NACPRO News

May 26, 2020

In This Issue...

Best Practices Forum
Member News
Research and Resources
In the News
News from NRPA
Training
Job Announcements


About NACPRO

The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials is a non-profit professional organization that advances official policies that promote county and regional park and recreation issues while providing members with opportunities to network, exchange ideas and best practices, and enhance professional development.

Learn more about us at: www.nacpro.org


DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE

The next issue of NACPRO News will be delivered on June 9, 2020.

If you have news or an article to share, please send it to the editor by June 8.

EDITOR
Brenda Adams-Weyant
(814) 927-8212
[email protected]


NACPRO's Sponsors

Pilot Rock logo

oncell logo


Job Announcements

Got a vacancy to fill? NACPRO will post your vacancy on our website and email a copy to our mailing list of over 1100 parks and recreation professionals for a fee of $100 for NACPRO members and $200 for non-members. NACPRO membership is $90/person.

For more information:
https://www.nacpro.org/jobs

Sponsor Webinar: Create & Augment App-based Experiences to Stay Connected with your Visitors

DATE: Thursday, June 4, 2020
TIME: 2:00 to 3: 00 pm Eastern
HOST: NACPRO and OnCell
COST: Free

Participants of this webinar will learn more about the ways you can turn an app into a full digital experience to serve both onsite and offsite visitors. Presenters from OnCell will provide an overview of the many ways other organizations have been augmenting apps to engage visitors - before or during the COVID-19 pandemic - and tips for creating those types of experiences. Participants will also learn about ways to promote their new offerings. Presenters include Kyle Pierce, Head of Sales; Josh Gilbert, Head of Client Success and Genevieve Hauck, the Marketing Communications Manager with OnCell.

OnCell is the leading digital storytelling platform for parks, museums, attractions, cities, and historic sites of all sizes. Since its inception in 2006, the OnCell team has worked on over 3000 projects worldwide and counting. Well versed in app technology, OnCell is excited to share their expertise and elaborate on why apps make for interactive, affordable and easy to use digital experiences!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Registration required:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qbeq6cHUQ-ChSo-yYSuSVw


Best Practices Forum

Got an issue you need advice on? Or a best practice you want to share? Send us the details and we will publish it in the next NACPRO News.


Member News

Spartanburg Parks creates scavenger hunt for families, monitors state orders
Courtesy of WSPA.com

By Christine Scarpelli

SOUTH CAROLINA - Organizers at Spartanburg Parks said they are continuing to monitor and follow the latest recommendations and guidelines from Governor Henry McMaster for reopening parks and activities at their facilities.

Kristen Guilfoos with Spartanburg Parks said there is a scavenger hunt set up at five parks across the county.

Family’s are encouraged to visit the five parks, which include Cleveland Park, Tyger River Park, Holston Creek, Va-Du-Mar McMillian and Old Canaan Road, to look for white signs with numbers on them. You can find clues by visiting spartanburgparks.org or the Spartanburg Parks Facebook page.

During the scavenger hunt, families are asked to take five pictures with the signs at the parks to prove they were there and post them on Facebook, tagging Spartanburg Parks Facebook page.

Read more:
https://www.wspa.com/news/monitoring-state-orders-spartanburg-parks-creates-scavenger-hunt-for-families/

 

Parks and Recreation Plays a Huge Role in Community Meals
Courtesy of NRPA

By Maureen Neumann

MARYLAND - As a critical provider of summer and afterschool meals through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program Seamless Summer Option (SSO), park and recreation agencies have stepped into a prominent role in their communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, working alongside local schools and food banks to distribute meals to children who depend on schools and out-of-school time programs for their daily meals.

The Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP) in Maryland didn’t hesitate to jump into action to serve the community. While the country was still in the early stages of understanding the impact of COVID-19, BCRP opened all 42 of its recreation centers to serve grab-and-go meals seven days a week to all kids under age 18 in the community. BCRP is core to a larger, cross-agency youth meal distribution effort to help close the gap created when Baltimore City Public Schools closed, suspending delivery of 90,000 daily meals to students. Four city agencies and community partners propped up 77 recreation center, mobile meal and community meal sites — in addition to the 18 being operated by the school district — providing more than a half-million meals to youth in the first month of the effort.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2020/june/parks-and-recreation-plays-a-huge-role-in-community-meals/
 


Research and Resources

Transforming Youth Outdoors
Courtesy of the National Park Service, RTCA

Transforming Youth Outdoors is an online learning platform that gives you the power to inspire and enable youth to go outdoors and become future leaders in outdoor recreation.

Through online courses, videos, presentations and articles, any community member with a profile can improve their skills in outdoor program development, program evaluation, volunteer management, fund development and risk management. With Transforming Youth Outdoors, you can track your learning progress and share knowledge with peers by contributing to the online catalog.

For more information:
http://mytyo.org/

 

CDC Health Considerations Documents
Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Across America, states and localities are experiencing different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and many have chosen to begin moving gradually and strategically toward resuming normal civic life. To help businesses and community organizations operate as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC released health considerations documents to support a variety of settings. The considerations documents compliment other CDC resources, including decision tools released last week to help inform community setting decisions about resuming and gradually scaling up operations.

Considerations for Youth and Summer Camps:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/summer-camps.html

Parks and Recreation Facilities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/index.html

Considerations for Aquatic Venues
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/aquatic-venues.html

 

What Should You Consider Before Reopening?
Courtesy of GP RED

Episode 4 is now available! What should be considered when reopening parks and recreation facilities to the public? Should COVID-19 be treated like other emergencies and natural disasters, or something entirely of its own? How do agencies adhere to social distancing guidelines while continuing to provide programs and services? Dr. Teresa Penbrooke, CPRE, talks with experienced professionals from around the country regarding steps, strategies, and different approaches to reopening during COVID-19. Debbie Woodbury, Danny Hopkins, and Linda Smith share their insights and offer advice on how to safely reopen in phases.

Watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6g5XUXsEYUllwJYwE-OhAQ/featured?view_as=subscriber

 

Public Spaces for Older Adults Must be Reimagined as Cities Reopen
Courtesy of Next City

By Setha Low and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

As cities around the country begin to reopen following the pandemic, the time has come to examine how our most vulnerable citizens — those over age 65 — can safely regain use of places that are among the most critical settings of their everyday lives: neighborhood public spaces.

As researchers of public space and aging based in New York City and Los Angeles, we worry about the well-being of the thousands of older adults who have been spared from the pandemic but remain stuck at home to cope with loneliness and fear. Hand hygiene and wearing of a mask provide too little assurance for older people seeking to reenter the public realm. More definitive action is needed.

Grocery stores have shown us one way. They have created special hours for older patrons to shop without the fear of bumping into crowds, but they could go further — retrofitting parking lots and waiting areas with more seating and shade that would allow older people to wait comfortably in line. Older and most vulnerable citizens could be given special privileges in parks and on public transit by designating benches and special compartments on transit vehicles for their exclusive use.

Read more:
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/public-spaces-for-older-adults-must-be-reimagined-as-cities-reopen

 

San Francisco Summer camp is on — in “pods” of 12
Courtesy of MissionLocal.org

By Julian Mark and Lydia Chávez

CALIFORNIA - San Francisco’s summer camps and programs for six to 17-year-olds can reopen on June 15, Mayor London Breed announced today. And to limit viral transmission, children will be associating in “pods” of 12 over three-week summer camp sessions.

“Depending on what space a camp uses, a camp may be able to have only one pod of 12 kids, but maybe have two pods — or even three pods,” said Recreation and Parks Department Director Phil Ginsberg during a webinar hosted by Breed on Friday morning. Pods are not physical spaces but a group of kids that remains the same.

Children in pods would only associate with one another, and two staff members will be assigned to a pod and not break from that pod.

Read more:
https://missionlocal.org/2020/05/san-francisco-summer-camp-is-on-in-pods-of-12/

 

US communities face tough choices on opening public pools
Courtesy of the Associated Press

By Heather Hollingsworth

Public pools will look very different this summer if they open at all with the coronavirus threat still looming, as teenage lifeguards will be tasked with maintaining social distancing and spotting COVID-19 symptoms in addition to their primary responsibility of preventing drownings.

Pools that do plan to open will take precautions, including screening temperatures on entry, requiring lifeguards to wear masks and significantly reducing the number of swimmers allowed in the water and locker rooms, said Dr. Justin Sempsrott, the medical director for the lifeguard certification program Starguard Elite and executive director of Lifeguards Without Borders, which works to reduce drownings worldwide.

The National Recreation and Park Association, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of public parks, recreation and conservation, said 31% of agencies with pools have decided not to open them this summer and 46% were awaiting additional guidance from government and health officials before making a decision. Of those that are opening, only 5% plan to operate fully; the other 18% will do so with truncated offerings.

Read more:
https://apnews.com/45a5dcba971dbf2f1650cc9d9e46e476

 

New COVID-19 Research Supports Time Spent Outdoors
Courtesy of NRPA

By Allison Colman

As we work diligently to better understand coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), new research has emerged in a few areas. One of those areas has been data that demonstrates where outbreaks seem to be occurring and where transmission of the virus appears to be more likely. The research is pointing to some good news for parks and recreation, while also providing an opportunity for strengthening our advocacy efforts and assessing future implications and plans.

Although there are still many unknowns and questions that need to be answered, new research is pointing to a lower risk of transmission occurring in the outdoors. A recent blog by Erin S. Bromage, Ph.D., an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, has drawn some conclusions about the emerging research citing “any environment that is enclosed, with poor air circulation and high density of people, spells trouble.”

The study and other emerging research offers some food for thought for park and recreation professionals as they make decisions about reactivating spaces, facilities, programs and park infrastructure now and in the future.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/new-research-supports-time-spent-outdoors-how-will-this-influence-local-parks-and-recreation/

 

Out Of Quarantine and Into Legionella?
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business

During the Covid-19 quarantine, businesses and manufacturing operations around the world have been shut down for extended periods leaving potable and non-potable building water systems idle. Stagnate water creates the perfect environment for Legionella bacteria growth, escalating the risk for Legionnaires’ disease, a deadly respiratory infection with severe pneumonia-like symptoms. This issue has triggered warnings released by the CDC, the Alliance to Prevent Legionnaires’ Disease, and Purdue University.

Merely flushing the system by letting the water run for a while is not an option since the bacteria live in biofilm. According to Matt Freije of LAMPS (Legionella and Management Plan Support), “Based on experience and scientific studies, expecting flushing to solve a Legionella problem in a shutdown building is unrealistic.”

Read more:
https://www.parksandrecbusiness.com/articles/2020/5/out-of-quarantine-and-into-legionella

 

Parks are a key space during lockdown, but many Americans don’t live close to one
Courtesy of Fast Company

By Adele Peters

Parks may have never been quite as important in the U.S. as they are right now. In cities that are still under lockdown, they’re among the few places that are open. In places that are starting to reopen, they’re a potentially safer and more-spaced place to meet friends, from a distance, than a restaurant or an apartment. Studies show that spending time in parks reduces stress and boosts health. But where you live matters: for many people, it’s far harder to reach a park than others.

Each year, the nonprofit Trust for Public Land ranks American cities based on their parks—the size of parks and total area in the city, investment in parks, amenities such as playgrounds and dog parks, and, most importantly, access, or the percentage of residents that live a 10-minute walk from a park. Using GIS mapping technology, the organization maps not just the distance from homes to parks, but any obstacles to access, such as a highway separating a neighborhood from green space.

These are the 10 cities with the highest scores out of a possible of 100. 

  1. Minneapolis, Minnesota (85.3)
  2. Washington, District of Columbia (83.3)
  3. Saint Paul, Minnesota (82.5)
  4. Arlington, Virginia (81.5)
  5. Cincinnati, Ohio (80.6)
  6. Portland, Oregon (79.8)
  7. Irvine, California (79.6)
  8. San Francisco, California (78.9)
  9. Boston, Massachusetts (76.5)
  10. Chicago, Illinois (76.0)

Read more:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90505851/parks-are-key-as-a-retreat-during-lockdown-but-many-americans-dont-live-anywhere-close-to-one

 

Data-driven park planning
Courtesy of apolitical

By Clement Lau

Parks are essential infrastructure that contribute significantly to the quality of life in our communities. They offer environmental, social and other benefits beyond park boundaries, such as cooling our neighborhoods, improving physical and mental health, and providing places where families and friends can relax and socialize.

Parks, like many other public services, are rarely adequately funded. And in many cities, there are disparities in access to parks and the distribution of funding to create, operate and maintain these community assets. As such, there is a need to strategically consider where the limited public funding is prioritized and used. The best way to do that is through an approach that is based on data, metrics and robust public input.

Where are new parks most needed? What types of park amenities does a community need more of? Which sports are most popular in a city or neighborhood? How many residents are within a half a mile of a park? If a new park is built at a certain location, how many more residents would be able to walk to it?

These are the types of questions that decision-makers are increasingly asking to make informed decisions. To answer them, park planners must collect and analyze a variety of data.

Read more:
https://apolitical.co/en/solution_article/data-driven-park-planning

 

Trails On The Brain
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business

By Clement Lau

Are trails just lines randomly drawn on maps? While some people may perceive them this way, trail planners would most certainly disagree because of the thoughtfulness and care with which they approach their work. Trail planning is an underappreciated field that is complex and challenging. Aside from the few publications dedicated to trails, little is written about trail planning and the planners who are devoted to this increasingly important work due to trails’ growing popularity. According to the 2018 Outdoor Participation Report (https://outdoorindustry.org/resource/2018-outdoor-participation-report/), released by the Outdoor Industry Association, trail running, hiking, and mountain biking are among the most popular outdoor activities in the U.S. in terms of both participation rate and frequency of participation.

Recognizing that trails are critical components of the region’s park and recreation system, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been involved in trail planning, development, and maintenance for a long time. A dedicated Trails Planning Section works on a wide range of multi-use trail planning projects that serve hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers in a variety of settings, including rural, suburban, and urban areas.

Read more:
https://www.parksandrecbusiness.com/articles/2020/4/trails-on-the-brain

 

COVID-19 Legislative State and Federal Reports
Courtesy of PolicyEngage

The two reports below include all state and federal bills and resolutions referencing COVID-19, coronavirus, or pandemic, as of May 18, 2020.

COVID-19 Pending and Enacted State Legislative Report

COVID-19 Pending and Enacted Federal Legislative Report

COVID-19 Major Enacted State and Federal Legislative Action Center

 

How Much Does Living Close to a Golf Course Add to Property Values?
Courtesy of NRPA

By John L. Crompton, Ph.D.

In a recent article in the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, Sarah Nicholls, a professor in the department of business at Swansea University’s School of Management, and I reviewed 21 studies that measured the impact of golf courses on property values. They were all published in peer reviewed journals, which provided assurance that the research techniques producing the results were sound. Our review showed the impact of golf courses was different from that of parks in two ways.

First, access to golf courses by non-golfers, who would like to engage in such activities as walking, jogging, sitting or daydreaming, typically is aggressively discouraged. Hence, there is relatively little benefit to be gained from living proximate to a course unless there is a view of it. As a result, almost all the premium is confined to those residences fronting onto a golf course. This contrasts with the impact of parks, which in the April issue of Parks and Recreation was reported to extend out to 500–600 feet (about three blocks), and for larger parks the influence tended to extend to approximately 1,200 feet.

Second, the review of the impact of parks reported that, in some instances, premiums on residences two or three blocks distant from a park were higher than those for residences adjacent to a park. This finding reflected nuisances experienced by adjacent residences, such as congestion, street parking, litter or vandalism, intrusive ballfield lights and engaging in morally offensive activities. The absence of these nuisances from a golf course contributes to the premium for residences abutting a course.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2020/june/how-much-does-living-close-to-a-golf-course-add-to-property-values/

 

STMA Grants Complimentary Access To Resources Promoting Safe Field Management
Courtesy of Parks and Recreation Business

Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) – the organization for 2,700 professionals overseeing sports fields worldwide and critical to athlete safety – is offering complimentary access to their resources developed to provide green industry members with technical resources to safely manage their fields during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an effort to expand knowledge sharing, STMA is offering guest membership, waiving its standard registration fees  through October 1. Guest members have access to utilize the association’s wealth of educational resources on their website, including The Institute of SportsField Management. From technical resources covering natural turfgrass and synthetic surfaces to professional development and management resources, the Institute provides a comprehensive collection of resources covering all aspects of operations.

Equipping sports field managers and athletic field directors, the association has created a ‘Route to Recovery’ guide to get fields safe and playable as quickly as possible when sports resume. The guide covers all scenarios from those who have minimal access to their fields, to those who have maintained regular upkeep with emphasis on ensuring fields are as safe and playable as they were before the suspension of play.

Read more:
https://www.parksandrecbusiness.com/articles/2020/5/stma-grants-complimentary-access-to-resources-promoting-safe-field-management

 

Electronic OHV Mapping Applications and Websites
Courtesy of NOHVCC

Many trail managers, companies, and clubs have recognized the need for high quality maps and have created resources to attempt to meet demand. A common approach to providing maps and similar information is to create an application (app) or website through which enthusiasts can download, upload, or access electronic maps.

Electronic maps are easy to disperse, can be quickly updated, and often work with or without mobile data service. Many of these apps have been vital to enthusiasts during COVID-19 shutdowns as app managers can update closures and openings in real time. To help enthusiasts get back on the trail safely and when appropriate, we wanted to provide a list of mapping apps of which NOHVCC is aware. 

NOHVCC recommends that enthusiasts carry a paper map when they recreate. It may even be advisable to bring a backup GPS because crashes happen, devices break, batteries die, glitches occur, and signals get lost.

Read more:
https://www.nohvcc.org/electronic-ohv-mapping-applications-and-websites-of-which-nohvcc-is-aware-help-us-shape-our-list/


In the News

Not a mask in sight': thousands flock to Yellowstone as park reopens
Courtesy of the Guardian

By Samuel Gilbert

On Monday, thousands of visitors from across the country descended on Yellowstone national park, which opened for the first time since its closure in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We have been cooped up for weeks,” Jacob Willis told the Guardian near a crowd of onlookers at the Old Faithful Geyser. “When the parks opened, we jumped at the opportunity to travel,” said Willis, who had arrived from Florida.

“We checked the webcam at Old Faithful at about 3.30 pm yesterday,” said Kristin Brengel, the senior vice-president of government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association. “Not much physical distancing happening and not a single mask in sight.”

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/19/yellowstone-coronavirus-reopening-grand-teton-covid-19?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1

 

Court Swats Away NIMBY Anti-Bike-Path Claim on East Side
Courtesy of Streetsblog

By Eve Kessler

NEW YORK - The state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has rejected a lawsuit that sought to stop the erection of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over a Midtown Manhattan park — a victory for city agencies over the “Not in My Back Yard” crowd.

In upholding a lower court’s ruling, the Appellate Division made the important point that such infrastructure is an entirely appropriate use of parkland — which should cheer those who want more public pedestrian and bicycle amenities.

The Cannon Point Preservation Corporation, a community group, sued the city last year claiming the bridge would illegally seize parkland in a vest-pocket greensward, Clara Coffey Park. The suit contended that the structure required approval from the Legislature and review under New York State Environmental Quality Review Act. A lower court had thrown out the suit on procedural issues.

Read more:
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/05/11/court-swats-away-nimby-anti-bike-path-claim-on-east-side/

 

Pandemic Costs May Dry Up Ohio’s Plan to Fight Lake Erie Algae
Courtesy of Bloomberg Law

OHIO - The coronavirus pandemic is endangering a $900 million program that underpins Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s long-term strategy for shrinking the annual massive toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie’s western basin.

The 10-month-old grant program, called H2Ohio, is the state’s primary way to improve quality in so-called impaired waters in Lake Erie near Toledo, where annual algae blooms devastate tourism and endanger water for more than 500,000 people.

H2Ohio fell victim to roughly $775 million in budget cuts that DeWine (R) is imposing in May and June due to plummeting tax revenue during the virus outbreak.

Ohio has halted new grant applications, DeWine said Tuesday. Future funding also isn’t certain, potentially exposing the state to greater legal scrutiny over whether the program will meet federal Clean Water Act requirements.

Read more:
https://bnanews.bna.com/environment-and-energy/pandemic-costs-may-dry-up-ohios-plan-to-fight-lake-erie-algae

 

Cities Are Transforming As Electric Bike Sales Skyrocket
Courtesy of The Verge

By Thomas Ricker and Andrew J. Hawkins

Cities around the world are grappling with the same issue: how to safely reopen in the COVID-19 era. Public transportation systems in places like New York, London, and Paris typically carry millions of people to work and to shops each day, amounting to roughly 1.5 billion trips each year. Now, nobody wants to be on a crowded subway and risk exposure to the virus if they can avoid it. But if everyone jumps into cars instead, traffic will grind to a halt, interfere with emergency vehicles, and reverse advances many cities made toward reducing carbon emissions during lockdown. That’s why city planners and residents alike are looking at the humble bicycle as their way out.

Initially, some companies saw traditional bicycle and e-bike sales dampened as the global supply chain was disrupted by lockdown orders and bike stores were forced to close. But now, sales are booming globally, with many buyers opting for electric bikes for the first time.

Read more:
https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/14/21258412/city-bike-lanes-open-streets-ebike-sales-bicyclist-pedestrian

 

Wheels to Water: Inclusive Recreation on the Saluda River
Courtesy of the National Park Service, RTCA

By Ember Rensel

SOUTH CAROLINA - About 10 years ago, Matt Schell, the manager of Anderson County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, saw a chance to create a recreational space available to everyone along the Saluda River. Since the project’s public debut in 2009, Anderson County has been committed to meeting and exceeding the requirements set for accessibility by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Determined to make the Saluda River an opportunity for all people to connect with an incredible natural resource, he reached out to the National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program.

“We were able to establish a county-model (with a goal of statewide adoption) of the EZ Dock floating kayak launch,” explained Schell. “It floats on the river similar to a dock system, but it has a transfer bench.” The floating launch grants access to the river no matter the water level and the transfer bench allows for an easy transfer from wheelchairs, allowing users to pull their kayak into the launch and transfer smoothly in and out of the river using only their upper body strength.

Once they had the project off the ground, they needed support. Bill Lane, a landscape architect for the National Park Service - Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program - officially joined the project in 2013 and kickstarted community engagement in Anderson County. Lane aided with mapping the river and access points, developing a paddle guide and working with local partners and power companies with investment in the river.

Read more:
https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/wheels-to-water-inclusive-recreation-on-the-saluda-river.htm

 

COVID-19 highlights why the conservation movement must support park equity
Courtesy of the Wilderness Society

By Yvette Lopez-Ledesma

In neighborhoods across the country, outdoor spaces like beaches, trails and parks have been closed off or severely limited. To reduce exposure to the COVID-19 virus, restrooms have been locked, playgrounds shuttered and basketball hoops removed. Programs that provide safe mass transit options to reach trailheads are on hold. However, for many communities, severely limited access to the outdoors is nothing new.

The response to the pandemic is exposing systemic inequities that have left black and Latino populations the most impacted. The benefits of having access to a space where one can be wrapped in greens and browns, away from the grey, a place for community that can also be a place for distancing-socially, is what high and very high park-need communities have been demanding for decades: true multi-benefit spaces, for the community and by the community. As we think of a post COVID-19 world, it’s crucial that we move forward in a way that supports racial, environmental and overall social justice.

In a recent conversation with fellow park equity movement builder Francisco Romero, Manager of Community Transformation for Promesa Boyle Heights (PBH), a Los Angeles community-based non-profit organization, he shared what parks mean for his community and how PBH community members are being impacted by the local response to Covid-19.

Read more:
https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/covid-19-highlights-why-conservation-movement-must-support-park-equity

 

Rec and Park to voluntarily provide location list for safe sleeping sites
Courtesy of sfbayca.com

By Jerold Chinn

CALIFORNIA - San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer said Monday that legislation requiring the Department of Recreation and Parks to compile a list of potential “safe sleeping sites” on its properties is no longer needed. The department has agreed to create the list voluntarily.

Before tabling her bill, Fewer tried to clarify the intention of the legislation by saying:

“This legislation would not allow people to camp freely throughout our parks. It would also not mandate the use of any particular site. This legislation leaves the decision to the general manager of the recreation and parks department.”

“Its intent was to look at sites that would not interfere with the recreation needs of San Franciscans during shelter in place, which is why this legislation defers to the general manager as he knows his properties best.”

Read more:
https://sfbayca.com/2020/05/19/rec-and-park-to-voluntarily-provide-location-list-for-safe-sleeping-sites/
 


News from NRPA

Message from the CEO

As our weekly Parks Snapshot Survey results reveal, many of you are making the difficult decisions to reduce your budgets and are re-evaluating your staffing, programs and capital spending to maintain your financial health. You are not alone. We have been doing the same at NRPA.

We decided to cancel the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando to protect the health and safety of our members, our staff, and the park and recreation community at large, and that is our first priority. While we are working on a virtual Annual Conference, we also acknowledge the resulting financial consequences of not hosting the in-person gathering.

Due to our projected budget constraints for next fiscal year, which begins July 1, NRPA must implement a workforce reduction. It is never easy to say goodbye to colleagues, and we deeply regret that we had to make these layoffs and other budget tightening measures. However, ultimately, it is my responsibility to protect the financial sustainability of NRPA and to do everything possible to preserve our core services to members, meet our program commitments and advance our strategic plan.

While we realize these layoffs mean a shortage in our overall workforce, our leadership is currently reorganizing to account for this and will make the necessary adjustments so that our operations may continue with minimal impact to you, our members and partners. By making these incredibly difficult, yet necessary, business decisions now, we believe that NRPA will remain financially stable in this challenging economic environment.

In gratitude,

Kristine Stratton
NRPA President and CEO


Training

Call for Presentations - Greater & Greener 2021
Courtesy of the City Parks Alliance

 Philadelphia, PA - July 24 to 28, 2021

Greater & Greener is the leading international conference for urban park leaders, design professionals, public officials, advocates, funders, and innovators to explore the role of parks and recreation in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing 21st-century cities. The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated a national dialogue on the essential role of parks and open spaces in our cities, and Greater & Greener will continue to lead this conversation by bringing together experts to share lessons, network across sectors, and engage together.

Although we are planning to move forward with an in-person conference in Philadelphia in July of 2021, we are considering a number of contingency plans involving a variety of virtual and in-person formats for learning and networking. Proposals will be evaluated for applicability to a variety of presentation formats, and priority will be given to City Parks Alliance members.

Proposal deadline: July 31, 2020

For more information:
https://www.greatergreener.org/

 

American Trails Webinar Schedule for 2020
Courtesy of American Trails

We know many of you are still working from and/or stuck at home, and in response we are more committed than ever to offering increased alternative and virtual opportunities for training in place of the many conferences that have been canceled/postponed this year. As of now, we are offering one webinar per week through August, and have at least two webinars scheduled each month through the end of the year.

Online and accepting registrations:

May 27: Creating Culture Change through Outdoor Recreation

June 2: Leveraging Outdoor Recreation to Revitalize Rural Economies

June 11: Gatehouses and Greenways: Interactive Community Engagement for Trails

June 18: CEQA Strategies to Streamline Wildfire Fuel Reduction

June 25: The Greenway Imperative: A Call to Action

June 30: Sustainable Advantage: Outdoor Recreation and Rural Community Development in California

October 22: Make it Count: Collecting and Applying Trail Count Data

Coming soon:

July 9: How to Create an Instant Urban Trail

July 16: Expanding Partnerships and Opportunities for Mountain Biking

July 21: Advancing Trails Through Maps, Apps, and Analysis Tools

July 30: Private Trails Connecting the Equine Community to Trails on Public Land

August 6: Trail Analytics and Data Storytelling: A Case Study from the Iron Horse Trail

August 13: Balancing Recreational Area Use with Homelessness and Vagrancy

August (date TBD): The Miracle of Trails: The Dynamic of Trails and Community Quality of Life (part 1)

September 10: Wayfinding for Trail Systems

September 24: Safety and Signage for Trails

October 15: Using Volunteers to Maintain Trails in Parks

November 5: Drones and LIDAR Technology

November (date TBD): The Miracle of Trails: The Dynamic of Trails and Community Quality of Life (part 2)

December (date TBD): How Well Do They Mix? Addressing Nonmotorized Trail User Conflicts

For more information: 
https://www.americantrails.org/training/webinars

 

Introducing the Greener Parks for Health Webinar Series
Courtesy of NRPA

By Jenny Cox

NRPA is equipping park and recreation professionals with the tools and knowledge to advocate for and institutionalize green infrastructure in park systems to address climate impacts, improve community well-being and advance equitable outcomes for all. As part of this effort, we will be hosting a Greener Parks for Health webinar series over the next few months to highlight evidence, targeted messaging strategies, policy and funding mechanisms, and case studies to help you advance greener parks in your community. Free for NRPA members.

Exploring the Connection of Parks, Green Infrastructure and Health
Wednesday, May 27, 2 pm EDT

How to Talk Persuasively about Greener Parks with Values-Based Messaging
Thursday, June 18, 2 pm EDT

Creative and Equitable Policy and Funding for Greener Parks
Wednesday, July 1, 2 pm EDT

Best Practices for Achieving Greener Parks
Wednesday, July 22, 2 pm EDT

For more information: 
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/introducing-the-greener-parks-for-health-webinar-series/

 

Upcoming Webinars from PlayCore
Courtesy of PlayCore

We understand this is a difficult time to stay on top of educational opportunities, so we wanted to make it easy as possible. New this year, the Center for Outreach, Research & Education (CORE) is offering on-demand webinars in addition to our regular live webinars. With a variety of topics, there are learning opportunities for all. 

We invite you to participate in one of these great complimentary events, and don't forget to complete the assessment to earn your CEU.

Playground Inspection & Maintenance
Prerecorded webinar available from Monday, May 25, 2020, 8:00 am to Friday, May 29, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT

Family and Youth Physical Activity during COVID-19 Summer
Monday, June 1; 2:00 - 3:15 pm EDT
Live webinar 

ADA Standards for Accessible Design
Tuesday, June 9; 2:00 - 3:15 pm EDT
Live webinar 

An Instrumental Guide to Blending Outdoor Music & Community
Prerecorded webinar available from Monday, June 15, 2020, 8:00 am to Friday, June 19, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT 

Water Works for Everyone: Making Pools Accessible for EveryBODY
Thursday, June 28; 2:00 - 3:15 pm EDT
Live webinar 

Youth Advocacy for Better and Equitable Physical Activity
Thursday, June 11; 2:00 - 3:15 pm EDT
Live webinar 

For more information: 
https://www.playcore.com/webinars

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