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Editor’s Note
Wading through staffing shortages and a lingering pandemic Sarah Wright | Editor
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ollowing a summer of isolation, people seemed in a rush to make up for it. In my area, I do not recall us typically having as many events as what we had in summer 2021. Sometimes, multiple events would be stacked into one weekend, making it overwhelming to pick and choose. Attendance at many events had also boomed. Our local Tour des Lakes bicycle ride, for instance, spiked at more than 400 riders — not shabby in the least for little Syracuse, Ind. The Mudtastic Classic, which the local parks department helms, also drew a record number of more than 300 participants. Both events provided a welcome recreational break and undoubtedly brought new customers to local businesses. Parks make for a healthy community on many levels: emotionally, physically and economically. However, following the pandemic and staffing shortages, many parks departments around the country have had to evaluate not only daily operations but what programs will continue and in what capacity. As of our August press time, Durango, Colo., Parks and Recreation Department decided to shorten Lake Nighthorse’s hours as many seasonal staff members returned to college. Across the country in Massachusetts, Edgartown, facing similar staffing challenges, has made several schedule and facility changes. In this issue, Janet Patterson addresses the ongoing staffing shortage, focusing on two cities’ parks departments — Green Bay, Wis., and Charlottesville, Va. — and their approaches to continuing to provide services
8 THE MUNICIPAL | OCTOBER 2021
their residents expect during the summer while adapting to a smaller crew. Despite the pandemic, other cities have found their programs taking off. Writer Deb Gerbers shares the experiences of different cities with their youth sports program, spotlighting Springdale, Ark., in particular. The fourth-largest city in Arkansas had more than 2,000 kids play sports in the spring through its parks and recreation department’s programs. For others, visiting greenways and bike paths has been their chosen escape during the pandemic. 2020 was truly the year of the bicycle, and 2021 has proven to be a continuation. In a June 5, 2021, article, MarketWatch writer Andrew Keshner chronicled the bicycle shortage, noting, “Bike sales rose 78% on the year between January and March, after rising 38% during the same period last year, according to Dirk Sorenson, sports industry analyst at NPD Group, a market-research firm.” Writer Beth Anne Brink-Cox is sharing Knoxville, Tenn.’s, massive network of trails, which have been designed for bicycling enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. She also shares the city’s other recreation options. Amphitheaters are another popular source of recreation in many cities, and writer Mary Jane is spotlighting several cities with them. Many of these amphitheaters have brought economic benefits to their communities. Finally, on the environmental side of the spectrum, Denise Fedorow is sharing city efforts to keep their waterways clean. As I type this at the end of August, many questions are swirling, with COVID variants growing in prominence. With COVID cases swelling, it is impossible to predict what responses will be. But one certain fact is parks and other public lands will continue to be a source of solace. Stay well this October, and as John Muir said, “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
