Parks & Recreation - January 2016

2016 Parks Build Community | Focus on Education | Virtual Senior Centers JANUARY 2016 W W W. N R PA . O R G

Engines of Economic Activity

Local and regional park agencies are major contributors Page 46

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contents january 2016 volume 51 | number 1 | www.nrpa.org

COVER STORY

46 Local and Regional Parks: Engines of Economic Activity

A study by NRPA, in partnership with George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis, provides hard data demonstrating the tremendous economic impact of local and regional park systems Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

54 Moving Toward a Brighter Future

for Wellston, Missouri

NRPA’s Parks Build Community program to build new Trojan Park in 2016 Paula Jacoby-Garrett

FOCUS ON EDUCATION

40 Nature Meets (Welcomes) Technology Kevin Riley, Ed.D., and Stonie Weeks

FEATURES

50 Reinventing Senior Centers: Virtually

Virtual senior centers offer a flexible leisure alternative for aging adults M. Jean Keller and Franziska Sprinkmeyer

42 ‘Carpe Carpam’: Conservation

Through Gastronomy Mark Morgan, Ph.D.

44 Whose Job Is It? The Education of Future Recreation Professionals Stephanie T. West, Ph.D.

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contents january 2016

departments

columns

9 Letters

6 Perspectives

10 Community Center Innovative Collaborations 10 Notable News 12 NRPA Connect Hot Topics 12

14 Research Update Evaluating Day Camps Using the ACA Youth Outcomes Battery

Eddie Hill, Jean Holt, Ron Ramsing and Jennifer Goff

18 By the Numbers The Goods on Golf

20 People For Parks

Part One: Marielle Anzelone Plans a PopUP Forest in Times Square Sonia Myrick

22 Member to Member Leveraging the Assets of Oregon’s Middlefield Golf Course Kris Ammerman

58 NRPA Update The National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence 58 Your Photo, Our Cover 60 The NRPA Board of Directors Is Now Accepting Applications 60 Member Benefits: Strive for More Community Engagement 61 Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge 61 Member Spotlight: Seve Ghose , CPRE 62 Professional Development Calendar 63

Growing the Game of Golf: Creative Ideas for the Next Generation

66 Products 68 Marketplace 71 Reader Service and Advertiser Index 72 Park Bench Wintertime Is for the Birds Samantha Bartram

Parks & Recreation

8 Editor’s Letter 2016 — A Year for Motivating Forward Gina Mullins-Cohen

24 Advocacy 2015 Year in Review NRPA Public Policy Team

26 Law Review Downtown Panhandling Ordinance Unconstitutional James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

32 Future Leaders Going Beyond the Degree: Real-Life Education Inés Palacios, Ph.D., Kate Mattison, CPRP and Troy Euton, CPRP

34 Conservation Parks That Connect You to Nature Through All Your Senses Richard J. Dolesh

36 Health and Wellness Benefits of an Active Pregnancy Kellie Walters, M.S.

38 Social Equity San Gabriel Mountains — Exploring the Unknown Nancy Negrete

Page 36

64 Operations

4

Expressing Our Value Barbara Tulipane, CAE

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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

Expressing Our Value NRPA’s recently released report on the economic impact of local parks and recreation is receiving quite a bit of notice across the country. We briefed House and Senate legislative staff on the results of the study, and they were surprised to learn that local and regional park and recreation systems are responsible for $140 billion in economic activity and support one million jobs in local economies. I also spoke to a reporter from a major publication, and she, too, was surprised by the study’s results. Finally, the former mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, wrote an op-ed for the Star-Telegram in support of parks funding, noting how surprising it was that local parks and recreation had such a large economic impact in cities.

Why the surprise? I think one reason is that most people do not consider parks and recreation an industry. In fact, some of the most vocal about us not being an “industry” are those within our membership! I know I have been counseled a number of times by well-meaning professionals who recommend I use the term, “field” or “profession,” not “industry” when I refer to what we do.

Perceptions are changing, however, and there is intense interest in the nation’s economic recovery, not only from elected officials but also from the general public. And while we give substantial thought to how we can promote the benefits of parks and recreation in terms of health and wellness or conservation, we rarely give the same amount of thought to how we can promote our collective economic impact.

To describe what we do as industry does not diminish the intense pride we take in the body of knowledge we have created, our academic and research achievements and the high regard we place on our professional standards. We take pride in our profession and the field of study that underpins it, and we fight for recognition of our field and all benefits that we produce. But, we must also value our benefits in economic terms if we are to remain relevant to policy and decisionmakers who often rely solely on the bottom line.

In fact, I would argue that the only way we are going to change the conversation or the perception that parks are a financial burden is to use the term “industry” more often and to forthrightly use our economic impact report. The reality is that we create jobs, we generate economic activity and we make communities healthier, greener and more equitable. How many other industries can make this claim? That’s a vital part of our story, and that’s where our power is when we talk to elected officials and/or policymakers.

If we do not forcefully make the case of our economic value in addition to our environmental, health and social value, we will be marginalized and taken for granted by those very same elected officials and decisionmakers who are presented with the economic value of other publicly funded sectors such as transportation, education and public safety. So, don’t be afraid to call parks and recreation an industry. We have been, we are and we can take justifiable pride in calling ourselves “the park and recreation industry.”

BAR BAR A T ULIPAN E, C AE President and CEO 6

Parks & Recreation

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B E A C O N ’ S L AT E S T I N N OVAT I V E S O L U T I O N …

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

Michael Kelly

Bartlett Park District Bartlett, Illinois

Brian Knapp

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

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

Molly Stevens Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Austin, Texas

LIFE TRUSTEES Beverly D. Chrisman Lexington, South Carolina

Anne S. Close James H. Evans New York, New York

National League of Cities Washington, D.C.

Rosemary Hall Evans Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Five River Metro Parks Dayton, Ohio

Earl T. Groves

Neelay Bhatt

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D.

Gastonia, North Carolina

PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Richmond, Virginia

Kevin Coyle

Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

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

BeaconAthletics.com

Houston Parks and Recreation Houston, Texas

Leon T. Andrews

Rebecca Benná, CPRP

IN TH E

William “Joe” Turner

Fort Mill, South Carolina

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

800-747-5985

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7

EDITOR’S LET TER

2016 – A Year for Motivating Forward Looking back and examining both the accomplishments and the challenges of 2015 provides a solid foundation as we move forward into this new year. NRPA made great strides in many areas throughout 2015, but a few specific achievements come to mind that will only bring positive reinforcement in the months to come.

The critical information released via NRPA’s Economic Impact Study in November, 2015, provides much-needed evidence of just how vital the park and recreation industry is to the overall welfare and financial health of this country. The fact that $140 billion in annual economic activity is generated through the industry of parks and recreation, as well as 1 million jobs, proves this field to be a top contributor and important factor in the ongoing economic turnaround. The feature story, “Local and Regional Parks: Engines of Economic Activity,” on page 46, by Kevin Roth, Ph.D., vice president of research for NRPA, tells the story behind the facts and the numbers.

Sixty years ago, the first senior center opened in New York City.

Today, our country boasts more than 15,000 centers providing educational opportunities, events and a variety of fitness and recreational activities for more than 10 million aging adults, every year. The demand for more programing and more centers is growing — one solution to meet this demand is the virtual senior center.

Authors M. Jean Keller and Franziska Sprinkmeyer explore this new option on page 50 in the feature story, “Reinventing Senior Centers: Virtually.”

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 INTERN Catrina Belt cbelt@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Creative By Design www.creativebydesign.net SENIOR MANAGER OF ADVERTISING Dana Storm 703.858.2174 dstorm@nrpa.org MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Keith Anderson Gerald Brown

2016 marks the seventh year of NRPA’s Parks Build Community program. This year, NRPA, in conjunction with Great Rivers Greenway, will build a park from scratch in the underserved community of Wellston, Missouri. “Moving Toward a Brighter Future for Wellston, Missouri,” on page 54, by author Paula Jacoby-Garrett, explores how and why the space for this park, recently named Trojan Park, was chosen. Jacoby-Garrett speaks one-on-one with the creators of Trojan Park’s master plan about the great satisfaction found in designing a community park, but also some of the challenges. She interviews the newly elected Mayor of Wellston, Nate Griffin, who believes Trojan Park will be an asset that will benefit the citizens of Wellston for years to come.

Ernest Burkeen

The new year brings a sense of freshness, renewal and optimism as we continue to provide innovative solutions in our communities through parks and recreation. As time goes on, the evidence of the essential nature of our work continues to mount through economic data, improved health outcomes and a greener, cleaner environment. Let’s get inspired — here’s to the future.

Greg Harrison

Gwendolyn Chambers Brendan Daley Ryan Eaker Mariela Fernandez Robert García Kathleen Gibi Paul Gilbert Sandra Gonzalez Todd Lehman Sam Mendelsohn Maria Nardi Gil Peñalosa Dr. Kevin Riley Paula Sliefert Anne-Marie Spencer

GINA MULLINS-COHEN Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing Editorial Director 8

Parks & Recreation

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Stephen Springs Randy Wiger

Letters Since NRPA and the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University released their Economic Impact of Local Parks report (www.nrpa.org/ parkeconreport), our social media channels have been abuzz as members, partners and park-goers across the country absorb its compelling data. Below are a handful of tweets from folks who know the value of communicating the vast economic impact of parks and recreation.

NCRPA @NCRPA Parks & Rec in NC contributed $3BILLION in economic activity & 26,278 jobs! via @NRPA_news

Indy Parks @IndyParksandRec .@NRPA_news study finds that Park Economic tops $140B nationwide; $1.4B in IN #Parks ImapctUS

Rex Linville @RexLinville Study by @NRPA_news shows that Local & Regional Parks in Virginia supported 30K jobs and $3.7B in economic activity:

Urbana Park District @urbanaparks Parks mean business. Operations & capital spending at IL parks created $12,976,606,775 economic activity @NRPA_news

Michelle Wells@MichelleWellsNC Today @NRPA_news shared the Economic Impact of Parks. NC ranks 9th in providing jobs through local parks #NCRecre8

APAadvocates @APAadvocates Parks are a driver for economic development, according to a new @ NRPA_news report. #renewlwcf & invest in parks

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Parks & Recreation

9

Community Center Innovative Collaborations

By Samantha Bartram

N

o man is an island. As President Barack Obama famously said, in part, back in July 2012, “If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own…When we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.”

The concept of cross-agency collaboration is not new. It is, however surprisingly, rare in many park agencies and municipalities across the country.

The reasons for this lack of cooperation are many: heavily institutionalized siloing, seemingly unrelated interests, too few resources and too little motivation, if any at all. But, if outcomes of NRPA’s most recent Innovation Lab, held December 3-4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are any indication, it behooves us all to break out of those silos, figure out how our interests align and reach across the hallway for help with some of the most pressing issues facing our cities today.

Identify a Goal It’s difficult to ask for help if you haven’t clearly identified the goal — that’s step one to effective collaboration, says Mike DiBerardinis, deputy mayor for environmental and community resources for the city of Philadelphia.

That task is made all the more difficult when day-to-day responsibilities demand the lion’s share of one’s attention. “It’s hard to collaborate when running a big city department,” he said during his opening remarks.

“You’re looking down every day — at blades of grass, a paper wrapper not in the trash can, a light that’s out in the gym, a bench that needs repair. That

is all very important work — quality service every day to our citizens is an essential feature of success, and we don’t want to diminish that. So, ‘How do you lift your view up and out to possibilities of the future and bigger, more complicated policy goals?’”

Philadelphia’s Green City, Clean Waters partnership — a groundbreaking approach to managing polluted stormwater runoff using natural systems like tree trenches and biosensors, rather than traditional “grey infrastructure” like pipes and tunnels — exemplifies DiBerardinis’ uplifted viewpoint.

Green City, Clean Waters has led to unprecedented cooperation between a water utility and a parks department, and since 2011, has created thousands of green infrastructure projects on parkland throughout the city.

Shissler Recreation Center, located

Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources Mike DiBerardinis addresses Innovation Lab attendees at the Philadelphia Free Library.

10 Parks & Recreation

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in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood, was one of the many beneficiaries of this partnership. The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) installed large bioretention basins to manage stormwater from the streets surrounding the center, rebuilt basketball courts using porous pavement and tore up a concrete playing field, replacing it with a new, permeable surface and providing valuable recreation space in a dense urban neighborhood. These interventions are occurring on park property throughout the city, giving PWD access to the open space it needs to meet green infrastructure goals while rehabilitating open spaces for residents to enjoy.

Engaging and Supporting Partners “What are the markings of collaboration?” DiBerardinis asked. “There are significant features that are necessary for success. Your interests must be aligned and you sometimes must work to align them. You need to change practices in order to succeed — you can’t do things the way you previously used to when you acted as single department. You must have a joint decision-making model that people think is fair and honest and looks out for everyone’s interests. You must share your resources — you can’t go in with your hand on your wallet…come in with some dough, share that resource, plan those capital dollars, et cetera, and be willing to give up a little bit. Finally, you have to invest in and engage citizens as well.”

Having the support of city leaders — in this case, Mayor Michael Nutter, who has been a steadfast advocate and instigator of Philadelphia’s cross-departmental collaborations — is critical to the success of any large-scale plan. “It’s important to

balance practical with forward thinking — we are most effective when we look at what’s the best way to provide a service or program to our constituents,” Nutter said during the Innovation Lab. “That’s where collaborative public/private partnerships come in. The government can only do so much on its own. We have great expectations, but the reality is — and we certainly learned this during the recession — even government has its limits. Sometimes we lack the resources required to fully tackle problems, so the government brings together different parties with similar interests, and once they’re around the table, the possibilities are limitless.”

Nutter and his staff are unusual in that they’re accustomed to taking the long view — that is, they’re happy to develop programs that will extend well into the future and past the next election cycle. They’re putting the success of their wide-reaching policy goals and the good of their constituents ahead of any expectation of reelection. Attributes like humility, honesty and willingness to share in success have become hallmarks of how Philadelphia approaches improving the civic commons. “[Thinking] long term to me means 10, 20, 30 years down the road,” Nutter continued. “It means we make choices today that benefit generations down the road. We can’t continue to kick the can down the road for someone else. We must take the political risk to do what is right at the right time, which is often right now.”

‘Aspirational, Not Silly’ Cross-agency collaboration need not be complicated, but a certain set of circumstances should be in place to encourage success. During a panel discussion between Alan Greenberger, deputy mayor for economic

development and director of commerce for Philadelphia; Mark Focht, first deputy commissioner of parks and facilities; Katherine Gajewski, director of the mayor’s Office of Sustainability; and Mami Hara, chief of staff for PWD, all identified commonsense behaviors that make collaboration easier. “No matter what you think of a person or their position, don’t burn bridges because they could be valuable at another time — be respectful,” Allen advised. “Take the high road as much as you can and accept the fact that you’re going to lose sometimes and move on from there,” he continued, with DiBerardinis adding, “Sometimes you’re going to take two steps back to take five forward.” Gajewski encouraged building a “broad tent, so everyone feels an ownership role; and encourage transparency.”

As to fears of whether such ambitious plans would discourage cross-agency collaboration, Focht reminded attendees that when a plan is well-crafted and communication is open and honest, big goals tend to inspire, rather than deter collaboration.

“The key is finding something that is aspirational but not silly,” he said. “It pushes you and it also pushes funding because it’s exciting, but people can’t think it’s ridiculous or doesn’t have real value. Your plan cant’ seem minimal, and it can’t be so far reaching that people don’t take it seriously. The sweet spot is when it’s aspirational and people get excited about it.”

To view presentations from the Philadelphia Innovation Lab, watch video of the presenters and to learn more about upcoming Labs, go to www.nrpa.org/innovation-labs.

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

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Parks & Recreation

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Community Center

Notable News

Hot Topics The new year is here and that means it’s time for new and innovative ideas. Need some inspiration or have questions for your colleagues? Visit NRPA Connect! Connect is the only professional networking platform dedicated to the park and recreation profession — below is a roundup of some of the topics currently being discussed: • Employee wellness programs: Is your agency looking to start an employee wellness program or revitalize a current one already in place? Your colleagues discuss their ideas, which include free membership to city recreation centers and external programs, such as partnering with local gyms.

• Concessions revenue share: Professionals in this discussion share information on revenue sharing with concession vendors. Read this post to learn more about securing deposits, charging a fleet fee and handling food trucks at events.

• Volunteer database system: Did you know the word “volunteer” is the most-searched term on NRPA Connect? In this post, members discuss web-based volunteer database systems that help streamline volunteer registration, tracking and reporting. Read more for suggestions and advice to improve your volunteer management.

• Non-skid pool deck solutions: Any aquatic professional knows that safety is a No. 1 priority around pools. If you’re thinking about resurfacing your pool deck, it’s important to find a product that is durable, manageable and slip-resistant. Your colleagues have solutions — check out this discussion to learn more.

Join the conversation today — it’s easy! Visit www. nrpaconnect.org to contribute!

— Hayley Herzing, NRPA’s Membership Programs Manager

12 Parks & Recreation

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n On December 14, the Federal Aviation Administration rolled out a streamlined, web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) — more commonly known as drones — weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx.

25 kilograms), including payloads such as onboard cameras. This move is in response to the growing number of reports of drones flying near jets and airports. Researchers say there have been at least 241 reports of close encounters between drones and manned aircraft that meet the government’s definition of a near midair collision, including 28 in which pilots maneuvered to get out of the way.

Drones and model airplanes should not be flown higher than 400 feet or within 5 miles of an airport. Registration will cost $5 and must be renewed every three years, but the fee will be waived for the first 30 days, until January 20.

Owners will have to mark the aircraft with their identification number that would let authorities track down owners if they violate the rules. Registration also provides the agency with a way to educate owners, many of whom are recreational fliers with very little aviation experience. Recreational fliers can register as many aircraft as they want on one registration number. Drone owners who are 13 and older will have to register on an FAA website and parents are expected to register for younger children. The FAA estimates that 1.6 million small unmanned aircraft were sold last year with the bulk of those sales occurring at Christmastime. Those who got drones before December 21 must register by February 19. Those who buy them later must register before their first outdoor flight. n Jennifer Schroder, Director of Parks and Community Services for the city of Kirkland, Washington, has announced her plans to retire. Schroder, who has worked in the field of parks and recreation for 35 years, officially retires on January 15. She is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), has served as Kirkland’s Parks Director since 2004 and been an active member in state and national organizations. She served on NRPA’s Certification Committee in 2006-2007 and was a Board of Trustees member, representing the Pacific Northwest Region.

She served as president of the Washington Recreation and Park Association (WRPA) in 2007 and in 2010 received the WRPA Honor Fellow Award, the state organization’s highest honor, recognizing an individual’s lifetime achievement in the field of parks and recreation.

n The Ponchatoula Wellness Plaza, Phase I of a stateof-the-art, outdoor fitness area specializing in older adult health, opened this month in Kiwanis Park in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. The centerpiece of the Wellness Plaza is a jungle gym that includes 18 exercises to help adults improve their balance and build confidence, which in turn will prevent falls and hospital stays. The plaza also includes temperature-neutral benches, as well as a gazebo, to give Ponchatoula citizens age 50 and older the chance to visit and meet new people, and the facility will be lighted for nighttime use. Phase II of the plan includes the addition of what the project’s planner calls “Boomer equipment” (different types of exercise and stretching equipment) installed at intervals of about 500 feet along an existing walking path, which is now one of the city’s most heavily used recreation facilities. Phase III would include a second jungle gym for adults on the community center grounds to form a community center park. This is said to be the second installation of this type of fitness area in the nation. n On December 7, the Charleston, South Carolina, City Council passed a resolution to ban smoking in all city parks and playgrounds. Smoking now will be prohibited on all city playgrounds and parks, on the outdoor grounds of city community centers and the Sunrise Carriage Trail. If caught smoking in a city park, the individual will be given a verbal warning to put out the cigarette.

If the individual refuses to extinguish the cigarette, he or she can be asked to leave the park. If they refuse to do so, the police may get involved and the person could face a trespassing charge. The ban, which will be phased in over the next year, will not take effect at individual parks and playgrounds until new signs to notify the public of the change are in place. n Vortex Aquatic Structures International’s Water Journey™ aquatic play solution was recently recognized with a Good Design Award by the Chicago Athenaeum.

Water Journey is a collection of four different events — Labyrinth, Jet Dance, Race and Tide Pool — that are inspired by natural streams. Each event can be used separately or connected to provide unique play experiences, giving guests the ability to engage with different life-like stream behavior as water encounters creeks, flood plains, ripples and cascades. For more information, visit www. vortex-intl.com.

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Parks & Recreation

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Research Update Evaluating Day Camps Using the ACA Youth Outcomes Battery

By Eddie Hill, Ph.D., CPRP, Jean Holt, Ed.D., Ron Ramsing, Ph.D., and Jennifer Goff, MSEd., CPRP

T

he goal of the American Camp Association (ACA) is to enrich the lives of children and youth. With more than 11 million campers in the United States, the potential benefits of camp can significantly contribute to Positive Youth Development (PYD). The ACA has been instrumental in addressing key aspects of PYD through the camp experience. Evidence is needed to demonstrate the value of camp experiences to decisionmakers and utilizing aspects of the Youth Outcomes Battery (YOB) can help camps position themselves as an important resource and experience for PYD. This is especially important given the variety of issues facing youth today, such as sedentary lifestyles, access to safe outdoor places for physical activity and outdoor recreation, and school mandates to address socio-emotional learning outcomes among youth.

Camp program evaluations are essential to help with funding, inform stakeholders and provide evidence of what youth gain from camp.

Moreover, the context for youth de-

14 Parks & Recreation

velopment has changed dramatically during the past 20 years. While the roots of PYD originate from several fields like positive psychology, developmental psychology and pre-

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vention sciences, this strength-based approach to adolescent program development has intuitively been used by youth workers in the recreation and leisure field for some time.

Evidence of PYD Outcomes of Camp Experiences The ACA has been integral in supporting PYD by identifying and documenting outcomes derived from participation in organized camping, such as residential and day camps.

In an influential study of camp outcomes, four domains were determined: positive identity, social skills, positive values and spiritual growth, and thinking and physical skills. The ACA research provides evidence that organized camping can contribute to PYD and is a context for developmental change, which helps justify programs and provides accountability to stakeholders.

Camp directors, staff, parents and other stakeholders know the impact camp can have on youth, but this evidence must be augmented to help camps compete for funding and provide evidence for long-term sustainability. The authors of this piece undertook an extensive camp program evaluation to document outcomes of a university-based day camp using the ACA-YOB. The ACA-YOB provides camps and other youth-serving programs with 12 questionnaires that focus on seven to 11 common youth outcomes, including friendship and others. Each of the 12 question-

naires is age-appropriate and can be individualized for camps and other youth programs. The ACA-YOB can be purchased and accessed through the ACA’s website for accredited and non-accredited camps (www. acacamps.org/research/youth-outcomes-battery).

The Camper Learner Scale (CLS) was used for the evaluation discussed herein and consists of seven targeted outcomes: friendship, family citizenship, teamwork, perceived competence, independence, interest in exploration and responsibility.

The CLS uses a four-point scale that focuses on what children learned during camp. For example, in response to the question, “At camp, did you learn how to be better at making friends,” responses range from 1, indicating “I didn’t learn

being outcome oriented — program goals should be identified and meaningful to the agency, the participants and other stakeholders; having intentionally structured, theory-based program components to address the stated goals; desired goals must be assessed; and requiring an organization to publicize its outcomes. In 2013, camp staff was trained in the OFP model so that program activities would intentionally meet the seven aforementioned target areas.

Camp Design In 2013, Old Dominion University partnered with two organizations to implement a summer day camp and program evaluation for youth ages 6-11. This ACA-accredited summer camp consisted of eight, one-week sessions and averaged 65 campers

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The ACA research provides evidence that organized camping can contribute to PYD and is a context for developmental change. anything about this,” to 4, indicating “I learned a lot about this [topic].”

The CLS comprises 14 questions (best used for 6-11-year-old children) and takes about eight minutes to complete. The other 11 questionnaires in the ACA-YOB vary in length and time to complete. For example, the five-item short version of the Affinity for Nature Scale takes less than two minutes to complete.

Begin with the End in Mind: Using the Outcome-Focused Programming Model The authors used an Outcome-Focused Programming (OFP) model as the framework for their camp evaluation. The OFP action steps include:

per week. Each day of camp was designed using a daily activity form or lesson plan. Using the OFP as a guide, each day the seven ACA outcomes were addressed with OFP recreational activities. The outcomes were integrated into daily program activities — the friendship skill outcome was promoted throughout each day, while the morning plan addressed independence, perceived competence and responsibility, and the afternoon plan targeted teamwork, family citizenship and interest in exploration.

Results Pre- and post-program scores were collected from 101 participants.

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Research Update gave camp staff a benchmark and goal-oriented direction. For example, with program changes, they aim to increase this outcome to at least 50 percent of campers for the next year. Camp evaluations can also be further analyzed by using the ACAYOB Excel sheet’s Pivot Table.

Camp staff can delve deeper using crosstabs to better understand gender differences in the outcomes targeted through the evaluation.

Forty-eight percent of the campers were male and the average age of all campers was 8.1 years. Participants attended an average of three weeks, with youth attending an average of 1.5 years. Their average enjoyment level was an eight (the utilized scale

a little or a lot” about the seven outcomes. For example, once all data were entered, the Excel sheet produced the statement, “50 percent of campers learned a little or a lot about the seven ACA outcomes.”

After a brief training, camp coun-

If [camp staff members] can address a lack of enjoyment during camp, and plans are flexible, needed changes can be made. was 1-10, with 10 being the most enjoyment). The data from eight, one-week day camps were analyzed using the free ACA-YOB Excel sheet (www.acacamps.org/members/ outcomes/tools). Once data were entered, the tool automatically calculated the total and produced the percentage of campers who “learned 16 Parks & Recreation

selors, who were mostly college students, administered the ACA-YOB’s Camper Learner Scale questionnaire to all campers for all eight weeks.

Overall, 40 percent of the campers reported they “learned a little or a lot” about the seven ACA outcomes.

Although 40 percent might not seem significant on the surface, the results

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Suggestions for Data Collection The CLS is appropriate for ages 6-11, which captured the majority of the campers discussed here. The retrospective design avoids the challenge of giving a “test” before camp and after camp in the same week.

However, the retrospective design does have limitations from a research standpoint.

The ACA recommends staff sit in a quiet area, with groups of four or five campers, to help complete the questionnaires. Campers were given individual copies of the questionnaire and a pencil, then students entered the data into the spreadsheet.

Further detailed instructions are in the ACA-YOB Handbook.

It was more effective to distribute the questionnaires on colored paper on the last day of camp during a transition period, nested between two high-energy activities, early in the day.

Reading the questions to 6-7-year-olds was more effective than having them try to answer on their own.

The Value of Data for Continuous Quality Improvement This data will be used to more effectively train staff members on intentional programming using the OFP to better target outcomes and enhance processes for effective data

collection with youth. This type of data is important to fine-tune the camp experience for repeat customers and it is helpful for strategic planning. Moreover, the finding that individuals who enjoyed camp more scored higher on the CLS is helpful insight for counselors, who often attempt to observe how much campers enjoy themselves. If they can address a lack of enjoyment during camp, and plans are flexible, needed changes can be made.

Below, some additional implementation strategies for success are offered to help practitioners and educators alike: Begin with the end in mind. It helps with funding, raises awareness of what outcomes you are programming for and encourages theory-based approaches or established models to enhance agency credibility.

Carefully choose and prioritize the outcomes you wish to track. It may be unrealistic to achieve a broad set of developmental goals and objectives in a relatively short session of day camp.

Train camp staff — this is key to success. Staff completed more than 35 hours of training, including topics on OFP and understanding the ACA-YOB Camper Learner Scale.

Share your results. The authors of this article shared the study findings with parents via an executive summary. The outcomes were also presented at conferences, specifically as a practitioner and academician team.

Additionally, kids need to know their input helps with future camps. Outcomes were shared with campers and discussions were held about how the lessons could have lasting benefits.

Overall, evaluating for youth outcomes is a worthwhile endeavor and increasingly important in com

munity parks and recreation.

Detailed references for this article may be found at www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/January/Evaluating-Day-Camps-Using-the-ACAYouth-Outcomes-Battery.

Eddie Hill is an Asst. Professor at Old Dominion University (ODU) (ehill@odu.edu). Jean Holt is the Asst. Director of Sports Clubs at ODU (jholt@ odu.edu). Ron Ramsing is an Assoc. Professor at Western Kentucky University (ron.ramsing@wku. edu). Jennifer Goff is the Assistant Summer Camp Director at ODU (jgoff@odu.edu).

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By the Numbers

The Goods on Golf

Here are some interesting facts about the sport, which, according to We Are Golf — a coalition of golf ’s leading organizations — is the only sport in the world with an eco-label from the Rain Forest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council.

15,372: Total number of all golf facilities in

the United States.

$830,000: Median gross golf fee revenue

for municipal golf courses in 2014.

11,470: Number of public golf facilities in the 25 million: Approximate number of golf-

United States.

2,480:

ers who played at least one round of golf in 2014.

Number of municipal golf facilities in

the United States.

33,000:

Approximate number of rounds played per facility per year.

55:

Percentage of golfers considered “avid” or who play eight or more times per year.

9 million:

Number of acres of U.S. green space accounted for by golf courses.

2 million:

Number of Americans employed by the golf industry.

$176.8 billion:

Total economic impact of the golf industry in America, including direct, indirect and induced impacts.

160 mph: Average speed of a ball hit off of a tee.

3,000:

Number of revolutions off the backspin of a tee (three times the speed of a car’s wheel).

Sources: National Golf Foundation, We Are Golf, Golfsmith

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People for Parks Part One: Marielle Anzelone Plans a PopUP Forest

By Sonia Myrick

I

f you ever have the opportunity to talk to Urban Ecologist Marielle Anzelone, her passion for nature, particularly in the urban environment, quickly becomes evident. A tireless advocate for nature and rare plants in New York City, Anzelone runs an organization called NYC Wildflower Week that gets people connected to nature in the city. Why? Because, she says, “There’s value in having stakeholders in urban natural places. If we don’t have stakeholders in these places, we end up losing them.” This desire to connect people with nature is the inspiration for her audacious goal of bringing nature to people by creating a PopUP Forest in one of New York City’s iconic landmarks — Times Square. Following is a snippet from part one of a two-part conversation Parks & Recreation had with Anzelone about this project, a temporary exhibit that, if all goes as planned, would be in place for spring 2017. To read part one of the conversation in its entirety, visit www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/January/PartOne-Marielle-Anzelone-Plans-a-PopUP-Forest-ini-Times-Square.

Parks & Recreation magazine: Why do you feel public parks and/or spaces like this are important?

Marielle Anzelone: To me, they’re just important and it seems obvious.

I guess they’re important to people for different reasons. Different people bring different values sets to them. I

think natural areas are important, personally, because my background is in conservation biology. I was trained as a botanist, so I’m concerned with the rare plants of New York City, and we do have them. We have a lot of plants that grow wild. In some ways people have lost a sense of what nature is and

An artist’s rendering of Marielle Anzelone’s PopUP Forest that would be installed in Times Square.

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that nature can exist in cities. It’s not this mind-blowing concept…it’s actually kind of obvious. New York City was all nature at some point in time and not all of it has been lost to development. Pockets of that nature have existed for thousands of years, but will they continue to exist? Well, that’s where people come in. So, as much as people have been the driving force for demolishing this nature people are now critical to its survival. I want to connect people to nature. Nature is good for people for lots of reasons, not the least of which is that there is this emerging body of research that shows it’s important physically, physiologically, psychologically. People have biochemical reactions to being in nature. It’s just something that we take for granted and some people who I’ve known through the years feel like [nature is] this thing that’s far from here,

but it’s around us, so I think it’s just a matter of thinking about it differently. It shouldn’t be an either/or proposition. I used to work for the [New York] City Parks Department, and I think just now they’re starting to do a better job of connecting people to nature, but mostly when they talk about parks, it’s about exercise and recreation, and it’s never really something celebrating the natural areas. I think that’s a problem.

Parks are amazing, especially the New York City park system. The division for which I worked was called the NRG — Natural Resources Group — and it wasn’t formed until 1984, so it was a really recent part of the parks department. Probably 95 percent of parks department personnel, time and energy is spent on recreational stuff. Largely, that’s because that’s where the people are.

But, I think the city parks department is grossly underfunded. There’re lots of issues, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a good excuse for the lack of educational resources given to natural areas. These places have really rich stories to tell and no one’s really telling them. There should be people on the ground engaging with the public and telling these stories and, as far as I can see, that’s not happening.

P&R: What challenges/support have you encountered along the way? Have there been any major surprises?

Anzelone: I would say that I’ve had zero challenges. If you can believe it, there have been no surprises. It’s just taking a long time and it’s a long process… At this point, there are enough other vested parties that [the PopUP Forest] has a life of its own, and it’s not just something being pushed by me, which is amazing. No one has

told me “no” — no one. They’ve not said “yes,” but no one has ever said to me flatly, “no,” which is shocking! I’ve gone in and I’ve had meetings with some of the top brass at the Times Square Alliance and they said, “We think this is cool!” I went in and I was taking a deep breath thinking, “Okay, I’m going get it today…this is where it ends.” And no…it did not happen, and I left there thinking, “What just happened? Did they like the project?” It was nuts. I don’t have formal approval, but this has been pretty smooth, and it’s been largely due to the fact that I’ve been in close contact with the director of public art at the Times Square Alliance. Her name is Sherry Dobbin and she’s been incredibly lovely to work with and very supportive, and really thinks the project is

cool. So that’s how the project would be coming in…through Sherry and as a public art project, which I love. She just saw that instantly — this is how we would do this because it’s asking a question and that’s what good art is supposed to do. What would happen if New York City valued nature? It’s not meant to be an indictment, but it’s meant to be celebratory and fun for goodness sake. People should just go in there and have a blast and love it. It’s all good stuff but it’s definitely about asking questions.

Look for part two of this conversation in February’s People for Parks column.

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

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Member to Member Leveraging the Assets of Oregon’s Middlefield Golf Course

By Kris Ammerman

M

iddlefield Golf Course, a 5,200-yard, 18-hole executive course, has been owned by the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon, since 2006. In that time, we’ve made a few changes that have leveraged its assets and turned it into a major community resource.

Middlefield is often referred to by patrons and passersby as a “fun little course” or a beautiful setting to introduce visitors to the small town of Cottage Grove.

It is literally a welcome mat, as Interstate 5 runs right through the middle of the golf course, making it the first sight for visitors and travelers.

Water Conservation The city of Cottage Grove’s purchase of Middlefield was more than just a land-sale agreement of a recreational hot spot for local golf enthusiasts. The idea was to purchase the golf course to solve one of the city’s pending wastewater woes and bring the city into compliance with government wastewater regulations. Prior to purchasing Middlefield, the city was discharging its effluent water into a tempera-

ture-limited stream (Coast Fork of the Willamette). However, with future tightening of government regulations, this was not going to continue to be an option. One solution was to build a cooling tower to cool the effluent water during the summer months, but with projected costs in excess of $1 million, the city began to think about alternative solutions.

In 2006, I had been to the Golf Industry Show in Orlando where I

Children and families enjoy the added soccer/disc golf amenity, which opens up Middlefield Golf Course to more members of the community.

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saw first-hand how some golf courses there were using effluent water for irrigation. City Manager, Richard Meyers, asked me about the feasibility of purchasing Middlefield and irrigating it with the reclaimed water.

Doing so was estimated to be less costly than building a cooling tower, and it would be a city asset.

Since the golf course and wastewater treatment plant are in close proximity to each other, this kept the costs down on infrastructure improvements. The physical work of trenching and installing pipe and valves in the ground was the easiest part of the process. The most difficult and time consuming part was attaining the permit. The system was functionally ready in 2008, but not cleared by the U.S. Department off Environmental Quality for lawful operation until 2010.

It is not a perfect system, but none, particularly retrofitted ones, are.

However, in addition to the million dollar cost savings, we have the following tangible results: • Approximately 50 million gallons of fresh water are conserved every irrigation season.

• Approximately 50 million gallons of wastewater per season, previously discharged to the river, now irrigates green space.

• Turfgrass is the best natural filter of contaminants, such as nitrates and phosphates, in water because it actually uses and stores these and other nutrients.

• The grass is greener, resulting in a 30 percent savings in fertilization costs.

Expanding Amenities Besides switching to effluent water for irrigation on the golf course, Middlefield also added soccer golf and disc golf to its list of services. These inexpensive additions opened up the green space to a much wider variety of users.

On the disc golf course, we find that many high school through college-age kids are playing with their friends. And the soccer golf course is used by scout troops, families and kids after school and through the summer. These services have added two inexpensive, outdoor, physical activities with a low barrier to entry for the public.

We also boast a perimeter cart path that is open to all, including bikers, joggers and walkers. It is adjacent to the golf course and has spectacular views of several acres of woodlands and wetlands for birdwatchers and wildlife lovers. Cottage Grove has several green space assets, but a small budget. By simply adding paths to connect some of the green spaces, we’ve created long running, walking and biking paths that connect throughout the community.

All of these amenities have helped to increase community use and introduce our beautifully maintained landscape with the natural environment to all walks of life.

If you want to potentially save or create a job, golf course, green space, $1 million, a watershed or all of the above, consider switching your course to effluent water. Middlefield Golf Course has had a positive impact on the surrounding community and the natural environment by making the switch. If you would like to open up your golf course to more members of

your community, consider adding a soccer/disc golf course. Children and families will thank you for the opportunity to enjoy the green space. And, if you have a nearby trail system, consider connecting it to your golf course

(or to a path adjacent to the cart path) to further increase its use.

Kris Ammerman is the Park & Golf Superintendent for Middlefield Golf Course in Cottage Grove, Oregon (coursesuper@ middlefieldgolf.com).

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ADVOCACY

2015 Year in Review

By NRPA’s Public Policy Team

H

appy New Year from your NRPA public policy team. From hosting multiple briefings on Capitol Hill to events with members of Congress in your parks and rec centers, we had an extremely eventful 2015! Here is where we stand moving into the presidential election year in 2016.

Health and Wellness During the past year, NRPA dedicated itself to passing health and wellness legislation on Capitol Hill that supports the great work our members do. Passage of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) was our No. 1 health and wellness priority and remains at the heart of our legislative efforts in Congress.

To keep up the momentum, NRPA held several congressional briefings featuring our members — allowing CNR authors to hear about the 560 million meals we serve every year, and our commitment to equity in everything we do, directly from park and

24 Parks & Recreation

recreation professionals. These personal stories were critical in shaping debate about the legislation and showing Congress that NRPA is committed to improving public health and ending summer hunger.

NRPA also weighed in on a bevy of diverse issues ranging from afterschool and summer learning funding, to changes in overtime pay requirements, funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using the tax code to reduce the cost of physical activities, arthritis research and improving the safety of kids playing Pop Warner football.

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Congress has delayed taking major action on our target health and wellness initiatives (CNR, the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act and the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF)), but your efforts to amplify NRPA’s advocacy efforts have still paid dividends. A reauthorization of the Older Americans Act was passed in the U.S. Senate earlier this year. In addition, members of Congress now consider NRPA a legitimate resource and authority, and look to us for input before enacting health policy.

Transportation Congress overwhelmingly approved a five-year reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act (MAP21), which President Obama signed into law December 4. The new law is known as the Fixing America’s Sur-

face Transportation (FAST) Act. Key components include: The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) was moved into the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and is now called the “STP set-aside.”

All core elements of TAP, including the important Recreational Trails Program (RTP), remain intact, including the same types of eligible projects and a competitive funding process.

“Complete Streets Lite” language, in which the Secretary of Transportation shall “encourage” states to adopt standards for the safe and adequate accommodation of all users, motorized and non-motorized, in all phases of planning, development and operation of transportation facilities.

A new National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety program will provide about $14 million a year for bicycle and pedestrian safety in states that have a 15 percent or higher share of bike/pedestrian fatalities.

It funds awareness, education and enforcement.

The NACTO Urban Street Design manual, which includes more progressive designs to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian users and facilities, can now be used.

The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan eligibility threshold is now down to $10 million, which should help fund more active transportation projects.

Unfortunately, the program is facing a 70 percent cut in annual funding (from $1 billion down to $275 million).

On a disappointing note, the very popular Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, which historically has been managed as a separate U.S. Department of Transportation initiative, was not included as part of the FAST Act.

Environmental Education Congress finally approved an updated early childhood education law that will now be called the “Every Student Succeeds Act.” After almost a decade of advocacy efforts to include environmental education in the overhaul, we are thrilled that the new law will provide: • $1.6 billion in federal funding for grants promoting “well-rounded education,” including environmental education.

• $1 billion in afterschool grants for programs, including environmental literacy.

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) funding for programs, including “hands-on learning” and “field-based or service learning.”

These achievements indicate that environmental education has become an accepted and anticipated component of a student’s overall education.

More students across the nation will be engaged in outdoor learning and in action projects.

Federal funding will now go to partnership programs involving school systems and outside public and private organizations. Most important, park and recreation agencies are specifically listed as eligible partners to receive funding.

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) NRPA was thrilled that a three-year reauthorization of the LWCF was included in the broad “Omnibus” federal spending package approved

by Congress that will keep the government operating through September 2016. In addition, Congress appropriated $110 million dollars for the state assistance program, which includes $12 million for an urban

competitive grant program, the largest allocation for the state assistance program since 2002.

Park Champions In NRPA’s 50th year, we revamped our advocacy efforts by empowering our members to be park and recreation advocates on their home turf through our Park Champion initiative. In what became the summer of Park Champion advocacy, our Park Champions took the pledge and ran with this new grassroots, show-and-tell advocacy model, hosting events across the country.

We’re excited to expand on the 2015 summer of Park Champion advocacy (www.parksandrecreation.org/2015/ August/The-Summer-of-Park-Champion-Advocacy) by making 2016 the year of Park Champion advocacy. We’ll be using the full 2016 congressional calendar to help our Park Champions identify strategic dates year-round to host their U.S. representatives and senators at events that highlight their park and recreation department and programs. The Park Champion show-andtell advocacy model is ideal during the 2016 elections, as your federal elected officials will be eager to get out and be seen in their home states and districts.

This past summer, we were floored by the motivation and creativity of the Park Champions who stepped up in the first year of the initiative. Help us meet our goal and make 2016 the year of Park Champion advocacy by signing the Park Champion pledge or contacting Jayni Rasmussen at jrasmussen@nrpa.org.

As we move forward into 2016, NRPA’s Public Policy Team will continue to make sure the voices of park and recreation professionals are heard on Capitol Hill and that Congress continues to support all Americans by supporting parks.

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L AW R E V I E W

Downtown Panhandling Ordinance Unconstitutional

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

T

he November 12, 2015, online edition of Statelines, a publication from the Pew Charitable Trusts, contained an article by Teresa Wiltz titled, “Anti-Panhandling Laws Spread, Face Legal Challenges.” As described in the article, “Many cities — and even some states — increasingly are cracking down on panhandling, driven in large part by the unlikely combination of thriving downtowns and the lingering effects of the Great Recession.” The article notes that these “panhandling bans have faced legal challenges on First Amendment grounds.”

One such legal challenge cited in the Statelines article involved the city of Lowell, Massachusetts. The Lowell opinion from the federal district court described herein illustrates the significant constitutional law challenges surrounding enactment of these anti-panhandling laws. Increased panhandling activity in downtown areas, including public parks, is a topic of growing concern among city officials.

26 Parks & Recreation

In many locales, urban core areas have large public/private partnership parks that act as redevelopment and revitalization anchors. As described in the Lowell opinion, the significant governmental interest in urban redevelopment and revitalization is not sufficiently compelling to allow restrictions that effectively ban the First Amendment rights of panhandling individuals in these downtown areas.

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Speechless Panhandling In the case of McLaughlin v. City of Lowell, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 144336 (Dist. Mass. 10/23/2015), plaintiffs, two homeless men, challenged a city ordinance that prohibited “all vocal panhandling” in Lowell’s downtown, as well as “aggressive panhandling behaviors citywide.”

Plaintiffs regularly panhandled in Lowell, Massachusetts, including in the downtown historic district, requesting money that they use for, among other things, food, medicine and shelter. Plaintiffs wanted to continue asking passersby for donations in Lowell’s public places and believe they have a constitutional right to do so. In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged the ordinance vi-

olated their First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

Since the city enacted the ordinance, plaintiffs have avoided panhandling downtown because they have been afraid of arrest. Plaintiffs petitioned the federal district court to declare the Lowell panhandling ordinance unconstitutional and issue a permanent injunction against its enforcement.

The challenged ordinance was enacted in response to a belief among city officials, residents and local stakeholders that panhandling had become more common and more aggressive.

The ordinance defined “panhandling” as “the solicitation of any item of value through a request for an immediate donation.” Panhandling under the ordinance also included the “sale of an item for an inflated amount, such that a reasonable person would understand it to be in substance a donation.” The ordinance, however, permitted panhandling that “involves only ‘passively’ standing, sitting or performing music.”

These passive panhandlers may hold a sign asking for a donation, but may not make any “vocal request” except in response to an inquiry. These restrictions cover an extensive area — some 400 acres — which includes some of the most-trafficked areas in the city and a number of important government sites.

Panhandling Constitutional Protection?

As noted by the federal district court, “begging is a form of solicitation” that is protected by the First Amendment. Similarly, the court found panhandling as defined in the challenged ordinance was “expressive activity within the scope of the First Amendment.”

Solicitations of money by orga

nized charities are within the protection of the First Amendment. This protection extends to those soliciting funds on their own behalf. People who panhandle may communicate important political or social messages in their appeals for money, explaining their conditions related to veteran status, homelessness, unemployment

Rather, it claims, they represent a “raucous alternative culture,” both “festive and sinister,” engaged in “a war on the public sentiment.”

The federal district court rejected the city’s argument. In the opinion of the court, “whether or not there has been a transformation of the culture of panhandling, the raucous presen-

Plaintiffs petitioned the federal district court to declare the Lowell panhandling ordinance unconstitutional and issue a permanent injunction against its enforcement. and disability, to name a few.

Plainly, a sign reading “sober,” or “two children,” conveys a message about who is deserving of charitable support, just as a sign reading “God bless,” expresses a religious message.

Moreover, the federal court acknowledged, “panhandling is an expressive act regardless of what words, if any, a panhandler speaks.”

Courts have consistently recognized the protected, expressive nature of panhandling — even the presence of an unkempt and disheveled person holding out his or her hand or a cup to receive a donation itself conveys a message of need for support and assistance.

As described by the court, Lowell had argued that “modern” panhandling lacks the expressive quality deserving of protection under the First Amendment.

The city contends that the panhandlers of today are not the “lone needy person” whose acts might “keep the issues of poverty and/ or homelessness in the public eye.”

tation of the visions of alternative cultures in the public sphere is at the heart of the First Amendment.”

Further, the court noted that the “First Amendment clearly limits how panhandling may be regulated.”

The downtown panhandling provisions regulate speech in public fora, where the government’s power to regulate speech is most constrained.

Sidewalks and parks, both of which are covered by the downtown provisions, are quintessential public fora.

In public fora, a regulation is subject to stricter scrutiny if it is content-based than if it is a content-neutral time, place or manner regulation, because a content-based regulation raises a very serious concern that the government is using its power to tilt public debate in a direction of its choosing.

Accordingly, the federal district court would determine whether the challenged ordinance “applies to particular speech because of the topic discussed or the idea or message expressed,” in this case, panhandling.

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L AW R E V I E W

A law targeted at specific subject matter is content-based even if it does not discriminate among viewpoints within that subject matter. If a law is content-based on its face, it is immaterial whether the government had a benign motive, content-neutral justification or “lack of animus toward the ideas contained” in the regulated speech.

Applying these principles to the challenged ordinance, the federal district court found the “downtown provisions are plainly content-based.”

Specifically, the court found “the city’s definition of panhandling targets a particular form of expressive speech — the solicitation of immediate charitable donations — and applies its regulatory scheme only to that subject matter.”

On its face, the ordinance distinguishes solicitations for immediate

28 Parks & Recreation

donations from all others. A person could vocally request that passersby in the historic district make a donation tomorrow, but not today (a distinction that may be of great import to someone seeking a meal and a bed tonight). He could ask passersby to sign a petition, but not a check.

Further, the federal district court noted, “a regulation is content-based if it requires enforcement authorities to examine the content of the message that is conveyed to determine whether a violation has occurred.”

In this particular instance, the court found enforcement of Lowell’s downtown panhandling regulations was necessarily content-based.

Under the provisions, a police officer would have to listen to a person’s solicitation and determine whether he was asking for an immediate donation before finding a violation.

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Moreover, this inquiry into content would always be necessary. Even where a person was sitting in the historic district with a sign reading, “hungry and homeless,” and speaking to every stranger who walked by, the police officer would still have to determine whether those conversations were prohibited “vocal requests” for money. Neither a pleasant “good morning” nor an aggressive political diatribe unrelated to a solicitation would be impermissible, while a “please give,” or an “I’m a veteran,” would be.

Accordingly, the federal district court concluded “the downtown panhandling provisions are thus content-based not only linguistically, but also in their invitation to content-based enforcement choices.”

Compelling Tourism Interest?

Having found “the downtown provisions are content-based,” the federal district court acknowledged constitutional regulations “must be the least restrictive means of achieving a compelling state interest.” As noted by the court, content-based regulations are “presumptively invalid.” Applying an “exacting standard” of strict scrutiny analysis, the federal court would first identify “the compelling interest to which a regulation must be tailored” to be achieved.

In this particular interest, the stated purpose of the downtown provisions for the city of Lowell was to pursue “tourism and economic development.”

Specifically, the preamble to the challenged ordinance provided as follows: Tourism is one of Lowell’s most important economic industries; and the downtown historic district is essential for the Lowell tourism experience; and the city has a compelling interest in providing a safe, pleasant

environment and eliminating nuisance activity within the downtown historic district; and solicitation, begging or panhandling substantially burdens tourism within the downtown historic district.

In the opinion of the federal district court, “fostering economic revitalization in a challenging urban area like Lowell is undoubtedly a critical task for city policymakers.”

Moreover, the federal court found the pursuit of tourism and economic development “may rise to the level of a significant, indeed a substantial, government interest sufficient to justify content-neutral regulations.”

A vibrant downtown economy can help provide jobs to the unemployed, reduce crime and improve public safety, and provide tax revenue for essential public services, including those that help the homeless and other panhandlers.

In response, however, plaintiffs claimed, “the city failed to establish that panhandling actually harmed business or tourism downtown” because the city’s evidence amounted to “anecdotes and hearsay.” As described by the federal court, the city had “the burden of showing that the harms it seeks to mitigate are real, not merely conjectural, and that the regulation will in fact alleviate these harms in a direct and material way.”

That being said, the court acknowledged that a court owes “substantial deference to a legislature’s predictions about the effect of its policies, given its institutional capacity to gather information and the fact that it is not obligated to prepare that information into record form.”

In the case of tourism and economic development, the federal district court noted, “the promotion of tourism and business has never been found to be a

compelling government interest for the purposes of the First Amendment.”

As a result, the court did “not need to decide definitively the issue of whether the evidence supporting harm to business or tourism downtown by panhandling is sufficient.” The federal district court, therefore, concluded, “tourism promotion” was not “a sufficiently important interest to allow content-based restrictions on speech affecting it to survive strict scrutiny.”

streets and sidewalks a person might be “confronted with an uncomfortable message” that they cannot avoid; this “is a virtue, not a vice.”

Public Safety Afterthought In addition to the tourism and business justification provided in the preamble to the challenged ordinance, the city also claimed “the downtown provisions serve the compelling government interest of public safety.”

In this particular instance, the court found “the mechanism by which Lowell’s ban on panhandling downtown would promote tourism flies in the face of the First Amendment.”

In the opinion of the court, “tourism promotion” was a “highly open, textured and inadequately developed” reason to effectively “eviscerate limitations on content-based speech regulation.” In this particular instance, the court found “the mechanism by which Lowell’s ban on panhandling downtown would promote tourism flies in the face of the First Amendment.”

While acknowledging “economic revitalization might be important,” the federal district court noted that the First Amendment “does not allow the sensibilities of some to trump the speech rights of others.”

The First Amendment does not permit a city to cater to the preference of one group, in this case tourists or downtown shoppers, to avoid the expressive acts of others, in this case panhandlers, simply on the basis that the privileged group does not like what is being expressed. It is core First Amendment teaching that on

Plaintiffs did not contest the city’s point that the government had a compelling interest in public safety generally. However, in this particular instance, plaintiffs contended that the city’s public safety rationalization for the downtown provisions was a posthoc (i.e. after the fact) argument initially raised in the course of litigation.

The federal district court agreed.

The purpose of the ordinance was authoritatively set forth in its preamble, which was duly enacted by the city council along with the ordinance. It is undisputed that only tourism and nuisance abatement (with a passing reference to an associated “safe” environment) were included in that original preamble.

As noted by the court, “after-thefact explanations cannot help a law survive strict [judicial] scrutiny” in an attempt to establish the constitutionality of an otherwise unconstitutional governmental regulation.

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L AW R E V I E W

The city, having officially put forward its reasons for the downtown panhandling provisions, cannot add to those reasons in litigation.

The downtown panhandling provisions were passed to promote tourism, not public safety as such, and consequently do not further a compelling state interest. They therefore cannot survive strict scrutiny under the First Amendment.

guishes between some solicitations and others based on the content of that solicitation. A person following someone to ask for a donation would be treated as illegally panhandling under the aggressive panhandling provisions, whereas someone following another asking for a petition signature would be permitted to continue exercising such a right to political expression.

Having found the aggressive panhan-

The court acknowledged the First Amendment did not require the city to have “exhausted every enforcement strategy and demonstrated failure before passing the ordinance.”

Aggressive Panhandling As noted by the federal district court, “the aggressive panhandling provisions are governed by the same First Amendment framework as are the downtown panhandling provisions.”

In the opinion of the court, “the aggressive panhandling provisions regulate expressive conduct that is protected by the First Amendment.”

Moreover, like the downtown provisions, the court found the aggressive panhandling provisions were similarly content-based regulations.

An aggressive, perhaps disconcerting and indeed frightening, panhandler still conveys messages related to need and deprivation or, in the city’s characterization, about the alternative lifestyle of panhandling. And, as with the downtown provisions, these are content-based regulations of activity in public fora. The same definition of “panhandling” is employed in both, regulating only requests for immediate donations.

This definition, on its face, distin30 Parks & Recreation

dling provisions to be content-based, the federal district court then considered whether these regulations were “the least restrictive means for achieving a compelling state interest.” Unlike the less-than-compelling interest in tourism for the downtown panhandling provisions, the court found “the aggressive panhandling provisions were enacted in furtherance of a compelling state interest: public safety.” As characterized by the court, public safety is “the heart of government’s function.” Moreover, plaintiffs conceded that “preventing ‘truly aggressive behavior,’ such as unwanted touching, is a compelling interest.”

Accordingly, given the existence of a compelling state interest in public safety, the issue before the federal district court was “whether the aggressive panhandling provisions are properly fashioned” to achieve this goal of public safety.

In this particular instance, plaintiffs had contended the aggressive panhandling provisions were not the least re-

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strictive means available for achieving the goal of public safety. In so doing, plaintiffs claimed the city had “failed to try a less speech-restrictive alternative — better enforcing existing laws, such as disorderly conduct or assault — before enacting the aggressive panhandling ordinances.” According to plaintiffs, the city needed to “show the failure of a stepped-up approach to the enforcement of existing laws before it could constitutionally enact an anti-panhandling ordinance.”

As noted by the federal district court, “the justification for a restriction on speech cannot simply allege without evidence that other approaches ‘do not work,’ nor is it enough to say that a speech restriction would be easier to enforce.” That being said, the court acknowledged the First Amendment did not require the city to have “exhausted every enforcement strategy and demonstrated failure before passing the ordinance.”

On the contrary, the court found the city could simply “demonstrate that alternative measures that burden substantially less speech would fail to achieve the government interests.”

According to the court, the city could “accomplish this either by trying or adequately explaining why it did not try alternative approaches.”

In this particular instance, the federal court found the city had clearly “attempted to use existing enforcement techniques and yet still plausibly contends that it has a public safety problem.” According to the court, the city was indeed “free to try new approaches to protecting public safety, including by passing an ordinance prohibiting aggressive panhandling, so long as that ordinance satisfies the requirements of the First Amendment.” In the opinion of the federal court, this particular ordinance was unconstitutional because

it selectively targeted individuals who were generally homeless based on the content of their speech while engaging in panhandling.

Ban on Fighting Words In this particular instance, the court found the aggressive panhandling provisions banned panhandling “while using fighting words,” i.e., language likely to incite persons to commit violent acts. As noted by the court, “fighting words themselves are not protected by the First Amendment.”

As a result, the court acknowledged that the city had the unquestionable power to regulate fighting words. That being said, consistent with the First Amendment, the federal district court found the city could not “create a special ban on fighting words uttered in connection with the protected speech of panhandling.”

Selectivity of this sort creates the possibility, indeed, more than a mere possibility in the case of Lowell’s ordinance, that the city is seeking to handicap the expression of particular ideas.

The city may not deem criminal activity worse because it is conducted in combination with protected speech, and it certainly may not do so in order to send a message of public disapproval of that speech on content-based grounds.

In the opinion of the federal district court, aggressive panhandling behavior involving fighting words could have been punished under other applicable criminal laws, like assault and battery.

Moreover, the court found the city had not “demonstrated that public safety requires harsher punishments for panhandlers than others who commit assault or battery or other crimes.”

As characterized by the court, the aggressive panhandling provisions

would allow enforcement officials the option to seek an additional penalty on a panhandler who commits assault or obstructs the sidewalk. In so doing, the city would impose increased criminal liability for assaultive behavior by those engaged in particular expressive acts, i.e., panhandling.

In addition to “fighting words,” the aggressive panhandling provisions also prohibited “panhandling in a group of two or more in an ‘intimidating’ manner.” The federal court characterized this category of aggressive panhandling as “non-criminal, allegedly coercive behaviors.” Moreover, the court found this prohibition against intimidating group panhandling “singles out for punishment expression conducted by multiple people rather than alone.” As noted by the federal district court, “burdening the expression of those who join their voices together infringes upon not only the First Amendment’s protection of speech, but also of assembly.”

Lowell may not forbid panhandlers whose activity is otherwise per-

missible from expressing themselves together without satisfying strict scrutiny. In the absence of record evidence that panhandling in a group of two or more is a greater threat to public safety than panhandling alone — or that “intimidating” group panhandling is more dangerous than “intimidating” solo panhandling — such scrutiny cannot be satisfied.

As a result, the federal district court found the aggressive panhandling provisions, as well as the downtown panhandling provisions of the city of Lowell ordinance both violated the First Amendment. Accordingly, the federal district court granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, declaring the Lowell panhandling ordinance unconstitutional and issuing a permanent injunction against its enforcement.

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

Going Beyond the Degree: Real-Life Education

By Inés Palacios, Ph.D., Kate Mattison, CPRP, and Troy Euton, CPRP

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any students who are soon-to-be professionals in our field may struggle with the uncertainty of what to expect when transitioning from school to real-life. We have all been there at some point in our lives. Our field is rich and full of opportunities, and we wanted to share our journey and insight with the upcoming generations.

Our backgrounds are diverse: Troy Euton, who holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering, worked in the hotel industry and serves as the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for Gahanna, Ohio, has been in the parks and recreation industry for 23 years in four different positions. Kate Mattison, with a bachelor’s in sports management and a master’s in recreation, sports and tourism, serves as recreation administrator for recreation services in Dublin, Ohio, and has been in the industry for eight years. Lastly, Inés

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Palacios, who holds a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in parks, recreation and tourism management and serves as director of recreation for PlayCore, has been in the private sector for more than two years and was previously a professor at North Carolina State University for more than three years.

While sharing our experiences and backgrounds with each other, we realized that the journey was not a straight line but a series of turns that connected us with the park and recreation field. We also realized that what we expected to happen

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after graduation was far from what reality had in store for us: whether it was the naïve assumption that we would immediately be working a normal nine-to-five gig or the even more ridiculous assumption that we would absolutely love our first jobs.

A successful career in parks and recreation requires paying a few dues and a willingness to get your hands dirty, but it is attainable if you’re willing to fight for it. We also realized that class material was quite useful but not used exactly as the textbook would describe. Adapting to reality and knowing that not everything is going to go by the book will make a difference.

Employment Outlook According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of July 2015, the na-

tional rate of unemployment was 5.3 percent, while the Gallop Poll stated that the rate of underemployment (highly skilled workers employed in low-paying and/or low-skill jobs, and part-time workers who would prefer to be full-time) was 14.2 percent. Interestingly, parks and recreation and physical fitness majors had the third lowest unemployment rate among college graduates in 2013.

It is estimated that by 2020, employment will grow 17 percent in therapeutic recreation, 19 percent in recreation and 44 percent in event planning. Students should be excited about the wealth of opportunities they may encounter once they graduate; however, they should expect to work harder and be prepared to compete to make themselves attractive to employers and apply their skills to divers work settings.

Bringing It All Together NRPA’s 2015 Field Report provided further information on how well our industry is doing and what students need to be prepared for while transitioning to a full-time position. Interestingly, the majority of respondents indicated that they required individuals to have certifications for some of their staff.

More than 80 percent require some level of certification to even be eligible for hire. Eighty-eight percent of individuals stated that the most common type of certification they require is CPR/AED/First Aid. Participate in every committee or task-force group you are offered or on which have a chance to serve.

These experiences offer expanded knowledge, are great résumé-building opportunities and build your network of potential connections once you are in the field looking for a job.

Attend NRPA’s Annual Conference for the chance to network with other students and professionals. Getting involved in your field also gives you a leg up. You are being seen as an interested member of the park and recreation field, and you will be positioning yourself in the minds of those you meet. To better prepare yourself even before you graduate, seize every training opportunity you possibly can, regardless of whether it is related to what you want to do for the rest of your life. You never know what your next career move will be and what type of skills or knowledge this new opportunity may require.

Lessons We Have Learned In developing a strategy, we found there are several suggestions we would like to share when embarking on the journey.

Before graduating, make sure to get certified in CPR/AED/First Aid. Make sure to research the position you are interested in applying for, and fill any gaps you may have in your résumé. As with certifications, the sooner you do it the better suited you will be for the position.

Never turn down lunch with your boss. This is a great opportunity to learn and to get the best information and advice in an organic moment rather than at the office. You can learn more from a person when you are in a relaxed environment and able to ask questions that you may not otherwise be able to ask.

Also know, the knowledge you acquired while in school is invaluable even though in a real-life situation you may apply it differently.

This knowledge will differentiate you from others in the field. Having an interest in a variety of fields would

also help enormously when seeking an opportunity in the field.

Lastly, and possibly one of the best words of advice we have all gotten, is to treat everyone like you want to be treated. You never know who you will be talking to or where the connection will come from when you are engaging with people. That same person you talk to today may be hiring tomorrow or you may be interviewing them for a position in your organization. Be realistic and know you can cross paths with people at different times in life.

With more than 30 years of combined experience, we have learned more than one lesson. One of the biggest lessons is to be adaptable. Always pursue jobs that utilize the skills you enjoy performing most — do not pursue a job title. Doing so will prevent you from enjoying your work, leaving you with a job title full of words that mean nothing.

We have also learned that the park and recreation industry offers opportunity in most every trade and field of study. Focus on a few areas of expertise you enjoy within this generalist umbrella. You will be more successful and fulfilled at the end of the day, while using your skills and knowledge to your full potential. And last but not least, there are many routes that can take you into the park and recreation field. Remember, it is not a straight line but a series of turns.

Inés Palacios, Ph.D., is Director of Recreation: Programs, Partnerships and Professional Development for PlayCore (ipalacios@ playcore.com). Kate Mattison, CPRP, is Recreation Administrator, Recreation Services for the City of Dublin, Ohio (kmattison@ dublin.oh.us). Troy Euton, CPRP, is Director, Department of Parks and Recreation for the City of Gahanna, Ohio (troy.euton@gahanna. gov).

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A portion of the Braille Trail and Sensory Garden at the Watertown Riverfront Park, Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation.

Parks That Connect You to Nature Through All Your Senses

By Richard J. Dolesh

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uch has been written about the “soft fascination� of nature, namely the state of heightened awareness and increased receptivity that descends on people who are immersed in a nature experience, such as dangling your feet in a flowing stream or sitting on a bench watching a sunset. These good feelings and relaxed state of perception, described best by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in their book, The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective, have been credited with lowering blood pressure, increasing cognitive ability and reducing stress among other mental, physical and even spiritual health benefits. E.O. Wilson, the famous naturalist and sociobiologist, developed a theory called the Biophilia Hypothesis in which he contends that humans subconsciously seek connections with other living things and all of nature, and these desires are deeply rooted in the human condition.

Scientists and researchers continue to study the physiological and psychological basis of the soft fascination of nature, but anyone who has spent time outdoors in nature knows that the experience is intensified and

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made more memorable when nature is experienced with more than one of your senses. In fact, there is significant scientific evidence that demonstrates some of the strongest memories we have are not just those of sight and

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sound, but rather, those of touch, taste and, peculiarly, smell. Simply stated, the more senses that are involved in apprehending reality, the more powerful and memorable the experience.

A number of park and recreation agencies and landscape design firms are incorporating this principle into the design of interpretive and educational exhibits in parks and some have gone so far as to creatively develop gardens and trails that allow the park visitor a full range of sensory experiences. Such exhibits can be as simple as trail-side plantings of plants with unique smells, to more elaborate gardens like the Fragrance Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, to complete gardens that immerse visitors in sights, smells, sounds and touches.

The sensory garden at South Mill Town Community Park, Batavia Park District.

In the Mill Creek community of Batavia Park District in Illinois, the local community was initially resistant to converting undeveloped open space into more intensive recreational uses. After meetings with the public, an idea emerged from stakeholders to address the needs of people from the nearby Marklund Home, a training center for the developmentally disabled. This recommendation was consistent with the desires of the community, says Michelle Kelly, landscape architect and principal of Chicago-area-based Upland Design Ltd. A convening that included representatives from a Special Needs group from the Fox Valley Recreation Association that serves a number of park districts in this area of Illinois was instrumental in making recommendations for the design of a sensory garden in the South Mill Creek Community Park.

They recommended that the eventual design place special emphasis on appealing to all of the senses, both for the general public and the residents of Marklund Home, Kelly says.

The result was a sparkling little sensory garden built adjacent to a children’s playground, so both children and adults could enjoy the sounds, smells and sights of the garden. “We are getting better at making play areas more appealing,” Kelly says. “They are not just about physical play anymore, but learning and socializing, and using all your senses.”

Many sensory gardens in parks have been established as a result of connections to people with disabilities or the presence of institutions in or near community parks. The Massachusettes Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has been working on development of a riverfront park along the Charles Riv

er in Watertown, Massachusetts, for a number of years. Dan Driscoll, the director of recreational facilities for DCR, said the proximity of the site to the internationally known Perkins School for the Blind led them to propose a braille trail and sensory garden for a section of the riverfront park.

A group of organizations, including Friends of Watertown Waterfront, the town of Watertown, the Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Fund and others, partnered with DCR to create a special sensory garden and braille trail within the riverfront park.

The park was designed by the nationally known Sasaski Associates, which is located in Watertown.

Designing a park to serve the blind and visually impaired presented some unique challenges, according to Driscoll. Working with the Perkins School, the state park system and the design firm DCR tried to create a linear park and sensory garden that would allow access to totally blind people, as well as be interesting and enjoyable to the general public.

Among the features of the Watertown Riverfront Park and Braille Trail Project — expected to formally open to the public in the spring of 2016 — are interpretive signs that enable the general public and the developmentally disabled, with support from caregivers, to experience the full range of sensory inputs of nature as well fun interactive exhibits, such as

a marimba bench made with dense hardwood to make natural music.

In addition to sound and touch, the Watertown Riverfront Park and Braille Trail Project also incorporates fragrant native plants such as bayberry and sweet fern, and edible plants like blueberries, when they are in season. Driscoll notes that caution must be observed when encouraging the public to taste, touch or smell any plant in a sensory garden or along the trail. Along with the fragrant plants, Driscoll said that having the expertise of Sasaki Associates and design consultants Chester Engineering allowed them to include several innovations based on bio-engineering principles, such as shape-keyed activity markers and placing braille plaques at a specific height and angle to be fully accessible to the blind. “This site has become one of the most popular spots of the entire Charles River Restoration project,” Driscoll says.

You can start small or go big. No matter how you engage park visitors’ senses, the experience of the soft-fascination of nature is one of the most pleasurable you can have from time spent outdoors. Involving as many of your senses as possible can make those experiences memories for a lifetime.

Richard J. Dolesh is NRPA’s Vice President of Conservation and Parks (rdolesh@nrpa.org).

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Benefits of an Active Pregnancy

By Kellie Walters, M.S.

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he benefits of being physically active are well-known. Individuals who are physically active are less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancers. Additionally, physical activity has been shown to improve our psychological health.

Yet, there seems to be confusion regarding the intensity level and types of physical activities that are appropriate for pregnant women. Despite this confusion, being physically active during pregnancy has many proven benefits for both baby and mom.

Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy It is important for women to be physically active during their pregnancy because doing so reduces the chance of developing many pregnancy-related health risks such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and pre-term birth.

Furthermore, women who exercise 36 Parks & Recreation

while pregnant are more likely to experience improved postpartum recovery, self-esteem and body image, as well as increased quality of life. Lastly, sedentary behaviors have been associated with increased health risks for the baby (e.g., increased heart rate and fat mass). Despite the many benefits of being physically active during pregnancy, most pregnant women do not meet the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines for physical activity.

Guidelines and Limitations For women who do not have any medical complications (e.g., pla-

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centa previa), ACOG recommends approximately 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week. While this recommendation may not seem like a lot of physical activity, less than 30 percent of pregnant women meet these guidelines and those who do tend to be younger and better educated. Also, the likelihood of pregnant women meeting the physical activity guidelines when they have another child in the home decreases significantly.

When asked why they are not physically active, pregnant women report barriers including a lack of time, not enough energy/being too tired, physical limitations and not knowing if it is safe to be physically active. While the two most commonly reported barriers to being physically active are not

unique to pregnant women (i.e., most people say they do not have the time or the energy to engage in physical activity), physical limitations and not understanding if physical activity is safe are two distinctive factors related to sedentary behavior during pregnancy.

Many women report discomfort and physical limitations as a result of physical changes experienced during pregnancy. The likelihood of experiencing pregnancy-related physical discomfort increases toward the end of their pregnancy with common symptoms, including shortness of breath, overall body soreness and leg cramps. Despite the physical discomforts, pregnancy is still viewed as a time when women should prioritize their health. Research has demonstrated that while women believe that exercising during pregnancy improves their pregnancy-related symptoms and mood, a majority of pregnant women experience a drop in their physical activity levels during pregnancy and post-partum as compared to their pre-pregnancy levels.

What’s Safe?

As a result of misguided information, many pregnant women have skewed perceptions of what physical activities are safe. For instance, most pregnant women view vigorous exercise (i.e., exercises that induce heavy breathing to the point of hardly being able to talk) as unsafe.

While there certainly are instances when vigorous exercise is unsafe for a pregnant woman, there is no research to support this perception.

Thus, the 1985 ACOG guideline of limiting one’s heart rate to 140 beats per minute while pregnant was removed from the recommendations in 1994. However, many medical professionals still use this guideline

when consulting with their pregnant patients. In addition to the conflicting information from their physicians, many pregnant women report feeling confused because of stories and advice from their social network.

Unfortunately, the unsolicited, often incorrect, advice given to pregnant women by individuals in their social network has a great impact on pregnant women’s health. Those who perceive physical activity as unsafe are much more likely to not meet the ACOG guidelines, and subsequently, their health is likely to decline.

The Role of Parks and Recreation As park and recreation professionals, we have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of many populations, including pregnant women.

While there are some active leisure programs available to women who are pregnant (e.g., prenatal yoga and aqua classes) there is much more that could and should be offered. Interestingly, the physiological response to exercise during pregnancy is similar to that of an athlete (e.g., increased

peak oxygen uptake and heart rate).

This makes sense because pregnant women are preparing for arguably one of the most physically demanding events of their life: childbirth.

For those who are not well-versed in exercise guidelines for pregnant women, the ACOG website (www. acog.org) and American College of Sports Medicine’s “Exercise During Pregnancy ACSM Current Comment” (www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/exerciseduringpregnancy.pdf) are great places to obtain information. Park and recreation professionals should consider partnering with healthcare providers and fitness professionals to create and implement prenatal programs at their agencies.

By providing engaging and fun active leisure opportunities for pregnant women, we can lead them toward a healthy, happy pregnancy.

Kellie Walters, M.S., is a Ph.D. candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at Clemson University and cofounder of Smart Fit Girls Inc. and Smart Fit Chicks LLC (kawalte@g.clemson.edu).

Physical Activity Special Considerations • A healthy woman with a normal pregnancy can continue her regular exercise routine, but should always confirm with a physician.

• If starting a new exercise routine, start and progress slowly.

• Avoid exercising in extreme air pressure (e.g., exertion at altitudes above 6,000 ft. and scuba diving).

• Avoid contact sports and activities • Avoid exercising while lying on your back and motionless standing after the first trimester.

• Breathing is important — avoid holding one’s breath.

• Aim to exercise in temperature-controlled environments and maintain proper hydration.

• Due to impaired balance, avoid activities with a high risk of falling (e.g., biking).

• If needed, increase caloric intake to meet the energy costs of exercise and pregnancy.

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SOCIAL EQUITY

San Gabriel Mountains – Exploring the Unknown

By Nancy Negrete [This article originally appeared on The City Project blog webpage and has been slightly modified for our publication.]

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s a young Latina from Southeast Los Angeles, I never had the opportunity to visit the San Gabriel Mountains. The mountains were such a familiar surrounding yet very unknown territory. I grew up seeing the mountains every day but knew very little about the natural landscape that surrounds concrete Los Angeles. Until very recently, I didn’t know the mountains actually had a name, other than “las montañas,” as my family affectionately called them. I never learned about the San Gabriel Mountains in school and never had the chance to explore the huge forest in Los Angeles’ backyard.

It wasn’t until recently that I started to get acquainted with the San Gabriel Mountains and decided now would be a good time to explore the unknown. When I decided to take my first hike in the San Gabriel Mountains, I honestly didn’t know where to start. I turned to Google, knowing I could find an endless amount of information. After searching around,

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I decided to go to the Chantry Flats Picnic area and hike a portion of the Gabrielino Trail. I took my sister, cousin and friend, hoping we could find the Sturtevant Falls. None of us had much experience in the San Gabriel Mountains, so it was great to explore together!

It took about an hour and three freeways to get from Lynwood to the

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Adams Pack Station on a Saturday morning. After parking, we quickly headed toward the Gabrielino Trail and started to make our way to Sturtevant Falls. I couldn’t help but wonder, as we made our way to the trail, why it took me so long to visit the San Gabriel Mountains. Until a couple years ago, my dad was the only one in our family who drove, and because of his long work hours, we didn’t have the opportunity to take a family trip to the mountains.

The closest we’d come to the San Gabriel Mountains was Montebello, so even traveling on the 210 Freeway was somewhat unfamiliar to me. I also thought about why I never took a school fieldtrip and how I lost an opportunity to learn more about such an important part of the environment. Time, money, resources and a lack of knowledge all contributed to not knowing more about the San Gabriel Mountains.

Now that I’m older, I understand that the San Gabriel Mountains were always available to me, but I just didn’t have the resources to access them. I hope that we can do better to make sure everyone has the ability to visit the San Gabriel Mountains — especially children who see the mountains every day and have a deep desire to explore them. When President Obama dedicated the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in 2014, he stated that “Too many children…especially children of color, don’t have access to parks where they can run free, breathe fresh air, experience nature and learn about their environment. This is an issue of social justice.” The San Gabriel Mountains serve a very large city, and it is important that everyone — especially underserved communities — be given the oppor

Nancy Negrete (in red cap), accompanied by her sister Araceli Negrete (second from left) and friends Rosalie Andrade (far left) and Arantxa Gallegos (far right), are pictured in front of Sturtevant Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains.

tunity and resources to learn and have fun in the mountains.

While hiking toward the Falls, I didn’t see any signs indicating I was within the boundaries of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. One of my main goals was to visit the National Monument and I hope that Congress will soon act to expand the National Monument boundaries — making it easier and more accessible for anyone to get to.

On our way home, I told my sister that this was such a great trip to plan. Hiking the beginning of the Gabrielino Trail and ending up

at the Sturtevant Falls was a very beautiful experience, and I hope to inspire others from my community to take more trips to the San Gabriel Mountains. I told my sister that one of my fondest memories of seeing the mountains every day was the snow-covered peaks. If winter ever comes to Los Angeles, I hope that on my next trip, I’ll visit the National Monument with the rest of my family so that we can all experience a little bit of snow.

Nancy Negrete is a Program Associate at The City Project and a graduate of Wellesley College (nnegrete@cityprojectca.org).

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Focus on Education: Insights from Academia Nature Meets (Welcomes) Technology

By Kevin Riley, Ed.D., and Stonie Weeks

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oday’s college student has grown up in a technological world and, therefore, has a familiar relationship with technological devices and applications. In a 2013 study by Common Sense Media, it was estimated that 38 percent of kids under age 2 were able to use a tablet or smartphone before they could speak in sentences. Likewise, a 2013 College Explorer study (http://tinyurl.com/gnsykyc) by re:fuel (a leading marketing firm, powered by Crux Research) revealed that the average college student owns almost seven tech devices, the laptop computer being the most commonly owned, followed by the smartphone. Because of this trend, college students often are more tech savvy than practitioners, especially older practitioners working in the public sector where budgets, personnel and opportunities for tech training tend to be limited.

However, in the park and recreation field, there are many opportunities for public agencies to use technology to enhance the public’s recreational experience.

Students can demonstrate

their skills by helping agencies that are looking to take advantage of technological tools and applications.

Students in the Recreation-Natural Resources Management program at Henderson State University are doing just that. They are helping recreation agencies and businesses take advantage of the benefits of technology while gaining valuable handson experience, not to mention credit hours and (sometimes) pay.

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state of Arkansas. The rural character of the state, which includes large areas of publicly managed lands, creates many opportunities for people to experience the outdoors. Arkansas is fortunate to have many excellent facilities and programs designed to enhance the outdoor recreational experience of its users. However, the agencies that provide these programs need to find ways to incorporate technology into the experience as a way of luring young people, who may not consider visiting a park unless they can use their tech device as a part of the experience.

Research suggests that children need to spend more time outside being physically active and less time engaged in sedentary activities such as sitting and playing video games or watching TV. According to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study, young Americans, ages 8 to 18, spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using tech devices. Other studies have established a link between screen time, particularly TV screen time, and obesity. Many families are looking for ways to wean their children from the couch.

Incorporating Technology At HSU, students in the Recreation-Natural Resources Management program are helping practitioners take advantage of technological opportunities to engage young people through the program’s internship experience. The primary purpose of the internship is to provide students with practical, experi-

ential learning opportunities. However, host agencies and businesses also benefit from the fresh, new ideas and skills the interns bring, particularly those related to technology.

One way HSU student interns have helped agencies become more “tech friendly” is by developing Quick Response codes as a part of the agencies’ interpretive programs. Quick Response code, more commonly referred to as QR code, is a type of matrix barcode that’s readable by a machine or device. When the code is scanned by a device, such as a smartphone, it links to information. QR codes are particularly useful as a way of providing interpretive information along trail systems. Trail users with smartphones scan the QR codes located at various points along the trail and are directed by the code to a website that provides information related to that location.

Benefits and Limitations As a part of the internship, students are required to document the work they performed for the host agency and evaluate their work experience. The evaluation includes the benefits and limitations of the QR code application as an interpretive tool. Some of the benefits and limitations identified are as follows: Benefits: • QR codes appeal to young people who enjoy using technology, thus encouraging them to get off the couch and experience the natural resources available.

• QR codes allow visitors who may have missed an interpretive program to obtain information about a site at their own pace.

• QR codes can link not only to informative text, but also to photographs, videos and other information sources related to the site.

• Once the QR code is established, employees need only update the webpage it links to, rather than code itself.

• QR codes can be printed from a desktop computer onto paper stickers for cost efficiency.

Limitations: • Users without smartphones or mobile devices would not be able to access QR code information.

• In addition to having a device, users must download a QR code reading application.

• Cell phone coverage and reception is necessary to use the application, and natural areas often have limited cell coverage.

Overall, it was determined that the benefits of establishing QR codes along trails outweigh the challenges.

Three years ago, at NRPA’s Annual Conference, NRPA, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), launched an ambitious initiative to connect 10 million children to nature and the outdoors.

The HSU students who are using their internship to help agencies use technology to attract children are supporting this NRPA initiative. The more interested and connected children are to the environment, the more likely it is that they will pursue other outdoor experiences and become future advocates for the environment.

Kevin Riley, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Recreation/Emphasis - Natural Resource Management Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Athletic Training at Henderson State University (rileyk@hsu.edu). Stonie Weeks has a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from Henderson State University (sw172006@reddies. hsu.edu).

Advance your career. Make the world better.

Earn your stripes at a top public university while staying at home.

Clemson University Master of Science Degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Two-Year Program Online/Non-thesis Specializations in Recreation, Park or Tourism Management and Recreational Therapy clemson.edu/prtm/graduate-program grdprtm@clemson.edu 864-656-3400

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NRPA Update Focus on Education: Insights from Academia

‘Carpe Carpam’: Conservation Through Gastronomy

By Mark Morgan, Ph.D.

S

ilver and bighead carp, collectively known as Asian carp, were imported from China in the 1970s as a biological control to remove algae and improve water quality in fish farms in Arkansas. Unfortunately, both species escaped captivity during flooding, and these fast-growing, plankton-eating fish quickly expanded their range throughout the Missouri/Mississippi River Basin. In the ensuing years, they have swiftly spread up the Illinois River in the direction of the Great Lakes and can now be found in 40 states.

Because they reduce primary food sources for native species, in this case catfish, paddlefish, buffalo and gizzard shad, Asian carp pose serious problems for aquatic ecosystems.

Massive die-offs of carp affect our nation’s waterways because of bacterial contamination and the odor from dead fish, thus hindering tourism.

Moreover, silver carp, which can grow

to more than 100 pounds, tend to leap from the water when disturbed, causing property damage and personal injury to recreational boaters. Efforts are underway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, threatening a multibillion dollar commercial and recreational fishing industry.

Invasive species, such as Asian carp,

The author, pleased with his heavy net bearing a large carp.

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are difficult to eradicate once they occupy an ecological niche. Since carp cannot be caught by rod and reel, angling is not a solution, and carp tournaments only provide temporary relief. Commercial harvest is a viable option, but the supply of fish is much larger than current demand. Some uses include as fertilizer, bait, fish oil and pet food. Human consumption is a solution if the image problem can be overcome.

Merging Social Science with Natural Resources In the United States, silver and bighead carp are regarded as “trash” fish mainly due to their appearance and boniness which makes them difficult to fillet. In contrast, I learned from my visits to China, Vietnam and Thailand, that carp are highly revered in Asian culture, often featured in artwork and literature. Eaten regularly in Asian countries, carp are one of the least-consumed fish in the United States. With this cultural insight, I developed “Eat Mo Carp,” a marketing-based strategy designed to promote awareness and consumption of Asian carp in grocery stores and restaurants in Columbia, Missouri.

Asian carp are a plentiful, healthy, and cheap source of protein. The white meat has a mild flavor which contains omega-3 fatty acids and accepts spices and seasonings quite well.

Silver and bighead carp have low levels of toxins, such as mercury because of their midstream feeding behavior

(people often confuse them with grass and common carp, both of which are bottom-feeders). Use of locally grown, harvested and processed food is a good way to create consumer demand and address an important environmental issue in our nation’s waterways. This was a unique opportunity for me to merge social science with natural resources. All too often we hear of stories that pit jobs against the environment. Carp, in this context, represents a win-win situation.

ed and fully endorsed our project. After agreeing to serve Asian carp, we convinced them to kick off their new menu with a benefit concert in June 2015. It was a smashing success — 75 people attended the event, ate some delicious carp cuisine and listened to several local musicians. We provided T-shirts and Bass Pro gave us some silent auction items. Since introduction, the carp spring rolls have outsold every other appetizer on the menu.

The carp craze is catching on in Missouri. I order from Schafer Fisheries in Thomson, Illinois, which makes a 100 percent boneless product, similar to ground turkey. It can serve as an environmentally friendly source of protein for a variety of food products that many Americans love to eat, such as chili, tacos, burritos and omelets. Smoked sausage is my personal favorite. Eating carp is a healthy and delicious way to address the invasive species problem, one forkful at a time. Carpe Diem!

Mark Morgan, Ph.D., is Project Director of Eat Mo Carp and an Associate Professor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at the University of Missouri (markmorgan@missouri.edu).

Addressing the Problem: One Forkful at a Time Although education is important, it’s not sufficient to change attitudes and behavior. Taste wins. My research team, consisting of two graduate students and a food scientist, conducted a blind taste test on the University of Missouri’s campus using two-ounce portions of oven-baked fish. We found that silver carp beat catfish by a significant margin. Catfish are the most eaten fish in Missouri, at home or in restaurants. Armed with this new information, we gave some minced product to the University of Missouri Fisheries Club for its fundraising efforts. Asian carp proved to be very popular among college students. I talked to the university’s head chef, and he prepared some carp dishes for others to try. As a result, Mizzou became first in the nation to serve Asian carp on campus. We also offered free samples of carp chili at Moser’s Supermarket in Columbia and received positive feedback from shoppers.

Moser’s started carrying the frozen ground product in October 2014 and sales have been steady since that time. Bass Pro in Springfield, Missouri, asked our team to be a carp food vendor at several outdoor events. Carp fear us.

Broadway Brewery in downtown Columbia has adopt

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Focus on Education: Insights from Academia Whose Job Is It? The Education of Future Recreation Professionals

By Stephanie T. West, Ph.D.

C

ommunities invest a considerable amount of money in providing recreation services. Skilled professionals are needed to develop and implement programs and to supervise and operate facilities, and education is the key to a qualified candidate pool.

When looking for full-time employees, most agencies want to hire individuals with a working knowledge of programming and of facility, personnel and fiscal management. The education of future recreation professionals should therefore cover each of these areas. In an ideal world, new professionals would enter their first job already trained in everything they needed to do, but how realistic is that?

University professors at most institutions must prepare students for careers in athletics, aquatics, fitness, outdoor recreation, adventure, leadership/teambuilding, performing arts, visual arts, special events or tourism, to name just a handful, working with

older adults, adults, teens, youth or some combination thereof, for organizations such as municipal agencies, state parks, national parks, day camps, summer camps, resorts, cruises and commercial outfitters. Some agencies focus on competition, some on dropin activities and others on instruction, while others offer special events or work with clubs. Given such diversity in purpose, target market served, agency type, program objectives, budget goals and formatting styles, it becomes difficult for academic institutions to fully prepare students for a profession in the recreation industry.

Instead of being able to focus on the specific attributes needed for particu-

lar jobs, universities make an effort to teach basic knowledge, skills and abilities. Professors may emphasize soft skills — critical thinking, time management, problem-solving, communication, leadership and effective group work — rather than more hard skills, such as being able to use a specific tournament scheduling software, earning a specialized certification, knowing how to use social media platforms, speaking Spanish or being able to identify birds that frequent a particular area.

University professors realize the value of these very specific hard skills for job preparation, but, given the diversity of their students’ needs and the limited number of hours available to teach everything necessary, the prevailing thought is to cover broader skills in the core classes.

Then, students might be able to gain knowledge in a few of the more specific hard skills by taking an elective course or through job experience. It is absolutely critical that students learn and practice both hard and soft skills through part-time recreation jobs as they earn their college degrees.

Developing Appropriate Professional Internships Until now, the focus has been on how universities prepare future recreation professionals. Yet, the important role that practitioners play in mentoring future professionals cannot be overestimated. This is arguably why the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) requires students

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graduating from an accredited institution complete a 400-hour internship prior to graduation. The first step for practitioners to make in helping train future professionals is to offer professional internships. If an agency does not already have an internship program, professionals working for that agency should fight to secure one (or more). These can be paid or unpaid, but paid is obviously preferable and can help an agency recruit a more qualified or more fully developed budding professional. While everyone realizes money is often tight for many departments, professionals can probably remember how much they valued a paid internship over an unpaid one.

Something to consider is that students are still paying tuition while they complete their internships and most interns are not allowed to work an additional paying job while working as an intern.

Ideally, students would have worked part-time jobs and seasonal summer jobs prior to their internship in order to best prepare them for an internship. Not all students heed their professors’ advice on this topic, however. The second step, then, is to help provide a variety of internship experiences that might best match a student’s background with his or her professional interests. For example, internships are needed for those students who have less work experience in the field. Perhaps they were student athletes or were required to support themselves in school and worked as a waiter/waitress where they could earn more money or get more regular hours.

The third step involves creating a job description that focuses on acquiring professional skills that will help prepare students for the next step in their

career. While being a camp counselor might indeed provide valuable experience, the necessary skills and experiences being sought, such as hiring, training, scheduling, supervising and evaluating part-time staff, are those found on a full-time job description. If interns lack enough experience to give them direct responsibility for such actions, perhaps have them assist an experienced employee or supervisor.

When deciding what experiences to offer an intern, consider what that intern needs to know in order to secure his or her next position.

Performance Evaluations of Interns In addition to providing internships with valuable experiences, great internships provide direct supervision and feedback. As part of the internship process, universities typically require internship supervisors to provide formal feedback through midterm and/or final performance evaluations.

Most university professors agree that these evaluations are an important part of the internship experience and are often overlooked by internship supervisors who are short on time. This may be the student’s first formal performance evaluation and, as such, can be an extremely enlightening process for a new professional interested in developing his or her skills.

While evaluating performance can be daunting for new professionals who may also be performing their first evaluation, resources such as Paul Falcone’s book, 2600 Phrases for Effective Performance Reviews, can be helpful in providing the valuable comments that accompany the scores given to the intern. Caution should be taken, however, not to hold back feedback for use in a performance evaluation.

Regular, informal feedback should also be given throughout the internship. The most important component in an effective internship evaluation is that the supervisor has had multiple interactions with the intern throughout the internship. An evaluation that consists of all performance ratings at the same level and/or has few supporting comments suggests that the supervisor has very little knowledge of the intern’s performance. Regular supervision and informal feedback go hand in hand with a constructive performance evaluation that has the capability of shaping that intern’s professional career.

In summary, universities and park and recreation agencies must work together to fully develop aspiring recreation professionals. If you are a park and recreation professional who works with interns, ask yourself if you are really doing all you can to mentor them and help them to succeed in our industry. If so, could you find a way to create another internship that would be valuable for a developing professional and your agency? If not, what can you do to improve that experience so it is more valuable? On the other hand, if you are a park and recreation professional at an agency that does not have internship positions, find out what you can do to create one. In any of these situations, university professors are more than happy to help you develop a solid job description, recruit potential applicants or improve the evaluation process. Just contact the recreation program at a school near you and ask for help.

Stephanie T. West, Ph.D., is a Professor of Recreation Management at Appalachian State University (westst@appstate.edu).

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Local and Regional Parks:

Engines of Economic Activity

By Kevin Roth, Ph.D.

F

irst at the NRPA Annual Conference in September and then later in November, we shared exciting news that adds to the already compelling message of how local and regional public parks contribute to their communities. The headline was that spending at local and regional public parks contributed almost $140 billion in economic activity and generated nearly 1 million jobs in 2013. These numbers enhance an already robust list of reasons why public parks are important partners to their communities.

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ENGINES OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

These results are from the recently released Economic Impact of Local Parks, the first-ever nationwide study that measured the economic impact of local and regional parks.

This is not to say park agencies large and small have not conducted similar studies on their own. In fact, a number of local and regional park agencies have estimated the value of the economic activity their system has had on their local community, focusing on spending, tourism and property values. Until now, however, no study has tabulated the

combined economic contributions of the thousands of local and regional park agencies throughout the United States.

To fill in this gap, NRPA joined forces with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, led by Dr. Terry Clower, to estimate the impact of spending by local and regional park agencies on the U.S. economy. The study focused exclusively on the effects of spending by local and regional park agencies on economic activity. The study used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and from NRPA’s benchmarking database, PRORAGIS. So, What Do the Findings Mean?

The $140 billion estimate of economic activity represents the direct, indirect and induced effects of local and regional park agency spending on the U.S. economy. So, what is meant by direct, indirect and induced effects?

Direct effects are the actual spending by local and regional park systems, including spending for equipment, utilities, goods, services and personnel costs.

In 2013, operations spending at local and regional park systems totaled $32.3 billion with another $22.4 billion in capital expenditures.

Indirect effects capture the spending associated with the park systems’ vendors. Consider the example of a park system contracting with a local company to spray for mosquitoes. To deliver these services to the park system, the pest control company will hire employees, purchase pesticides and contract with a bookkeeping service. The bookkeeping service, in turn, rents office space, hires work-

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ers and purchases office supplies and so on. All of the spending by the pest control company and its vendors represents the indirect effects of park agency spending.

Induced effects track the employees of both the park and recreation agencies and their vendors spending their wages in the economy.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, local and regional park agencies had 356,000 workers on their payrolls in 2013. This translates into $32.3 billion in direct operations spending by the agencies throughout the United States. This spending ripples through the economy, expanding into almost $80 billion in total economic activity, which supported almost 660,000 jobs that paid in excess of $24 billion in salaries, wages and benefits.

Further, local and regional park agencies spent an estimated $22.4 billion on capital programs in 2013. This spending led to an additional $59.7 billion in economic activity that generated more than 340,000 jobs that paid $19.6 billion in labor income.

Combining the data of operations and capital spending finds the nation’s local and regional public park systems creating $139.6 billion in economic activity and more than 990,000 jobs that boosted labor income by $43.8 billion.

Conservative Measures As powerful are the findings that local and regional park systems are responsible for almost $140 billion economic activity and approximately 1 million jobs, they are conservative measures of the economic impact of local and regional parks. This study focused exclusively on the economic impact of local and regional park agency spending. It did not measure economic impacts arising from other benefits that parks bring to their communities, including:

• Visitor spending • Environment • Health/wellness • Increased property values Yet, even with the conservative methodology, the findings are a powerful message about how local and regional parks are engines of economic activity. When combined with studies on the National Park Service and state park systems, public parks are responsible for roughly $200 billion in annual economic activity.

State-Level Impact The level of spending on local and regional parks varies by state, and so, too, does the economic impact. The study developed estimates of the economic impacts of local and regional parks spending in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The state-level analysis followed that of the national study and considers the economic impact of local and regional park agency operations and capital spending.

A series of interactive tools presenting the state-level economic impact figures at available at www. nrpa.org/parkeconreport, but here are some highlights about the top five states in terms of 2013 economic impact of local and regional park agency spending and generated employment: • California — $17.612 billion in economic activity and 126,775 jobs • Illinois — $12.977 billion in economic activity and 96,317 jobs • Florida — $7.486 billion in economic activity and 60,801 jobs • Texas — $6.323 billion in economic activity and 51,190 jobs • New York — $6.289 billion in economic activity and 43,090 jobs It is probably not surprising that the states that achieve the greatest economic benefits from local and regional park agencies also tend to be large states (and in turn have larger

budgets). Another way to rank states is by the economic impact after adjusting for population, which provides a different list of the states that benefit most from their local and regional park systems. The following five states have the largest per capita economic impact from spending at their local and regional parks: • Illinois — $1,107 of economic activity per resident • Colorado — $878 of economic activity per resident • Utah — $706 of economic activity per resident • North Dakota — $697 of economic activity per resident • Wyoming — $665 of economic activity per resident An Even More Compelling Public Parks Message We already know parks are important contributors to their towns, cities and regions. Millions of people personally benefit from their local and regional park agencies in many ways — gathering places to meet with friends and family, open spaces to exercise and reap the benefits of clean air and water, and community resources where one can connect to others and nature. These benefits manifest themselves in NRPA’s Three Pillars.

Before this study, park and recreation professionals already had a strong message about public parks being on the forefront of conservation, health and wellness, and social equity. Now, these study results combined with NRPA’s Three Pillars are further proof that investments in local and regional parks also spark economic activity that ripples well beyond the initial spending to create jobs and prosperity in our communities and throughout our nation.

At the national level, NRPA is using the study’s findings to advocate on behalf of public parks, their mission and

their funding. The fact that local and regional public parks contribute almost $140 billion in economic activity and generate almost 1 million jobs is a message NRPA’s Public Policy team is delivering to Congress and the White House to secure the permanent authorization and funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In December, NRPA and Dr. Clower presented the results to House and Senate members and staffers to tell the public parks story.

At the local level, park and recreation professionals can speak about the critical economic and job creation qualities of parks and recreation when advocating for operation and capital budgets. It is likely local policymakers and leaders have not fully appreciated the economic spark that local parks bring to their communities. Even if your agency has not conducted an economic study on its own contribution to the local economy, the national and state data provided in this report make this clear: Public parks not only are leaders in conservation, health and wellness, and social equity, they are also engines of significant economic activity and job creation in the United States. Hence, investment in public parks is an investment for a better tomorrow.

The Three Pillars, almost $140 billion in annual economic activity and almost 1 million jobs reaffirm what we know about our parks agencies: Local and regional park and recreation agencies are important assets that turn our neighborhoods into vibrant, connected and healthier communities that also spark economic prosperity throughout our nation. This is the compelling public park story that we need to share with everyone.

Go to www.nrpa.org/parkeconreport to learn more.

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

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Reinventing Senior Centers:

Virtually

By M. Jean Keller and Franziska Sprinkmeyer

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ess than 60 years ago, the first senior center opened in New York City. Today, there are more than 15,000 senior centers across the country serving more than 10 million older adults annually. Research by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) indicates older adults who participate in senior center programs delay the onset of chronic disease and enjoy measurable improvements in physical, social, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, and overall life satisfaction. So why aren’t greater numbers of older Americans engaging in senior center programs and services?

Today, one in three Americans is age 50 or older. Never before in human history have there been so many older people. NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers supports the reinventing of senior centers to serve 50 million aging baby boomers whose numbers will increase to 77 million by 2030.

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VIRTUAL SENIOR CENTERS

Older adults are often described by subpopulations: young old (65–74 years); old (74–84 years); and oldest old (85 years and over). The fastest growing segment of the total population is the oldest old — those 85 years and older. While senior centers are responding with new facilities and programs to meet the diverse, dynamic lifestyle and activity needs of older adults, flexibility is another key area that will be important to serving this growing population. One possible way to offer flexibility to older adults is through virtual senior centers.

Connected Programming Virtual senior centers make it possible for older adults to take part in classes, meet with renowned artists in residence, interact with peers on current events, chat with senior center friends, learn new facts from respected healthcare providers, or discuss a bond issue for a new senior center with the city mayor while at the same time traveling to another country, staying home to prepare for a visit from grandchildren, or rehabil-

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itating after a knee replacement. The flexibility of this option, which could be called a senior center distance program or, more appropriately, a senior center connected program, allows older individuals who are not able to be physically present but want to engage in meaningful services and programs provided by senior centers to

Virtual Benefits Virtual senior centers may offer diverse programs and services, including music, painting, woodworking, armchair yoga, tai chi, educational programs, exercise, cooking and special events. They can also provide services like medication management, health and wellness checkups, social

NCOA research shows that participation in virtual senior centers benefits older individuals in much the same way as being present. continue to do so. The programs and services of virtual senior centers may be delivered either asynchronously or synchronously.

An asynchronous delivery enables communication and collaboration over a period of time through a “different time-different place” mode: emailing, videotaping programs, creating a media library for access any time, hosting blogs and streaming audio and video without the opportunity to interact are just a few examples of an asynchronous delivery of programs and services. On the other hand, a synchronous delivery enables real-time communication and collaboration in a “same time-different place” mode: videoconferencing, chat rooms and instant messaging for example. Most often, virtual senior centers provide Internet accessibility from computer platforms, which makes access easier and more available to many. Today, the Internet and compressed video have allowed distance learning to occur in real time and to connect people. Live video exchange is the most popular and fastest-growing education delivery sharing mode in the United States.

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services connections such as registering for Medicare or help with utility costs, and religious services. NCOA research shows that participation in virtual senior centers benefits older individuals in much the same way as being present. Also, older adults who engage and stay active with technology have higher self-esteem and greater social interactions over their lifespans.

Let’s look at a few older participants who engage in virtual senior centers and the benefits they receive.

Sixty-nine-year-old Maria regularly socializes with friends and stays active in numerous programs and events at her nearby park and recreation center. After a shoulder injury, she was not able to drive her car for six months. She lost her social network and meaningful activities, became depressed and experienced unhealthy weight gain. Maria and her physician call the virtual senior center her lifesaver. She interacts with her friends, keeps up with current events, participates in healthy cooking classes and increases her physical therapy exercises by partaking in multiple physical activity classes via her computer screen each week, instead of sitting idly in front of her television.

An architect presented a session on “Transgenerational Design” at a local senior center. Louis, a 71-yearold recent retiree, was unable to attend the session because he was volunteering at the state Special Olympics event. He is keenly interested in the session, however, as he and his wife are building their dream retirement home. Louis’ wife, who accompanied him out of town, engages in the presentation at the senior center via streamed videoconference at their hotel and asks questions online. The presentation is posted on the center’s website for all to review. Louis and his wife view it several times after the actual event and are able to share design ideas with their home builder.

A senior center in an urban area had served older residents for more than 35 years. When a new senior center was built in a newer, nearby neighborhood, staff realized that many former participants were not attending because many were in their 90s, had some sensory losses and were unable to drive. With the help of a virtual senior center connection, popular programs were shared and former participants were able to connect with old friends and make new ones. A centenarian who had been a member of the senior center for 35 years was able to join her “Sittercise Class,” a chair exercise program, from her home along with her 76-year-old daughter.

According to NCOA, even though participation in senior centers is well documented to have positive effects on older adults, there are multiple reasons why older adults do not engage. Reinventing senior centers and offering their programs and services in a virtual manner may be a way to engage this growing segment of the population in community parks and recreation centers.

New Technologies In a February 2015 blog on ValueEd, the author Athena Kennedy, Ph.D., shares about the array of tools for online and distance learning (http:// tinyurl.com/znyr8qu). In the future, new digital technologies, such as selfpaced learning modules, simulations and video tutorials along with new partners, such as insurance companies, healthcare providers, social media and digital retailers, will allow virtual senior centers to expand. New software, like Google Hangouts, will increase opportunities for senior center participants to interact by sharing computer screens, browsing webpages and viewing YouTube videos, all while recording the session for those who were unable to join the group in real time. Additional innovative programs, such as Goggle Glass wearable technology, will allow users to share their experiences, from firsthand perspectives, with others.

There are promises and problems with virtual senior centers. Potential problems may involve quality in-

struction suitable for virtual instead of face-to-face learning, known and hidden costs associated with technology hardware and software, misuse of technology and attitudes of senior center administrators, funders and participants. However, the promises of virtual senior centers seem to outweigh the problems. The growing, diverse population of older adults will demand flexibility, and new technologies will make programming for older adults, both near and far, more connected, engaged, exciting and fun. As senior centers are reinvented for the soon to be 77 million older adults, the designing of comprehensive virtual models will need to be flexible in meeting their needs and interests.

M. Jean Keller is a Professor of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation at the University of North Texas (jean.keller@unt. edu). Franziska Sprinkmeyer is a graduate student in the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation at the University of North Texas (franziska. sprinkmeyer@unt.edu).

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Design renderings for Trojan Park include playgrounds for multiple age groups, a group pavilion, splash pad and a basketball court.

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Moving Toward a

Brighter Future for Wellston, Missouri NRPA selects Wellston, Missouri, as the site of its 2016 Parks Build Community initiative

By Paula Jacoby-Garrett

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he benefit of parks and trails to an individual has been well documented, from physical improvements through exercise to mental benefits through a connection with nature and the outdoors. Yet, that benefit goes beyond the individual to the betterment of a community as a whole. The presence of parks increases neighborhood property values and decreases crime rates. Local economies often benefit through increased tourism and the creation of a stable community. For many struggling communities, however, financial constraints limit the creation, renovation and upkeep of parks in the area. NRPA addresses this issue with its trailblazing Parks Build Community initiative.

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

and CEO. “It’s about building an essential resource for a community that needs and deserves it.”

The Site For the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, the Parks Build Community program will create a neighborhood park in the satellite city of Wellston. Located just 7 miles north of downtown St. Louis, Wellston is a small city that was established in the mid-1800s and is approximately one square mile in size with a little more than 2,000 residents. It was once a thriving tourism and business center, but during the past 50 years has seen a decline in its economic vitality and, today, is one of the poorest cities in Missouri.

Despite recent challenges — students being bussed to neighboring Normandy because their school was closed in 2010 for lack of funding and outsourcing of all services formerly provided by the Wellston Police Department, also a result of rising operational costs and lack of funds — Wellston residents are still optimistic and have a great love for their city. “Wellston has a very rich history — it used to be

Great Rivers Greenway

The Parks Build Community Initiative In 2009, NRPA launched its Parks Build Community initiative. This annual program examines underserved communities in various locations across the nation and creates a park that’s custom designed for the community’s specific needs and desires.

Project sites coincide with the host city of NRPA’s Annual Conference.

These “legacy parks” are revealed during Conference and, to date, include Marvin Gaye Park (District of Columbia, 2009), Selena Butler Park (Georgia, 2011), El Sereno Arroyo Park (California, 2012), Shady Lane Park (Texas, 2013), Lincoln Heights Park (North Carolina, 2014) and Joe Kneip Park (Nevada, 2015).

Legacy park locations are selected using needs-based criteria and the parks receive an overhaul in equipment and facilities that is geared toward providing community gathering places for residents of all ages, promoting a healthy lifestyle and connecting children and adults with the outdoors. “Parks Build Community isn’t just about building another pretty park,” says Barbara Tulipane, NRPA president

Project partners at the site of the upcoming Trojan Park in Wellston, Missouri are (from left to right), Chris Krehmeyer (Beyond Housing), Gina Mullins-Cohen (NRPA), Susan Trautman (Great Rivers Greenway) and Mayor Nathaniel Griffin (city of Wellston).

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a vibrant shopping district,” says Emma Klues, director of communications and outreach, Great Rivers Greenway. “[People] would get really dressed up and go walk in Wellston to visit the shops on Sundays. The community looks quite a bit different now, but there are a lot of people that live in Wellston who have been there for generations and are very proud of their town. We’re very excited to be working with them to help them preserve part of that legacy.”

The park will be located on a 1-acre parcel at the southern entrance to Wellston, along a 7-mile greenway connecting the 1,300-acre Forest Park south of Wellston to the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis to the north. This greenway will provide a corridor for people to travel between the two anchor sites and for residents of Wellston to travel from their city to these areas. The greenway will also link to seven MetroLink stations, providing further transportation links in the area. “What we are really excited about is that idea of being able to connect people to places they wouldn’t normally go,” says Megan Riechmann, project manager, Great Rivers Greenway. “Wellston residents may never have explored a rural riverside but in [the future], as we finish some of these major connections, they will be able to easily get...to places they otherwise may not have explored.”

In honor of the graduates of Wellston High School, the park is being named Trojan Park. “The name of the park itself symbolizes the pride, love, dedication and commitment that we have in and for our city,” says Mayor Nathaniel Griffin.

“The community is very interested in intergenerational opportunities, and that ranges from a pavilion for family reunions or gatherings to spe-

The Partnerships All Parks Build Community projects are collaborations among people, agencies and community groups.

NRPA continues its role as the program administrator of the project, securing funding and sponsorship, as well as working in partnership with manufacturers of park equipment, community organizations and local municipalities. For the Trojan Park project, Parks Build Community has partnered with the St. Louis-based Great Rivers Greenway organization.

Other partners that have contributed in-kind gifts include Forum Studio, David Mason and Associates, Kozeny-Wagner, Inc., Lochmueller Group, EFK Moen, LLC and Geotechnology, Inc. Great Rivers Greenway has been working for the past few years on design and implementation of the St. Vincent Greenway. As part of the project, it is looking for park sites along this greenway. “The St. Vincent Greenway has two sections that are complete, and we have been working to try and figure out the best alignment for this 2-mile middle section. We started at the beginning of 2014, working with the communities...to meet with them and talk to them about where they think the best location for this segment of greenway would be,” Riechmann says.

The public engagement meetings are instrumental in determining the needs and desires of the Wellston community. A nonprofit partner, Beyond Housing, is donating its services by participating in and facilitating these meetings. Working in conjunction with all partners, a series of public meetings has focused and fine-tuned the

Public engagement with the residents of Wellston has been key to developing a comprehensive plan that meets the needs and desires of this community.

planning process with the Wellston residents. “We’ve had about a one-year community engagement process,” says Neil Eisenberger, senior associate and landscape architect for Forum Studio.

“We’ve spent a lot of time in the community — we’ve listened to the wishes of the residents, which were for mostly social activities, places for children and places for exercise.”

You Can Help Trojan Park will celebrate its grand opening October 8, 2016, during the NRPA Annual Conference. Planning and design have already begun, but there is still much to be done and many places where you can lend a hand. Consider being part of this legacy park project and helping the community of Wellston move toward a brighter future. Then, join us for the opening in October. “Seeing the excitement of community members the day of a Parks Build Community reveal is extremely satisfying — the energy is amazing,” says Gina Mullins-Cohen, NRPA’s vice president of marketing, communications and publications. “But what’s even better is that the reveal isn’t the peak or the main event. The real satisfaction is hearing from the community about how their new park continually supports them — creating stronger friendships, increasing property

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cific areas and playground equipment for play between and among different generations,” Klues added. A fullsized basketball court is high on the list of favorite amenities.

values and promoting healthier lives from that point forward.”

For more information on how you can be involved, email Mullins-Cohen at gcohen@nrpa.org.

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

Thank You, Sponsors NRPA’s Parks Build Community initiative would not be possible without the dedicated support of our partners and sponsors. The generous donations of time, equipment and labor from the below sponsors are a vital component of the 2016 Parks Build Community project at Trojan Park in Wellston, Missouri. Please join us in thanking them for their support!

BCI Burke Company www.bciburke.com Forum Studio www.forumstudio.com Freenotes Harmony Park www.freenotesharmonypark.com GameTime www.gametime.com Greenfields Outdoor Fitness Inc. www.greenfieldsfitness.com jr.NBA www.jrnba.com Playworld www.playworldsystems.com Whitewater West Industries Inc. www.whitewaterwest.com

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NRPA Update The National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence

By Mike Abbaté and Mary Beth Thaman

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he Gold Medal Award honors communities of all sizes throughout the country that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and innovative and creative approaches to designing and delivering superb park and recreation services through fiscally sound business practices. The Gold Medal Award includes seven classes: five by population, one class for Armed Forces Recreation and one for State Parks Systems (in odd-numbered years). The Gold Medal Award is a program of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (Academy) in partnership with NRPA and sponsored by MUSCO Lighting.

There are four strong benefits for an agency to embark on the Gold Medal journey. First is the opportunity for an agency to chronicle successes through a very thoughtful and thorough process. Second, it encourages an agency to review, assess and identify the strengths of its organization in various program, management, fiscal and service categories. Third, it inspires an agency to frame its innovative and creative approaches in solving day-to-day challenges in the community while creating amazing experiences for cus-

tomers. Finally, the process boosts an agency’s networking capabilities through the exchange of valuable management resource information with other applicants and creates an avenue to share best practices.

If an applying agency is selected as a Gold Medal finalist, it signifies that the agency is one of the four best in the country, providing “bragging rights” for citizens, staff members and elected officials while acknowledging the phenomenal services the agency provides to the public. Receiving the

2016 Schedule and Enhancements January 4

Application available at www.nrpa.org/goldmedal

February 3

NRPA Gold Medal web chat from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST

March 13

Application and required materials deadline at midnight

April 29

Notification to finalists and all applicants

June 5

New for 2016: Finalists post short video on agency website homepage

Finalists will be asked to prepare a short video that highlights their agency. The video will be no longer than five minutes in length and will be required to be posted on the first landing page of participating agencies’ websites by June 5. This short video should support the information provided in the application and should help the judges understand how the agency is unique and outstanding. Any video approach may be used, but as video continues to grow in use as a communication medium, the intent is not to require elaborate or expensive productions.

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Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award is the pinnacle for any agency to attain, regardless of size, state, agency budget or government status.

How Much Competition Exists?

To ensure fairness and a level playing field in the assessment of parks system applications, the Gold Medal process evaluates systems of comparable size with one another. The five classes for municipal, county or special district parks providers are based on population as follows: 30,000 or less Class V Class IV 30,001 to 75,000 Class III 75,001 to 150,000 Class II 150,001 to 400,000 Class I 400,001 and over During the past three years, an average of 60 total completed applications have been received. The goal is to increase the number of applications as the prestige and notoriety of the award grows. There are far more than 60 agencies around the country that are doing exceptional work!

Increased participation in the Gold Medal program can help publicize both the importance and extent of excellent park and recreation systems.

The amount of competition varies each year within each class. In 2015, nine applications in Class I, eight in Class II, and 11 in Classes III, IV, and V were received. No two years are alike, so both the number and quality of applications are impossible to predict.

Mike Abbaté’s Top 10 Tips for Gold Medal Success In 2013, the Gold Medal application and review process was revised and updated to be more consistent, clear and simple, and population ranges were adjusted. Questions were revised and restated, and narrative responses had established word limits. In addition, PRORAGIS data was incorporated and serves as the primary numerical data to help evaluate park systems.

Below are top tips for drafting a winning application from Abbaté, a Gold Medal winner (Portland, Oregon, 2011 — Class I) and Gold Medal judge for the past four years:

7 6 5 4 3

10 9 8

2 1

Do your homework! Talk to previous winners and ask if they will share their successful application.

Brainstorm with your team — list accomplishments that are most unique, innovative, groundbreaking or significant to your community.

Look at the “Success Stories” included at www.nrpa.org/ goldmedal to help gauge how compelling your successes might be to a national audience.

Judging Process A panel of five park and recreation professionals review and judge all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both local and national levels. The judging panel is geographically and ethnically diverse, and represents the spectrum of small, medium and large park and recreation systems.

The judging and selection process is straightforward and consists of six basic steps: 1. Applications are submitted and compiled for judges.

2. Round 1 scoring: Judges individually review and score all applications, ranking them within each class. Scores are submitted individually by each judge to NRPA. 3. NRPA consolidates and tabulates scores from all judges.

4. NRPA announces the top four scorers in each class as Gold Medal finalists.

5. Round 2 scoring: Five judges and staff gather to deliberate at a two-day meeting to review finalists and individual scores, short videos and required supplemental materials, determining the final score and ranking for each finalist. Results are kept strictly confidential.

6. Gala reception for Gold Medal finalists is held prior to the NRPA Annual Conference Opening General Session when winners in each class are announced.

Look for the February issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, which will include an article about Gold Medal “myths.” Also, save the date for 2-3 p.m. EST, February 3, 2016, and join the annual Academy/NRPA Web Chat for the Gold Medal Award program. Finally, and most importantly, be an applicant in 2016! Deadline for submission of applications is midnight March 13, 2016.

Assign your best writer! Word count limitations mean keeping your narratives intriguing and succinct.

Examples should be recent — within the past three years.

Examples and narratives need to be accurate, both factually and in their significance to your community.

Tune up your website. Judges routinely look at websites to confirm information shared in the application.

Tell a compelling story! Everyone faces budget problems, political challenges and distrust of government. What is unique about your community and what is innovative in the ways your agency has served them?

Read the question and follow instructions! If the question asks for five examples, don’t leave 20 percent of the possible points on the table by providing only four.

Take the leap! Regardless of the outcome, simply preparing and submitting an application will help build morale, grant recognition to your top performers and make you a better agency. And if you become a finalist, imagine the notoriety!

Mike Abbaté is Director of the Portland, Oregon, Parks and Recreation Department and 2016 Gold Medal Head Judge (mike. abbate@portlandoregon.gov). Mary Beth Thaman is Director of the City of Kettering, Ohio Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department and Gold Medal Committee Chair-Elect (marybeth. thaman@ketteringoh.org).

It’s Time to Fill that Trophy Case Now accepting submissions for Gold Medal Awards, National Awards and the Hall of Fame.

Join the Gold Medal Live Chat, scheduled for Wednesday, February 3, 2016 2:00 pm, EST.

www.nrpa.org/Awards

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NRPA Update

Your Photo, Our Cover

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e’re celebrating Park and Recreation Month by showcasing one of your photos on the cover of Parks & Recreation.

Round up your top photos and get ready to submit them for the 2016 Park and Recreation Month Cover Contest. After such an enthusiastic response in 2015, we decided to put July’s cover back in your hands for 2016. This year, we’re looking for photos that tell a great story about the impact parks and recreation has in your community.

Entries will be accepted now through March 30, 2016. NRPA will choose a series of finalists based on how well they meet the criteria by April 18. All finalist photos will be put to a public vote May 23-27 on Facebook. The photo with the most social power (likes) will be chosen for the coveted cover spot!

When considering which photo to submit, keep these tips in mind: • Submit a photo with an interesting and compelling story behind it — maybe of a unique program or community park champion. A

great photo should tell a great story. Keep NRPA’s Three Pillars — Conservation, Health and Wellness and Social Equity — in mind. You can share this story in the comments section when you upload your photo.

• Submit a photo that includes people in it.

• Submissions must be high-resolution (at a minimum of 300 dpi) and at least 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall.

• Consider how the Parks & Recreation logo will fit over your photo.

Submit your photos at www.nrpa. org/cover-contest.

The NRPA Board of Directors Is Now Accepting Applications

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he NRPA Board of Directors is seeking individuals who support the role of parks as they relate to building healthy and sustainable communities for all people. NRPA’s Three Pillars — Health and Wellness, Conservation and Social Equity — guide its work and create lasting impacts in the communities NRPA agencies serve. Whether you’re an innovative park and recreation professional, public health or elected official, business entrepreneur, park

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volunteer, fundraiser or a nonprofit leader who is interested in furthering the NRPA mission, consider joining the NRPA Board of Directors.

NRPA is committed to having a diverse board to ensure that its leadership reflects the communities it serves. This includes geography, age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and abilities.

To apply, complete the application at www.nrpa.org/about-nrpa/leading-theassociation and return to NRPA Executive Assistant Michele White no later than January 31, 2016.

Strive for More Community Engagement

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ould you like to give your community easy access to information about your programs, events and facilities? GoStrive offers NRPA Premier Members a free mobile application for iPhones and Androids that allows your agency to simply upload your program guide, including all your activities and events. Members of your community can then download the app and sign up for classes or programs, receive event updates and share status updates via Twitter or Facebook. GoStrive can plug into your community’s social network and its discovery feature allows members to share events with friends. You will be able to send real-time alerts to members about updates and cancellations.

GoStrive integrates easily with your existing registration and event systems. It does not replace your registration system; it’s a tool to display your events in the palm of your community members’ hands. This mobile platform builds stronger and healthier communities. Hundreds of NRPA Premier Members across the country are using this free mobile app and you can too!

Are you ready to get started? Simply email hello@gostrive.com with your program guide attached. The program guide can be in any file format or email a link to your program guide

on your website. GoStrive will contact you and let you know your program guide is listed within the app.

Do you already have your program guide live on GoStrive? Then it’s time to spread the word and get your community using the app. Visit http:// gostrive.com/getstarted/get-started-checklist for a four-step checklist that will help you get your staff and your community up to speed.

For more information about taking advantage of this Premier Member Benefit, please visit www.nrpa.org/ strive or email Hayley Herzing at hherzing@nrpa.org.

— Hayley Herzing, NRPA’s Membership Programs Manager

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

Hotel-motel taxes, rental car taxes and “sin” taxes are considered what type of tax?

A. Personal property tax B. Real property tax C. Sales tax D. Excise tax 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. Excise tax

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NRPA Update

Member Spotlight: Seve Ghose, CPRE

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any park and recreation professionals experience twists and turns in their professional paths, but Seve Ghose’s journey from a child growing up in Zambia, Africa, to the helm of the Louisville, Kentucky Metro Parks and Recreation Department, may take the cake. Born in India, raised in Zambia and schooled in Darjeeling and Iowa State University, Ghose possesses a vibrancy that is surely enhanced by his worldly upbringing and go-get-’em attitude. He put himself through college working at Ames Parks and Recreation and, unable to find work after graduation, began his park and recreation career in earnest as the operator of the local ice arena some 29 years ago. Now, four months into his job as director of Louisville Metro Parks, Ghose is as energetic, engaged and excited as he was during those initial forays into the industry. Here, we learn more about his aspirations for his new agency and what he wants the public to know about parks and recreation.

Parks & Recreation magazine: Tell us about your professional trajectory in parks and recreation.

Seve Ghose: The journey to advance my career has taken me to Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, Iowa and now Kentucky, working in the private sector, park districts and in municipalities large and small in positions ranging from project management, facility management, recreation, parks, planning and community outreach and engagement. The one position that stands out for me is the regional director job I had with the city of Portland, Oregon. There, I learned the most and, to this day, value all that I sponged. This experience led to my stint in Davenport, Iowa, as the director there for five years, moving a department that was slated for demise to become a relevant force for positive change in the community and, in the process, becoming nationally accredited as the only agency from Iowa with that honor.

P&R: What are your goals for Louisville Metro Parks?

Ghose: My goal is to make our de62 Parks & Recreation

partment the one by which all other park and recreation agencies are benchmarked against, as the standard bearer. I love Louisville, and my family and I are absolutely happy we made the move. The department has professional staff in all levels who hunger to be the best, along with us having strong political and community support.

P&R: What are some of your greatest challenges as director?

Ghose: Continually motivating staff to think beyond the day-to-day and look to be proactive. We easily get mired in our silos, afraid of change and reluctant to look to the future.

Our job is not only to be good stewards, but to also leave a lasting legacy of inclusion, innovation and value for future generations.

P&R: What’s surprised you most during your career?

Ghose: The most striking has been the continual refrain of how easily our field gets marginalized and how much more work we, as professionals, have to do to be relevant in the

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community, socially and politically.

P&R: If you could tell the public one thing it should know about its community park systems, what would that be?

Ghose: Parks and recreation is an essential piece to the quality-of-life puzzle. We thus need to espouse the value of homes tied to their proximity to parks, health, wellness and sustainable practices. We do have empirical evidence available to verify the above-mentioned items.

P&R: Any resolutions for the new year that you’d like to share?

Ghose: Raise the Metro Parks profile further in Louisville and nationally, spend more time with family and to not take work on vacation.

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

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.

CHECK THIS OUT

SCHOOLS AND CONFERENCES 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.

FEB

16-18 29March 2

Murfreesboro, Tennessee Galveston, Texas

MAR

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.

7-9 8-10 9-11 15-17 15-17 16-18 22-24 28-30

Mission, Kansas Long Beach, California New Brighton, Minnesota Phoenix, Arizona Bismarck, North Dakota Brighton, Colorado St. Charles, Missouri Winter Park, Florida

www.nrpa.org/CPSI

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

November 6-10, 2016

www.nrpa.org/education

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

FEB

CPSI PROGRAM

August 28-September 1, 2016

15-16 18-19 23-24

MAR

This year, the NRPA professional development team will host a series of webinars that spotlight solutions to some of the common issues facing those in the field of parks and recreation. To learn more about the “NRPA Solutions Spotlight� webinar series, visit www.nrpa.org/webinars.

March 13-18, 2016

10-11 10-11 14-15 23-24 23-25 26-27 29-30 31April 1

Irvine, Texas Clearwater, Florida Ellicott City, Maryland San Diego, California Canton, Michigan Cedar Hill, Texas Tallahassee, Florida Cheney, Washington Manitou Springs, Colorado Ellensburg, Washington Bothel, Washington

www.nrpa.org/AFO

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Operations Growing the Game of Golf: Creative Ideas for the Next Generation

By Bill Clevenger, Kurt “Turtle” Rogers and Lisa Gillen

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declining population, aging community and low average household income present ongoing challenges for Illinois’ Decatur Park District (DPD) golf system. Five thriving public courses in the 1980s and 1990s were based on an average population of almost 90,000 people. Since that time, Decatur’s population has dropped 20 percent and several major employers have left the community, affecting the local economy. Furthermore, 111 golf courses, all doing their best to entice a dwindling number of players, lie within a two-hour radius. While these statistics paint a difficult local operational picture, golf participation and frequency of play at the national level have also declined significantly.

According to the National Golf Foundation, golf course closings in 2014 outpaced openings for the ninth consecutive year. In fact, nine public courses closed in Illinois in 2014 and zero new courses opened.

For the past decade, DPD has attempted to proactively respond to our ever-evolving golf market.

In an effort to right-size the system and attract new golfers, DPD re-

duced golf staff from 27 employees to 12, decreased pro shop inventory 87 percent, cut chemical costs by 13 percent and reduced the number of holes by closing a languishing 18-

Decatur Park District’s golf system offers something for every age: There’s a short course for senior golfers, FootGolf(shown here) for youth, and a “Nine after 5” program that’s attracting young professionals who may have never before set foot on a golf course.

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hole course (Nelson Park) and converting a small, nine-hole course (Wildwood) to a prairie-style signature course – Red Tail Run Golf Club by Raymond Floyd – which has attracted 26,000 rounds per year since its opening in 2006. With three public courses in operation today, DPD continues to feel the strain of local and national shifts in sporting interests, available free time and disposable income. Over the years, however, an enormous investment has been made to create and maintain high-quality, attractive facilities. DPD’s three golf hubs, Hickory Point, Scovill and Red Tail Run, are award-winning courses that have attracted several national and state tournaments.

To make the most of these facilities, DPD realized a need to modify the traditions of the game to fit today’s demographic, establishing at each golf course a more comprehensive entertainment venue. In 2015, creative offerings to encourage play included a short course, hack golf and fling golf at Scovill Golf Course, all promoted as the “Scovill Shake Up.” The nine-hole, par three short course was designed for beginners, juniors, seniors — anyone looking for shorter distances and faster play.

The course was developed within the existing 18-hole golf course,

with all holes between 90 and 185 yards. A reasonable $9 fee appealed to even the most frugal individuals.

Hack Golf, with 15-inch holes and relaxed rules, was installed seamlessly and at little expense. Fling golf, a combination of lacrosse and golf, created a uniquely athletic experience on the golf course. Finally, to boost participation among young professionals, “Nine after 5” was also developed, with advertising containing a bit of “swag.”

“If you don’t know the first thing about golf, if you’re not that good, or you haven’t played in years,” the commercial says, “come hang out at Scovill on Thursday nights…and play just a little bit of golf.” For just $20, participants golfed nine holes with cart and enjoyed appetizers, tips from the pros and a coupon for an adult beverage. Weekly drawings were held for rounds of golf, pro shop goodies and full beginner sets of clubs. Over the six-week promotion, DPD secured the interest of 125 new golfers, some of whom had never set foot on a golf course.

Another unique addition at Scovill was the Veterans and Friends League for veterans and their volunteer partners/helpers. An average of 24 participants each week enjoyed fresh air, golf and camaraderie. Devised by Dale Jones, an avid golfer whose brother suffered a stroke some years ago but recovered physically and emotionally by returning to the golf course, the Veterans and Friends League allowed players with and without disabilities to stay active. Doug Reed, an Army veteran, looked forward to the weekly trip to the course. “It meant a lot to me to have one day a week to get out with the guys,” he said. “And there are so many

Due to popular demand, the Veterans and Friends League for veterans and their volunteer partners/ helpers will continue in the wintertime at the Decatur Park District Indoor Golf Center on the Millikin University campus.

other veterans who could benefit.

We’re not Tiger Woods, of course.

We’re just out to have fun, learn new things and set new goals for ourselves.” Several participants play with just one arm or are still recovering from open heart surgery or back surgery. Clubs and a SoloRider adaptive golf cart are available if needed. Due to popular demand, the league will continue this winter at DPD’s Indoor Golf Center on the campus of Millikin University.

To gauge the community’s interest in FootGolf, a free nine-hole course was added on the junior golf course at Hickory Point in late 2014. DPD’s MidState Soccer Club members, in particular, made the most of this exciting new sport that merges golf and soccer into one. The following spring, the U.S. FootGolf Association (USFGA) designed and certified an 18-hole course at Hickory Point, with par three, par four and par five holes, along with recreational and competition tees. A tournament including soccer players from across central Illinois will be scheduled in 2016.

Initiatives designed to attract non-golfers to the courses included jazz concerts and a karaoke night at the Hickory Point Golf Club pavilion, IHSA Cross Country Sec-

tionals at Hickory Point and holiday runs in collaboration with the Decatur Running Club. A casual, 3- or 6-mile Thanksgiving run at Red Tail Run Golf Club by Raymond Floyd attracted more than 50 individuals, who enjoyed the winding cart path and beautiful scenery prior to their holiday celebrations.

These initiatives have helped boost existing efforts, such as online tee times, a golf app and golf specials shared as “Turtle’s Tweets” during non-peak hours.

So far, DPD is attracting seniors to the short course, recreational golfers to hack golf, youth to FootGolf and young professionals to Nine after 5. We know that times change, people change and preferred sports and activities change.

However, the Decatur Park District is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to find a formula that brings newcomers to the courses, generates excitement and translates into a revitalization of golf in our community.

Bill Clevenger is the Executive Director of Decatur Park District (bill@decparks.com).

Kurt “Turtle” Rogers is the Golf Manager for Decatur Park District (krogers@decparks. com). Lisa Gillen is the Director of Marketing at Decatur Park District (lgillen@decparks. com).

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Products Shade Sails Exposure to the sun’s dangerous UV rays is harmful anywhere, but the heat in New Mexico can be especially brutal. That’s why the specifiers for Santa Ana Pueblo near Albuquerque knew shade was essential for their new playground and trusted Shade Systems to design these bright, lime green “Sail” shades to make a colorful statement. Shade Systems Sails are engineered to attach at each point with a single, stainless steel connection, and all cables and hardware are also stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance and longevity. And, the industry’s most comprehensive warranties protect your shade investment for the long run! SHADE SYTEMS INC., 800.609.6066, WWW.SHADESYSTEMSINC.COM

Split Shaft Trimmer Honda Power Equipment introduces the Honda VersAttach™ Multi-Purpose System. Featuring two powerhead options and six different attachments, the VersAttach™ System combines the power and reliability of legendary Honda 4-stroke engines with a robust lineup of tools to fit a wide range of lawn and garden needs. It offers two powerhead models, the UMC425, powered by a Honda GX25 Mini 4-Stroke engine, and the UMC435, powered by a GX35 Mini 4-Stroke engine. Each model can be paired with an optional interchangeable edger, line trimmer, blower, hedge trimmer, pruner and cultivator that fit quickly and securely into the attachment shaft by way of Honda’s SureLoc™ joint locking system, saving time and effort for the user. HONDA, 770.497.6400, WWW.POWEREQUIPMENT. HONDA.COM

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Algaecide/Fungicide BioSafe Systems’ ZeroTol 2.0 is an environmentally responsible, liquid algaecide/fungicide used for disease control and prevention on turf and ornamentals. Its professional-strength formula eliminates plant pathogens, providing superior results and healthy plants. ZeroTol 2.0 can be used for multiple applications. Its activated peroxygen chemistry works through oxidation.

It attacks the proteins and enzymes that make up simple-cell organisms that cause disease and provides an immediate kill. Most algaecide/fungicides need time to poison harmful organisms; this could lead to a mutational resistance of these chemistries. Due to ZeroTol 2.0’s fast-acting, oxidation process, mutational resistance is not possible. BIOSAFE SYSTEMS, 860.290.8890, WWW.BIOSAFESYSTEMS.COM

Tarp Carts Beacon Athletics’ new tarp cart with tarp pin holders is a great addition to your grounds crew. The cart was designed to store and transport up to four area tarps and your field weights or tarp pins. Conveniently keep rolled up tarps and pins together for easy transport and storage; perfect for stowing area rain tarps, weighted tarps, infield protectors, sideline turf protectors, track protectors and growth covers. The Beacon Athletics tarp cart may be manually pushed along in wheelbarrow fashion or towed by a utility vehicle. BEACON ATHLETICS, 800.747.5985, WWW.BEACONATHLETICS.COM

FREE WEBINARS for NRPA Premier Members Webinars will occur on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 2:00PM EST. To register please visit www.nrpa.org/webinars

FEB 11

JAN 14 Innovation Lab: Chicago - Economic Impact Study*

Marketing 101 Parks and Recreation Isn’t Boring, So Why are You?

MAY 12

JUNE 9

Making the Case to Elected Officials: Parks and Health*

SEPT 8

Innovation Lab: Boston - Big Data and Tech in Parks and Rec

FRI. OCT 7

Innovation Lab: Portland - Making Community Connections

NRPA Live Session **Time and Session Title TBD**

MAR 10 How to Make a Splash with Your Aquatic Programming*

JULY 14 Americans’ Passion for Local Parks: Survey Results on the Public’s Strong Support for Local Parks*

NOV 10 Top Five Conservation Trends for Parks in 2016*

APR 14 Who Lives Near Your Parks: Using the NRPA Market Facility Reports to Better Plan/ Program Your Facilities

AUG 11 Professional Development as a Premier Agency

DEC 8 Trend Hunt 2016: What’s Hot, What’s Not and What’s to Come for Parks and Recreation

*Free CEU Webinars for Premier members - CEUs may be offered for other webinars, however individuals will be required to pay $25 and must attend the “Live” webinar.

Find out more about your Premier membership benefits at www.nrpa.org/Premier

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Parks & Recreation

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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

Email______________________________________________

Name________________________________________________________________ Phone__________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________________State________________ZIP_________________________

reader service

YES! I would like free product information!

How do you communicate the economic impact of your park and recreation agency’s assets to municipal leaders? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please email your answers to dstorm@nrpa.org.

Check the product(s)/company(ies) that you would like information from: AQUATICS

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

Water Odyssey™............................. 21 512.392.1155 www.waterodyssey.com ATHLETIC/EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

Bishop Enterprises Inc................... 68 615.233.5173 www.turf-aire.com LIGHTING

Go Ape............................................ 69 415.553.0769 www.goape.com Greenfields Outdoor Fitness............3 888.315.9037 www.greenfieldsfitness.com Power Systems..................................9 800.321.6975 x 1012 www.powersystems.com/NRPA TriActive America........................... 23 800.587.4228 www.triactiveamerica.com BLEACHERS/ SEATING

Electrical Maintenance Distributors Inc.............................. 69 708.692.0078 www.emdinc.org MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Kay Park Recreation....................... 69 800.553.2476 www.kaypark.com BUILDINGS/TENTS/SHELTERS Easi-Set Buildings.......................... 68 866.252.8210 www.easisetbuildings.com Shade Systems Inc............................1 800.609.6066 www.shadesystemsinc.com/sails GOLFING PRODUCTS.....................................

My Mini Golf................................... 70 800.851.5442 www.startingtimegolf.com

Tree Stabilizer................................ 70 800.691.1148 www.treestabilizer.com PARK PRODUCTS/SERVICES Beacon Athletics...............................7 800.747.5985 www.beaconathletics.com Dogipot........................................... 15 800.364.7681 www.dogipot.com Kay Park Recreation....................... 69 800.553.2476 www.kaypark.com Livin The Dog Life™........................ 69 800.931.1562 www.livinthedoglife.com Lockers.com................................... 13 800.562.5377 www.lockers.com Most Dependable Fountains......... C2 800.552.6331 www.mostdependable.com

Pilot Rock........................................ 17 800.762.5002 www.pilotrock.com Willoughby........................................7 800.428.4065 www.willoughby-ind.com PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Cemer® Playground & Fitness.........5 +90.232.853.87.04 www.cemer.com.tr Landscape Structures®.................. C3 888.438.6574 www.playlsi.com SIGNS/SCOREBOARDS Berntsen ......................................... 68 877.686.8565 www.berntsen.com Colorado Time Systems®............... C4 970.667.1000 www.coloradotime.com Scoremaster................................... 70 888.726.7627 www.scoremaster.com UNIVERSITIES/ COLLEGES Clemson University........................ 41 864.656.3400 www.clemson.edu/prtm/graduateprogram

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

Wintertime Is for the Birds With little chance for significant snow in the forecast across wide swaths of the United States, typical wintertime recreation is at somewhat of a standstill. Sledding, skiing and the neighborhood snowball fight are all on hold until Mother Nature gifts us with new year snow, making this a perfect time to dust off the old binoculars and head out for some birdwatching. This time of year is big in the birding community — the National Audubon Society just wrapped up its annual Christmas Bird Count, which typically brings thousands of birders and their families to local parks and open spaces to count and catalog the wide array of birds on display. At Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Patuxent Park Naturalist Greg Kearns says winter is a wonderful time of year to see hundreds of different types of birds in varied habitats. “The big thing this time of year is waterfowl,” Kearns says. M-NCPPC boasts some six miles of continuous waterfront where visitors can catch glimpses of Canada geese, swans, ducks and raptors of several varieties, including the majestic bald eagle. Many songbirds can also be spotted — “ones that aren’t here in the summer,” Kearns adds. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers, juncos (like the cute little fella pictured here), American tree sparrows and redwinged blackbirds are just a sampling of the birds that can be found in and around M-NPPC’s properties. Kearns says most folks who join him on his regionally famous guided trips at Patuxent are fairly experienced at birdwatching, but, for novices, he recommends starting at the visitor’s center, where knowledgeable naturalists can provide a birding checklist — including more than 300 birds for which to look — and information on the best spots to meet a feathered friend.

All you need is a set of binoculars — “that’s 100 percent essential,” Kearns says — a decent field guide and perhaps a camera, and you’re off! For those in the Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or nearby environs, Kearns encourages a visit to www.mncppc.org for detailed information on Patuxent Park programs, or call 301.627.6074 to be connected directly with staff at the park. But, no matter where you are, consider adding this quiet, contemplative and often exciting hobby to your roster of wintertime activities. It’s yet another way to appreciate the diverse habitats and natural spaces available at your local park.

— Samantha Bartram, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation magazine

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©2016

PARKS&RECREATION JANUARY 2016 ◆ ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT ◆ VIRTUAL SENIOR CENTERS ◆ 2016 PARKS BUILD COMMUNITY ◆ FOCUS ON EDUCATION