Parks & Recreation September 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016 W W W. N R PA . O R G

THE SOCIAL EQUITY ISSUE

To Bench or Not To Bench | Public Art in Parks | Using Data to Fight Homelessness

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contents september 2016 volume 51 | number 9 | www.parksandrecreation.org

COVER STORY

46 Game On Historically, sports have served as an entry point for children to become interested in physical activity, develop problem-solving skills and make lifelong friends. But, in many areas, young people may be missing out on such opportunities because of a lack of access to or availability of public sports facilities. What can parks do to help?

Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett

FEATURES

2016 NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE SECTION

52 Can Data Have a Heart?

66 Conference Hacks — An Insider’s Guide

to NRPA’s Showcase Event

Using data to explore and quantify homelessness across the United States can help communities strike a balance between keeping public spaces safe and accessible and supporting vulnerable individuals and families.

Gretchen Keillor

56 If It Doesn’t Have a Bench, Is It Still a Park?

Some see benches as an inviting spot for lunch, while others view them as a magnet for loitering or other nefarious activities. Can a balance be found between offering residents and guests a comfortable seat and keeping public spaces safe and accessible for all?

Peter Harnik and Alexandra Hiple

62 Making Small Towns Special:

How to Afford Public Art Adding artwork to public parks and open spaces can increase usage, advance cultural awareness and beautify, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Kevin Riley, Ed.D., Sarah Riley, NBCT, MAT, MLA, and Jean Wallace, BSA 4

Parks & Recreation

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Anything can happen at the NRPA Annual Conference — here, we’ve assembled some top survival tips from the folks who organize and promote NRPA’s signature event.

Samantha Bartram

67 Making a Difference 101 Tom Crosley

68 National Award, Fellowship and

Scholarship Recipients Announced 69 2016 NRPA Annual Conference Exhibit Hall Highlights 70 Exhibit Hall at a Glance

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contents september

departments 14 Research

By the Numbers: Olympic Stats 18

20 Community Center A Memorial State Park to Honor 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots 20 From the Director’s Chair 22 Notable News 24

26 Partnerships for Parks Tennis, Everyone!

Jonathan Whitbourne

30 Member to Member Yes, In My Backyard!

Rebecca Stidham

73 NRPA Update Portland Innovation Lab: Creating Change 73 Member Spotlight: Kristi McLeod Fondren, Ph.D. 75 Bon Voyage, Brenda Beales 76 NRPA Connect Hot Topics 76 Member Benefit: Want Your Job Posting in Front of 7,000 People? 77 Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge 77 Professional Development Calendar 78

79 Operations Connecting on Concussion: Why Agency Advocacy Is Important 79 Serving Diverse and Special Populations at Your Aquatics Facility 81

83 Products 84 Marketplace 87 Reader Service and Advertiser Index 88 Park Bench Scouts for Stewardship Samantha Bartram

Parks & Recreation

8 Perspectives Social Equity: What It Means for Parks and Recreation Barbara Tulipane, CAE

10 Editor’s Letter

Park and Rec Out-of-School Time Programs Provide Essential Support to Communities 14

6

columns

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The Good, the Bad and the Resilient Gina Mullins-Cohen

12 Guest Column 7 Ways City Leaders Can Address Racial Inequities Leon T. Andrews

32 Advocacy Park Funding for All! Robert García, Ariel Collins and Cesar De La Vega

34 Law Review Economic Development an Ongoing Threat to LWCF Legacy James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

40 Future Leaders I Am a Product of My Environment Samantha Terry

42 Conservation Pittsburgh’s Frick Environmental Center: The Ultimate Outdoor Classroom Scott Roller

44 Health and Wellness Reducing Health Disparities in South Florida Kailyn Mattingly

Page 42

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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 PA’ S L E A D E R S

Social Equity: What It Means for Parks and Recreation Since NRPA adopted social equity as one of our Three Pillars almost five years ago, the question of why we should care about social equity and what we can do to improve it in our communities has continued to challenge us.

Throughout the history of our nation, public parks have demonstrated the principle of social equity, even if in practice they might not always have been built or located equitably.

Parks by their very nature are the embodiment of our democracy. They are places that exemplified some of our most important human rights — freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom from fear. As our nation developed, so, too, did our collective commitment to our birthright — that parks should be accessible to all people, no matter their economic status, ethnicity or religious creed.

Sadly, we have not always lived up to that principle. As our cities and neighborhoods grew, the reality was that the “haves” often got much more in the way of parks and recreational amenities than the “have-nots,” and what those disadvantaged communities received was often of much lesser quality and quantity. This disparity has vexed us a nation, and it continues to vex us as a profession dedicated to the equal treatment of all people in the provision of park and recreation programs and services.

So, what does this have to do with NRPA and with you? Well, for one thing, the ultimate goal of NRPA’s new strategic plan is to create healthy, sustainable and equitable communities for all people. And, for another, social equity is the lens through which NRPA will evaluate progress in our health and conservation efforts.

Why do we struggle with what we should do about improving social equity and yet readily embrace our role in improving conservation and health outcomes? Perhaps because it’s easier to define and measure our efforts in these lattermost areas, while even defining the term “social equity” is a struggle. We learned first-hand how difficult this can be when NRPA was asked by a funder what criteria we used to define an “underserved community.” It was not surprising to learn that there is no widely accepted definition. Communities cite many reasons why they may be “underserved,” and no one factor is determinative. And, I have yet to visit an agency that doesn’t have an underserved community.

To speak forthrightly and honestly about social equity means that we must also be willing to talk about race, income equity, environmental justice, education opportunity, national origin, religious orientation and more.

Yes, social equity is a difficult subject, but it is at the heart of why public parks exist and it is deeply important in the contemporary discussion of how we provide park and recreation services and amenities. As we begin to fulfill the goals of our new strategic plan, social equity will be at the forefront of NRPA’s goals to help our members contribute to creating more equitable, sustainable communities. In coming months we will address what all of us can do to promote social equity, and how you can specifically do so within your own agency. There is a role for everyone, especially you.

BAR BAR A T ULIPAN E, C AE President and CEO

8

Parks & Recreation

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

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

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jack Kardys

Chair of the Board of Directors Susan Trautman, CPRP

Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department Miami, Florida

Great Rivers Greenway District St. Louis, Missouri

Chair-Elect Stephen Eckelberry Bartlett Park District Bartlett, Illinois

Past Chair Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Treasurer Neelay Bhatt

Michael Kelly Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois

Brian Knapp NOVA Parks Fairfax, Virginia

Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Molly Stevens

PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Austin, Texas

Secretary Roslyn Johnson

William “Joe” Turner

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Greenbelt, Maryland

President and CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE

Houston Parks and Recreation Houston, Texas

LIFE TRUSTEES Beverly D. Chrisman Lexington, South Carolina

National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, Virginia

Anne S. Close

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James H. Evans

Leon T. Andrews

New York, New York

National League of Cities Washington, D.C.

Rosemary Hall Evans

Rebecca Benná, CPRP Five River Metro Parks Dayton, Ohio

Neelay Bhatt PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Kevin Coyle National Wildlife Federation Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Harnish Streams and Valleys Fort Worth, Texas

Roslyn Johnson Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Greenbelt, Maryland

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Fort Mill, South Carolina

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Earl T. Groves Gastonia, North Carolina

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

Harry G. Haskell Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

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W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 |

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9

EDITOR’S LET TER

The Good, the Bad and the Resilient Let’s face it, often United States citizens suffer through varying degrees of bad branding, particularly when our news and social media feeds are packed with examples of this country’s deep-rooted struggles. Whether the stories portray extreme racial bias, cultural insensitivity or unbridaled jingoism, the notion of the “ugly” American is everywhere. The good news is the field of parks and recreation is making a big difference.

“Game On,” the lead story for our annual Social Equity issue that begins on page 46, explores the role sports play in creating a culture free of prejudice.

Author Paula Jacoby-Garrett also examines a troubling trend — the demolition of basketball courts in public parks because of the fear-based myth that courts attract “the wrong kind of people.”

• How many times has the U.S.A. Men’s Basketball team won the gold medal in the Olympics? — 15 • Who is the professional basketball player, who grew up playing basketball in Maryland-National Capital’s, Prince George’s County recreation facilities and recently helped the U.S.A. Men’s Basketball team bring home the gold medal from the 2016 Summer Olympics? — Kevin Durant Author Gretchen Keillor investigates the issue of homelessness in the feature, “Can Data Have a Heart?,” starting on page 52. This piece speaks directly to recent data-driven advances that facilitate a different way of looking at and cataloging the multitude of conditions that contribute to homelessness. Additional discussion on this topic will be presented at NRPA’s next Innovation Lab, January 25-27, 2017, in Los Angeles. Visit www.nrpa.org/innovation-labs for registration details and updates.

• What percentage of homeless veterans are from poor, disadvantaged communities? — 96 percent • What state park has an action plan to get homeless veterans back to work as state park rangers? — Arizona State Park under the Arizona Action Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans.

As I write this note, thousands of victims are just beginning to recover from flooding that tore through several parishes in the greater Baton Rouge area of Louisiana. Among those impacted from this devastating flood were several staff members from East Baton Rouge Parks and Recreation (BREC). Even so, with a skeleton crew, BREC orchestrated activities and healthy meals at emergency camps established in BREC facilities, serving hundreds of children each day.

• How many kids, each day, did the BREC staff assist through its emergency camps? — Upwards of 190 • How many members of the BREC staff were personally impacted by the flooding? - 200 There’s plenty in the world to prompt a dismayed shake of the head, a deep sigh, a resignation to cynicism. The work of park and recreation agencies across the country, whether cultivating young athletes or supporting the most vulnerable among us, is cause for perpetual celebration.

When the going gets tough, parks and recreation gets going.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing Editorial Director 10 Parks & Recreation

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PRESIDENT AND CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR Samantha Bartram sbartram@nrpa.org MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Myrick smyrick@nrpa.org EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kailyn Mattingly Catrina Belt cbelt@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Creative By Design www.creativebydesign.net SENIOR SALES MANAGER EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE Dana Storm 703.858.2174 dstorm@nrpa.org SALES MANAGER WESTERN REGION AND ASIA Michelle Dellner 949.248.1057 mdellner@nrpa.org MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Mike Abbaté Keith Anderson Gerald Brown Ernest Burkeen Gwendolyn Chambers Brendan Daley Anthony-Paul Diaz Ryan Eaker Mariela Fernandez Robert García Kathleen Gibi Paul Gilbert Sandra Gonzalez Greg Harrison Tim Herd Mareya Ibrahim Edward Krafcik Todd Lehman Sam Mendelsohn Maria Nardi Gil Peñalosa Dr. Kevin Riley Matthew Rudnick Paula Sliefert Anne-Marie Spencer Stephen Springs Randy Wiger

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GUEST COLUMN

7 Ways City Leaders Can Address Racial Inequities The events of this week [July 4-8, 2016] serve as a horrific reminder of how important it is for cities to acknowledge and take meaningful action on racial injustice. In the days following our country’s collective celebration of Independence Day, two black men were killed by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and white police officers were targeted, wounded and killed in Dallas, Texas, as they were serving and protecting peaceful protesters.

Racism is killing us.

The National League of Cities (NLC) strengthens the capacity of local elected officials to build racial equity. For example, in response to the tragic events that occurred recently in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights and Dallas, NLC hosted a webinar to help cities deal with the challenges of race and equity in their communities — and commit to solutions (www.citiesspeak.org/2016/07/19/ webinar-how-to-address-racial-inequities-in-your-city). The webinar shares ideas for city responses, highlights what’s working in several cities and offers tools and resources from both NLC and the federal government that are available to all cities.

I encourage municipal leaders across the country to engage with their communities on racial equity issues and make smart policy decisions that can reduce racial inequities in policing and restore police-community trust. Do not wait for a tragedy to occur in your city to address these pressing issues.

Last year, NLC launched the REAL (Race, Equity And Leadership) initiative to equip its membership with the capacity to respond to racial tensions in their communities, identify the systemic barriers that sustain racial injustice in our nation’s cities and build more equitable communities. REAL provides training and resources to prepare city leaders to apply a racial equity lens to policies, initiatives, programs and budgets.

What City Leaders Can Do City leaders must step up to take the lead with their police departments and community members to address racial inequities in their respective cities and towns. City leaders have a greater capacity to create real, tangible changes in policing than the federal government will ever have. Municipal leaders are in a unique position to be trailblazers in building and strengthening relationships between police and the people they serve.

Build trust. Actively build trust between police and communities of color in your city.

Get the facts about racial disparities in your city. Numbers get attention. Do you know how many arrests, fines, tickets, violent encounters and citizen complaints are issued to or by each racial group in your community? Getting real data on police-community interactions disaggregated by race is an important first step to developing solutions that will work for your community.

12 Parks & Recreation

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Listen. A frustration I hear from communities of color is that their voices are silenced, and that leaders often try to make policy solutions without engaging in meaningful dialogue around the issue. Now more than ever, this is important because folks have a lot to say and great ideas for addressing these complex issues in their communities.

Lead. Be a vocal proponent in your community for racial equity policies, programs and practices. For inspiration, the Local and Regional Government Alliance on Race and Equity provides a useful resource guide and toolkits for government officials (www.racialequityalliance.org), and the Aspen Institute offers an overview of lessons learned by municipal leaders who made equity a priority in their communities (https:// assets.aspeninstitute.org/content/ uploads/files/content/images/rcc/Lessons_final.pdf).

Change. Consider policy reforms that could work in your city. Apply a racial equity lens to your broader policies, initiatives, programs and budgets.

For example, the Gainesville, Florida, chief of police instituted an additional level of supervisor review when officers chose to arrest a youth who was, in fact, eligible for an alternative statewide civil citation program. This resulted in an immediate increase in the number of citations issued to nonwhite youth in lieu of arrest. Similarly, how and when police use their weapons is something for which city leaders can hold police departments accountable on a consistent basis — not just when the media brings attention to a particular incident.

I commend Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden for his leadership during this difficult time. Mayor Holden has promised the citizens of Baton Rouge excellence, integrity and transparency in the investigation into the shooting death of Alton Sterling. He has also welcomed the support of state and federal law enforcement to ensure his citizens get answers and accountability. Mayor Holden acknowledged the deep pain felt in his community and the need for healing. “We have a wound right now.

But we’ll be healing and making this city and parish whole again,” he said.

I could not agree more with Mayor Holden that our communities must heal from trauma caused by institutional and structural racism in our country.

I see wounds like this in communities divided by race and hurt by racism all over the country. The REAL initiative is just beginning its work on racial healing with the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Enterprise. We look forward to working toward the goal to “bridge deeply embedded divides and generate the will, capacities and resources required for achieving greater equity across the nation.”

[Ed. Note: This column is reprinted with permission — it first appeared at www.citiesspeak.org, the official blog of the National League of Cities, July 8, 2016.]

Leon T. Andrews is the Director of the Race, Equity And Leadership (REAL) initiative at the National League of Cities and a member of the NRPA Board of Directors (andrews@nlc.org).

Provide Training. Training can and should be implemented in every department to understand and recognize explicit and implicit bias and de-escalate crisis moments.

Prioritize Accountability. Reframe how police departments are held accountable. Departments across the country can track the quality of interactions and other outcomes in addition to numbers of arrests and tickets, particularly in communities of color.

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Research Park and Rec Out-of-School Time Programs Provide Essential Support to Communities

By Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

A

s a member of NRPA and a reader of Parks & Recreation magazine, you already know about the power of public parks and the broad scope of the great work park and recreation agencies perform for their communities.

The American public agrees. Earlier this year, NRPA published a study it commissioned with Penn State University that affirmed Americans’ passion for local recreation and park activities. Even more so, Americans firmly believe that local park and recreation agencies benefit themselves and their communities, and they share this belief regardless of whether they actually use their local parks.

57% of agencies

9 in 10 agencies

offer at least one out-of-school time program

provide meals through the USDA meal program

Top OST Programs:

95% Summer Camp

69% Sports Leagues

39% Tutoring

22% Mentoring

Biggest Challenges for OST Programs

65%

Funding Shortfalls

14 Parks & Recreation

58%

Facility Space Shortages

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42%

Inadequate Staffing

This support is remarkable because the general public may not be fully aware of the wide variety of facilities, programming and offerings delivered by these agencies. Some people may only think of their local park and recreation agency in terms of the green space around the corner, the trail where they hike or bike or the swimming pool where they cool off during a hot summer day. Others may view their local agency as the host of the hometown sports league in which their children participate or a cooking class offered at the community recreation center. Still, most people probably do not have a full understanding of everything their agency does.

This means there is always more to talk about when it comes to making the case for expanded park and recreation programming and amenities. A recent NRPA research survey reports out-ofschool time (OST) programs as one of the most widespread services offered by park and recreation agencies. Nine in 10 agencies offer OST programs for their community’s children that can include everything from afterschool care and summer camps, to educational content and mentoring programs. For all of the great results OST programs bring to their communities, there remain many opportunities for greater success by serving more children and expanding program offerings. To gain a better understanding of the scope

WILLOUGHBY WODF-2-PET

About OST Programs The typical park and recreation agency’s OST program serves roughly 1,000 children per year, but the scope of individual programs can vary significantly in the number of children served, with some agencies providing OST offerings to just a few hundred children and others serving tens of thousands of children. The typical agency in an urban setting serves 1,400 children per year while the median count of children served in rural and suburban areas is 800.

OST programs serve children of all ages, spanning from infants to teenagers about to graduate from high school.

But, the overwhelming majority of children participating in OST programs are of elementary or middle-school age. Thirty-four percent are between six and eight years old while half are between the ages of nine and 14.

The children served by OST programs are racially and ethnically diverse, reflecting the ability of park and recreation agencies to bring together Americans from a variety of backgrounds, incomes, races and places. Forty-four percent are non-Hispanic whites while 23 percent are black or African-American. One in five children participating in OST programs are Hispanic. OST programs in metropolitan and urban jurisdictions serve an even more diverse population. Thirty percent of the children participating in OST programs at these agencies are black or African-American while 27 percent are Hispanic or Latino. At these same agencies, 28 percent of the children partaking in OST programs are non-Hispanic white.

OST Program Offerings: Leaders in Child Care Park and recreation agencies offer a wide array of OST services to meet the needs of their communities’ youth. For many municipalities, park and recreation agencies are a major provider of child care. In fact, the most common OST offering is summer camp, provided by 95 percent of park and recreation agencies. Further, six in 10 agencies offer afterschool care, while a quarter of agencies provide before-school care.

Beyond child care, OST programs are split between athletics, education and enrichment activities and opportunities. Seven in 10 park and recreation agencies include organized sport leagues as a part of their OST program.

Learning-focused OST programs include those concentrat

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and missions of OST programs, along with their greatest challenges, the NRPA research team surveyed park and recreation agencies throughout the United States during June 2016. You can access the full report at www.nrpa.org/research-papers-out-of-school-time-parks-rec.

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Parks & Recreation

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Research

ed on environmental education (43 percent), tutoring/help with homework (39 percent), nutrition education (32 percent) and STEM (science, technology, education and math) (32 percent). These offerings connect children with the great outdoors, help stop summer brain drain and close the education gap, provide nutritious meals, and prepare children for the jobs of tomorrow. As part of their OST offerings, some agencies also provide individual enrichment activities, including teen clubs (34 percent), mentoring (22 percent), drug/alcohol prevention (10 percent) and gang/violence prevention (10 percent).

OST Serves Millions of Meals Each Year OST programs are about more than child care, fun activities and education.

These programs also are an important source for nutritious meals for many children who may otherwise go hungry.

Fifty-seven percent of park and recreation agencies offering summer camp and before-school/afterschool care also serve meals through USDA meal programs. This can include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and/

or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

This percentage rises at urban and metropolitan agencies. Seventy-six percent of agencies serving urban or metropolitan areas provide meals as part of their child care offerings. Similarly, 72 percent of agencies with more than half of their OST participants being African-Americans and/or Hispanics offer meals as a part of their child care offerings.

Challenges Facing OST Programs Even with the many benefits that OST programs bring to their communi-

ties today, park and recreation agencies face a number of challenges that are preventing them from expanding these services to even more children in their communities. The two biggest challenges have to do with insufficient funding (65 percent) and a shortage of facility space to hold OST programming (58 percent). Slightly more than two in five agencies also face difficulties in the form of inadequate staffing.

Regardless of these challenges, OST programs are providing critical offerings to their communities. For many families, OST programs are lifesavers for their ability to deliver quality child care, nutritious meals, physical activities and mentoring for free or at a low cost to caregivers. But not all people may fully appreciate or be completely aware of the role OST programs perform in their town. Sharing these survey results or just telling your agency’s story about its OST activities will broaden your community’s view of how park and recreation agencies contribute to the well-being of children and families. This is the type of story that further makes the case for local park and recreation agencies.

And what a great story that is.

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

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By the Numbers

Olympic Stats Every four years we gather to witness the incredible athletic prowess of the best of the best of the world’s athletes. For many of them, this is the culmination of four years of intense training and preparation to compete in events that often last for a matter of minutes. During the games, a number of world records are set and just as many are broken, and there are many “firsts.” For example, this year marks the first time that the Olympic Games have been held in a South American country: Brazil. Following are a few other interesting Olympic facts:

62 years:

The difference in age between the oldest and youngest Olympic competitors to date: 72-year-old Swedish shooting expert, Oscar Swahn, won silver in the Antwerp Games; and 10-year-old Dimitrios Loundras, a Greek gymnast, won bronze in the 1896 Athens Olympics. (Loundras still holds the record for the youngest Olympic competitor.)

22:

The number of medals won by U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps, making him officially the greatest Olympian of all time (18 of those medals are gold and he has set 39 world records).

3:

0:

The numbers of articles of clothing worn by competitors in the first Olympics in ancient Greece. Only men were allowed to compete during these early years.

The number of times the city of London has hosted the Olympics. It also holds the distinction of being the first city to host the Paralympics, which took place in 1948 for wounded war veterans. It’s also the number of times the games have been canceled (In 1961, the Summer Olympics in Berlin were canceled because of WWI, in 1940 the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, as well as the Summer Olympics in 1944 in London, were canceled because of WWII).

1:

Only one athlete holds the distinction of winning medals in both summer and winter games in the same year: Christa Luding-Rothenburger of Germany medaled in both seasons in 1988 in speed skating and sprint cycling. (1992 was the last time the summer and winter games were held in the same year.)

1936:

The first time the Olympic Games, held in Berlin (and also known as the “Nazi” Olympics), were televised.

187 days:

The length of the 1908 London Olympics. (They started in April and did not end until October that year.)

60,000:

The number of meals organizers said they would have to prepare per day to feed the athletes in Rio.

92.5 percent:

The amount of silver in Olympic gold.

The 1912 Stockholm Games was the last time the medals were solid gold.

2,786:

The total number of Olympic medals the United States is believed to have won to date.

Sources: www.thefw.com/olympic-facts/?trackback=tsmclip; www.allcompetitions.com/ogwin_sum.php; www.11points.com/Sports/11_really_strange_ olympics_facts; www.chemistry.about.com/od/metalsalloys/f/how-much-is-an-olympic-gold-medal-worth.htm; www.real-memory-improvement.com/fiftyfascinating-facts-about-the-olympics-pt-1.html; www.olympic-medal-count.pointafter.com/l/129/United-States

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Community Center A Memorial State Park to Honor 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots

By Ken Sliwa and Glenn Schlottman

O

n the evening of Friday, June 28, 2013, lightning struck a hilltop above the town of Yarnell, Arizona, starting what would become known as the Yarnell Hill Fire. Early Sunday morning, June 30, the 20-member Granite Mountain Hotshots crew working the nearby Doce Fire, was deployed to the site.

After spending most of the day fighting the fire to save Yarnell, its people, property and land, at 4:15 p.m., the crew was pushed back by the fire toward a ridge overlooking the town. They headed down a steep ridge into a bowl canyon in an attempt to reach the safety of the nearby Boulder Springs Ranch. While they worked to reach the ranch, cutting through brush, cactus and trees up to 8-feet tall, the fire was working around their position. It trapped them within the bowl, forcing them to deploy shelters to wait it out.

Officials lost radio contact with the crew at 4:40 p.m. as the fire overtook their position and the lives of 19 of the 20 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The 20th member, Brendan McDonough, was nearby, serving as the lookout, and survived. The fire subsided and word about the 19 fallen hotshots

swept across the community, state and nation. Efforts began to preserve their legacy and honor their sacrifice.

Sixty Arizona state senators and representatives introduced House Bill 2624 during the 2014 legislative session, appropriating $500,000 for the purchase of the land at the site of the Yarnell Hill Fire. The bill required that a site board be created, consisting of family members, state and local agency representatives, and the director of Arizona State Parks. Together, the Yarnell Hill Memorial Site Board worked to develop a memorial park at the site where the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished.

Arizona State Parks officially purchased 308 acres of land June 30, 2015, to create Arizona’s first memorial state park, the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, honoring the memory of the hotshots. The design team’s vision began to take shape in late 2015 to create parking

Memorial site at the base of Yarnell Hill where 19 of the 20 Hotshots were forced to deploy their shelters. The lone survivor, Brendan McDonough, was nearby, serving as the lookout.

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access, a 2.85-mile main trail leading to an observation deck, an additional .75-mile trail that leads from the observation deck down to the deployment site, and to protect and preserve the area where the Hotshots bravely made their last stand. Steel and stones now surround the barren earth the crew had cleared of vegetation. A quiet path and benches offer a space to reflect.

The brush that once covered the basin is gone, exposing a rocky landscape. Mountains rise up and curl around the west while the resilient town of Yarnell lies to the east.

The Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park is expected to open in November 2016. The trail to the memorial site will require a 7-mile round-trip hike.

Along the trail are 19 stone plaques honoring each of the fallen Granite Mountain Hotshots and six interpretive signs that tell their story. The observation deck has additional signs explaining the events that led up to the crew becoming trapped.

The parking area serves as an entrance to the memorial and is an opportunity for those not taking the hike to learn

Chris Mackenzie

Eighteen of the 20 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots are pictured with the world’s largest alligator juniper tree, in Prescott National Forest, Arizona, which they saved during the Doce Fire on June 18, 2013, a little more than a week before the tragedy at Yarnell Hill.

about the Granite Mountain Hotshots and to pay their respects. The trailhead has signage describing the story of the crew and a granite memorial “Wall of Heroes” with plaques highlighting each of the 19 crew members.

The park was created through the collaboration of dedicated state officials, a generous donation of $229,000 from the Arizona Public Service Foundation, public donations, volunteers and staff from Arizona State Parks. One group of volunteers, a crew of dedicated trail-builders from the American Conservation Experience, camped on-site for four months to complete the main trail. Working together with a sense of urgency, volunteers and staff completed the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park in just over a year. There will be an ongoing need for fundraising as the park continues to develop, as well as to pay for ongoing preservation and maintenance. To learn more about the Granite Mountain Hotshots, the park or to make a donation, please visit www. granitemountainhotshotsmemorial.org.

Tax-deductible donations are managed through the Arizona State Parks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Arizona State Parks would like to thank the families, firefighters, state and local leaders, and the public for their support in creating a lasting memorial to remember the sacrifice that firefighters make each and every day. The Granite Mountain Hotshots proudly embraced the motto, “Esse Quam Videri” — To be, rather than to seem.

The 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots: Eric Marsh, Jesse Steed, Clayton Whitted, Robert Caldwell, Travis Carter, Travis Turbyfill, Christopher MacKenzie, Andrew Ashcraft, Joe Thurston, Wade Parker, Anthony Rose, Garret Zuppiger, Scott Norris, Dustin DeFord, William Warneke, Kevin Woyjeck, John Percin Jr., Grant McKee and Sean Misner Ken Sliwa is the Community Relations Administrator for Arizona State Parks (ksliwa@ azstateparks.gov). Glenn Schlottman is the Chief of Marketing for Arizona State Parks (gschlottman@azstateparks.gov).

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Community Center

From the Director’s Chair

T

his month, Parks & Recreation magazine highlights one of NRPA’s Three Pillars: Social Equity. Often distinguished as the most difficult to pin down of its brethren — Health and Wellness and Conservation — the Social Equity Pillar seeks to solidify concepts of access, fairness, allyship and cultural sensitivity. As NRPA continues to refine its definition and application of the concept of social equity, it is fitting to inquire how our member agencies are grappling with the term. This month, we asked Happy Haynes, executive director of Denver, Colorado, Parks and Recreation; Michele K. Nekota, director of the Honolulu, Hawaii, Department of Parks and Recreation; and Brian S. Albright, CPRE, director of the County of San Diego, California, Department of Parks and Recreation the following question: How does your agency address equity concerns when it comes to programmatic content and access? Below are their replies.

Happy Haynes The principle of equity is a key cornerstone of our vision and mission for Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR).

From planning to budget allocations and hiring to policies, we try to incorporate the principle of equity in everything we do. As we strive to provide high-quality programs and services to all Denver residents, we use an equity lens that requires us to ask who we might have missed, who may not be able to afford the services or who may struggle with access to our facilities and programs.

Community voice is the beginning point for addressing equity concerns — it all starts with listening to our community and engaging them in multiple ways about 22 Parks & Recreation

our services, projects and programs. Collecting data and analyzing community impacts are also important in addressing disparities and gaps in service.

MY Denver Card leveled the playing field for children in our city. Regardless of where they live or how much money their parents make, all children in Denver have free access to recreation centers and programming. The hiring process is another key component of our equity and diversity agenda. DPR has worked diligently with our human resources partners to build a diverse workforce that reflects the community. For example, our department participated in a pilot program aimed at providing opportunities for homeless individuals to be engaged in meaningful work that could lead to permanent employment.

We provide financial assistance for individuals who lack the capacity to pay for services and programming or regulatory fees and fines. In our budgeting decisions, underserved communities are always at the top of the priority list. Internally and externally, we are putting a stake in the ground and letting people know that issues of equity are important to us.

Michele K. Nekota The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation provides a wide range of

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parks and recreational opportunities that are accessible, enjoyable, meaningful and safe. Ensuring equal access to our programs, facilities and natural environment is absolutely paramount to our department here in Honolulu. For instance, the use of our beautiful beach campgrounds is permitted via an equitable process that can be completed online or in person.

The communities here on O`ahu are some of the most vibrant and diverse in the world with a wonderful mix of cultures that encompass the “Aloha Spirit.”

As such, we strive to offer a wide variety of sports and recreational and cultural activities to fit the growing needs of our communities.

A vast majority of those programs are either free of charge or extremely affordable. We just hosted our 76th Annual Nā Hula Festival, which showcases the beauty and grace of our native dance and is free to the public. Every summer we also host more than 10,000 keiki (children) in our Summer Fun program at 63 sites island-wide. The six-week program costs only $25 per child and is free for families receiving financial aid.

Additionally, we strive for fairness when it comes to providing equal opportunity for our businesses to flourish.

Tourism is by far our most important economic sector, and we understand that our island’s natural beauty and the hospitality

of its people are what drives this market.

Thus, we provide opportunities for our businesses to coexist with our parks, such as allowing farmers to sell their goods at our People’s Open Markets.

Brian S. Albright, CPRE This August we celebrated the 70th anniversary of our department and our mission to enhance the quality of life in San Diego County for people of all ages and abilities. We’re home to a rich tapestry of cultures and our land encompasses everything from the coast to the desert and the valleys to the mountains. Understanding there is no one-size-fits-all approach to park improvements or program offerings is integral to our success as an agency.

Factors like ability, environment, background and life experience play a role in what we feel is key to our well-being. Each

of us is shaped by a unique set of circumstances and that affects our perception.

Acknowledging these differences, and viewing variations as opportunities for advancement, brings us closer to becoming a best-in-class park and recreation agency.

This was a focal point in our 2015 needs assessment survey. Results told us “quality of life” was very important to al-

most all of our respondents, but ways to achieve this varied by individual. A deeper dive looked at indicators like age, race and ZIP code. We combined this information with findings from the county’s Live Well initiative, which measured well-being through the following filters: quality of life, life expectancy, education, unemployment rate, income, security, physical environment, built environment, vulnerable populations and community involvement. Data gleaned from this research helps us to prioritize existing projects and to evaluate our mix of programs and offerings to ensure they are in-line with true community need. A plan to boost accessibility and ADA compliance compliments these findings to ensure benefits are available to all park patrons.

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

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Notable News n Six years ago, in the economically depressed South Dallas community of Frazier, Baylor Scott and White Health opened the Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute at the underutilized Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center. The establishment of this institute created an access point to health care in the community and helped to lower traffic in the emergency department of the local hospital.

The renovated facility offers a family health center, primary care clinic, diabetes education services and even a demonstration kitchen to help residents learn about healthful eating. On the 22 acres surrounding the center residents can take advantage of tennis and basketball courts,

■

walking paths and lifestyle classes. Frazier, which has a growing number of residents threatened by diabetes, is located in a food desert area, so once a week, a popup farm stand, sponsored by Baylor Scott and White, offers low-cost fresh fruits and vegetables. A nutritionist is also on hand to educate residents about developing healthful habits. As of July 31, 2015, 40 percent of the institute’s members who have diabetes have achieved optimal blood sugar levels and 67 percent have reached optimal blood pressure control. n Outside the Olympic village, on Ipanema Beach, the coolest sport in Brazil — footvolley — is being played. Footvolley

is a hybrid sport — part volleyball, part soccer — that was born on Copacabana Beach more than 50 years ago when soccer players looking for the next challenge began juggling soccer balls over a net. With a soft playing surface and less ground to cover, there aren’t as many injuries and players can compete into their 40s and 50s. They can use any body part except their arms and hands to get the ball over the net. Following the Olympics, the footvolley world championships will be played in the beach volleyball arena.

Twenty-three countries, including teams from the United States, Japan and Australia, are scheduled to take part in two-person and four-person tournaments.

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Partnerships for Parks Tennis, Everyone!

Across America, park and recreation departments are teaming up with local tennis enthusiasts to help benefit communities and change lives

By Jonathan Whitbourne

P

rofessional tennis’ glitziest tournament, the U.S. Open, has an interesting secret: It’s played entirely in a public park (Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York). This makes sense. At its core, tennis is an egalitarian game that embodies such bedrock American ideals as self-improvement, work ethic and sportsmanship. Nowhere does this shine more brightly than on the thousands of tennis courts in public parks across the country where players of all ages, abilities and backgrounds gather to trade groundstrokes and stories. It’s a beautiful site and a movement worth growing.

Organized tennis in public parks exists largely thanks to collaborations between Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) and local park departments. CTAs — often affiliated with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), tennis’ national governing body — offer tennis programming to the communities they serve.

Charged with developing and promoting tennis at its grassroots, the USTA has

more than 1,000 registered CTAs across the United States. Often, these programs, such as tennis instruction and leagues, are played on public park courts. In the simplest of terms, CTAs supply the tennis expertise and programing; public parks provide the venue, promotion and facility maintenance.

Many CTAs leverage tennis and education to help youth in underserved

New Jersey kids involved in the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton program focus on the importance of inclusion, responsibility and academic excellence.

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communities through the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network. Through more than 500 nonprofit youth development organizations, the NJTL network provides free or low-cost tennis and education programming to more than 225,000 under-resourced youth.

“The USTA is proud to be a part of these dynamic park partnerships with local programs whom we’ve supported for so many years,” says USTA Chairman, CEO and President, Katrina Adams. “These programs are the backbone to our mission of promoting and developing the growth of tennis. We are inspired by their dedication and commitment to generating everlasting impact on children on and off the court, as well as their families. As a player who grew up learning tennis on a public park court, I know firsthand that CTAs and NJTLs are invaluable to our great sport, as well as help our communities thrive.

Many champions who we have come to admire are products of these programs, and we look forward to more champions and other leaders as a result of the great work of CTA, NJTL and public park partnerships nationwide.”

To get a better understanding of this partnership, highlighted below are four communities where tennis in parks is thriving. Each story is unique, but readers will notice a common theme: When CTAs, NJTLS and public parks team up, everyone wins.

Trenton, New Jersey In the heart of this proud city stands the history-rich Cadwalader Park, a

100-plus-acre green space designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead. In the 1960s and 70s, Cadwalader Park’s 18 tennis courts (12 hard, six clay) were teeming with players and even hosted iconic champions such as Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson. However, subsequent decades brought economic downturns, social unrest and budget cuts to the local park departments. As a result, the public courts fell into disrepair and tennis participation slumped.

During these challenging times, however, a promising seed began to sprout: The National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) of Trenton. Formed in the summer of 1975 by four volunteers with a $500 budget, NJTL of Trenton offered three weeks of free tennis lessons to 30 neighborhood kids on the Cadwalader Park courts. By all accounts, it was a success. But, few could’ve imagined that this humble pilot program was destined for big things.

Flash-forward to today: Renamed the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton to better reflect its diversified mission, NJTL of Trenton now provides more than 2,700 kids with a progressive curriculum that combines tennis and education. Participants are taught the importance of inclusion, responsibility and striving for academic excellence while enjoying topnotch tennis instruction. Even better, this all takes place free of charge at the gleaming Cadwalader Park public tennis complex, which includes 20 refurbished courts and the beautiful Dan Haggerty Jr. Pavilion, named after one of NJTL of Trenton’s original founders. “The program’s success and its beautiful home would not be possible without tremendous support from the city of Trenton,” says NJTL of Trenton Executive Director Rob Howland.

“From grants to promoting our pro

Hundreds of underserved children receive free tennis instruction through the Marty Hennessey Inspiring Children Foundation in Las Vegas, Nevada.

grams on its website to maintaining the courts perfectly, the city of Trenton has been an invaluable partner,” Howland continues. “The city recognizes that tennis is more than athletics — it’s socially uplifting and allows kids, especially under-resourced kids, a chance to develop important life skills and maturity. Together, we’re changing lives for the better and we’re using public parks as an important vehicle to do that.”

Trenton officials couldn’t agree more.

Says Fiah Gussin, Trenton’s director, Division of Recreation: “The benefits to our children are countless. Because of the city’s relationship with NJTL of Trenton, the parks are able to provide low-income families with high-quality tennis programs. We couldn’t do this without each other. We work together to overcome any obstacles that may get in our way and we will continue to do so because it’s the best thing for our community and our children.”

Children Foundation, a pioneering program that combines athletics with academics, the numbers speak for themselves. Two-hundred and sixty disadvantaged kids receive free tennis instruction annually in schools and parks, 95 percent of the graduates of its

Las Vegas, Nevada At the Marty Hennessey Inspiring

NJTL of Indianapolis serves more than 1,500 children annually.

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Partnerships for Parks

Houston Parks and Recreation Department

facilities to inspire and improve the lives of our citizens.”

Houston’s NJTL program invites kids ages 4-18 to learn tennis fundamentals and develop their academic, social and artistic skills.

elite leadership development program receive college scholarships and almost every alum of the program returns to help mentor the younger children. But these success stories would never have come to fruition were it not for a successful partnership between the foundation and the city of Las Vegas.

“At the beginning [of 2003], we were homeless, like tennis gypsies traveling from court to court,” remembers Foundation co-founder Ryan Wolfington.

“We could only really help 15 to 20 kids annually because we didn’t have a facility. We had the passion and the knowhow but no set place to call home.”

That all changed in 2009 when a deal was struck with the Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Department, allowing the foundation to conduct its free programming at Lorenzi Park, a public tennis facility with 10 pristine courts. Since then, the foundation has flourished.

“We can help as many as 300 children now — we can expand our pro28 Parks & Recreation

gramming and get more kids into our leadership development program, and at zero cost to the children and their families,” says Trent Alenik, a foundation alumni and now the organization’s executive director. “That’s a game-changer. That’s a life-changer.”

It’s also a boon to Las Vegas residents and a thriving testament to how organized tennis in public parks helps strengthen communities.

“By partnering with the Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation, the city of Las Vegas has been able to provide more quality mentoring, education and athletic programs than ever before,” says city of Las Vegas Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow. “Growing up within the ward I now represent as a councilman, I spent countless hours at Lorenzi Park, participating in educational programs such as these. It’s very powerful to see that tradition continue at such a high level and I’m proud to partner with a foundation that utilizes our city’s parks and

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Indianapolis Famed film director Woody Allen is credited with first coining the now wellworn adage that “80 percent of success is showing up.” If true, National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) of Indianapolis will continue to thrive for many more years. Founded in 1969, NJTL of Indianapolis serves more than 1,500 kids annually across 15 local parks in Marion County, Indiana. The nonprofit group, which provides everything from low-cost summer camps to reading programs and advanced tennis instruction, is upfront about its secret to success: An undeniably strong bond with the local parks.

“If we didn’t have the parks available, it’d be impossible to make the programs financially accessible to all kids, which is what we’re all about,” says Monica Brase, executive director of NJTL Indianapolis. “And, geographically, the locations of the parks throughout Indianapolis make it easy for families to hop on a bus, walk or ride their bikes to the programs. We have such great turnout because our programs are affordable and accessible, and much of that is because we function in public parks.”

Another benefit of organized tennis in public parks: Families who play soon discover other wonderful resources in their local parks. “Every park has its own personality and something unique to offer,” says Brase. “So many of our [tennis] families will tell me, ‘I didn’t know this park had a community garden or a waterpark.’ They’re excited! They now realize how much great stuff takes place in the parks — and they want to be a part of it.”

Houston, Texas They say everything is bigger in Texas,

and that’s certainly true of the spirited Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). Founded 100 years ago, the department provides Houstonians with a robust number of free events and programs that’s reflective of the city’s rich diversity.

One of the most popular programs is National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL), a free, youth-focused initiative that uses tennis to develop the character of young people. In NJTL Houston, kids ages 4 to 18 learn the fundamentals of tennis and are also given opportunities to develop academic, artistic, social and life skills, as well as qualify for scholarships.

The free program — offered at more than 45 parks and serving thousands of kids annually, many of them at-risk — is made possible thanks to a strong collaboration between HPARD and the Houston Tennis Association, a nonprofit that promotes local tennis via programming for players of all ages and abilities. Together, they are able to provide high-quality tennis programming and academic mentoring for free in accessible and well-maintained parks and facilities.

“What makes our programs so unique is that we take tennis out into the neighborhood, where families live, and show them another way they can enjoy their parks as a community,” says Emily Schaefer, HPARD director of tennis.

“Getting the entire tennis community behind the outreach efforts is rewarding in so many ways. For us, the combination of a park agency and Community Tennis Association (CTA) working together is the perfect fit. My message to other parks and recreation departments: If you’re not currently partnering with your local CTA, try it. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Jonathan Whitbourne is the Editorial Director for Meredith Custom Solutions in New York (jwhitbourne@gmail.com).

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Member to Member Yes, In My Backyard!

By Rebecca Stidham

A

lthough people generally love parks and trails, it is not uncommon for citizens to add the caveat, “but, not in my backyard.” So often is this argument presented to city councils concerning a variety of public issues that the term “NIMBY” (Not in My Back Yard) has been coined to describe such project opponents. occupied properties next to the MKT Trail to determine how the participants perceive the impact of the MKT Trail on their property and lives. The 213 owners of the properties within 200 yards of the MKT Trail were invited to participate in the survey.

The response rate was 70 percent, with 149 completed surveys. The survey results

Tony Harris

The Parks and Recreation Department in Columbia, Missouri, conducted an important trail survey — “Impact of the MKT Trail on Nearby Property Owners.”

The results of that survey overturned the presumption that people do not want a trail adjacent to their property. The purpose of the study was to survey the owners who

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were very positive, with the majority of residents expressing satisfaction with living near the trail (94 percent), while also indicating the trail improved their quality of life (89 percent), and stating that they would choose to live near a trail again if they were to move (72 percent).

The MKT Trail was the perfect trail about which to collect such information as it is a well-established trail that has been in existence for more than 25 years. It was one of the first 10 rails-to-trails projects in the United States and is the city of Columbia’s gateway to the 240-mile crossstate Katy Trail. Responding residents had owned or occupied their property for an average of 18 years, adding historical weight to the validity of the survey.

One of the problems that trail developers face is the anticipated fears of adjacent property owners, which can quickly turn said owners into trail opponents. To help give trail proponents ammunition to counter that threat, the following question was asked on the survey of those who purchased/occupied their home before the trail was installed: “Compare your initial reaction to the idea of living near the MKT Trail to how you feel about living near the trail today. Would you say that living near the trail is better or worse than you expected it to be?”

Thirty-seven of the respondents had occupied/purchased their homes before the MKT Trail was developed. Fifty-three percent of these respondents reported that living near the MKT was better (15 percent indicated “much better,” while 38 percent indicated “better”) than they expected and 47 percent reported it was the same as they expected. No one selected the choice of “worse than I expected” or “much worse than I expected.”

Perhaps the most compelling piece of the survey was the residents’ answers to the following open-ended question: “What would you say to people who are concerned about a trail being established near their homes (or other comments)?”

Ninety-eight respondents (66 percent) commented. Most neighbors expressed their love for the trail and indicated that they have not had any problems living near it. Hopefully, their positive comments can be used to help allay some of the imagined fears of would-be opponents. Here is a sample of their comments:

The “Impact of the MKT Trail on Nearby Property Owners” report was prepared by Hua Bai, M.S., and Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, Ph.D., from the University of Missouri. The full report can be found online at www.como.

gov (search: “MKT Trail Survey”).

Rebecca Stidham is the Assistant to the Parks and Recreation Director for the city of Columbia, Missouri, Parks and Recreation Department (becky.stidham@como.gov).

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Don’t be concerned. You would love it.

We had initial resistance, but today we couldn’t find one person who is opposed.

The trail has improved safety in our neighborhood because we know our neighbors better. …We love the trail and bought our home because of the close proximity to trail.

It greatly increases our enjoyment of the outdoors.

Participants were also asked about their personal use of the trail, what effect they think the trail has on the resale value of their house, whether or not the trail had influenced their choice to purchase their home, how they would rate the benefits of the trail, and to indicate their level of concerns regarding the trail.

Overall, respondents ranked the benefits high and the problems low.

The survey responses from these close-proximity residents are encouraging to trail advocates. In essence, in regard to having a trail next to their property, the majority responded, “Yes, in my backyard!” Perhaps, a new acronym —“YIMBY” is in order.

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ADVOCACY

Park Funding for All! Park, environmental and other public funds should benefit all people equitably and without discrimination

By Robert García, Ariel Collins and Cesar De La Vega

P

ark access is a traditional civil rights value. To promote equal access, in 2006, California voters passed Proposition 84, a bond measure authorizing $5.4 billion in public investments to improve parks, water, coastal protection and natural resources. Assembly Bill 31 prioritized $400 million of those funds for investments in communities that are park poor (less than 3 acres of parks per thousand residents) and income poor (less than 80 percent of the statewide median household income — about $49,000 in 2016). Most of the money for local impact projects has now been invested.

Clearly vs. Vaguely Worded Priorities The central lesson of AB 31 and Prop 84 is that clear standards must be defined in advance to measure progress and hold public officials accountable. AB 31 clearly spelled out standards and did well to prioritize the investment of $400 million, and it worked. People of color and low-income communities disproportionately have the worst access to parks and green space throughout California.

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However, 88 percent of the AB 31 funds that were invested in park-poor and/or income-poor communities were invested in communities that are disproportionately of color.

In contrast, the other $1 billion in local impact funds under Prop 84 that were not prioritized under AB 31 did not reach the communities with the greatest needs. Instead, communities that are disproportionately park rich, income rich and non-His-

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panic white received more than their fair share: 69 percent of the funds. Only 31 percent of non-AB 31 funds were invested in communities that are disproportionately of color. Communities that are disproportionately non-Hispanic white received $443 per person compared to just $196 per person in communities that are disproportionately of color. For non-AB 31 grants, even communities that otherwise qualified as park and/or income poor received only $236 per person, compared to $324 per person in communities that were neither park nor income poor.

Even though “local parks and urban greening” were listed as priorities for the bond as a whole, diverse communities with the greatest need received less funding under Prop 84 overall. These communities received only 46 percent

of the total grant funds, and only 27 percent of the number of grants. In other words, communities that are disproportionately non-Hispanic white received 54 percent of the money and 73 percent of the number of grants.

Numerous recent studies have demonstrated that Latinos in the United States care deeply about the environment and climate change. Strong Latino support for environmental protection and government action is due in part to disparate exposure to pollutants, the effects of which are amplified for children who engage in conventionally healthy behaviors, such as playing outdoors. Prop 84 was successful because of massive support from the Latino community: 80 percent of Latino voters voted in favor of Prop 84 compared with only 48 percent of non-Latino voters.

The lessons are clear. Not taking environmental justice concerns into account can result in policy failure, and vague references to “equity” alone do not work and can exacerbate inequality. To protect the democratic legitimacy of regulatory and funding efforts, the data has to be accessible by the public and in forms that non-experts understand and experts can analyze independently. It is necessary to define standards, implement strategic plans, enable midcourse corrections, and collect and analyze data to promote equity and civil rights compliance and improve future performance. The analysis under AB 31 demonstrates how to analyze a race-based problem — disparities in green access and health — to develop a race-neutral solution: park-poor, income-poor standards to prioritize projects and providing accessible parks for all.

Data is the necessary starting point for analysis. Agencies must collect, analyze and publish the data necessary to understand the impact of their programs and policies.

It took years to collect the data under AB 31 and Prop 84. This required multiple requests for data to public agencies, formal

public record requests, cleaning the data, collaboration by nonprofit partners and multiple grants from foundations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has made significant progress to protect public health and the environment through its online data and mapping tool EJSCREEN. EJSCREEN now includes data on park access, exposure to toxins and pollution, health vulnerabilities and demographic data, including race, color and national origin.

Recommendations Standards, planning and data are necessary to ensure equitable access to publicly funded programs and activities and compliance with civil rights laws. The following recommendations will help achieve these goals: (1) Include people in planning, priorities and metrics, and analyze race, color, national origin, income and other salient factors. Include ways to measure people served, such as population density.

(2) Address the full range of values at stake: fun, health, education and human development; climate justice and conservation; culture, history, art and spiritual values; economic values, including jobs, contracts and displacement; and equal justice, democracy and livability for all.

(3) Define standards in advance to measure progress and equity, allow midcourse corrections, and hold officials and recipients of public funding accountable.

Legislation, regulations and guidelines can establish criteria and a process to prioritize projects, programs and activities.

AB 31 is a best practice.

(4) Ensure compliance with civil rights and environmental justice laws and principles in distributing benefits and burdens of publicly funded resources without discrimination. Follow the five-step planning process agencies like the Federal Transit Administration use: Describe what you plan to do; analyze benefits and burdens

under defined standards; consider alternatives; include people of color and low-income people in the process; and distribute benefits and burdens fairly and without discrimination.

(5) Require that spending be justified and reported in relation to those standards, plans and civil rights requirements.

(6) Improve and standardize data-reporting requirements so that data is reliable and easy to use for accountability, compliance and research. The data has to be accessible in forms that non-experts understand and experts can analyze to understand what government is doing, improve outcomes and ensure civil rights compliance. This must be made routine at a fraction of the effort and cost that went into the analyses of AB 31 and Prop 84.

Standards, planning and data analysis help promote equal justice and guard against both intentional discrimination and unjustified discrimination impacts.

The discriminatory impact standard plays an important role in moving the nation toward overcoming a legacy of segregation and promoting equal opportunity in housing, health, parks, transportation, jobs, contracts and other urban ecosystem services. Data analysis based on race, color and national origin is necessary to ensure public benefits and burdens are distributed equally to promote racial justice, human dignity and diversity, as the U.S. Supreme Court has recently reemphasized in decisions on fair housing and on affirmative action.

Detailed references for this article are available at www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/ September/Park-Funding-for-All. Robert García is the Founding Director and Counsel at The City Project, a nonprofit environmental justice and civil rights organization based in Los Angeles (rgarcia@cityproject.org).

Ariel Collins is the Assistant Director at The City Project (acollins@cityprojectca.org). Cesar De La Vega is the Juanita Tate Social Justice Fellow at The City Project (cdelavega@cityprojectca.org).

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The proposed conversion of this open-air structure (center) on Long Wharf Boston Harbor into a restaurant was at the center of the 2015 case of Boston Redevelopment Authority v. National Park Service.

L AW R E V I E W

Economic Development an Ongoing Threat to LWCF Legacy

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

T

he legacy of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program is constantly under threat by political and economic pressure at the state and local level to divert public park and recreation resources to inappropriate nonrecreational uses. Specifically, absent public awareness and opposition, it may go unnoticed that land acquired and developed for public recreation with LWCF funds is being converted to purposes inconsistent with the terms of the original LWCF grant issued years or even decades earlier. Moreover, lax enforcement on the part of the National Park Service (NPS) and/or the NPS’ apparent willingness to accommodate state/local government conversion requests will continue to erode the legacy of public recreation resources acquired and/or developed with LWCF grants.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act provides for compliance and enforcement to protect LWCF projects in perpetuity. The effectiveness of this legal protection, however, necessarily assumes that advocates for public parks and recreation not only understand, but also ensure state/local government adheres to LWCF compliance requirements and NPS fulfills its enforcement responsibilities under the

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LWCF Act. NPS, itself provides the following advice: If you have concerns about threats to a park area that you think might have received a LWCF grant, contact one of the National Park Service field offices or your State Agency, as listed in the “Contact List” (www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/lwcf/contact_list.html).

Administrators have databases of

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grant-assisted sites that will help them to determine whether Fund protections apply; also some states have their own grant programs that afford similar protection (www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/lwcf/ protect.html#LegalProtection).

In addition, perhaps more importantly, NPS provides an online database to identify state and local LWCF-assisted projects listed by county (http://waso-lwcf. ncrc.nps.gov/public/index.cfm).

LWCF State-Side Grants Since its inception in 1965, NRPA has been a major proponent and advocate for the continued authorization and appropriations for federal grants to states under the LWCF Act of 1964. This legislation created the LWCF to “create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high-quality recreation areas and facilities and to

stimulate non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources across the United States.”

In 1964, the LWCF Act was initially authorized for a 25-year period — the LWCF was extended for another 25 years and expired September 30, 2015.

The fund was temporarily extended for three years in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, and will expire September 30, 2018.

The LWCF program is divided into grants to state and local governments as well as the federal portion of the LWCF that is used to acquire lands, waters and interests necessary to achieve the natural, cultural, wildlife and recreation management objectives of the NPS and other federal land management agencies (www. nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/index.htm).

The state side of the LWCF provides matching grants to states and local governments for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation areas and facilities. During its first 49 years (1965-2014), LWCF provided more than $16.7 billion to acquire new federal recreation lands as grants to state and local governments. The fund has provided $4.1 billion (matched for a total of $8.2 billion) for 40,400 grants to state and local governments over 40 years.

Grants have supported purchase and protection of 3 million acres of recreation lands and more than 29,000 projects to develop basic recreation facilities in every state and territory of the nation. Seventy-five percent of the total funds obligated have gone to locally sponsored projects to provide close-to-home recreation opportunities that are readily accessible to America’s youth, adults, senior citizens and the physically or mentally challenged (www. nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/stateside.htm).

LWCF Grant Compliance The Secretary of the Interior, through NPS, is charged with monitoring com

pliance with the terms of LWCF grants.

The state is responsible for compliance and enforcement of the contractual agreement between NPS and the state that secured LWCF assistance for acquisition and/or development of state and locally sponsored projects. State compliance and enforcement responsibilities extend to the area described in project documentation approved by NPS, in particular the project boundary map.

Section 6(f)(3) of the LWCF Act provides the following provision to protect federal investments and the quality of assisted resources: No property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall, without the approval of the Secretary, be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses. The Secretary shall approve such conversion only if he finds it to be in accord with the then-existing comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan and only upon such conditions as he deems necessary to assure the substitution of other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location.

Conversion approval under Section 6(f)(3) allows some reasonable flexibility to accommodate “changes in land use or development [which] may make some assisted areas obsolete over time, particularly in rapidly changing urban areas.” That being said, the flexibility in the required Section 6(f)(3) approval process discourages casual “discards” of park and recreation facilities by ensuring that changes or “conversions from recreation use” will bear a cost — a cost that assures taxpayers that investments in the “national recreation estate” will not be squandered.

The “anti-conversion” requirement in Section 6(f)(3) applies to all parks and other sites that have been the subject of LWCF grants of any type, whether for acquisition of parkland, development or rehabilitation of facilities. Even a relatively small LWCF

grant (e.g., for development of a picnic shelter) in a park of hundreds or even thousands of acres provides anti-conversion protection to the entire park site.

To ensure the continued effectiveness of Section 6(f)(3) protection, NPS has developed several management tools to monitor and correct changes in assisted sites from year to year. Specifically, NPS requires on-site inspections of all grant-assisted areas and facilities at least once every five years most of which are conducted by cooperating state agencies.

In addition, with each application, the grantee submits a dated “6(f)(3) project boundary map,” showing the park area to be covered by Section 6(f)(3) anti-conversion protections. This map need not be a formal survey document, but it contains enough site-specific information to serve several purposes: (1) it ensures that both the grantee and the administering agency agree on the proper boundaries of the covered site at the time of project approval; and (2) it provides location, size indicators and a picture of key facilities and landmarks to help later project inspectors better identify and evaluate the site (www.nps. gov/subjects/lwcf/protection.htm).

Project Boundary Map Dispute In the case of Boston Redevelopment Authority v. National Park Service, 125 F. Supp.

3d 325; 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113260 (Dist. Mass. 8/26/15), the federal district court considered whether conversion of an open-air structure into a proposed restaurant on Long Wharf Boston Harbor was within the “6(f)(3) project boundary map” of the original LWCF-funded development project in 1981. If so, the proposed conversion would be subject to Section 6(3) compliance requirements and require approval of the Secretary of the Interior, including “substitution of other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location.”

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L AW R E V I E W

Plaintiff, Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), is the owner of Long Warf Pavilion and built an open-air structure in 1988 on Long Wharf in Boston Harbor. In 1980, BRA applied for LWCF funding for the “first phase reconstruction of Long Wharf and the construction of a portion of Long Wharf Park” to include: (1) repairing and rebuilding Long Wharf ’s granite seawall; (2) repairing and rebuilding the wood piling and decking around the perimeter of Long Wharf; and (3) construction of new pavement and platforms, with a park and public open space on the seaward end of the wharf.

NPS documents included a “project area map” with a notation: “6f boundary map 3/27/80.” The Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services (DCS) approved BRA’s application and forwarded the state-approved application for final federal approval to the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Services (HCRS) in the Department of the Interior for final approval. (HCRS and its LWCF responsibilities were later absorbed into NPS.) NPS approved the LWCF grant to BRA in May 1981. At the time, a public open-air structure on the seaward tip of Long Wharf was also part of BRA’s redevelopment efforts.

In 1983, mindful of a potential violation in the 6(f) restricted area, BRA sought NPS permission to grant easements to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for subway tunnel construction, specifically an emergency stairwell and ventilation shaft underneath the Long Wharf project. NPS found “the project would not constitute a conversion of any 6(f) restricted area and approved the construction of the structure.” In so doing, NPS found “the easements will not have a significant impact upon the recreational utility of the wharf.” On the contrary, NPS found “recreation opportu36 Parks & Recreation

nity will be increased by the addition of the pavilion which will provide shade and protection from the weather on the otherwise open facility.”

In 1988, MBTA completed construction of the structure known today as Long Wharf Pavilion. In 2006, BRA began exploring the possibility of converting Long Wharf Pavilion into a restaurant. BRA issued a request for proposal to developers and obtained a construction license from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Concerned Boston residents contacted NPS headquarters, asking about potential LWCF restrictions on the pavilion. NPS forwarded these questions to DCS, where a state employee found in its records a 1983 map of Long Wharf with “Long Wharf 6-F” in red handwriting. Based on this map, DCS emailed NPS in February 2009 and stated that Long Wharf Pavilion was not located in the 6(f) restricted area.

An NPS employee in Philadelphia replied via email that he concurred with DCS’s findings. As a result, DCS informed BRA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection that it could move forward with converting Long Wharf Pavilion into a restaurant, assuming certain minor accommodations.

In 2012, NPS changed its position after being contacted by two retired NPS employees. The employees had read an article about citizens appealing the Department of Environmental Protection’s decision to issue BRA its construction license. They then contacted NPS, recalling that the Long Wharf Pavilion was inside the 6(f) restricted area established by the 1981 LWCF grant.

In response, NPS asked DCS to send over the 1983 map from its file. NPS also dug into its own records and uncovered the 1980 map. It saw the notation on the map: “6f boundary map 3/27/80.”

Based on these documents, NPS changed its mind in December 2012 and found

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that Long Wharf Pavilion was part of the 6(f) restricted area.

BRA met with NPS at Boston City Hall in April 2014 to convince NPS that it should rely on the 1983 map instead of the 1980 map. BRA was unsuccessful. NPS issued its final decision in June 2014, reiterating that “the map dated March 27, 1980 is the original Section 6(f)(3) map.” BRA then challenged the NPS decision in federal district court under the LWCF Act and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

APA Judicial Review As cited by the federal district court, under the APA, courts may set aside agency actions, findings and conclusions if they are “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with law” 5 U.S.C. § 706(2).

Further, as noted by the federal district court, an agency decision fails this APA standard of judicial review “if the agency relies on improper factors, failed to consider pertinent aspects of the problem, offered a rationale contradicting the evidence before it, or reached a conclusion so implausible that it cannot be attributed to a difference of opinion or the application of agency expertise.” Moreover, the court acknowledged that the APA “affords great deference to agency decisionmaking” and “the Secretary’s action is presumed valid.”

In this particular instance, the question before the federal district court was, therefore, whether “the 1980 boundary map was improperly included in NPS’ records, and whether the 1983 map was the true 6(f) map of record.” Applying the deferential standard of APA review, the federal district court concluded “BRA’s challenges to NPS’s decision falls short.”

1980 Boundary Map As noted by the federal district court, BRA had “denied that it ever submitted

the 1980 map as part of its LWCF grant application or intended the map to outline the 6(f) boundary.” Instead, BRA claimed “NPS mistakenly decided to treat the 1980 map as the 6(f) boundary map without a meeting of the minds.” The federal district court rejected this argument.

In the opinion of the federal district court, there was “no evidence that NPS engaged in improper behavior by fabricating or mislabeling the 1980 map or otherwise relied on it in bad faith or by mistake.” To the contrary, the court noted “BRA had several maps of Long Wharf in its records that looked quite similar to the 1980 map.” Moreover, a former NPS employee stated he had written “6f boundary map 3/27/80” when reviewing BRA’s LWCF grant application. In the opinion of the federal district court, “these facts establish that the 1980 map was created by BRA and received by NPS as part of the Long Wharf LWCF grant application.”

Further, the federal district court found the 1980 map, labeled “Project Area Map,” was “consistent with the LWCF Grant Manual in effect at the time” which provided as follows: The area to be included under the conversion provisions of Section 6(f)(3) of the Fund Act...shall be clearly delineated on a dated project boundary map to be included with each application or element in a consolidated project.

In the opinion of the court, it was “highly unlikely that NPS employees would have approved of BRA’s grant application and checked off the boxes for ‘Boundary Map’ and ‘Adequacy of 6(f) area’ without a 6(f) boundary map like the 1980 map in the application.” Further, the court found “the project narrative that BRA submitted with its grant application confirms that the 1980 map was BRA’s proposal for the 6(f) boundary.” Specifically, the court noted BRA’s narrative states that the “project area as shown on ‘Project Area Map’ includes Long Wharf, the public area around the Waterfront Hotel and the small stretch of waterfront between Long and Central Wharves.”

In addition, BRA’s narrative stated the LWCF funds would also be used to rebuild wooden decks “along the northern, eastern and a section of the southern edge as shown on the attached plan.”

The federal district court found these references to the “Project Area Map” and “wharf decks on the attached plan perfectly match up with the 1980 map but not with any other pictures or maps from BRA’s application.” In particular, the federal district court noted that BRA’s narrative stated, “the project would use LWCF funds to build a park at the eastern end of the wharf as shown on the attached plan.”

Based on these documents, the court found no indication that “the area of the wharf occupied by Long Wharf Pavilion would be excluded from the 6(f) boundary.” On the contrary, the court found “BRA proposed to use LWCF funds to redevelop Long

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L AW R E V I E W

Wharf generally, including the construction of a park on the eastern end of the dock.” Further, the court noted DCS resubmitted the 1980 map when it sought NPS’s approval in 1983 for MBTA to build Long Wharf Pavilion.

Applying the deferential judicial standard of APA review, the federal district court therefore found BRA had “not shown that it was arbitrary or capricious for NPS to rely on these factors to conclude that the 1980 map contained the official 6(f) boundaries.” In so doing, under the APA, the federal district court acknowledged that courts may not set aside an agency’s determination so long as the agency’s determination is “within the bounds of reasonable decisionmaking,” regardless of whether the court may have reached an opposite decision.

Accordingly, in the opinion of the federal district court, “NPS reasonably concluded that the 1980 boundary map was part of BRA’s application and therefore incorporated into the contract.”

Commercial Structures BRA had also argued that it would have been “nonsensical to earmark the entirety of Long Wharf for public outdoor recreation — as the 1980 map indicates” because “certain parts of Long Wharf were historically used for commercial purposes,” including “a docking facility for charter fishing boats, vessels belonging to various municipal and regional policing agencies and excursion boats to Boston Harbor.” As a result, BRA claimed “it would have lacked the authority to agree to 6(f) restrictions on the commercial portions of Long Wharf.” BRA, therefore, contended the land now occupied by Long Wharf Pavilion was thought to be ineligible for LWCF funding in 1980. Moreover, BRA cited a January 1981 letter that indicated “BRA was planning to build a ferry terminal at Long Wharf that would not be a part of the LWCF project.”

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The federal district court rejected this argument. In so doing, the court cited precedent case law which had held “commercial structures can aid public outdoor recreation” by “adding to the scenic character of the park.” (See “Park Conversion Protection In LWCF Project Map” — http://cehdclass.gmu.edu/jkozlows/lawarts/11NOV11.pdf.)

Specifically, the court found “BRA’s application stated that building and remodeling boat terminals on Long Wharf would provide the public with continuing access and exposure to the harbor and the Boston Harbor Islands Park System.” As a result, the federal district court found “these terminals served an important public outdoor recreation use, even if they also had commercial utility.” Moreover, the court noted “the LWCF Grant Manual in effect in 1981” allowed “LWCF assistance for boating facilities and marinas,” including “commercial charter fishing or sightseeing boats are permissible marina leaseholders due to their potential for expanding public waterfront access.”

NPS Reconsidered Mistake BRA had argued further that “NPS acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it changed its mind, allowing the restaurant project to proceed before rejecting it.” As characterized by the federal district court, BRA had effectively claimed “NPS cannot reconsider its decisions even after discovering a mistake.” The federal district court rejected this argument.

Consistent with “well-established” APA legal precedent, the federal district court acknowledged: “An agency may, on its own initiative, reconsider its interim or even its final decisions, regardless of whether the applicable statute and agency regulations expressly provide for such review.” Moreover, the court found “APA’s finality requirement gives the agency an opportunity to apply its exper-

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tise and correct its mistakes.” More importantly, the federal district court noted: “Courts have found agencies to be arbitrary and capricious when they chose not to reconsider their position after being alerted to a potential mistake.”

That being said, in reaching this determination, the federal district court noted that “there could be a problem if NPS unilaterally changed the 6(f) restricted area without proper notice and procedure.” However, under the circumstances of this particular case, the court found NPS had “notified the BRA and had a meeting for interested stakeholders to present information...in light of newly discovered evidence from former NPS employees who had familiarity with the 6(f) boundaries established in BRA’s 1981 grant application.” After learning of this newly discovered evidence, the court found NPS had “merely realized that its earlier position was mistaken.”

BRA also argued that “NPS should not be allowed to reverse course after telling the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in 2009 that the Long Wharf Pavilion was not part of a 6(f) restricted area.” While recognizing “NPS could have — and should have — looked more carefully through its own records at the outset rather than simply rely on the state agency’s say-so,” the federal district court found “NPS changed its position in good faith after realizing a mistake.”

NPS was not harboring any bad faith when it changed positions regarding Long Wharf. When NPS was first asked to decide whether BRA could convert the Long Wharf Pavilion into a restaurant, nobody at NPS was aware of information concerning the specific boundaries of the restricted area established decades earlier. As a result, NPS understandably deferred to DCS’s opinion, which was in part based on a map in its records from 1983. After two retired NPS employees

alerted NPS that their memory differed, however, the agency conducted further investigation and changed its position.

In the opinion of the federal district court, “NPS’s earlier position disadvantaged the government by surrendering Long Wharf Pavilion’s LWCF protections.” As noted by the court, “NPS is responsible for enforcing LWCF restrictions that preserve outdoor recreational spaces for the benefit of the public at large.” Based on the record in this particular case, the court found “NPS’s change in position is primarily because of overreliance on a state official’s research and inadequate investigation of the federal file.”

The federal district court was, therefore, “not inclined to punish NPS for its good-faith mistake.” On the contrary, the court would not “force NPS to forfeit a AT T RA CT . C O N N E C T . K E E P

significant land interest held for the public based on NPS’s negligence.” Accordingly, the federal district court granted NPS’s motion for summary judgment, effectively dismissing BRA’s lawsuit. As a result, BRA’s development proposal would require review and approval by the Secretary of the Interior under Section 6(f)(3) of the LWCF, with substitution of other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location.

Grant Funding/Legal Expenses The NPS online database of LWCF-assisted projects, listed by county, provides the following information: On May 15, 1981, the city of Boston in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, received an LWCF grant for $795,307.51 for the Long Wharf development project.

By comparison, for the period 2008 through 2015, legal expenses alone for the lawsuit described herein have totaled $552,386, not to mention future legal expenses associated with an appeal to the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals filed in November 2015. Any economic return from the proposed restaurant project would likely take years, if not decades, to recoup these legal expenses (http://northendwaterfront. com/2016/02/bra-long-wharf-legal-expenses-explode-in-2015-to-total-overhalf-million-dollars).

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

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FUTURE LEADERS

I Am a Product of My Environment

By Samantha Terry

I

n 1996, at the age of 12, I’d just stepped off the 72-seat passenger school bus with my then-best-friend-for-the-week. I was there with my summer camp group at Centennial Olympic Park, the 21-acre green space nestled in between the Georgia World Congress Center, the OMNI (now Phillips Arena), Georgia Dome, CNN Center, Marietta Street and Baker Street. Having just finished our trip from southwest Atlanta with 60 other campers on the bus, the hot summer sun was certainly harsh, however, dashing through the Centennial Olympic Fountain of Rings offered a unique way to get some respite from the heat.

This trip was one of several that I enjoyed with the Camp Best Friends summer program, facilitated through the city of Atlanta. For many of my campmates, it was their first time downtown.

Although we were all life-long Atlanta residents, many of us had not left our communities. The furthest we had gone at any one time may have been to school or camp field trips. That hot day in July was no exception. Although a traditional summer day-camp program, Camp Best Friends offered more than “child care” to young Atlanta citizens. For most, ex-

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posure to a new place was gained; for me, it was perspective. Fast-forward 20 years and I am the director of the very program that played such a pivotal role in my life.

History-Making In 1979, Atlanta was growing and stepping into its own identity, which would later brand the place as the “The City Too Busy to Hate.” It was developing into one of the United States’ most significant and essential transportation, commercial and financial hubs. With growth and

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Camp Best Friends participants enjoy arts and crafts, swimming, service-learning projects that benefit their communities and more.

popularity came more people, responsibility and liability. The infamous “missing and murdered children” cases (a series of murders of youth and adults from asphyxiation) plagued the city in 1979 as well. Between summer 1979 and spring 1981, 29 children and young adults were declared missing and eventually found dead. The first victims were two 14-year-old boys and a 12-year-old girl.

Leading up to 1980, all of the victims

were between the ages of nine and 14; however, the last two victims were adult men. In 1981, after Wayne Williams was found guilty of the crimes, the administration wanted to create a “safe haven” for Atlanta’s youth and teens, restoring comfort back into the hearts of Atlanta constituents. A result of these events was the birth of “Super Summer,” a free summer camp program for youth and teens.

In 1997, the program reached its highest year of enrollment: 15,097 campers at 60 locations. The initiative’s objectives were to provide enrichment programs that focused on different recreational, educational and cultural principles.

The program was later renamed Camp Best Friends and is currently one of the largest summer-camp programs in the United States, hosting 25 locations for up to 4,000 youth, teens and seniors.

Present-Day Camp Best Friends Campers of all ages participate in diverse activities based around a new theme each summer. There is a wide spectrum of activities that campers are exposed to, including traditional activities (arts and crafts), recreational activities (swimming and disc golf), service-learning projects benefiting local women and children shelters and building park benches to support parks and green spaces with Atlanta Community Toolbank. Aiming to perpetuate its forward-thinking reputation, one of Camp Best Friends’ goals for this past summer was to close the digital divide by incorporating STEAM-related (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) curriculum as a way to formally support learning through exposure in an unconventional yet impactful way for our campers.

How Did I Get Here?

As an Atlanta native and employee of the city of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, I am fortunate

Camp Best Friends is now one of the largest summer camp programs in the United States with 25 locations that host up to 4,000 youth, teens and seniors.

enough to realize the impact the department had on my upbringing as I participated in its programming through my adolescent years. I had team coaches, dance instructors and camp counselors, alongside the guidance of my mother, to rear me. It was Camp Best Friends that allowed me to discern and engage in the diversity that my city produced. It was the dance and athletic programs that expanded my extracurricular activities, providing an outlet that decreased the amount of free time that often leaves youth to troublesome activities. It was the Junior Lifeguard Program that introduced me to my first job and allowed me to work directly with youth, giving me a firsthand look at children with problems that outweighed mine. It was here that I also learned my position with the city was more than a title. I served as a mentor, role model, coach and counselor to the children who frequented the pool.

Upon returning home from college and in desperate need of employment, the same department that nurtured and cared for me in my youth welcomed me with open arms and hired me for my first full-time position. While grateful to Atlanta and its programming, I am also fortunate to recognize some of the challenges that can come with producing quality programs. As a product of

the system, I am more able to recognize what needs to be amended. My involvement in the city’s recreational activities let me know that post-secondary education was an option and I could do more than what my neighborhood taught me.

But, what about the youth who cannot afford to participate in such activities?

Many youth and teens are not aware of available resources that can help them achieve any goal they have. As the current director of youth programming, I get to expose youth to their endless options while retaining their interest and motivating them to come back and do the same for others.

By definition, an environment is the surrounding or condition in which a person lives or operates. On May 14, 2016, I received my executive masters of public administration from Texas-Southern University. I am the first person in my family to earn a master’s degree. Reflecting on that day in Centennial Olympic Park 20 years ago, I am proud to say: I am a product of my environment. The amount of exposure I received, along with the nurturing and care from the staff of Camp Best Friends, helped make me the person I am and inspires me to strive for better.

Samantha Terry is a Program Director for the city of Atlanta, Department of Parks and Recreation (snterry@atlantaga.gov).

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Nic Lehoux

The LEED Platinum- and Living Building Challengecertified Frick Environmental Center, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh’s Frick Environmental Center: The Ultimate Outdoor Classroom

By Scott Roller

I

t’s no secret that early experiences in parks can help foster wonder, creativity and expression. These encounters with the natural world can fill the souls of urban children with sights, sounds and smells that one day can be expressed in the creative arts and in the curiosity that feeds scientific inquiry. It is with this in mind that The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, in close partnership with the city of Pittsburgh, set out to build the Frick Environmental Center. Designed to be LEED Platinum- and Living Building Challenge-certified, the building is itself a learning tool, and serves as the entry point to the 644 acres of rolling hills of Frick Park that serve as the setting for environmental education of Pittsburgh-region kids of all ages.

A Wish Granted In the early 1900s, industrialist Henry Clay Frick’s daughter Helen asked for a park for the children of Pittsburgh as her debutante gift, and her wish came true when Frick Park was established in 1927. It was carefully designed with no public internal roads to immediately immerse those who enter from the bustling surrounding neighborhoods in thriving woodlands. With more than 11 miles of trails of varying degrees of chal-

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lenge, streams, lush valleys and cliffs that contain horn-coral and crinoid fossils, Frick Park is the ultimate outdoor classroom.

Helen Frick’s son Childs also loved the outdoors, and his childhood exploration of the hills behind his family’s home spurred his passion for nature and guided him to become a renowned vertebrate paleontologist and trustee of the American Museum of Natural History. Those hills eventually became part of Frick Park and, in the

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1970s, an environmental center was built in its northeast section. After the center was destroyed by fire in 2002, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, city government and community members began planning the new Frick Environmental Center, putting neighborhood input front and center. “The Parks Conservancy has always found that early and extensive community input is a critical guiding light for any project, and the Frick Environmental Center is no exception,” says Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Founder and CEO Meg Cheever. More than 1,000 members of the community were involved in the public visioning and planning process for the new center. Ideas and concepts from the public planning sessions — the location of restrooms and an intimate outdoor theater to name but two — have been incorporated into the new Frick Environmental Center building and site.

The opportunity for the new Environmental Center to be a groundbreaking building that could serve as a teaching tool for all its patrons, along with the Conservancy’s increasingly in-demand environmental education programs became key design tenants. Architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, challenged with creating a design that both respected the site’s heritage — including the park entrance gatehouses designed by Jefferson Memorial architect John Russel Pope and a formal tree-lined allée — and allowed for a state-of-the-art green building, beautifully achieved all points. Even details of the entrance doors were carefully considered, as children entering the building immediately feel welcome as they pass through a kid-sized door located beside the full-size doorway.

“The building is beautiful, but is it also a living, breathing structure that can teach its visitors about the relationships between nature, energy and the built environment,” says Parks Conservancy Sustainability Coordinator Maureen Olinzock. “Our hope is that in ways small or big, those who experience the Frick Environmental Center will incorporate some of what they learn into their own homes and lives.” Designed to collect as much energy as it uses, the center gathers solar energy via a parking lot covered with a photovoltaic panels, and utilizes a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Water is collected from the parking lot’s angled solar panel roof, and stored on-site in a 5,000-gallon underground cistern for non-potable use. Windows are designed to allow natural ventilation, and a set of valves from the geothermal wells have been left visible in the building to encourage conversation. Energy components of the building were intentionally designed to be seen by park users; the questions they spark give Parks Conservancy education staff ongoing opportunity for teachable nature and energy moments.

Natural elements, such as this stump-like seat, evoke the surrounding Frick Park and are integral to the design of the new Frick Environmental Center.

Fun in Any Weather With STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) education and school partnerships at the heart of the Parks Conservancy’s environmental education programs, art plays a key part in the Frick Environmental Center. Rain­ water and its circular journey from sky to ground and back are the focus of two installations. A rain veil — a 30-foot awning designed to drop a thin sheet of rainwater from the building’s main roof over an outdoor walkway — encourages exploration and play, while the Rain Ravine channels stormwater through a series of sandstone sheets carved to suggest the layers of rock that erosion can expose, ultimately guiding the water into holding ponds that allow it to slowly absorb into the woodland.

“When it rains, we want kids and their adults to say, ‘Let’s go to the Frick Environmental Center!,’ and to realize there is fun to be had outdoors in any weather or season,” says Parks Conservancy Director of Education Camila Rivera-Tinsley.

Permanent outdoor signage that outlines the park’s history, landmarks, trails, wildlife and plants creates an immediate connection for visitors, giving them a baseline of knowledge for the woodlands they are about to enter and placing it within the context of the region’s watershed. This knowledge of their park’s role in the city’s conservation efforts, com-

bined with year-round programing for all ages, builds pride and bonds patrons to nature in a lasting way. A hilltop clearing in the park’s interior uses felled logs and stumps to create an outdoor classroom with a seating area. Outreach to diverse communities, summer camps, evening “Bump in the Night” programs for kids and their caregivers in the fall, all-ages winter hikes, and spring Earth Day and volunteer events keep visitors returning and maintains interest. “Giving users of all ages knowledge about their parks, and getting them outdoors in every season creates lasting dedication and support,” says Cheever.

The new Frick Environmental Center opened to the public in early September 2016. Henry, Helen and Childs Frick would surely be pleased with the lasting effects of their parkland gift and the love and exploration of nature that the center inspires. “The Parks Conservancy is honored that the Frick Environmental Center — one of the greenest buildings on earth — is set to be the first to serve the public seven days a week,” adds Cheever. “It is a wonderful way to inspire the park stewards of the future to conserve our natural resources.”

Scott Roller is the Senior Manager, Communications and Creative, for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (sroller@pittsburghparks.org).

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Reducing Health Disparities in South Florida

By Kailyn Mattingly

I

n November 2015, NRPA was awarded a seven-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to establish the RWJF Awards for Health Equity.

This award recognizes an individual who has successfully implemented a systems-change approach to reduce health disparities in his or her community. It supports RWJF’s vision for building a culture of health in which everyone has an equal opportunity to live in healthy environments, to make choices that lead to the healthiest lives possible and to receive quality health care.

NRPA is pleased to announce that the winner of its 2016 RWJF Award for Health Equity is Steven Marcus, Ed.D., president and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida, a nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to improving health equity and access to quality health services for all residents, especially the most vulnerable, in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. After hearing the announcement, Marcus stated, “From my perspective, health equity is reaching out to meet people where they are and giving them what they need to access: quality primary care, affordable

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fruits and vegetables, safe and well-maintained parks and other social determinants of health.”

In 2000, Marcus joined the Health Foundation, and with his help, the organization has invested more than $78 million in initiatives to promote healthier lifestyles for those in need. As president and CEO, he has dedicated his time to the residents of Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties to promote healthy living.

Since 1993, the Health Foundation of South Florida has awarded more than $113 million to public and nonprofit organizations focused on improving health

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and health-related services throughout the region. Under Marcus’ leadership, the Health Foundation was able to reconstruct its grant program to prioritize behavioral health, healthy eating, active communities, preventive measures and primary care. The funding and support from Marcus and the Health Foundation have made a tremendous difference for many families and individuals in vulnerable circumstances. Foundation grants have reached 1.6 million South Florida residents, either by services or through health-promoting changes to their environment, such as in schools, child care centers and neighborhoods.

Marcus and the Health Foundation target community and health improvement through partnerships and collaboration with elected officials, community leaders and key decisionmakers from multiple sectors of the community. According to Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Director Jack Kardys, “[Mar-

cus] and the Health Foundation collaborated with the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department to advance complete streets, age-friendly parks, outdoor fitness equipment, safe routes to parks, safe routes to aging in place and the establishment of a health and community design element within the Miami-Dade County Comprehensive Development Master Plan.� The collaboration between community members, organizations, local public health advocates and community leaders is a critical step toward a successful and sustainable change in the lives of the South Florida residents.

This approach to grant making and the devotion of Marcus and the Health Foundation has helped improve the well-being of so many, and given them a second chance to live healthy, happy lives. For example, since 2008, more than 38,000 older

adults have taken advantage of empowering, evidence-based programs as a result of Marcus’ Miami-Dade Age Friendly Initiative. This initiative has (1) incorporated age-friendly goals and principles into county planning policies; (2) developed strategies to improve the safety and ease with which older adults walk to neighborhood amenities such as banks, grocery stores and pharmacies; (3) enhanced park programming and infrastructure for older adults, (4) increased employment opportunities for older adults; and (5) fostered multi-sector leadership and action.

As a result of his dedication, Marcus and the Health Foundation have been awarded numerous grants and donations, including $140,000 from the Pfizer Foundation and Grant-Makers in Aging, $10,000 from AARP, $10,000 from United Way of Miami-Dade County, $6,500

from HSBC and $5,000 from Allegany Franciscan Ministries to support efforts in Miami-Dade County.

RWJF is supporting a total of nine national membership organizations in identifying and honoring individuals who are successfully using systems changes to address health disparities and achieve health equity within their communities. Marcus will be recognized nationally both at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference and at an annual RWJF learning and recognition event that will highlight the work of this year’s winners. NRPA congratulates Marcus and his team for making measurable and sustainable differences in the health and well-being of individuals and families throughout South Florida.

Kailyn Mattingly is an NRPA Summer Intern and Guest Contributor to Parks & Recreation magazine.

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e m a G ! n O

By Paula byM. Jaco tt Garre

F

or many of us, our youth included a foray into the world of team sports, perhaps for just one season or for a significant part of our childhood. Through sports we were active, pushed ourselves physically and mentally, and learned how to be a part of a team. Yet despite these benefits — and for a variety of reasons, including poor health and a lack of access to sports amenities — today’s kids aren’t participating in sports as actively as in the past.

Since 1980, “childhood obesity rates have more than tripled,” according to research from the State of Obesity, a project of the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Approximately one third of our nation’s youth are overweight or obese with Latino or African-American children at rates higher than their non-Latino white or Asian-American counterparts. As childhood obesity rates climb, less than half of children are getting the recommended amount of physical activity per day and the percentage of children participating in team sports has decreased.

Studies have shown that children who play sports are more likely to be active as young adults, yet only 40 percent of children are involved in sports.

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PA R K S B U I L D CO M M U N I T Y

Meanwhile, communities across the United States have capitulated to a misinformed mentality that views the very existence of certain sports facilities — particularly basketball courts — as encouraging the proliferation of a “bad element” in neighborhoods. Others see the removal of basketball hoops as a thinly veiled attempt at keeping minority populations at a distance. Youth sports blogger Bob Cook wrote in a 2013 Forbes article on the subject, “Sometimes the call for removing hoops has a subtle, or not-so-subtle, get-the-black-people-outof-my-park undercurrent to it.”

The Aspen Institute perhaps said it best in its report: Sport for All — Play for Life: We can do better than this.

Created in 2013, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative was established to better understand the impact of decreased physical activity in childhood, the role sports can play to mitigate lower activity levels, and to create opportuni-

ties for better health in all communities.

“In policy and academic circles, we do a lot of talking about the need to offer more physical activities to more kids.

But, I am still waiting for the first kid to say, ‘I want physical activity,’” says Tom Farrey, executive director of the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program.

“What most kids want to do is play sports, broadly defined. They want to chase balls or friends and have fun. So

A neighborhood park or recreation center can add significant value and encourage healthy behaviors across a community.

sport, when presented with the needs of a child in mind, offers an ideal opportunity to develop children and adolescents in ways that engage them while serving the health of communities. Sport allows us to meet youth where they are, psychologically.”

Finding Solutions Many factors, including participation costs, a lack of opportunities to engage in purely recreational activities and the availability of sports for children with below-average ability or disabilities, have influenced the participation of youth in sports. The Project Play program has created a framework for sports literacy that includes a model for success. The goal is for every child to learn a basic set of fitness skills (i.e., running, throwing) and have the confidence and desire to use those skills as a part of regular physical activity.

Project Play has defined a series of strategies to encourage youth in sports, starting with asking kids what they want in a physical activity, reintroducing free play and encouraging sports sampling for each child. Guidelines also emphasize revitalizing in-town leagues, finding more places to play in a community, training coaches and highlighting prevention and safety so sports are more accessible and better managed. Project Play also suggests a tiered framework for skills to match a child’s individual developmental level.

Benefits of Sports in Park and Recreation Facilities “There are so many benefits to sports in parks — the most obvious being health benefits, yet sports in parks goes beyond that, providing social and economic benefits as well,” says Andrew Peterson of sporting goods manufacturer Gared.

“Parks with sports equipment such as basketball courts, tetherball, tennis, soccer goals, pickle ball or volleyball encourage physical activity within all age groups. It fosters team-building and social skills and promotes a sense of community.

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“Sports in parks provide a close-tohome, inexpensive alternative to paying membership fees at private facilities. It provides a place for recreation, training and competition, enabling individuals, families and organizations alike to reap the benefits.”

A neighborhood park or recreation center can add significant value and encourage healthy behaviors across a community. “A well-designed park, with facilities and equipment that entice patrons to try new things and to be active in a variety of ways, dramatically increases its physical and social value to the community,” says Joel McCausland, director of social responsibility for Sport Court.

“In other words, if we can give our communities more safe and appealing places to play, people will play more, and that can be an organic solution to the obesity epidemic and other social ills we face.”

Sports and Parks Build Community’s Trojan Park Trojan Park, the 2016 Parks Build Community project in Wellston, Missouri, was designed to encourage community bonding and offer opportunities for residents to improve their health. When planning began in 2014, Wellston residents said their No. 1 priority for the project was that it include facilities for all members of the community, regardless of age or ability. To that end, designers and consultants made room for a variety of amenities, including an extensive play space for children, splash plaza, comfortable seating, outdoor exercise equipment and a full-size outdoor basketball court.

That lattermost addition is an exciting prospect not only for residents who have been vocal about their desire for access to a variety of fitness modalities, but also for Wellston Mayor Nate Griffin.

He points to the town’s long history of achievement when it comes to basketball — the Wellston School District’s Trojans (for whom Trojan Park is named), “won three state titles, seven state appearances,

over 10 league titles and over 15 district championships,” Griffin said.

NRPA Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publications, Gina Mullins-Cohen, who also spearheads the Parks Build Community program, worked diligently to secure materials and funding to provide a basketball court to the Wellston community. “The game of basketball adds to a community and brings it together,” she says, and, in this case, elevates the Wellston Trojan’s storied legacy of success in a highly visible, public way.

The 2016 Parks Build Community project reflects the desires of the Wellston community and demonstrates the power of designing a truly accessible space for all. With its full-throated support of the values that matter to Wellston residents — that children, teens, families, seniors, guests and others are able to choose and participate in the physical activities that appeal most to them, regardless of ability, income or age — this new park serves as an example of how effective community engagement can lead to more equitable outcomes.

Join NRPA for the unveiling of Trojan Park during the Parks Build Community dedication ceremony held during the

2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. For details about the event and information on how to register for Conference, go to www.nrpa. org/conference2016. To learn more about the Parks Build Community initiative, go to www.nrpa.org/parksbuildcommunity.

Paula Jacoby-Garrett is a freelance writer located in Las Vegas, Nevada (paula.jacoby. garrett@gmail.com).

Resources For more information about youth in sports, consider consulting the following resources from The Aspen Institute’s Project Play: State of Play: 2016 www.aspenprojectplay.org/sites/default/files/StateofPlay_2016_FINAL.pdf Sport for All — Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/ sport-all-play-life-playbook-get-everykid-game Physical Literacy in the United States: A Model, Strategic Plan and Call to Action http://plreport.projectplay.us/get-yourcopy

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THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THE 2016 PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY PROJECT

Join Us on October 8 for the Trojan Park Dedication Ceremony in Wellston, Missouri

2016

NRPA Annual Conference At-A-Glance

269

400+

EDUCATION SESSIONS

EXHIBITORS

10+

11

INTERACTIVE EVENTS

EDUCATION TRACKS

37

1

HOURS OF LEARNING

PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY DEDICATION

7,000+

500

ATTENDEES

EXPERT SPEAKERS October 5-8, 2016 • St. Louis, Missouri

www.nrpa.org/Conference2016

Can Data Have a

Heart?

Exploring and quantifying homelessness

By Gretchen Keillor

I

n the midst of the complex societal issue of homelessness, urban parks can often be the visible and symbolic front line. The ability to provide accessible public spaces for all means park and recreation departments across the country are stuck — between methods of empathetic compassion versus those of policy enforcement.

Many communities are struggling to find the right balance, where all people feel welcomed and free to share in the joy and respite provided by public space.

Park and recreation staff are often presented with the physical and perceptual challenges associated with homelessness in city parks, yet do not have the tools or the clear charge to engage with the underlying causes. As Danielle Taylor noted in “Taboo Topic: Homeless in the Park” on NRPA’s Open Space blog, “Homelessness is an incredibly complex social issue with innumerable factors contributing to it. It’s not easy to address on a wide scale.”

At the same time, all across the country advances in technology and data have made possible new ways of looking at this “wide scale,” and catalog-

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ing, assessing and addressing all forms of urban conditions. While technology and data can’t offer a panacea on their own, access to more accurate information can help us better imagine and assess potential policy, design or cultural changes. We have seen an explosion of big data in the past 10 years, capturing everything from tweets to urban environment metrics. The design and planning practice for which I work, Sasaki Associates, develops data-analysis tools, for instance, that can help park and recreation departments evaluate things like park accessibility, value creation associated with park resources, and the effective pri-

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oritization of investment. This exploration has proven beneficial for many problems; again and again, we see that better data translates into better solutions.

At the heart of these tools is a belief that alleviating a problem necessitates knowing more about it: defining its edges, identifying its heart, understanding its complexities. Recently, we initiated a study to better understand how homelessness data can more effectively be captured and leveraged toward more customized and effective solutions.

Today, there are homelessness datasets available for public use. Most notably, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) leads an effort to collect data on homelessness.

Annually, it conducts a volunteer-driven point-in-time count (PIT) of the homeless people in shelters and on streets. HUD also creates an annual inventory of housing options (HIC)

Flickr/ Jim Fischer

that serve these populations and coordinates a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) that stores client-level information. This data, reported by Continuum of Care (CoC) districts nationwide and compiled by HUD, is released for public use through the HUD Exchange site. HUD also releases an Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) that summarizes and analyzes this data. There’s even a site called Homelessness Analytics (last updated 2012) that maps HUD’s data against various other metrics.

HUD does a great service by collecting and sharing a considerable amount of data and information. Still, we need to build on this to paint a more complete picture of homelessness. By enhancing the level of detail collected, integrating data consistently and comprehensively, and thinking creatively about data collection methods, data could be shared

and compared more easily and work toward alleviating homelessness could be better coordinated. Here are a number

of dimensions to consider in building on HUD’s already robust data collection infrastructure:

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HOMELESSNESS

• Location specificity. Where current systems aggregate the count of homeless populations in varying scales (from a portion of a metro area to an entire state in some cases), more specifically geolocated data — using a tool like Fulcrum (www.fulcrumapp.com) or What3Words (http://what3words. com), for example — would better provide a more nuanced and useful understanding of homeless population distribution and relationships to other urban factors.

• Integration. Where current information systems are maintained by distinct CoC districts, a single nationwide system could enable services to be better coordinated and would allow for easier comparative benchmarks across geographic boundaries.

• Accessibility and transparency.

Where current methods include the capture of many different demographic data points and metrics that can quickly become complex to interpret, a streamlined and interactive interface could allow broader access to and easier exploration of the data.

• Scope. Where current data collection is largely driven by volunteers conduct54 Parks & Recreation

ing headcounts (with inevitable potential for error), strongly incentivizing self-reporting as a collection method may help to capture more complete information and sub-populations not included currently.

A powerful tool for strategic planning and resource allocation can be created through the improvement of data collection methods for homeless populations, the ability to better visualize and interpret the information, and the integration of disparate information systems into a unified whole. Most importantly, there are a number of ways these improved datasets can help park and recreation departments — in close collaboration with other departments and agencies — better address issues of homelessness and the associated conflicts and negative perceptions.

• Tailored service provision. Imagine if a community could better understand the needs and challenges of a localized homeless population. Knowing, for instance, that the majority of the homeless population within a 10-block radius was comprised of single mothers, parks and recreation staff could focus on providing specialized childcare or customized job-training.

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• Symbiotic relationships. Imagine if a community could better understand the condition, skills and backgrounds of its homeless population. Like the city of Albuquerque, that hires its homeless as city workers, park and recreation departments could create programs to seasonally or permanently employ readily available homeless workers.

• Homeless addresses. Imagine if homeless individuals — traditionally migratory and hard to locate — had a geolocated “address” (for instance, by using a technology like What3Words which creates a named location for every 3 square meters on the planet). Communication and community-building could be much improved, allowing for greater collaboration.

• Public engagement. Imagine if a community could better access the stories and profiles associated with existing homeless individuals or families. Care for the city’s homeless could be shared more communally if local residents were engaged, inspired and able to help in direct and tangible ways.

In addition to the myriad innovative approaches being tested across the nation, the strategies outlined here are the beginning of a data-driven approach to thinking differently about the challenges of homelessness.

Detailed references for this article are available at www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/ September/Can-Data-Have-a-Heart.

Keillor’s research on homelessness will also be presented at the upcoming 2016 NRPA Annual Conference, October 5-8 in St. Louis, Missouri, as part of a presentation and panel discussion titled, ‘Stories vs. Statistics: Understanding Homelessness in Our Parks and Cities.’ Visit www.nrpa.org/conference2016 for time, date and location information.

Gretchen Keillor is an Urban Planner at Sasaki Associates, Inc. (gkeillor@sasaki.com).

ATTEND THE NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE VIRTUALLY

NRPA Live Session Highlights: CULTIVATING AN EXCEPTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE THAT GOVERN YOU Every park and recreation department manager is governed by either an elected or appointed body. It is virtually impossible to move your department forward if this relationship is negative. This session will show you how to cultivate a positive relationship with those that are ultimately responsible. Navigating the waters of political storms can be the difference between those that are successful and those that are not.

RECREATION PROGRAM HACKS: 60+ INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN 60 MINUTES “I got this great idea from the NRPA Conference in St. Louis....” After attending this idea-packed session, you’ll be the one saying these words to your co-workers back at the office. Out of the 60+ recreational program ideas that are shared during this interactive session, you’ll be sure to find a “must do” for your community. The session will feature an introduction to military recreation and new and innovative programming ideas that are being done at military installations around the world. Also, participants will be invited to contribute their best and most inventive program ideas to the rest of the group, providing an opportunity for networking and sharing of best practices. Share one great idea and get dozens back in return..

Great ideas aren’t limited just to St. Louis this October. When you take advantage of NRPA Live, the virtual option for the Annual Conference, you’ll receive valuable training from the highest rated sessions and presenters, right from your office or home.

There are no travel costs and you can still earn CEUs.

www.nrpa.org/NRPALive

and much more!

If It Doesn’t Have a

Bench, Park?

Is It Still a

By Peter Harnik and Alexandra Hiple

I

n 2013, the city of Norfolk, Virginia, removed almost 70 benches from three small city parks. The benches weren’t in disrepair and they weren’t in a bad neighborhood. In fact, they were located in the revitalizing historic community of Ghent, and, if anything, were incredibly popular. Unfortunately, it was the wrong kind of popularity. Judged negatively by some neighbors as a milieu for loitering, drinking, fighting and even prostitution, the benches of Stone Park and Stockley and Botetourt Gardens were deemed facilitas non grata.

The decision, made after several years of study, was controversial. Some homeowners near Stockley Gardens say it is now quieter and more peaceful, but one Ghent resident, Bruce Ebert, lamented, “Now, we have a park that’s nice to look at but totally useless.”

When asked if he considered the removal a success, Jason Baines, a park department landscape architect, was cautiously tight-lipped about the painful battle. “The citizens were satisfied,” he said. But, not all of them. In an open letter to the Norfolk City Council, published by local news source AltDaily, Norfolk landscape architect Bill Speidel wrote, “It tells the public that we are not welcome to use that park; that it should be an empty void.” In his letter, he suggested other possible courses of action, such as making simple design modifications to the benches.

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Flickr/kimberly-tippytoes

BENCHES

Cadillac Benches Is a bench just a bench, just a bench? Not in Smale Riverfront Park, Cincinnati’s new showpiece on the Ohio River. Among its most memorable features are the Rosenberg Swings (pictured above), movable benches that hang beneath rows of lighted pergolas. A one-of-a-kind design that was inspired by swings on a pier in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and born out of collaborative design between city planners and architects, the benches are so popular that there is often a wait. Of course, the fun and style of these unique benches comes at a very steep price — about $52,000 apiece. (The Rosenberg Swings, like much else in the iconic park, were funded by a private donation).

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Norfolk isn’t alone. In recent years Pittsburgh has taken benches out of Allegheny Commons, Roanoke has removed them from Elmwood Park, and Sarasota has done the same in Selby Five Points Park (although the city is now reconsidering). In New York City, a number of park benches were purposely removed in the 1980s, although that is no longer a standard practice. Philadelphia’s famous Fairmount Park is such a bench-free environment that nearby residents drag portable chairs across busy Parkside Avenue to have a place to sit and automobile visitors can be seen taking folding chairs out of the trunks of their cars.

Other than trees, it’s hard to find something as intrinsic to people’s concept of an urban park. “The bench is really a symbol of parks,” says Mark McHenry, Kansas City parks director. The prominent advocacy organization New Yorkers for Parks even chose a park bench for its logo.

In fact, is a park without benches even a park?

George Dusenbury doesn’t think so.

The former director of the Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation suggested using the criterion, “Does it have a bench?,” to distinguish his city’s 300-or-so “parks” from its scores of what he calls “just grassy traffic islands.” (That definition, however, was dropped in favor of legal ownership.) The question neatly illustrates just how important benches really can be, but it doesn’t get to the heart of the controversy over taking out existing seating. This often manifests as conflict over the perceived “proper” uses of a bench, and ultimately over how society expects people to behave in a public space.

The bench — or lack of one — can clearly signal the purpose of a park: Whether one should “linger longer” or “you’ve got to move” (see table). The latter approach smacks more of the corporate plaza, a space designed to deliver an impressive message of architectural beauty without the hassle of dealing with users. At the very least, a benchless park becomes just

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an empty plot of land. Sure, kids may run around on it and some nimble-bodied few may flop down on the grass if it’s dry, but this isn’t a park for everyone. Wordlessly, it turns people away.

Even in the days of Frederick Law Olmsted, who consciously designed to promote promenading through carefully arranged landscapes, benches were integral to the experience. Historic photographs reveal benches in early Central Park, according to Olmsted Papers Scholar Charles Beveridge.

Olmsted gave his park-goers places to sit and people-watch and also to appreciate a particularly fine view or landscape, much as museums place seating in important exhibits.

Certainly, a benchless park will get less loitering, but it will also get less lolling, dawdling, idling and lounging. For many park lovers, hanging out is the whole point, and park professionals spend much time and effort trying to get people to spend more time in nature. Certainly, a bench can’t be vandalized if it isn’t there, but it also cannot provide service for all kinds of people who need to take a load off — seniors, the tired, the injured, the pregnant, mothers with children, readers, people eating lunch. Basically, everyone.

Unfortunately, some cities have opted to jettison the benefits for a quick fix when a few citizens voice complaints.

But bench misuse is a symptom, not a cause. The more deeply-rooted issues — poverty, substance abuse and homelessness — require amelioration and solution from other city social service facilities. In the meantime, park benches should be allowed to remain and serve as the workhorses of park safety, convenience and enjoyment.

To Bench or Not to Bench In the 1980s and 90s, when Baltimore’s Patterson Park faced the problem of inappropriate use of benches, they were steadily removed until none were left.

This supposed fix didn’t actually meet

Center for City Park Excellence, The Trust for Public Land, May, 2016

Bench Seats per Acre Selected Parks City

Park

Acres

No. Bench Seats

Total Benches

Bench Seats per Acre

Washington, D.C.

Dupont Circle

2

n/a

600

257

New York

Broadway Malls

10

340

1,360

133

New York

Central Park

840

9,000

36,000

43

Washington, D.C.

Farragut Square

2

n/a

46

25

Boston

The Common

47

240

960

21

Pittsburgh

Allegheny Commons*

60

145

580

10

Orlando

Lake Eola**

46

64

160

3

Houston

Hermann Park

445

310

1,240

3

Baltimore

Patterson Park

112

25-30

108

1

Washington, D.C.

Rock Creek Park

1,754

41

164

0.1

Bench seat calculations assume a 4-person, 6-foot bench, except where noted. *planned numbers, following implementation of current master plan **benches seat an average of 2.5 persons park users’ needs — to the contrary, when users were asked in a 1995 survey what would make a “big improvement” in the park, 56 percent said more benches. Now, with the revived park getting much more visitation, the benches are gradually being brought back. The benefits, according to Jennifer Robinson, director of Friends of Patterson Park, are striking. Patrons spend more time in the park, she says, and some are even putting the benches to use for strength-building. (That idea isn’t unusual — there is even an exercise book on the topic, “101 Things to Do on a Park Bench.”) Not only did removing benches fail to fix the park’s problems, it actually did the exact opposite. Robinson feels strongly that the new benches were a factor in the park’s comeback.

But simply adding more benches isn’t enough.

“Benches have to be located thoughtfully,” Robinson says. “They have to make sense with the flow of the park.”

This means in areas of high activity (such as near playgrounds or sports fields),

along pathways and just inside park entrances. Putting them in well-trafficked areas helps ensure that they are used properly. There are now about 30 benches in Patterson Park — not enough, but an improvement.

Kansas City’s McHenry is even more explicit when he thinks about users’ needs. “Any feature that is traditionally put in a park, you’re going to want a bench to go with it.” In particular, he cites the need at dog parks (for owners to socialize), playgrounds (ditto, not to mention the quick snack or diaper change) and sports fields or game courts.

No one is anti-bench per se. The debate, says McHenry, is between those who see them more as an asset or a liability. Naturally, if there is a problem, remediation is preferable to removal, but the low cost of simply taking them out is often a lure for financially strapped park departments.

In Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Commons, benches were removed from the central promenade because the community

took issue with the noise and commotion that seemed to always hover around them. But, the problem may have been more due to layout. With the benches directly facing each other across the pathway, groups often gathered on each side, talking loudly across the distance and making walkers feel threatened and uncomfortable. But the loss from the removal was keenly felt and a new master plan calls for their restoration — this time in a new, staggered configuration that hopefully addresses the problem.

In the case of Norfolk, the city first thinned the surrounding landscape, hoping that would solve the problem. Other places, in order to prevent sleeping, purchase (or retrofit) benches with obtrusive armrests at appropriate intervals. Both approaches can help, although the only true fix comes from a culture of heavy use, proper utilization and the awareness that there are eyes on the park — including, every now and then, the eyes of rule-enforcing authority.

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BENCHES

On the other hand, there are those who flat-out reject the idea that anything is wrong with lying on benches.

Galen Cranz, a professor of architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, and a founding member of the Association for Body Conscious Design, has published thoughtfully on both seating and on urban parks.

She calls purposefully uncomfortable bench arm designs “really nasty,” in part because she suffers from a back injury and primarily uses benches lying down. What she refers to as “healthy sitting” means no right angles — she herself finds it beneficial to stretch her spine in a supine position.

Beyond sleepers, benches face another nemesis: skateboarders.

“Oh yeah, skateboarding is an issue,” says McHenry. He feels the best defense is to provide official skate parks (which can even include bench-like shapes for aficionados). Kansas City has two; other places have many more — 11 in Las Vegas, 13 in Sacramento. But skate parks are not inexpensive, plus some rebellious boarders will always attack benches because they’re convenient and they’re there. In Cincinnati the problem is compounded by the city’s many granite benches — the sharp edges are attractive to skaters and disastrous for the stone.

Many cities, rather than removing the benches entirely, respond by installing iron studs on the seat edges, as Roanoke did in Elmswood Park.

Financial Bench Warmers Naturally, a lot of the struggle comes down to economics. While benches are cheaper than almost any other piece of park apparatus (including even trees), the cost of purchase, installation and maintenance still adds up. Steve Schuckman, superintendent of planning, design and facilities with the Cincinnati Park Board, says that buying and installing a practical, aesthetically pleasing and durable bench costs between 60 Parks & Recreation

$1,500 and $2,000, assuming it will last about 10 years. In Kansas City the standard design comes to about $900. The 2002 master plan for Pittsburgh’s Allegheny Commons put the cost of modest benches at $1,200 each.

And the price of the bench itself may be just a portion of the cost. Kansas City’s McHenry said his city has benefited greatly from installing lighting and sometimes even security cameras in parks. While expensive, he feels these measures have done a great deal to reduce bench misuse and ensure public safety.

One way to cover expenses is through an adopt-a-bench program. Flourishing in many cities across the United States, sponsorships take the shape of a small memorial plaque in return for the purchase, installation and maintenance of a bench. (Many park agencies or conservancies stipulate that the memorial lasts for either the lifetime of the bench or for a certain number of years, whichever ends first). The cost varies by city and by park, but is generally around $2,000. In Austin, Texas, 11 of the city’s parks have already reached their bench donation limit. In New York’s Central Park, the Central Park Conservancy’s program (at $10,000 per bench) has yielded benefactors for more than 4,100 of the park’s more than 9,000 benches.

Because of the popularity, some programs have had to institute rules. The Pittsburgh Park Conservancy gives wording guidelines, has a character count, and does not allow logos. “This program is a nice way to honor loved ones,” says the conservancy’s Susan Rademacher, “but if we have too many memorial benches, it may detract from the feeling that the park is a common space meant for everyone.”

Some of the country’s most famous park benches — even featured in the movie “Harry and Tonto,” — are located along the miles of greenery along

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the center malls on Broadway in Manhattan. Maintained by the Broadway Mall Association, their prominent location combined with “eyes on the street” have warded off unwanted behavior and made them particularly beloved in the community. For Kate O’Brien, development associate for the association, seeking bench sponsorships is a joy of her job. “Donors,” she says, “always have a great story about their connection to the park. Something like, ‘I’ve lived here for 40 years and always drink my coffee on this bench.’” The benches may have an association with an important moment or a special person, and O’Brien calls the program “a really good source of revenue.” Of the 340 benches from 70th Street to 168th Street, 39 are adopted.

Bench Bottom Line So, what is to be done? Are park agencies simply doomed to be pummeled by anti-bench complainers and to then be criticized by outraged bench-lovers and park-lingerers when they remove the problem? Some cities have succeeded in saving their benches and maintaining parks that are safe and enjoyable for all, but it certainly requires creativity and resourcefulness, and of course no two cases are alike. Maybe Adrian Benepe, senior vice president of The Trust for Public Land and former commissioner of parks for New York City, is correct when he says, “It’s like everything else — you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”

Or, maybe it’s more alarming, as put

by Tampa Parks Director Greg Bayor: “If you start removing benches then you’re on the way to removing everything else too.”

Peter Harnik is Director, Center for City Park Excellence, at the Trust for Public Land (peter.harnik@tpl.org). Alexandra Hiple is Research Associate, Center for City Park Excellence, at the Trust for Public Land (alexandra. hiple@tpl.org).

KNOWLEDGE

YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY

USE TO

IMPROVE YOUR AGENCY

November 6-10, 2016 Oglebay Resort and Conference Center Wheeling, West Virginia

Regi st er Now, at w w w. n rp a. org /S M S

Making Small Towns Special: How to Afford

Public Art Art

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By Kevin Riley, Ed.D., Sarah Riley, NBCT, MAT, MLA, and Jean Wallace, BSA

I

magine living in a community everyone describes as being special, livable or memorable. Did you imagine a place with a stateof-the-art hospital or a place where you feel safe? While these qualities are important to the success of a community, you more likely pictured an interesting space offering a rich diversity of experiences. The look of a place and what happens there are important ingredients in the recipe for a livable community. In fact, some would argue they rank among the highest. According to a 2012 study by the Knight Foundation, which surveyed approximately 43,000 people in various cities, “social offerings, openness and welcome-ness” and the “aesthetics of a place — its art, parks and green spaces” ranked higher than education, safety and the local economy as a “driver of attachment.”

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PUBLIC ART

An increasing number of communities are finding ways to make available the social and aesthetic qualities that people desire. The job of providing or encouraging these qualities may involve several different community resources, but the local recreation department is a key player. The social nature of recreation is the common thread that binds the diverse resources, facilities and settings together. In other words, settings and facilities require human use or appreciation to be successful.

One way communities are attracting people to particular settings is to include public art as a part of the landscape. Public art is essentially defined by its location in a public place, whether it is indoors or outdoors. Some suggest public art may be one of a community’s most overlooked and underappreciated cultural resources. However, the aforementioned Knight Foundation survey found Philadelphia residents ranked viewing public art as the second most popular activity in the city, besting hiking, jogging and biking.

Public art can help give identity to a community and become a symbol of that

place. Iconic public art pieces have the potential to attract tourists and indirectly contribute to the local economy. Tourists who come to experience public artwork may spend the night at a local hotel, eat in local restaurants and buy souvenirs.

According to a 2014 study by Americans for the Arts, tourists seeking cultural experiences typically spend more money than tourists who do not. For this reason, many communities, both large are small, are developing public art programs as an economic development strategy.

Hot Art in Hot Springs In 1959, Philadelphia became the first city to generate funding for public art through its Percent for Art Program. The program requires developers to contribute a percentage of construction costs toward the purchase of public art as a condition of redevelopment. Since then,

A creative partnership with the Hot Springs Fine Arts Center brings free monthly performances to one of the city’s downtown parks, while volunteers with the Garland County Master Gardeners help keep landscaping elements looking fresh and beautiful.

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small communities and rural towns with fewer resources have developed innovative ways to provide public art experiences. In Hot Springs, Arkansas, where recreation personnel and budget dollars are minimal, many opportunities to experience public art have been created through excellent community relations and partnerships with local citizens, civic groups, clubs, churches, etc.

Along the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, the city parks and trails department has managed to provide a large number of public art pieces with minimal expense by fostering a cooperative relationship with artists and citizens. For example, a fountain representing a cairn, or a stack of stones marking an important spot on a trail, was constructed along the trail by an Eagle Scout as a public service project.

The Scout worked with the city parks and trails department to site the project, acquire construction materials and build the project. The fountain marks the crossing of trails and the importance of the greenway as a resource in Hot Springs. Furthermore, it is a way of referencing the beauty of the rocks, streams and mountains surrounding the city of Hot Springs.

The city also created a Sculpture Garden along the trail near the farmers market pavilion by reaching out to the community for help. While several pieces were purchased by the city-sponsored Arts Advisory Committee during healthy budget years, many of the sculptures were provided as gifts from supportive and generous citizens. Other sculptures were loaned, which allows portions of the trail to change when the sculptures are replaced. In addition to enhancing the trail environment, the Sculpture Garden provides the city with an opportunity to offer art programming related to the sculptures.

The Artful Use of Volunteers The citizens and organizations who volunteer for the Hot Springs Parks and Trails Department are another way the

city minimizes the cost of providing public art. The Arts Advisory Committee was formed by the city to assist with the provision and promotion of public art experiences in Hot Springs. The committee members not only provide assistance in securing funding for public art, but they also give interpretive tours of sculptures in the Sculpture Garden during festivals and special events.

After the farmer’s market pavilion was dedicated in 2010, the city installed landscaping around the pavilion and worked with the Garland County Master Gardeners to maintain it. Although landscaping is not typically considered a form of public art, a landscape design utilizes all the elements of art (form, color, texture, shape, etc.) and principles of design (rhythm, unity, etc.) employed by traditional art forms. Because it also changes with the seasons, a well-designed landscape can be just as effective as a sculpture or mural in providing a setting with thought-provoking interest.

The city’s partnership with the Garland County Master Gardeners and the citizens who provide interpretative services in the Sculpture Garden is an innovative and cost-effective way of maintaining and interpreting the public art associated with the farmer’s market setting.

Creative Partnerships Because Hot Springs has many galleries, organizations, artists and other art resources, the city has many opportunities to offer public art. Through a partnership with the Hot Springs Fine Arts Center, for example, free monthly performances, crafts and music are offered in one of the city’s downtown parks.

In addition to partnering, the city also supports and encourages the individual efforts of related groups and organizations to provide public art experiences.

There exists a range of excellent art events, performances and festivals offered to the public by the private and nonprofit sector. Likewise, many of the

Some of the artworks in the Hot Springs Sculpture Garden are on loan, meaning the space is constantly in flux. Visitors are regularly drawn to the garden to see what’s new.

city’s best murals were originally created as advertisements. Because these types of art projects support the efforts of the city to create a unique and authentic sense of place in Hot Springs, the city works to support them. This means the city makes a special effort to assist and encourage others by providing information and settings for programs, and by crafting ordinances that allow for expression, innovation and preservation. By encouraging and supporting the private sector in its effort to offer opportunities to experience art, a smaller burden is placed on the city to be the main art provider.

Perhaps the most valuable thing a city recreation program can do to encourage and provide public art experiences is to develop a positive working relationship with the community. When citizens and organizations understand and respect city efforts, they are more willing to cooperate, contribute and care.

Kevin Riley, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Recreation, Natural Resource Management, in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletic Training at Henderson State University and a member of the Parks & Recreation magazine editorial advisory board (rileyk@hsu.edu). Sarah Riley, NBCT, MAT, MLA, is an Art Teacher with the Lake Hamilton School District in Pearcy, Arkansas (sarah.riley@lhwolves. net). Jean Wallace, BSA, is the Parks and Trails Director for the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas (jwallace@cityhs.net).

Impactful Public Art on a Dime

Want to provide more public art in your community, but don’t have the budget?

Consider these tips utilized by the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas: • Solicit donations: Many of the sculptures in the Hot Springs Sculpture Garden and easements for the Creek Greenway Trail were donated to the city.

• Recruit volunteers: Hot Springs relies on assistance from volunteers to maintain landscaping, give interpretive tours of the sculpture garden and monitor the city trails.

• Partner with community organizations: Hot Springs partners with many diverse organizations to provide art programs.

• Encourage and support private and nonprofit efforts to provide art: It reduces the burden on the city. Hot Springs assists by disseminating information, providing settings, revising development ordinances to allow for more creativity and by having a mind open to possibilities.

• Develop a positive working relationship with the community: When a community believes in an effort, it is more likely to volunteer, donate and partner.

• Budget for routine maintenance and cleaning: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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Conference Hacks — An Insider’s Guide to NRPA’s Showcase Event

By Samantha Bartram

D

o you ever wish you could speak directly with the designer or manufacturer of your favorite goods or services? Wouldn’t it be fantastic to pick the brain of a Steve Jobs, Henry Ford or Ruth Wakefield and learn all the secret ins and outs of their amazing inventions?

This writer may not be able to convey all the secrets behind Apple computers, the modern automobile or the delicious chocolate-chip cookie, but she can delve deeply into the minds behind the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference, taking place October 5-8 in St. Louis, Missouri.

As you prepare to attend NRPA’s largest and most exciting event, take a moment to examine the following tips and hacks, delivered by the passionate, dedicated staff members who work all year to organize a fun, educational and inspirational event for you, our members.

If Worse Comes to Worst…

Let’s say the airline “misplaces” your luggage — remember that hotels are always happy to provide a toothbrush or razor in a pinch and you can wash your travel clothes in the sink! But, how can you jazz up your outfit so no one notices you’ve been wearing the same clothes day after day? Stop by the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau table and grab some Mardi-Gras beads to accessorize!

They’ll be happy to share and provide you with information for the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference location, too. — Amanda Hersey, NRPA Director of Conferences

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EXPOnential Success NRPA’s EXPOdition scavenger hunt, sponsored by Burke Playgrounds, is a very popular attraction and definitely worth the effort for a chance to win great prizes.

You’ll find the card in your conference tote. Make sure to visit and network with all 64 exhibitors that are participating and complete your card early, because placing it in the raffle bin late means it could be shuffled to the bottom of the pile — we definitely mix it up before each drawing! Make sure to get the entire card stamped — if you don’t, the card is discarded and it would be a shame to miss out on a great prize. You must also be present to win. The drawing will be held at 2:30 p.m.

Friday, October 7, at the Burke Playground booth #2402. — Ted Mattingly, NRPA Director of Facilities and Administrative Services

Talkin’ Tech With more than 200 education sessions, dozens of events and meetings, and exhibitors for days, navigating the Conference can be a challenging endeavor. But with the NRPA Conference Mobile App, you will easily have access to all the Conference planning resources right in the palm of your hand. You can use it to create a custom schedule, access the Twitter feed, search for exhibitors, read speaker bios, get real-time announcements, evaluate sessions and so much more. Take a break from Pokémon Go and visit www.nrpa.org/Mobile-App to download it now! — Matt Brubaker, NRPA Senior Marketing Manager

Essential Items Two essential items: A portable phone charger and a watch. You’ll want the charger so you can take photos, notes, check the NRPA Conference Mobile App and share your great ideas and experiences on social media all day without being bogged down by a wall socket. The watch will come in handy for escaping those awkward networking conversations. When you find the need to escape, look down at your wrist and exclaim, “Oh, I’m sorry! I’m late for a meeting with a colleague of mine. We agreed to meet up over there. *wave vaguely and far away so they won’t follow you* Nice talking to you!” Checking your wrist will be faster than pulling out your phone and it never hurts to have an extra time-telling device to ensure you make it to your sessions promptly. — Roxanne Sutton, NRPA Marketing and Communications Manager

Samantha Bartram is the Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine (sbartram@nrpa.org).

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Making a Difference 101

By Tom Crosley

I

t’s NRPA’s belief that our nation’s public parks and recreation services should be equally accessible and available to all people regardless of income level, ethnicity, gender, ability or age. Social equity is a critical responsibility borne by every public park and recreation agency and the professionals who operate them.

And you get it, as demonstrated by the 30+ education session proposals submitted and accepted for the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference supporting our Social Equity Pillar. Here’s just a sampling of this year’s education sessions focused on social equity — for detailed session information and to download the Conference Mobile App, visit www.nrpa.org/conference2016.

Session #108 — Parks for All: How Alaska Is Pioneering Inclusive Play.

There are more than 8,000 kids in Anchorage, Alaska, with special needs. But, it wasn’t until one little girl came home from camp with a devastating story that changed peoples’ viewpoints and ultimately started a movement. In this session, attendees will learn how “Play for All,” a pioneering strategic plan created by the Anchorage Parks Department to make all Anchorage parks inclusive, generated political will, new partnerships and new funding to serve children of all abilities. Speakers: J. McConkey, L. Boltz, J. Durand, I. Kanics Session #143 — Latino Programs Success: The Outreach Approach. This session will provide a wide range of outreach techniques and tools to engage the Latino community in recreation, health and wellness, cultural and environmental programs. Attendees will learn about the Latino population in their area and how to create successful programming while engaging nonprofits, government and stakeholders in the process through partnerships, sponsorships and collaborations.

Speakers: N. Ocasio, C. Ocasio Session #329 — Is Your Agency Being Discriminatory? Strategies for Transgender Community Inclusion. For trans

gender individuals, equitable access to programs and facilities can be made more difficult because of an agency’s culture, policies or facility design. In addition, parks may need to respond to changes in legislation. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about the transgender community and how to better serve members of this population within the context of current events. Speakers: S. Barnett, A. Fletcher, L. Oakleaf Session #124 — Beyond Diversity and Inclusion: Promoting Equity Within

Parks and Recreation. For decades, parks, recreation and conservation have been working toward diversity and inclusion, only to have made small strides in some places. To achieve a different outcome — one of diverse environmental stewards, park users and staff — agencies and individuals must change their processes, inside and out by using an equity lens. Speaker: A. Saxton-Ross The exchange of ideas at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference is a great place to experience high-level, crucial discussions about social equity, and we hope that you’ll attend and contribute.

Tom Crosley is NRPA’s Education Manager, Conferences and Schools (tcrosley@nrpa.org).

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National Award, Fellowship and Scholarship Recipients Announced

T

he NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 NRPA National Awards, Diversity Scholarship, Student Scholarship and Young Professional Fellowship. Please join NRPA in congratulating the 2016 recipients!

National Awards NRPA’s National Awards recognize the inspirational people and outstanding programs that highlight the phenomenal work being done in the field of parks and recreation. The award recipients will be acknowledged Thursday, October 6, at the Best of the Best Ceremony, during the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.

The 2016 National Award Winners: Individual Awards • Robert M. Artz Citizen Advocacy Award David Nigel, San Bruno, California • Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award Tiffany M. Johnson, Seattle, Washington • RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity Steve Elliott Marcus, Miami, Florida • National Distinguished Professional Award Carolyn McKnight, Baton Rouge, Louisiana • Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research Award Kristi M. Fondren, Huntington, West Virginia Agency Awards • Excellence in Inclusion Award Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Indiana • Excellence in Innovative Programming Award 68 Parks & Recreation

City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, Florida • Facility or Park Design Award Bend Park and Recreation District, Oregon • Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia • Kudos Marketing Award County of San Diego, California • National Partnership Award CityArchRiver Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri

Join NRPA in congratulating the 2016 National Award, Fellowship and Scholarship recipients.

Fellowship and Scholarship Program The Fellowship and Scholarship Program’s primary focus is to inspire future participation and leadership in NRPA and to develop professional contacts with NRPA leadership. These programs provide selected recipients with a mentor as they explore the operation of the NRPA Annual Conference.

The Diversity Scholarship recognizes

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individuals from historically underrepresented groups in the park and recreation community, as well as those who demonstrate outstanding contributions serving diverse communities.

The 2016 Diversity Scholarship recipients: • Reginald O. Davidson, Round Rock, Texas • Alexis R. Moreno, Boulder, Colorado The Student Scholarship is presented to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student in recognition of continuously extraordinary community service or contributions to the field.

The 2016 Student Scholarship recipients: • Austin G. Barrett, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania • Taylor N. Witter, Illinois State University, Arlington Heights, Illinois The Young Professional Fellowship recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of parks and recreation during their first years in the profession.

The 2016 Young Professional Fellowship recipients: • Brian F. Bevacqua, Fairlee, Vermont • Richard W. Fink, II, Greenbelt, Maryland • Emily L. Hiatt, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

2016 NRPA Annual Conference Exhibit Hall Highlights

By Ted Mattingly

T

he 2016 NRPA Exhibit Hall is a must-see for all attendees. Make time to experience the awesome displays, products and technology available from more than 400 exhibitors, plus lots of fun stuff, too! Attendees will have two days to network with potential service providers and fellow attendees, participate in education sessions, visit the Technology Solutions Center, take a chance to win gift cards, pick up cool tchotchkes, participate in our popular EXPOdition exhibit hall scavenger hunt sponsored by Burke Playgrounds and experience our popular evening Exhibitor-Hosted Happy Hour with a chance to win $1,000 in a cash giveaway sponsored by Toro.

On Thursday, October 6, following the NRPA General Session, the exhibit hall will open at 10:30 a.m. and will remain open until 6:15 p.m., with our Exhibitor-Hosted Happy Hour scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. On Friday, the exhibit hall will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first 1,500 people to arrive each day will be entered in a prize drawing — Thursday’s prize is sponsored by Background Investigation Bureau and Friday’s is sponsored

by Burke Playgrounds.

Networking Fun During the Exhibitor-Hosted Happy Hour, we invite you to network with exhibitors and attendees and enjoy fun activities, food and drink. To get your free drink ticket for the Happy Hour and receive a limited-edition cinchbag, make sure you visit the Jacobsen booth during exhibit hall hours on Thursday. Two lucky attendees will walk away with $500 cash in our drawing sponsored by Toro.

Every attendee has the opportunity to participate in the EXPOdition exhibit hall scavenger hunt. Prizes include two free registrations for the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, two iPads, four FitBits, T-shirts and gift cards, but they’ll only

be available to a select few who get all their squares stamped and turn in their scavenger hunt card by 2:30 p.m. Friday. Drawings for $100-$200 American Express gift cards will take place every hour while you check out an inflatable golf driving range by SNAG Golf, the EXTREME bike and skate park sponsored by American Ramp Company and those adorable, must have, one-ofa-kind, limited edition (and quantity) “I’m a Park and Rec Kid” Build-aBears. Visit the NRPA Mem-Bear-Ship Experience area for details.

Make time to experience the awesome displays, products and technology available from more than 400 exhibitors.

Engaging, Hands-on Activities From front-to-back and side-to-side, the exhibit hall has just about everything a park professional could ever want. Back by popular demand, The Learning Playground will host our

most popular interactive education sessions that are guaranteed to get the party started — make sure to try “Fifty Fast and Furious Games in Fifty-five ‘Fun’utes” on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and “Stack the Deck in Your Team’s Favor” on Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. New for 2016, the Technology Solutions Center will offer 20-minute sessions presented by exhibitors showcasing how technology can help park and recreation professionals work smarter, not harder! Our Learning Lab will feature NRPA Commit to Health initiatives on Thursday and conservation initiatives on Friday. Don’t forget the Glass Room Sessions for great urban park topics and discussions.

Meet the NRPA Team You will learn everything you ever wanted to know about NRPA and your member benefits in the MemBear-Ship Experience area. Talk to our dedicated staff about NRPA’s programs and initiatives and how to maximize your member benefits. You will find areas dedicated to Membership, Research, Career Center, Parks & Recreation magazine, Parks Build Community and Partnerships. You can network, engage and relax in the lounge, learn about our research tools from experts, check out career opportunities or discuss interesting topics and stories with our editorial staff.

Visit www.nrpa.org/conference2016 for details and updates — we can’t wait to see you in St. Louis in October!

Ted Mattingly is NRPA’s Director of Facilities and Administrative Services (tmattingly@nrpa.org).

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Exhibit Hall at a Glance The exhibit hall at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference features hundreds of our industry’s top vendors and experts — below, find a list of exhibitors that will join us in St. Louis this October. This listing is current as of August 26, 2016, and is subject to change.

Visit www.nrpa.org/conference2016 for updates and details.

Exhibitor name Booth # 9 Square in the Air 516 A.D. Starr 5252 Academy of Model Aeronautics 2934 AccessRec LLC 3036 Action Play Systems LLC 2705 ACTIVE Network 2110 Advanced Exercise 433 Adventure Golf Services Inc. 417 Aerial Designs 5552 Aeroform 2042 AGCO Corp.

2729 AllChem Performance Products 2336 Alpha Automation Inc. 638 American Building Products 420 1140 American Carnival Mart American Council on Exercise 3020 American Heart Association 906 American Park Network 614 American Pool Enterprises 1270 American Ramp Co. 5040 1208 American Red Cross Ameristar Perimeter Security 5257 2643 AmpliVox Portable Sound Systems Anchor Audio Inc. 2632 419 Anova Furnishings AnythingWeather/iStrike Alerts 2536 Aquakita 1238 Aquatics International 711 Arizon Air-Supported Structures 1443 Arizona Mound Company 1440 Astroturf 1439 ATG Sports Industries Inc. 5557 Athletic Business Media Inc. 1541 Automated Batting Cages, A 3018 division of J&J Amusements, Inc. Background Investigation Bureau 2807 BagSpot Pet Waste Solutions 520 Bang the Table 443 Basinger Audio Systems 2144 Batting Cages Inc. 2702 BBQ in the Park 2539 Beacon Athletics 1129 70 Parks & Recreation

Exhibitor name Booth # Beam Clay®/Partac Peat Corp.

2118 BECS Technology Inc. 3016 Berliner 1016 Berntsen International Inc. 5061 Big Toys 1520 Billy Bounce 3021 Billy Casper Golf LLC 539 Bison Inc. 2021 Blick Art Materials 916 Bobcat/Doosan Co. 1420 Book King Software 2637 Bright White Paper Co. 5354 Brinkley Sargent Architects 1113 BS&A Software 531 2014 BSN Sports Burke Playgrounds 2402 Cale America Inc. 532 California Sports Surfaces 5155 CampDoc.com 914 CardConnect 1543 1413 Carsonite Composites Cartegraph 714 Cedar Forest Products Co. 1042 Cemer Kent Ekipmanlari Sanayi 1636 Ve Ticaret A.S. Cemrock 1535 235 Century Industries LLC CEW Enterprises/Sport Fence Intl.

2641 Champlin Tire Recycling Inc. 219 Chem-Pruf Door Ltd. 431 Chemtrol 528 Childforms 307 CityReporter 2037 634 Classic Recreation Systems Inc. Clear Comfort 1272 Colorado Time Systems 1820 Commercial Recreation Specialists 1115 CommunityPass 2033 2040 Connect-A-Dock Inc. Connor Sport Court Intl.

309 Contech Engineered Solutions LLC 718 Core Health & Fitness 1746

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Exhibitor name Booth # 2920 Corworth/Restroom Facilities Ltd. Counsilman Hunsaker 1233 Coverworx - Recreational Architecture 808 Cre8Play 2928 Criterion Pictures 1040 1029 CXT Concrete Buildings Daktronics 1010 DARICE 1141 DASH Platform 812 Deacero 739 Dero 1620 5352 Deschamps Mats Systems DesignPark Corp.

2828 Disc Golf Association Inc. (DGA) 2627 2916 DiscGolfPark® (Discmania Inc.) Diversified Technical Systems (DTS) 1843 DOGIPOT 1928 Dog-ON-It-Parks 1533 Douglas Sports Equipment 907 826 DuMor Inc. Dynamic Discs 1839 1534 Easi-Set Buildings Easton Foundations 1631 EasyTurf 519 Eaton’s Ephesus Lighting 5655 Eco-Counter 2039 emuamericas LLC 5158 Engineered Wood Structures 2240 ePACT Network Ltd. 2241 1313 EPIC Outdoor Cinema, LLC ERC Wiping Products Inc. 713 E.S. Schubert Sculpture Studios 1039 eTrak-plus 1335 Eversan 1006 Ex-Cell Kaiser LLC 2031 Exergame Fitness 2604 EZ Dock 1033 F/S Manufacturing 536 Fahr Industries Ltd. 1437 Fecon Inc. 5153 Fibar Systems 1136 Fieldturf 504 Fin Fun 918 First Tee, The 534 FlagHouse 1927 FlexGround LLC 5060 Fluidtrol Process 1235 Technologies Inc.

Exhibitor name Booth # ForeverLawn 840 Forte Product Solutions 806 Fountain People 1920 Franklin Sports Inc. 2139 Freenotes Harmony Park 911 Fun Express - a subsidiary of Oriental Trading Co. 2532 FunFlicks Outdoor Movies 805 GameTime 1910 GARED 1210 GatorBridge & GatorDock 817 GeeseProblemSolved 2633 Gifts Galore Easter Eggs 538 2710 Gill Athletics 2438 Glasdon Inc. Glass Room Education Sessions 507 Glide SUP - Ultra Durable Rental SUP Boards 3115 Go Ape 5653 1940 Gopher Sport 836 Graffiti Solutions Inc. GreenCityGIS 2542 1728 Greenfields Outdoor Fitness Inc. GreenFields USA 5456 1720 GT Grandstands Gyms for Dogs - Natural Dog Park Products 2420 821 HALSEY TAYLOR Hanson Group LLC, The 5154 Hargrove Inc - Exhibitor Services Customer Service Center 5230 Hastings+Chivetta Architects 535 Healthways 5657 Henderson Recreation Equipment 1207 HGACBuy 1521 Hitchcock Design Group 2116 Huaxia Amusement Co. Ltd. 1645 ICON Shelter Systems Inc. 2134 ID Edge 3015 Imagination International Inc. 2238 Imprint Plus 529 InCord 413 Inflatable 2000 Inc. 2120 INNOVA Disc Golf 1736 1345 Innovative Timing Systems International Mulch Co. 2011 iZone Imaging 2938 Jacobs 2540 Jacobsen 2728

Exhibitor name Booth # Jambette Playgrounds 941 Jayhawk Plastics Inc. 1627 Jaypro Sports LLC 2701 Junkers Hardwood 628 K&K Insurance Group Inc. 2029 3022 Kafka Granite LLC Kaiqi Group Co. Ltd. 1836 Kansas State University Global Campus 5652 Kay Park Recreation Corp.

2228 Keeper Goals 630 KemperSports 517 437 Kenwood/WS Communications Key Log Rolling 2940 KirbyBuilt 2942 KOMPAN Inc. 3030 1276 Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp.

Kutting Edge Edgers 212 Kwik-Covers 2639 Lake Country Corp.

1038 Landmark Studio & Design 313 Landscape Structures Inc. 827 1237 Life Floor Lifeguard Store, The 2538 Lil’ Kickers 810 Lincoln Aquatics 1828 Little League Baseball & Softball 1104 1106 Lose & Associates Inc. LTR Products 1132 Madrax/Thomas Steele 320 Major League Baseball 1626 Mask US Inc. 632 Mateflex 1008 Maximum Solutions Inc. 2513 McConnell and Associates 3121 Melanoma Foundation of 1340 New England Midwest Elastomers Inc. 1417 Miracle League Association 832 Miracle Recreation/Little 2210 Tikes Commercial Miroad Rubber USA 813 MityLite 1007 Modern Shade LLC 815 Monster Mural, The 620 Most Dependable Fountains Inc. 2128 Motion Picture Licensing Corp.

5253 Murdock Mfg. 2017 Musco Sports Lighting Inc. 2028 MyRec.com 738

Exhibitor name Booth # mySidewalk 221 MyTCoat Commercial Outdoor Furniture 2530 NanJing Wande Play Facilities Co. Ltd. 2614 NASCO 1338 National Alliance for Youth Sports 410 National Association of Sports Commissions 1740 National Construction Rentals 737 National Cooperative Leasing (NCL) 1317 National Golf Foundation 1415 National Joint Powers Alliance 1315 1721 National Recreation Systems Nevco Inc. 2137 Nicros Climbing Walls 406 Nirbo Aquatic Inc. 2332 1314 No Fault Sport Group NPPGov 2631 NRPA 2017 Annual Conference Exhibit Sales Office 3102 NRPA Learning Lab 541 NRPA Learning Playground 2742 2804 NRPA Member Experience Area Octane Fitness 5555 Oglebay 5654 Oldcastle Lawn & Garden 2635 One Beat CPR + AED 5256 3116 Open Air Movies Osagian Canoes 709 Outdoor Aluminum Inc. 2038 Paris Site Furnishings & Outdoor Fitness 2512 2414 Park Catalog, The ParkLab, The 939 ParkInk 2608 Parkitect 5353 Patterson-Williams 319 PDC 920 5553 Peak Software Systems Inc. Pentair 1537 218 Percussion Play Ltd. PerfectMind 2636 Perfect Mound, The 2721 Pet and Playground Products 2035 Pet Waste Eliminator 1138 Pilot Rock Park Equip./RJ Thomas Mfg. Co. 2122 Pioneer Bridges 530 Plastic Recycling of IA Falls 2027 Play & Park Structures 1510

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Exhibitor name Booth # PlayCore 1612 Playcraft Systems 2518 PlayGuard Safety Surfacing 1327 Play-Well TEKnologies 527 Playworld 2716 Poligon 1226 PolySoft Surfaces LLC 2440 Porous Pave Inc. 2517 Porter Athletic 2708 Power Systems 1616 PowerDMS 819 Precision Playgrounds 3227 1742 Premier Polysteel Outdoor Furniture Profitable Food Facilities 1434 ProMinent Fluid Controls Inc. 2427 ProPlay by Schmitz Foam Products 2418 618 Public Outdoor Ping Pong Public Research Group LLC 3037 Public Restroom Co. 1637 PW Athletic 321 Qitele Group Co. Ltd. 627 QNC, Inc./Quik n’ Crispy 2731 2015 QR Fit Trail LLC Qualite Sports Lighting LLC 2239 QuickScores LLC 1102 Rain Bird Corp.

2712 Rain Deck 414 1410 Rain Drop Products LLC Randolph Rose Collection 2219 RATIO 1337 RCP Shelters Inc. 5254 REACH 1005 REC1 1938 RecDesk Software 5261 ReCPro Software 1832 Recreation Accessibility 1418 Consultants LLC Recreonics Inc. 1318 RecStaff 533 2703 REI Corporate Sales RENEW Plastics 741 RenoSys Corp.

2519 Robertson Recreational Surfaces/Tot Turf 1618 Romtec Inc. 5259 Rubber Designs 5455 Rubberecycle 1846 S&S Worldwide Inc. 1107 Safe Sitter 616 Safeslide Restoration 2709 72 Parks & Recreation

Exhibitor name

Booth #

SCORE SPORTS

1111

Scoremaster Goals

1515

Security Lines US

427

Shade Creations by Waterloo

2528

Shade Systems Inc.

1835

Shaw Grass/Southwest Greens

1416

Skylogix 838 SlideRenu 3017 SNAG Golf – Player Development Products, LLC

333

Sof’Solutions/Sof’Fall Inc.

1012

SofSurfaces Inc.

1625

Soft Play

2437

Soft Touch Bases

540

South Padre Island (SPI) Nets Inc.

415

SpectraTurf 2602 Spectrum Aquatics Spikeball Inc.

1821 904

Spohn Ranch Skateparks

1215

Sportafence Marketing Enterprises

1206

SportsEdge 3117 SportsPlay Equipment Inc.

2628

SSCI - Background Checks

1268

Stageline Mobile Stage Inc.

2428

Stantec’s Sport Group

512

Starting Time

807

Stern-Williams Co. Inc.

720

Stewart Signs

3033

Strider Sports Int’l

5453

SUBWAY® 2009 Superior Recreational Products Surface America Inc.

1013 830

Swank Motion Pictures

1003

Techline Sports Lighting LLC

1545

Technology Solutions Center

1944

TensionStructures.com 2215 Terracon 2544 The Toro Company

1328

Themed Concepts

2234

Think Green Promos

2922

TMA Systems LLC

2020

TOWELHUB.COM 639 TriActive America

1119

Trigon Sports

5152

True Pitch

2811

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Exhibitor name Booth # Turf Tank 405 Tyler Technologies 526 Ultimate RB Inc. 1932 Ultra Site 1614 Ultra Tuff Mfg. Inc. 5260 UM International 2119 United Pools 3019 United States Adult Soccer Association 909 Unity Creations Ltd. 715 University of Missouri 5656 US eDirect Inc. 2338 USA Management 615 2217 USA Softball USA-Shade 2431 USTA 5052 VenTec International 429 Ventrac 327 Venture Publishing Inc. 515 1044 Verified Volunteers 1530 Vermont Systems Inc. Victor Stanley Inc. 5452 Virco Inc. 5556 Vortex Aquatic Structures 1227 International Inc. Wabash Valley Mfg. Inc. 2642 Water Safety Products Inc. 2337 619 Water Splash Water Technology Inc. 913 Waterplay Solutions Corp.

1428 1519 Waters Edge Aquatic Design WeatherBug 1532 Weatherport Shelter Systems 1436 Weissman Designs for Dance 5255 Wenger Corp.

2140 Whitewater West Industries Ltd. 719 Wibit Sports 1219 Wickcraft Co. 743 Williams Architects 1333 Willoughby Industries 2610 Winterland Inc. 707 Wxline, LLC 617 Xerox 518 Xtreme Green Synthetic Turf 2429 2244 Yong Lang Zamboni 1319 Zeager Bros. Inc. 2328 Zhejiang Feiyou Kangti 1133 Amusement Facilities Co. Ltd.

NRPA Update Portland Innovation Lab: Creating Change

By Heather Williams

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onversations about racial equity are difficult — especially given the current state of affairs in our country. However, having those conversations is essential if we want to promote change. That was the sentiment echoed by park and recreation leaders from across the country at NRPA’s recent Innovation Lab titled, “What Parks and Recreation Can Do About Social Equity,” that was held August 3-5 in Portland, Oregon.

Normalizing the Conversation To advance social equity, a primary goal of NRPA and park and recreation agencies nationwide, the single most important thing we can do within our space is create change. However, to be effective in this quest, we need to be comfortable talking about race and other inequities within our own communities.

In her welcome to the Portland Innovation Lab attendees, Amanda Fritz, commissioner for Portland Parks and Recre-

ation, who is also an immigrant and a strong proponent of racial equity, set the stage for the conversation by highlighting the city of Portland’s Communities of Color Report. She emphasized the importance of identifying racial disparities and talking about them, and also noted that the city council has only had two people of color serve in the past 160 years.

Leading the discussion on racial equity was NRPA Board Member, Leon Andrews, from the National League of

Cities, Nora Liu from the Government Alliance on Racial Equity and Michelle Kellogg from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. This group of esteemed panelists led a lively discussion on how to identify racial disparities that included examples of explicit versus implicit biases. They also tackled the differences between institutional and structural racism — highlighting that institutional racism doesn’t imply individuals are racist. “This is key to our work,” said one panelist. The panelists agreed that the best way to change attitudes is to change actions. However, they cautioned that in order to create change it is incumbent upon leaders to realize the real obstacles at hand. Normalizing conversations around race is one of them.

Attendees of the “Operationalizing an Equity Agenda” session at the recently held NRPA Innovation Lab in Portland, Oregon, heard from Mike Alexander (at far right in mint green shirt), former CEO of the Urban League of Portland and a former Portland Parks Board Member; Amalia Alarcon de Morris (on Alexander’s right) from the city of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement; and Ann Curry-Stevens (on Alexander’s left), associate professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University and director of the Center to Advance Racial Equity.

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NRPA Update

When asked what they can do as leaders within parks and recreation to advance social equity, attendees were quick to share their ideas and success stories.

For example, during a group exercise, one attendee shared his department’s success with implementing a mentorship program to “raise people up,” giving everyone the same opportunity to excel within the department/field. Another cited a successful internship program that recruited candidates of color, giving the agency a pipeline to qualified applicants for future positions. Others talked about using a racial equity toolkit to help their agency apply an equity lens to their decisions ranging from capital improvement plans to personnel and budgeting.

Racial Equity Planning and Implementation In addition to outlining the basic principles of implementing a racial equity plan, the panelists stressed that racial equity is something that should be held broadly across city government, not just within parks and recreation. To make a greater impact, attendees were told to focus on changing policies, institutions and structures when organizing a racial equity plan. Furthermore, authentic engagement — involving those communities most affected by disparities in municipal decision-making — is important when implementing a racial equity toolkit. “Their stories are data,” said one expert. It’s also important to learn from people who want to be heard/need to be heard, and, when determining what’s important to an individual, to ask, “Who else is that important to?” The fact is that in many communities the languages may be different, but the issues are the same. That’s why the experts recommend focusing on improving outcomes for everyone.

Another key element of planning/implementing a racial equity plan is making sure you have a champion or leader. This is imperative as it will allow you to “build voices” within your community. Experts warned, though, that it’s necessary to have a succession plan in place to avoid losing momentum when someone decides to step down or retire. They also mentioned it’s OK if/when your allies push back. As one expert described it, “This is messy business,” and it’s important to remain committed “in the midst of the struggle.”

‘The Gold Standard in Social Equity’ Clearly, there is a great deal of racial equity work left to do. However, it’s important to recognize the tremendous amount of work that’s already being done that exemplifies the commitment

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of parks and recreation to creating equitable outcomes for all.

Portland Parks Director, Mike Abbaté, provided attendees with a firsthand look at the exceptional work being done in Portland to advance racial equity. Innovation Lab attendees toured the East Portland Community Center where local representatives highlighted a number of innovative programs, including the Parks, Race and Ethnicity Project (PREP). PREP was developed to help the department better understand who is currently using park and recreation programming, which allows the department to better serve the communities it might be missing. Moreover, with one in five Portlanders being foreign born and more than half the students in Portland Public Schools being children of color, the Parks for New Portlanders program was created to provide recreation opportunities for communities of color, new immigrants and refugees. This program’s primary goal is to promote greater integration into Portland’s community and create a sense of belonging.

Parks and recreation is playing a leading role in the area of racial equity. In fact, one panelist coined parks and recreation as the “Gold Standard in Social Equity.” However, the question proposed at the Portland Innovation Lab asked, “How can we look at other areas of inequities and apply the same principles?” The key is empowering others to become change agents, creating a mindset and programs that are inclusive for all.

To view the presentations and materials from the Portland Innovation Lab, visit www.nrpa.org/innovation-labs-portland-oregon.

Heather Williams is NRPA’s Senior Manager of Public Relations (hwilliams@nrpa.org).

Member Spotlight: Kristi McLeod Fondren, Ph.D.

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risti McLeod Fondren is accustomed to navigating forks in the road, both literal and metaphorical. While pursuing her Ph.D. through the educational psychology program at Mississippi State University (MSU), Fondren encountered a divergent path that would significantly impact her career and area of study. “I was taking [an] environment and society [course] due to personal interest and love of the outdoors,” she explains. The subject matter recalled family camping excursions from Fondren’s childhood, as well as early work experiences just outside of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. “It was in this class that I thought, ‘You mean I can do what I love in sociology and have it work for me?’ That semester I applied and was accepted into [MSU’s] doctoral program in sociology.”

Almost a decade after earning her credentials and almost 20 years into her personal exploration of hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT), Fondren focuses her work on the “leisure subculture of long-distance hiking/backpacking.” Her recently released book, Walking on the Wild Side: Long Distance Hiking on the Appalachian Trail, explores motivations and experiences of extreme hiking in a natural environment and earned Fondren the 2016 Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research, for which she will be recognized during the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. We asked Fondren to elaborate on her work — following is a portion of our conversation.

Parks & Recreation magazine: What inspired you to write Walking on the Wild Side: Long Distance Hiking on the Appalachian Trail?

Kristi McLeod Fondren: I recalled there being a unique community [on the AT] and thought that while I was hiking I should interview long-distance hikers about their experiences on the trail, as well as their relationships with fellow hikers — both perfect areas of study for my discipline. The main reason I wanted to interview long-distance hikers (thru-hikers and section hikers) in particular was because most of the academic studies on the AT at the time focused primarily on hikers’ attachment to the AT. These studies found that thru-hikers are more attached than other user types; however, thru-hikers would be omitted from data analysis because they only made up about 2-3 percent of users. While I understood this, I found it strange that in studies of place attachment, place identity and behavioral loyalty, those who had the stronger social and emotional ties to

the AT would be omitted. With the book I aimed to give voice to a group of hikers that otherwise had been left out.

P&R: Much of your work addresses the significance of place on our well-being and sense of self. Talk about how this relates to our interactions with nature and the outdoors.

Fondren: Within the discipline of sociology, when speaking of the development of the self, sociologists generally focus on a socially situated self that is constructed in relation to significant others.

Largely missing from this body of work is the notion that we are also place-situated beings, forming identities in relation to significant places, not solely from attachment to others. The approach I take here also reveals that beyond exploring the social self, it is vitally important to examine the place-situated self. Aside from specific places, there are many benefits for those who have a meaningful connection with nature…[including] reduced risks of cardiovascular disease

and obesity, healthier immune systems, increased life expectancy…reduced depression, stress-relief, improved quality of life, higher self-esteem, life satisfaction, tranquility and belonging.

P&R: How diverse did you find the leisure subculture of long-distance hiking to be? Assuming it was relatively homogenous, why do you think that is?

Fondren: To an extent, class, race, gender and age are selective of those who participate in this extended recreational activity. For example, the typical long-distance hiker is a white, educated, middle-class male in his 20s or late 40s or older. Why more men? Theories suggest that women may lack the time and money required for participation, or that gender socialization has made some women wary of outdoor recreation due to concerns over their safety, competence in outdoor settings or the ability to retain their femininity while participating in such activities. In terms of age, many are hiking after high school or college or after retiring from their jobs.

And while many hikers will tell you, “prince and pauper are the same,” or “it doesn’t matter what type of gear a person has,” one typically has to have money or be able to take time away from work to be able to hike long-distance. So, to an extent, one’s social class does matter.

P&R: If you could say one thing about the importance of supporting local parks and green spaces where people can access nature, what would that be?

Fondren: For many, their exposure to nature starts locally. Everyone, regardless of age, should have the opportunity to experience nature or green spaces regardless of where they live.

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

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NRPA Update

Bon Voyage, Brenda Beales

Hot Topics

NRPA Connect is the only networking platform that provides direct access to professionals in your field. You have the opportunity to ask questions of more than 50,000 of your colleagues, so don’t miss this opportunity. Below are some of the hottest topics this month:

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iminutive of frame and gentle of voice, NRPA Awards and Accreditation Manager Brenda Beales nonetheless leaves a fathomless void following her retirement August 31.

Almost 20 years ago, Beales situated herself in NRPA’s brand-new headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia, having just been hired as the administrative assistant for the New England Regional Council, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council and the American Park and Recreation Society branch (all of which have since been subsumed into networks). “My first day was the first day the new headquarters building was open for business,” she recalls.

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Rates at municipal golf courses: Looking for information on setting rates at your municipal golf courses? Professionals weigh in on their experience trying to remain competitive with surrounding courses, while generating revenue.

Programs for people with disabilities: Your colleagues answered five questions regarding the way in which agencies support people with disabilities in programs — log in and check out their nuanced answers.

Urban forestry program: Members in this thread share their department’s urban forestry practices. There are also other resources shared, including the Arbor Day Foundation’s guidelines on writing a Municipal Tree Ordinance.

The need for a master’s degree: What are the benefits of getting a master’s degree in the fields of recreation or tourism?

While some professionals argue that on-the-job experience can be equally as important, others suggest it helps you get ahead in your career.

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3

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Visit www.nrpaconnect.org to join the conversation today!

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It wasn’t her first dance with the field of parks and recreation, however — Beales is a true “park and rec kid,” and has raised, along with her husband Glenn, two park and rec kids of her own. “I was a park and recreation volunteer, served as the volunteer Lucketts [Virginia] Fair Director for 14 years and served on the [Lucketts Fair] Advisory Board for 17 years. My kids grew up at the Lucketts Community Center and Loudoun County [Virginia] Parks, Recreation and Community Services. We took advantage of their programs and services, including varying classes, swimming lessons, softball and soccer leagues. When NRPA opened in Ashburn, it was a no-brainer for me to apply for a position. Parks and recreation was already a big part of my life. I have seen from the consumer perspective the importance of parks and recreation in a community and wanted to contribute in a small part to this amazing field.”

And, contribute she has. Beales has held more than half a dozen titles at NRPA and cultivated fruitful relationships with fellow NRPA staff and mem-

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bers alike. “Brenda’s staunch dedication to the field of parks and recreation is clear through her work with the association during the past 19 years,” says Eric Hamp, NRPA director of member relations and professional development, and Beales’ direct supervisor. “Her support of NRPA in various capacities during her tenure has always been hallmarked by tireless effort and the relationships she has built with members.”

“Brenda’s contributions to NRPA are too many to count but all are gratefully acknowledged,” says NRPA President and CEO, Barbara Tulipane. “Her knowledge about the organization and the field made her a priceless team member and she will be missed by all, but especially by me.”

Clearly her colleagues at NRPA — and, surely, the hundreds of members with whom she’s worked during the past two decades — would prefer she stay on in perpetuity, but, Beales has other plans. “I have so many projects that I have wanted to do and just have not had time to do,” she says.

“I’m looking forward to working on those projects. My bucket list is to visit all 50 states. I have a great start, but want to visit the places I haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet. My husband is on board and we have a huge U.S. map to put our flags in.”

During that epic road trip, however, Beales says she’ll reflect fondly on her time at NRPA. “I think the best part of being at NRPA is the comradery of staff members and the NRPA members,” she says. “I have met and worked with incredible people.”

Want Your Job Posting in Front of 7,000 People?

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ant the chance to position your employment vacancy in front of 7,000 people at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference? Purchase an NRPA Single 30-day Job Posting Package for 20 percent off using the code CCBOOTH16 before September 23 and your job posting will be displayed at the Career Center located in the NRPA Member Experience Area, booth #2804. Don’t miss this great opportunity!

Why should NRPA members post their job on the Career Center?

• NRPA members receive 33 percent off job posting packages • Each posting is viewed by an average of almost 1,000 job seekers • Employers receive at least 10 job applications for each job posting on average • Access to almost 7,000 searchable résumés of highly qualified recreation and park professionals The NRPA Career Center (www. nrpa.org/careers) is where professionals in the park and recreation field turn when they are looking to hire a qualified candidate to work on their team. “At MWR Kings Bay, we have seen significant results in our job postings through the Career Center,” says

Bo Hutchens, CPRP, recreation and parks director at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia. “Not only has our number of applicants gone up, but the quality of the applicants is also noticeably better. There is so much that this national job posting has allowed us to do, from the résumé access feature to statistical data, such as number of views and application clicks. We have made it a standard within our organization to post fulltime jobs in the Career Center.”

If you have questions about posting a job, applying for a position or accessing your member discount, please email NRPA Membership Programs Manager Hayley Herzing at hherzing@nrpa.org.

Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge The following question is a sample Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination question.

Revenue from fees and charges was not sufficient to offset the cost of an agency’s annual Fun Run. Which of the following funding sources would be best suited for this type of activity?

A. Government grants B. Reimbursements C. United Way D. Commercial sponsorships Calling all beginning to mid-level professionals! The Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is the national standard for all park and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession.

For more information on the CPRP certification program, please visit www.nrpa.org/cprp.

Answer – D. Commercial sponsorships

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NRPA Update NRPA is dedicated to providing learning opportunities to advance the development of best practices and resources that make parks and recreation indispensable elements of American communities.

Find out more at www.nrpa.org/education.

SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES NRPA LIVE The NRPA Annual Conference is the premier event to receive training about the latest trends in parks and recreation. If you are unable to join us in St. Louis, Missouri, this October, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun! When you take advantage of NRPA Live, the virtual option for the Conference, you’ll receive valuable training from the highest-rated sessions and presenters, right from your office or home. We have selected 11 of the best education sessions to be streamed live October 5-7. You also have the option to purchase a package that will allow you to access the session recordings for up to 12 months, so you may wait to watch and learn when it is most convenient for you. In addition to receiving excellent education from your home or office, you will also have the opportunity to earn 1.1 CEUs — more than half the CEUs required to renew your CPRP! For all the details and registration information, visit www.nrpa.org/NRPALive.

NRPA Conferences and Schools are forums where the park and recreation community comes together to exchange ideas and information. Register now for these upcoming events. All NRPA Schools are held at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia, unless otherwise indicated.

October 5-8, 2016 - St. Louis, MO

November 6-10, 2016

January 15-20, 2017

January 29 - February 3, 2017

March 12-17, 2017

www.nrpa.org/education

CPSI PROGRAM

2-4 2-4 8-10 9-11 16-18

Lexington, South Carolina North Salt Lake, Utah Liberty, Missouri San Angelo, Texas Clearwater, Florida

www.nrpa.org/CPSI

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The Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification is a state-of-the-art certification for pool operators and aquatic facility managers.

OCT

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The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification program provides the most comprehensive training on playground safety standards and the credentials to inspect playgrounds for safety compliance.

8-9 8-9 10-11 12-13

Austin, Texas Charlottesville, Virginia Portland, Oregon Sun City, Arizona

www.nrpa.org/AFO

Operations Connecting on Concussion: Why Agency Advocacy Is Important

By Lisa Paradis

T

elling people about the importance of concussion education is like telling people about the benefits of eating kale. No matter how passionately you outline the value, sometimes it’s just not something they’re willing to swallow. Just like with kale, mainstream media consistently reports compelling stories and new research about sports concussion so that the information continues to have a frontline presence in news channels, providing hope that after enough exposure, people will eventually come around.

Although once regarded as simply “getting your bell rung,” the perception of the potential seriousness of concussion has changed to reflect the research.

During the past several years there has been an abundance of information pointing to evidence that not only should youth sports concussions be taken seriously, but that exposing parents, coaches and athletes to information about concussion symptoms greatly diminishes the potential for long-term side effects post-concussion.

Having a Return-to-Play Protocol One of the most critical elements of good concussion management practices is educating the parent, coach and athlete about when to be removed from play. “When in doubt, sit them out” is the basic rule of thumb every agency’s program leadership should be communicating to the general public. A responsible adult in charge should be making the often-contentious decision to remove an athlete from play if concussion is suspected, regardless of the athlete’s (or oftentimes, parent’s) protests.

However, it can be difficult to manage an injury that is invisible. The National Institute of Health reports that, when properly managed, a “majority of people who sustain a sport-related concussion recover within a 7-10-day period.” But, since every individual has a different recovery time, it can be hard to know when a young athlete is ready to get back to play.

In the past, parents, coaches and the concussed athlete would make an arbitrary decision about return to play, sometimes actually prolonging the athlete’s recovery time or increasing the chances of side effects from the injury. Having a return-toplay protocol in place puts the clearance for back to play squarely on the shoulders of a healthcare professional, reducing agency liability and providing the parent, coach and the athlete with a navigational tool for safely returning to play.

Many agencies have taken on the challenge and developed comprehensive return-to-play protocols and concussion management policies in their communities, and some have even leveraged “the power of the permit” to mandate training as a requirement for facility use. But, even though parks and recreation has made strides in its role in educating the public, more can be done to ensure players are safe.

Reducing Contact A January 2015 study by the Boston University School of Medicine pointed to possible increased risk of cognitive impairment from playing youth football. “Sports offer huge benefits to kids, as far as work ethic, leadership and fitness, and we think kids should participate,” says study lead author

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Julie Stamm, a Ph.D. candidate in anatomy and neurobiology. “But, there’s increasing evidence that children respond differently to head trauma than adults. Kids who are hitting their heads over and over during this important time of brain development may have consequences later in life.”

Reducing contact for younger players and modification of game rules are among the many things that can be championed at the recreational level. As recently as May 4, 2016, the Democratic leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to the leaders of collegiate and youth football organizations asking how they plan to prevent and mitigate the risks of degenerative brain disorders for student-athletes: “While changes at the professional level are important, football organizations across all levels, as appropriate, should consider rules changes and educational outreach to ensure the safety of all athletes and their developing brains.

Additionally, we need to ensure that parents have accurate, up-to-date information necessary to make informed decisions about their children’s participation in foot80 Parks & Recreation

ball and other contact sports.”

Making sure that recreational programs implement U.S. Soccer’s 2015 decision to eliminate U-10 heading and limit heading in U-11/U-13, as well as Pop Warner Football’s rule to limit contact in games and practices are simple, but meaningful modifications to youth sports. Starting kids in contact football at a later age is a controversial but poignant example of agencies setting the tone for player safety. Reports show that 70 percent of the football players in the United States are under the age of 14, and every child player ages 9-12 can be exposed to 240 head impacts during a single football season.

Flag football, a four-letter word in many communities, promotes the game of football in a fun and safe environment, where players touch the ball many more times in one game than they generally do in a typical tackle football game. USA Football has partnered with NFL Football to promote “NFL Youth Flag Football,” and now has thousands of leagues all over the country.

Played in a five-on-five format, teams of eight to 10 kids learn the fundamentals of the sport and compete with other players, all in an atmosphere of fun and little contact. And, the fears of the young flag football player never reaching NFL status seem to be little more than parental grumblings.

Reports show that many current NFL players, including Eli and Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, didn’t start playing contact football until seventh and ninth grade, respectively. Both families encouraged their kids to play flag football. Retired NFL Hall of Famer Archie Manning said of watching his son Eli play flag football for many years “God that’s a great game. I wish I’d played my whole career in flag football.”

Making Education a Requirement Chris Nowinski, co-founder and president of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, whose work has been groundbreaking in the field of concussion research, says,

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“Parks and recreation agencies play a critical role in providing concussion awareness and education at the grassroots level. They have an opportunity not only to provide a safe place to play, but also to expand their reach to create a safer community.”

Dr. Neal McGrath, a nationally recognized neuropsychologist and the Clinical Director and founder of Sports Concussion New England says, “Making concussion education a routine requirement for youth sports players, parents and coaches in the park and recreation setting can accomplish a great deal. Park and recreation programs have the opportunity to begin the concussion education process for younger athletes as a routine part of their sports participation. That education therefore begins at an earlier point for their parents as well.”

Millions of children play sports that are sponsored by park and recreation agencies, and while it may not be simple, educating the public is an important element of service delivery in any department. For at least the near future, youth sports will continue to have its share of people who either don’t believe concussion management is their problem or who don’t agree with the research. But, by providing a steady diet of concussion information, education and advocacy, agencies have the ability help create healthier, smarter youth sports generations for years to come.

Note: I created and implemented a policy that mandates concussion education training for all organized youth sports groups who use Brookline facilities. My father, a former football player, donated his brain to Boston University’s Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy through the Concussion Legacy Institute after his death in 2008. A list of resources on this topic are available at www. parksandrecreation.org/2016/August/Connecting-On-Concussion-Why-Agency-Advocacy-Is-Important.

Lisa Paradis is the Director of Brookline Recreation (lparadis@brooklinema.gov).

Serving Diverse and Special Populations at Your Aquatics Facility

By Inés Palacios, Ph.D.

A

ccording to the Physical Activity Council’s 2016 Participant Report, all age groups see swimming as a future fitness activity. Individuals ages 25-35 rate swimming as their top interest among 10 different activities that include camping, bicycling, hiking, running, canoeing, backpacking, working with machines, working with weights or kayaking. Those ages 35-65+ rate swimming as their second favorite interest. Yet, many public swimming pools across the nation are underutilized. Pools are expensive to maintain, manage, staff and program, but there are revenue-generating strategies that could potentially resolve some of these issues.

A great majority of aquatic facilities offer learn-to-swim lessons and water safety programs that provide revenue. Interestingly, a recent industry report states that the top program addition aquatic facilities will plan to offer are special-needs programs. There is a need to serve this

segment of the population and an opportunity for aquatic facilities to generate extra income. From working with returning soldiers to reduce post-traumatic stress, to helping people regain mobility, enhance arterial blood flow and strengthening muscles, water immersion

has more far-reaching benefits for people than other physical activities. And, all these activities can be facilitated at your swimming pool.

The Great Equalizer At a typical pool, horizontal lap swimmers, usually young and retired individuals that have the availability and flexibility to swim during the day, tend to take up most of the pool space and receive the most attention. These groups of people, coupled with swim teams, may crowd the pool and occupy large volumes of space in the facility. However, there is a solution that not only could

Diverse activities — open swim, laps, water polo and an exercise class — all taking place simultaneously keep the pool at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center in Palm Desert, California, busy.

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increase income and reach a new revenue stream, but also could improve and maintain sustainability of your pool.

It involves a broader audience that includes vertical swimmers who currently may not be served in your facility. This could include individuals with social/ emotional, cognitive, physical and even sensory disabilities; individuals from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds such as from African-American and Latino/Hispanic communities, inner city, underserved population and at-risk youth; and those looking for a way to increase physical activity to lose weight or combat obesity, prevent or recover from injury, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and those with certain medical conditions who may benefit from water immersion and swimming. Remember, the swimming pool is a great equalizer!

Dynamic Space Imagine how dynamic the space will become once you open it to be shared simultaneously by more than one type of user, all participating in different activities.

Dividing the pool into subsections may allow you to rent the space for different activities, all happening at the same time.

In addition, you could target different groups and provide programming for them depending on their needs.

Keep in mind that water immersion and swimming is a good tool that promotes balance and fall prevention. On land, balance activities may be challenging for some and even uncomfortable because of concerns about involuntary falls when exercising. Performing similar or the same exercises in water can promote the same benefits while providing individuals with stability and confidence. Another benefit of exercising in water is the promotion of bone density. Water can help attenuate bone resorption, enhance bone formation and 82 Parks & Recreation

increase bone mineral content. It has also been found that water immersion can have a positive effect on promoting nervous system health, reducing arthritis joint stress, preventing and lowering high blood pressure, and other particular health concerns.

Water immersion is also an important programming component for people with disabilities. These days, to be ADA-compliant, commercial pools are required to have lifts to help individuals with disabilities with access and egress.

Consequently, your pool is already outfitted to offer programs for this demographic. However, you also need to think beyond pool access and provide other amenities, such as family dressing rooms, accessible parking and access ramps, that will offer ease of use to this population. You want to make sure they keep coming back for more.

Aquatic professionals understand that building a base of users and providing them with interesting programming is critical in developing lifelong aquatic participants. Opening your facility to a variety of programs could potentially create higher participation and a more extensive base of regular participants ranging from infants to the elderly.

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Ultimately, it is important to engage everyone in the community and explore the many ways that diverse communities and special populations could be served, while generating new community aquatic initiatives and bringing new revenue to your facility.

So we can all learn more from each other and from diverse communities and special populations, we would love your input on the following survey, http://goo.gl/ngz0Vs. If you have a case study you’d like to submit, please complete our form at https://goo.gl/Aobonl.

Yours could be one of the case studies featured during our session at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference!

We will share the results of our survey and more information about how to program for diverse communities and special populations at our upcoming session titled, “Serving Diverse and Special Populations at Your Aquatics Facility.” Join us from 2:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

Thursday, October 6, in room 230 to learn more. Additional details are available at www. nrpa.org/conference2016.

Inés Palacios, Ph.D., is Director of Recreation at PlayCore and a member of the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference Program Committee — Special Populations section (ipalacios@playcore.com).

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Request free information from the manufacturers of the products found in this issue.

I prefer to receive the information via

Mail

Phone

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Name_______________________________________________________________________Phone__________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________________State________________ZIP_______________________________ How does your agency define social equity? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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YES! I would like free product information!

Please email your answers to dstorm@nrpa.org.

Check the product(s)/company(ies) that you would like information from: AQUATICS Water Odyssey............................................... 29 512.392.1155 www.waterodyssey.com

COMPUTER SYSTEMS/SOFTWARE PerfectMind................................................... 39 877.737.8030 www.perfectmind.com/nrpa

ATHLETIC/EXERCISE EQUIPMENT Go Ape............................................................ 85 415.553.0769 www.goape.com Greenfields Outdoor Fitness.......................2, 3 888.315.9037 www.greenfieldsfitness.com Power Systems............................................... 23 800.321.6975x1012 www.powersystems.com/nrpa TriActive America.............................................7 800.587.4228 www.triactiveamerica.com

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE John Deere..................................................... 11 800.358.5010 www.johnedeere.com/local The TORO® Company.......................................5 800.348.2424 www.toro.com

BLEACHERS/ SEATING Fermob USA......................................................9 678.267.2028 www.fermobusa.com Kay Park Recreation...................................... 86 800.553.2476 www.kaypark.com BUILDINGS/TENTS/SHELTERS Easi-Set Buildings......................................... 85 866.252.8210 www.easisetbuildings.com Shade Systems™ Inc.........................................1 800.609.6066 www.shadesystemsinc.com Stageline®...................................................... 37 800.267.8243 www.stageline.com COMMUNICATIONS Amplivox Portable Sound Systems............. 45 800.267.5486 www.ampli.com Basinger Audio Systems............................... 84 877.638.5816 www.portablesound.com

ICE RINKS Nice Rink........................................................ 13 888.642.3746 www.nicerink.com PARK PRODUCTS/SERVICES Dogipot.................................................... 21, 84 800.364.7681 www.dogipot.com Gyms for Dogs — Natural Dog Park Products........................................ 86 800.931.1562 www.gymsfordogs.com Most Dependable Fountains........................ C2 800.552.6331 www.mostdependable.com National Construction Rental....................... 86 800.352.5675 www.rentnational.com Paris Equipment Manufacturers LLC........... 17 800.387.6318 www.peml.com Pilot Rock®..................................................... 31 800.762.5002 www.pilotrock.com Willoughby Industries.................................. 15 800.428.4065 www.willoughby-ind.com PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Cemer® Playground & Fitness...................... 25 +90.232.853.87.04 www.cemer.com.tr

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Mail the completed form to Dana Storm at NRPA, 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148-4501 or email to dstorm@nrpa.org.

(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 ©2016 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: $36 a year in the U.S.; $46 elsewhere. Single copy price: $4.50. Library rate: $48 a year in the U.S.; $58 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148. 703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

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Park Bench

Scouts for Stewardship NRPA headquarters is situated in Brambleton Community Park, a 61-acre parcel managed by the Loudoun County, Virginia, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. It abuts Beaverdam Reservoir Park, which is comprised of 1,000 acres of woodlands and waterfronts, and managed by Nova Parks. Both spaces offer expanses of green space, forests, streams and wetlands and play host to bountiful populations of birds, wildflowers, insects, reptiles and other creatures native to this part of Northern Virginia. Both also welcome hundreds of visitors each year for hiking, kayaking, canoeing and fishing, and while one hopes each guest would act as a careful steward of public land, sadly, that’s not always the case. Small trash items like bottles and cans, along with more formidable discards like old shoes, rusted bed frames, mattresses and defunct farm equipment, can be found littered about the park and reservoir on a regular basis. It’s no small task to keep these natural spaces safe and beautiful for all visitors, which is why the assistance of local volunteers, like Girl Scout Unit 70-01 and Troop 3475, is so essential. Organized by mom, troop leader and professional photographer Jessica Monte, along with dozens of community leaders, businesses and volunteers, the determined young women of Troop 3475 spearheaded a cleanup of the reservoir and park that netted more than 2 tons of trash. “My daughter’s Girl Scout Troop 3475 is a young troop with lots of energy and excitement about making a positive difference in the world,” Monte says.

“Our girls want to be in the outdoors and they understand that nature is a resource that needs to be taken care of. By organizing a project like the cleanup of Beaverdam Reservoir, our girls learned that it is rewarding to work with many hands to accomplish great things. Our girls understood that they were doing something important for their community by simply picking up trash from their park.” Going forward, Girl Scout Unit 70-01— part of the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital that includes some 90,000 women and girls in the Washington, D.C. metro area — plans to adopt Beaverdam Reservoir through the Adopt-a-Stream Program. “[We hope to] organize additional cleanups of Beaverdam Reservoir and to empower local civic groups and citizens to be stewards of this great community resource,” Monte says. “Not only does cleaning up our parks benefit Mother Nature by helping the land and water be cleaner and healthier, but it also helps our young citizens feel empowered that the things that they do matter and can have a lasting impact on the community and for the earth.”

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine 88 Parks & Recreation

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Music is Joy Rhapsody™ Outdoor Musical Instruments invite kids and adults of all ages to join the band. This superior collection of chimes, metallophones and drums welcome polished musicians and musical newbies alike to explore the power of rhythm, experience subtle shifts in tone, and discover the many ways individual sounds can be creatively combined. They’re the perfect addition to playgrounds, community centers, schools, senior centers, and more.

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Enriching Childhood Through Play®

PARKS&RECREATION SEPTEMBER 2016 ◆ THE SOCIAL EQUITY ISSUE ◆ SPORTS IN PARKS ◆ 2016 NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE EXHIBIT HALL HIGHLIGHTS

Equal access to parks and recreation for all. It’s a right, not a privilege.

www.nrpa.org/socialequity | #SocialEquity