboration and partnerships are key to the program’s success. That also means seeking out available grants, such as NRPA and Disney’s Youth Sports and Play Grant. In 2021, NRPA named City of Flint as one of 16 grantees that received a $40,000 grant toward implementing park projects that would increase equitable access to youth sports and play.

Making a Difference “Through the Adopt a Park program and through my involvement in the parks, I’ve come to realize that I really enjoy taking care of public spaces, and I’m very grateful for the people who had the foresight to create public spaces,” says Schlosser.

“To actually see this program grow into what it is today is so amazing and rewarding,” says Strong. She adds that her volunteer work has really been about “creating a sense of belongingness” and helping “to change the narrative for the city; just showing how resilient we are.”

“It’s just amazing to see the big difference of how people from the outside see the city as this horrible place…,” says Howard, “but when they come to actually see Flint or talk to residents, they see that we are — Flint strong. We bond together in a time of need.... We are a community.”

Vitisia Paynich is Executive Editor and Director of Print and Online Content at NRPA (vpaynich@nrpa.org).

P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 2 2 |

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Designing a Community

GATHERING PLACE Award-winning Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park rolls out its second phase

By Wendy Chan

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| J U LY 2 0 2 2 | P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

In 2014, the multi-disciplinary design and planning firm MIG developed the conceptual comprehensive plan to show what a complete makeover could look like, including

new recreation amenities and innovative green infrastructure, demonstrating how urban environments can be models of water conservation by reducing the negative im-

pacts of untreated stormwater. In January 2021, the $83 million Phase 1A opened to the public, unveiling the ultimate community hub where fitness, programming and wetlands are laid out to provide play, health and leisure opportunities for children of all demographics for generations to come.

“Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Park, simply put, is a community gathering place,” says Mika Yamamoto, regional operations manager for the

Park visitors take a stroll on the walking path along the lake at Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park in South Los Angeles' Willowbrook community.

P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 2 2 |

Parks & Recreation

PHOTO COURTESY OF WENDY CHAN

E

arvin “Magic” Johnson Park, the 126-acre park located in the community of Willowbrook in South Los Angeles, was named for the Lakers legend in 1994, just three years after his retirement. Almost 30 years later, the largest open space in the area, it has now completed two phases of its renovation. With Phase 1A and 1B of the Magic Johnson Park Revitalization Project complete, the park is hailed as the gold star in sustainable park design.

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G AT H E R I N G P L A C E

County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. “For the community, the park and its event center will be the host to family reunions, weddings, receptions, baby showers, birthday parties and more.

Our mission is to serve as stewards of parklands, build healthy and resilient communities, and advance social equity and cohesion. This park fulfills the mission through its design, which brings nature and wildlife to an urban area, recreational and interpretative programs, and social gatherings and events for all.”

Sustainable Design

PHOTO COURTESY OF CALVIN ABE

MIG collaborated with more than 20 subconsultants, including Paul Murdoch Architects and Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, to complete Phase 1A, which includes such features as a new community event center and offers a new natureinfused environment of scenic viewpoints, community social spaces, play areas, walking trails, California native coastal sage scrub and freshwater marsh wetland landscape. The inspiration behind this project is to transform a widely used communitybased park into something much

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more: an interactive and dynamic center of learning, nature and engagement that is powered through environmentally sustainable design.

Of particular note is a system that diverts and captures stormwater runoff from the community’s 375acre watershed, which is part of the Compton Creek Watershed. The stormwater is then treated through a system of processes, including natural biofiltration through mitigated wetlands surrounding one of the park’s two lakes. The treated water is stored within both lakes and reused for on-site park irrigation. The freshwater marsh wetland also creates an important habitat for resident and migratory birds, insects and other urban wildlife. This technology, coupled with the existing lakes, allows for the capture, storage, treatment and recycling of water, and acts as a catalyst for urban greening and meaningful outdoor space throughout Southern California.

Before the renovation, the park used 100 percent potable water for landscape irrigation and for filling the two existing man-made lakes. To minimize potable water use, the park was re-engineered through collabo-

ration with the Los Angeles County Development Authority, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to not only recycle runoff, but also improve water quality in Compton Creek, the Los Angeles River and the Pacific Ocean.

Restoring Nature Through this project, restoration of some of Southern California’s vital native plant communities, such as the coastal sage scrub and freshwater marsh wetland habitats, has been achieved. Some of the Californianative plants that are incorporated into the park are Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo willow), Juncus patens (California Gray Rush), Anemopsis californica (Yerba Mansa), Eriogonum fasciculatum (California buckwheat), Heteromeles arbutifolia (Toyon) and Peritoma arborea (Bladderpod). California natives account for 80 percent of the new plants that were installed at the park.

The constructed wetland and the restored lakes on this project provide important habitats for resident and migratory birds, pollinators, fish and other urban wildlife by providing food, shelter and places to nest. Some of the species that now frequent and nest at the park are Grey Heron, Black-Crowned Night Heron, RedTailed Hawk and Black-Necked Slits. Since the park renovations, there have been more than 160 bird species observed at the park.

The restoration of native plant communities has brought this sense of wildness into the urban environment, further connecting the community to nature, which is the park’s

A community member looks at the informational stormwater board. | J U LY 2 0 2 2 | P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

design vision. The park’s elements, such as picnic areas, walking trails, a community center building and play area, were designed to be integrated and interwoven with the experience of the nature systems to inspire, foster community, provide education, and cultivate a healthy, sustainable environment. Picnic areas are surrounded within the landscape and integrated into the lake, creating the interaction between humans and nature. Walking trails interweave through native landscape and utilize topography to create beautiful vistas within the park, with the surrounding mountains and city as the backdrop. The park’s design uses natural materials, such as play mounds, reclaimed logs, boulders, decomposed granite and plants, to create outdoor learning and play environments where nature can inspire imaginative play through curiosity.

Phase 1B Just earlier this year, Phase 1B opened to the public. This phase included three-quarters of a mile of walking trails, an off-leash dog park (the first in South Los Angeles), educational California native habitat gardens, an informal natural amphitheater, a one-quarter-mile fitness loop with exercise equipment, and a community flexible lawn space.

“As a parks and recreation professional, it brings me joy to see the community visiting the parks. With the number of activities and amenities at Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Park, it has something for all ages,” says Yamamoto. “Although the [COVID-19] pandemic has limited the full opening of the park, there were still a variety of programs and events scheduled. The park

PHOTO COURTESY OF CALVIN ABE

Park goers take in the view of the stream between the two lakes.

has hosted special events, such as Health Walk, Art Walk, Trick or Trunk Halloween and Winter Holiday Event, along with recreational programs, such as Everybody Plays (afterschool) and senior socials. We look forward to developing more youth and adult programs along with larger community special events and maximizing the use of the park’s amenities.”

The amenities of the park include: • A 20,000-square-foot community event center • A half-mile lakeside community loop trail with picnic areas • Fitness equipment • Scenic viewing points • A children’s play area with a splash pad • Outdoor classrooms and educational interpretive graphics telling the environmental story of the park • Community social spaces • A lawn space for weddings • More than a mile of new walking

trails • The first off-leash dog park in South Los Angeles • Educational native habitat gardens • An informal natural amphitheater • A community flexible lawn space The project closed out 2021 with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and six awards under its belt, including the Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies, Sustainable Engineering Project of the Year from the American Society of Civil Engineers, Award of Excellence from the American Society of Landscape Architects Southern California Chapter, the Architectural Award for Civic from the Los Angeles Business Council, the Honor Award from Southern California Development Forum, and Project of the Year from the U.S. Green Building Council – Los Angeles.

Wendy Chan is Senior Landscape Architect at MIG (wchan@migcom.com).

P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 2 2 |

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47

OPERATIONS A Commitment to Inclusion

By Greg Stoks

C

ity of Parkersburg, West Virginia, opened City Park Pool in the late 1930s, which drew large crowds. But as preferences for recreation and entertainment evolved, residents lost interest in the facility. Rather than close the pool, however, the city chose to expand the space to include a splash pad that would welcome children and families of all abilities.

City of Parkersburg, West Virginia, expanded City Park Pool to include a splash pad that welcomes children and families of all abilities.

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Parks & Recreation

PHOTO COURTESY OF LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC.

“It was not an option for us to build a brand-new water park facility,” says Rickie Yeager, development director at City of Parkersburg. “We considered creating a smaller splash pad that would be

| J U LY 2 0 2 2 | P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

free to the public, but our research showed the most meaningful impact would be to connect a splash pad to the existing pool, thereby enhancing the facility.”

That realization allowed for the city to make City Park Pool a true destination for residents. In addition to creating a fully inclusive splash pad, the city rehabbed the entire space — an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp was added to the pool, as well as rock climbing walls, a zip line and a new concession stand.

Prior to starting the splash pad design, the project team looked at demographic and health data from the City of Parkersburg, Wood County and Mid-Ohio Valley region. They found that nearly 1,500 young people, individuals ages 18 and younger, have cognitive disabilities or use some type of mobility device. In addition, City of Parkersburg engaged residents to ensure the splash pad met the needs of all the people using the facility.

“Our goal was to provide a space where individuals of all abilities have the opportunity to do something fun and interactive,” says Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce.

Together with Aquatix® by Landscape Structures and Sparks@Play, City of Parkersburg created an inclusive spray park design. The design encompasses more than 7,600

square feet and delivers fun, safe play experiences in three developmentally appropriate zones.

“It was important to create a space that all age groups could be playing in at the same time,” says Yeager.

When designing inclusive spray parks, it’s important to consider the placement of spray features, and the project team did just that. The features were created to allow kids to step back and experience a calming moment. A blue ribbon that runs throughout the surfacing design, which mimics the nearby Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers, guides users to activities with gentle flows that are in or just beyond that mark.

To further embrace inclusive, team and group spray play, the design included a spray station where individuals of all physical and cognitive abilities can gather together to learn and socialize.

In addition to the fun and playful aspects of the splash pad design, City of Parkersburg chose a recirculation system to save millions of gallons of water annually. The City Park splash pad recirculates 4,000 gallons of water at any given time.

The splash pad at City Park Pool opened in May 2019 to rave reviews. The attendance numbers alone speak volumes — participation increased by 700 percent over previous years. While the splash pad opened successfully, the city continues to emphasize the inclusive aspects of this amenity.

Greg Stoks is Director of Product Innovation at Aquatix by Landscape Structures Inc.

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advertiser index

ACTIVE Network.................................................................................. 23

(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 ©2022 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.

P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | J U LY 2 0 2 2 |

Parks & Recreation

55

Park Bench

A Legacy of Service in Parks and Recreation

LEVIS PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAMERON

In the world of parks and recreation, we all have individuals we look to as role models who set a path before us to follow as we strive to continue impacting communities in the same ways they have. For me, my greatest role model in this field also happens to be my grandpa, Dr. Alton Little. Parks and recreation are the very roots that our family tree grows from. So many of the ways I approach my job daily in the field are based on the lessons he taught me over the years. While starting his career as a park and recreation director at the age of 26 in the small town of Washington, North Carolina, in 1960, Dr. Little spent a majority of his career as a professor in recreation at Western Kentucky University (WKU), impacting the lives of thousands of students from 1971 to 2007.

I used to attend state and national conferences with my grandpa at a young age, running alongside him into the exhibit hall, so excited to see all the latest and greatest playgrounds on display. I was ready to test them all out, while he was ready to keep me distracted so he could work. Although a helpful distraction, he knew he was intentionally introducing me to my future passion and profession, parks and recreation. My grandpa passed away while I was attending the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference in Nashville. I find comfort in knowing that I was entering the exhibit hall at conference — a place where we spent countless joyful and fun-filled hours together — around the time he passed.

In one of his classes at WKU, my grandpa led students through a “park to scale” project. The assignment called for students to design their ideal park, complete with various amenities to be enjoyed by a community. Growing up, my mom, as one of his former students herself, had her project stored away in one of our closets. I used to sit in the house and stare amazed at the ballfields, playgrounds, trails, etc., and then draw my own park on lined notebook paper. hing a I loved the idea that you could take a blank Cameron Levis is self-publis a’s inspiration with the world, recreation. and ks par in ers canvas and create a space for so many peooth to To continue sharing his grandp ice of serv his grandpa and his legacy children’s book dedicated to ple to enjoy. It was during these moments as a child that my passion for parks and recreation started. My grandpa helped me to discover all the possibilities a park holds: a place for all people to live, learn and play together; a place where communities are built and memories are made; a place where everyone can feel loved, valued and accepted.

To continue sharing my grandpa’s inspiration with the world, I have decided to selfpublish a children’s book, called Home is Where Your Park Is, dedicated to my grandpa and his legacy of service to others in parks and recreation. This is a story that I hope inspires children (and adults!) everywhere to use their imagination in dreaming up their own perfect park, in the same ways my grandpa inspired me. Home is Where Your Park Is has many different meanings for me, but it all started with my grandpa in eastern North Carolina. Every day, but especially right now, the park truly feels like home because it is where I feel closest to my grandpa.

What does it mean to leave a legacy? I believe one way to define legacy is leaving a place better than you found it. What seems like such a tall task can be easily accomplished in the day-to-day ways in which we love, serve and interact with those around us. A man who wore many hats had many different names — whether you knew him as Dr. Little, Brother Little or grandpa, one thing was consistent: you knew how much he cared for you. My grandpa lived a life of genuine love and service to others, truly harnessing the power parks, recreation and sports have to impact communities all over the world.

–Cameron Levis, CPRE, AFO, CARSS I, Special Populations Instructor, Bowling Green Parks and Recreation 56

Parks & Recreation

| J U LY 2 0 2 2 | P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

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