Parks & Recreation April 2020

A P R I L 2020 N R PA .O RG

THE CONSERVATION ISSUE

Can Parks Save Fireflies? | Building Climate Resilient Communities | Alternatives to Glyphosate

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contentsapril 2020

RYAN ATKINS/FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS 2.0

volume 55 | number 4 | parksandrecreation.org

FEATURES

36 Can Parks Help Save Fireflies?

Richard J. Dolesh

It is no exaggeration to say that a large part of discovering the wonder of nature for many people began when they saw fireflies as kids.

Today, firefly populations face serious threats, such as loss of habitat, light pollution, pesticides and more. Several firefly experts agree that parks may be one of the best ways to contribute to firefly conservation. By taking action now to help fireflies thrive, park and recreation professionals can preserve a part of nature that enriches life for all.

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42 Weathering the Storm Kyla Donato

In Youngstown, Ohio, a community park is increasingly closed for repairs due to intense rainfall and flooding or structural damage from storms. This same town also struggles with population loss, high concentrations of poverty and an increasing number of vacant properties.

In the face of these challenges, investing in parks is not at the top of the city’s priorities. However, Youngstown is discovering that investment in parks and green solutions may be the key to unlocking the most cost-effective, benefit-rich options to reinvigorating the city.

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contents april

columns

departments

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10 We Are Parks & Recreation

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Are You Selecting the Right P&R Candidate? 10 Reflecting Our Values in the Community 12 North Port’s CAPRA Accreditation Journey 14 Industry Pioneer Dr. Joe Frost Passes Away on Feb. 17 16 Connect Hot Topics 18 Member Benefit: Five Tips for Using NRPA Connect 18

Letter From NRPA’s President and CEO We Are Proud to Stand with Parks and Recreation Kristine Stratton

Perspectives Conservation: A Small Gesture Goes a Long Way Jack Kardys

22 Finance for the Field How Much Impact Do Parks Have on Property Values?

John L. Crompton, Ph.D.

24 Advocacy

20 Research NRPA Park Pulse Data Can Enhance Your Marketing Kevin Roth

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grants Kyle Simpson

26 Health & Wellness

21 Park Pulse Conservation Education Starts with Parks and Recreation

48 Operations Effective Solutions to Trail Maintenance Obstacles 48 Cailín Hunsaker Illuminating Solutions to Light Pollution 49 Lindsay Collins

50 Products

Seattle P&R Tests Glyphosate Alternatives Patti Bakker

28 Social Equity Reinvigorating the Dialogue on Conservation and Social Equity Viniece Jennings, Ph.D., and Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D., MPH

30 Law Review Fired Parks Employee Claims Retaliation in Violation of ADA James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D.

51 Park Essentials 54 Advertiser Index 55 Parks & Recreation Crossword 56 Park Bench Branching Out Lindsay Collins

Cover image: Steven Smith, Dreamstime.com

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LETTER FROM NRPA’S PRESIDENT AND CEO

We Are Proud to Stand with Parks and Recreation Given today’s worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the NRPA team recognizes the heightened stress and anxiety over what will happen in the coming days, weeks and even months.

And, we are humbled and inspired by all that park and recreation professionals are doing right now to support the safety and welfare of communities across the country — from emergency services to meal provision to creative virtual programs. Through all of this, today and every day, NRPA is here for you. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing you the most up-to-date information and resources available to help you through these trying times.

As more state and local governments throughout the country make the difficult decision to close schools and urge citizens to ‘shelter in place,’ we acknowledge the significant role parks and trails will play in our individual and collective physical and mental health. Social distancing may be the new normal, but parks and green spaces remain central to health and wellness — even if it means staying six feet apart from one another. Amidst this crisis, adults, children and their pets will rely on parks more than ever before to exercise, recreate or simply breathe in fresh air. Parks are essential to healthy communities, and we offer guidance (www.nrpa.org/Coronavirus) on navigating our public green spaces with a responsible public health focus.

It is also imperative that we address the direct impact on our most vulnerable populations and the programs that serve them, such as youth and older adult nutrition programs. School closures and senior center closures mean children and older adults who depend on meals each day will no longer have access to vital nutrition. Thankfully, the federal government has taken actions that allow for more flexibility in getting youth the meals they need. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service announced that all 50 states, along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have been granted waiver approvals that will enable meal provision through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) in a non-congregate setting at area eligible sites. Programs that serve older adults are also adapting by changing to home delivery models or creating options for drive-thru meal service.

Be sure to visit the NRPA website (www.nrpa.org) or our Connect member platform for updates on COVID-19 from NRPA and the P&R community. During this ongoing crisis, we strongly recommend continuing to adhere to the guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (www.cdc.gov). Please be vigilant about your own health and the health of others by limiting your exposure, maintaining social distancing, washing your hands frequently and staying home if you don’t feel well.

These are undeniably challenging times. Park and recreation professionals, like you, remain dedicated and, as ever, among the critical solution providers in our communities. We are proud to support and stand with you.

In solidarity,

KRISTINE STR AT TON President and CEO 6

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PRESIDENT AND CEO Kristine Stratton VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lindsay Collins lcollins@nrpa.org EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR Suzanne Nathan snathan@nrpa.org PUBLICATION DESIGN Kim Mabon/Creative By Design CreativeByDesign.net SENIOR SALES MANAGER EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE Kip Ongstad 703.858.2174 kongstad@nrpa.org SENIOR SALES MANAGER WESTERN REGION AND ASIA Michelle Dellner 949.248.1057 mdellner@nrpa.org SALES COORDINATOR Meghan Fredriksen 703.858.2190 mfredriksen@nrpa.org PHOTOGRAPHY Dreamstime.com or NRPA (unless otherwise noted) MAGAZINE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Anthony-Paul Diaz, Chair Michael Abbaté, FASLA Neelay Bhatt Ryan Eaker Beau Fieldsend Robert García Kathleen Gibi Paul Gilbert, CPRP Tim Herd, CPRE Brian Johnson, CPSI Denise Johnson-Caldwell Roslyn Johnson, CPRP Michele Lemons Sam Mendelsohn Maria Nardi Lisa Paradis, CPRP Paula Sliefert Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO Anne-Marie Spencer Stephen Springs

Living Our Mission The world needs more. More Connection. More Movement.

More Community. More Play. Play brings people together and helps communities thrive. It is our passion and our mission to bring Play That Moves You to the communities we serve. We’ve been doing it for 100 years and we’re just getting started.

It’s time to Join Our Movement.

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

Conservation: A Small Gesture Goes a Long Way On February 13, 2020, after several devastating months of record-breaking heat and severe drought that triggered a state of emergency, Australian fire officials finally declared the New South Wales brush fires contained. While torrential rainfall eventually vanquished multiple blazes, the destruction left behind couldn’t be more sobering: 33 deaths, approximately 3,000 homes destroyed or damaged and an estimated 1 billion animals — including kangaroos, koalas and other wildlife — killed in one of the worst catastrophes in history. The most current estimates, as reported by BBC News, reveal that 27.2 million acres of bush, forest and parks across Australia burned to the ground.

As Australians continue to grapple with the aftermath, these tragic brush fires should serve as a wakeup call to the rest of us. After all, the United States is not immune to record-breaking temperatures or devastating droughts, as states like California can attest. And as the debate continues about the severity of the climate change crisis, those of us in parks and recreation remain steadfast in our mission to protect and preserve open space for people to enjoy nature now and, hopefully, well into the future.

As a key pillar, conservation is a priority for our NRPA Public Policy team, which advocates on Capitol Hill for much-needed funding for our industry to continue that work. What’s more, we partner with local park and recreation agencies to offer tools, resources and education in an effort to bring communities closer to nature and increase sustainability through conservation practices within parks.

One issue requiring our immediate attention is the potential threat to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State Assistance Fund. In February, the White House announced plans to eliminate this critical

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funding despite bipartisan support in Congress. Why is this important? The State Assistance Fund, a matching grant program, funds thousands of outdoor recreation projects in local parks. Funding comes directly from offshore oil tax revenue, and thus, not one dime comes from taxpayers. And while we recently garnered permanent funding for LWCF, the celebration was shortlived when the Trump Administration announced that its proposed fiscal year 2021 budget would eliminate funding to the LWCF State Assistance Fund. Here’s the thing…you can make a difference, but you must take action now! Contact your members of Congress (nrpa.org/Advocacy-Engage) and urge them to reject park and recreation funding cuts. We need to make our voices heard on the Hill. Period.

Lastly, don’t forget to sign up for the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz (nrpa.org/BioBlitz). This national campaign aims to bring awareness and community involvement in the pollinator crisis through local parks and recreation along with other organizations that share this concern. We encourage all local parks to host a pollinator BioBlitz in June. And as an incentive, if your agency signs up to host an event during the month of June, you will be entered to win a $1,000 prize and one of three prize packs to assist with your pollinator habitats or programs.

Earth Day is on April 22, so I encourage you and your community members to do at least one thing that will make a difference in preserving our planet — whether it be carpooling, walking or biking to work, planting a tree, picking up trash at a beach or park, or simply replacing plastic water bottles with reusable ecofriendly alternatives. Remember, a small gesture goes a long way.

JACK K ARDYS Chair, NRPA Board of Directors

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

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

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chair of the Board of Directors Jack Kardys J. Kardys Strategies Miami, Florida

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

Chair-Elect Michael P. Kelly Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois Treasurer Jesús Aguirre, CPRE

Carolyn McKnight-Fredd, CPRP

Seattle Parks and Recreation Seattle, Washington

Herman Parker

Previously with BREC Dallas, Texas

Joshua Medeiros, Ed.D., CPRP, AFO City of Bristol Parks & Recreation Bristol, Connecticut

Secretary Carolyn McKnight-Fredd, CPRP

Formerly of City of San Diego, California, Parks and Recreation Department San Diego, California

Previously with BREC Dallas, Texas

Ian Proud

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

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

Jesús Aguirre, CPRE Seattle Parks and Recreation Seattle, Washington

Hayden Brooks American Realty Corporation Austin, Texas

Kong Chang City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Saint Paul, Minnesota

Kevin Coyle, J.D.

Playworld Systems Williamsport, Pennsylvania

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

Xavier D. Urrutia Alamo Colleges District San Antonio, Texas

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

Philip Wu, M.D. Formerly of Kaiser Permanente Northwest Region Portland, Oregon

LIFE TRUSTEES Beverly D. Chrisman Lexington, South Carolina

National Wildlife Federation Reston, Virginia

Anne S. Close

Jose Felix Diaz

James H. Evans

Ballard Partners Miami, Florida

New York, New York

Victor Dover

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning Miami, Florida

Earl T. Groves

Richard Gulley

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D.

City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department San Diego, California

Jack Kardys J. Kardys Strategies Miami, Florida

Fort Mill, South Carolina

Rosemary Hall Evans

Gastonia, North Carolina Richmond, Virginia

Harry G. Haskell, Jr.

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Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Kathryn A. Porter Mendham, New Jersey

Michael P. Kelly

Perry J. Segura

Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois

New Iberia, Louisiana

R. Dean Tice

Karen Bates Kress

Round Hill, Virginia

Park Advocate Emigrant, Montana

Eugene A. Young, CPRP

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WE ARE PARKS & RECREATION Are You Selecting the Right P&R Candidate?

By Nick Aceves, CPRP

S

o, it’s time to recruit and hire someone new into your organization and you are considering what to do. First, let’s hope that you are replacing a great employee who you encouraged to grow and develop inside your organization. There is no need to fret over the impending process, but it may help to keep a few things in mind as you figure out who is the right fit for your park and recreation team.

Pre-Process Approach You should never go into the process of hiring new staff with thoughts of dread. You should, however, keep in mind that you won’t find the exact same person who just left. Instead of looking for a clone, keep your mind open to whoever walks into the room. Different perspectives and personalities will bring fresh ideas and add to your organization. That said, you must determine which way you prefer to handle the process.

The Recruitment and Selection Process When hiring a full-time position, usually there should be at least a three-step interview process: (1) the application, (2) the first round of interviews and (3) the second round of interviews. The first round of in-

terviews can be as simple as three to five questions emailed to the candidate. This is a good time to make them think critically with questions like: “What would your biggest naysayer and supporter both say about you?” Use these submissions to whittle down your selection pool for in-person interviews.

Once you have the number of desired in-person candidates, make sure your process will allow them to convey their experience, ideas, ambitions and personality. This can be done through role-play scenarios or by asking general questions about philosophy and having them elaborate on past experiences. Make sure when you bring them in, you have at least one other person on hand to take part in the process and provide their perspective

BO N U S TI P

Check out the NRPA Career Center to post your open positions. Employers receive an average of 10 applications per posting. The Career Center provides access to nearly 7,000 searchable résumés. There are new resources for employers, such as sample job descriptions, tips to conduct a successful interview and background screening information.

on how the candidate performed and what they had to offer.

More competitive positions may require more interview rounds and additional visits with top candidates. This would be a good time for a facilities tour, where you can talk in a more relaxed setting to gauge other candidate characteristics. Once your process is completed, debrief with the interview panel and use all the information available to come to a decision.

Adding to Your Team Remember that who you hire will be a vital member of your team. Expecting them to be the person who last held the position will only frustrate both you and them. Give your new employee the chance to contribute and share what you saw in them during the process. If you enter the interview process with an optimistic attitude, chances are you will end up with a great and fitting hire.

Nick Aceves, CPRP, is the Director of Parks and Recreation at City of Salisbury, North Carolina (nacev@salisburync.gov).

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

Reflecting Our Values in the Community

By Carrie Williams

A

merican Water has long believed in the importance of being a good neighbor and good steward of the environment. Its customers are at the center of everything the company does and every decision it makes.

With a primary responsibility of delivering clean, affordable, reliable water and wastewater services, American Water knows that “how” a company operates is just as important as “what” a company does. The company believes in doing well by doing good. It is imperative to be an integral part of the communities we serve.

The American Water Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of American Water, has partnered with NRPA for the past seven years to bring nature-based and water-play amenities to communities across the country through its Building Better Communities Grant Program.

Through our work, we have found that splash pads are a wonderful way to ensure water access for all while

supporting our conservation focus and engaging community members in environmental education. With aging community pools and a desire to create new public spaces, many agencies are looking to splash pads for creative water-play opportunities in their parks.

These splash pads can be designed to be all-inclusive, providing every age and ability the opportunity to recreate and escape from the summer heat.

We understand conservation can mean a variety of things to park professionals. Whether it’s focused on the daily operations of your agency or large overarching sustainability plans, each conservation practice is important to the community you serve. Most of these topics may be technical and serious, however, splash pads spark joy.

Although a splash pad may not immediately cause you to think of water conservation, it should.

Design elements can include a recirculation system to reuse water after it goes through a treatment system, very much like a pool, or programmable low-flow elements to ensure the splash pad uses less water. Many of our projects have included green infrastructure to further promote conservation practices to address runoff and stormwater management. These spaces have included native pollinator gardens, bioswales and permeable surfaces. By incorporating these features and other environmental and water stewardship practices, we can ensure communities understand the importance of water and help protect this vital resource.

NRPA also supports our grantees’ professional development through the NRPA Splash Pad Certification courses (nrpa.org/SplashPad).

This online certification provides the knowledge and skills required to create and implement a splash pad, with a focus on the expertise needed to plan, design, operate and maintain these spaces.

The American Water Charitable Foundation proudly supports American Water communities across the country in partnership with NRPA. This helps families not only enjoy the wonders of water, but also learn how every drop counts in ensuring we are stewards of this precious commodity.

Carrie Williams is President of the American Water Charitable Foundation (carrie.williams@amwater.com).

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

North Port’s CAPRA Accreditation Journey What we’ve learned from the experience

By Tricia Wisner

T

he decision to undertake the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation process is not a light one. Employees who have been a part of the team here at the city of North Port, Florida, recalled a previous attempt that ended with just the beginning of the framework completed. This attempt had to be different.

Prior to embarking on the journey to accreditation, we asked the accredited agencies around us a number of questions, such as “Why did you take on accreditation?” “How did you tackle it?” “What did your organization learn from the process?”

— and above all, “Was it worth the work it takes to gain accreditation?”

Why Accreditation?

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CITY OF NORTH PORT

Since its inception, North Port Parks and Recreation had been a division in a broader department within the city’s government. However, with growth

in our region booming, the city’s population surpassed 70,000 residents — with more than 10,000 under the age of 18. What’s more, current projects, like the construction of a new aquatic center, spurred increases to our scope of work. The City Commission realized the need to meet the growing demand and supported the transition of our division into a new parks and recreation department.

As proposed budgeting and organizational charts for the new department were still under consideration by city administration

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and the city commission, a team of managers and supervisors gathered to craft the department’s vision and mission statements. The team realized that the new department designation came with a great deal of change, and that change was a great opportunity to set standards and guidelines for our new department.

The team carefully worded the department’s vision statement, which made it clear that the department’s first major task was to become a recognized leader; and the CAPRA accreditation process was the path to achieve this designation.

Our Process Each member of the team had varying levels of familiarity with the accreditation process and the management team knew that this time, the efforts had to have full staff support, clear goals and deadlines to achieve the long-reaching change needed to meet the first task of our new department’s vision.

Weekly meeting invitations for the next year went out to all park and recreation managers, supervisors and program coordinators, inviting them to the “CAPRA Book Club.”

At the first meeting, all attendees received a gleaming binder with a copy of the 2014 CAPRA Standards, 5th edition, an overview of the accreditation process and examples of other agencies’ self-assessments.

Director Sandy Pfundheller and Assistant Director Tricia Wisner accept the accreditation award for the City of North Port Parks and Recreation at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore.

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As parks and recreation became a department on October 1, 2018, the team was busy working through the framework of accreditation and bookmarking pages throughout the Management of Park and Recreation Agencies, 4th Edition. Week after week, CAPRA goals competed with the team’s daily tasks for prioritization and during each CAPRA Book Club meeting, the team worked to focus efforts, discuss potential issues and outline solutions.

The Accreditation Ripple Effect At first, the team believed that accreditation was solely a park and recreation industry goal. CAPRA is, after all, from a national organization that focuses on park and recreation services. However, one resounding benefit from this process is learning that no department can be a leader in its field without support throughout the overall agency. Successful completion of the CAPRA accreditation process requires staff to seek ways to break down departmental silos.

To obtain needed evidence of com

pliance and ensure the documents were up-to-date with expectations, CAPRA Book Club team members spurred conversations with department leaders throughout the city.

Such discussions with the city’s human resources department helped drive needed changes to the personnel policy and onboarding procedures. Discussions with the finance department aided in clarity on procedures and documentation within both teams and meetings with the police department helped outline a stronger partnership.

After submitting the selfassessment form, we saw the true impact of CAPRA begin to take effect. The team was no longer focused just on gathering evidence to check off a list; now it was time for these items to really live within our organization. In addition, changes started to show up everywhere. Meeting agendas now always include the department’s mission and vision stated proudly at the top and a standing CAPRA item to discuss updates and ensure all members of the team are fully

City of North Port commissioners, staff, advisory board chair and the CAPRA visit team at CoolToday Park in Florida.

versed on the standards. Also, using park metrics helps us provide statistics to the data-driven public and decision makers.

The CAPRA visit, made by the visit team, really solidified our efforts. The visit team, comprised of Visit Chair Rod Tarullo and visitors LeAnn Williams and Scott Knox, brought the CAPRA fundamentals to life. Discussions with this team increased our department’s understanding of the driving goals behind each CAPRA section and outlined a path for continued implementation.

Is It Worth the Work?

Receiving recognition as a highly performing agency with only about 2 percent of other agencies nationwide has been a great motivator for our team and, ultimately, the result of accreditation has been that it outlines a format for true success. It is worth every second of effort.

Tricia Wisner is Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation at the city of North Port, Florida (twisner@cityofnorthport.com).

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

Industry Pioneer Dr. Joe Frost Passes Away on Feb. 17 ‘Contemporary Father of Play Advocacy’ devoted career to play and child development research

By Lindsay Collins

A

fter committing nearly 50 years to researching and advocating for the importance of both play and safe play spaces, Dr. Joe Frost came to be known as the “Contemporary Father of Play Advocacy.” Frost, who began his academic career studying child development at the University of Arkansas, the University of Michigan and the University of Maryland, went on to earn his doctorate from the University of Arkansas. Subsequently, he served as an assistant professor of child development at Iowa State University before taking a position at the University of Texas at Austin in 1966, where he retired after 34 years as the Parker Centennial Professor Emeritus.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE U.S. PLAY COALITION

During his tenure as professor at University of Texas at Austin, Frost directed a research project on play and play environments that spanned nearly four decades — the longest running research project in this realm to be conducted in the United States. The site of the research was the playground at Redeemer Lutheran, where Frost attended church.

Fran Mainella, former director of the National Park Service and past president of NRPA, recalls

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Frost’s coining of the term “play deprivation crisis” as critically influential during a time when recreation was declining in the United States. “Since the ’80s, play and its value had started to decrease,” says Mainella. “That impacted visitation to the national parks, local parks, state parks — all the different areas that I had been working in through the years. In 2009, [there was] a summit on the value of play, and [Frost] was one of our speakers. He talked about how we had a play deprivation crisis underway, not only in the United States, but in the world. He talked about how this needed to not be overlooked, and so many people were overlooking it. That really hit home for me and inspired me to create the U.S. Play Coalition.”

Throughout his career, Frost published 20 books and many more academic articles, as well as collected research and writings on play and childhood development. Many of

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Frost’s works have been translated into numerous other languages. In 2004, Frost donated his collection of books, articles and research to the University of the Incarnate Word.

Frost’s research also led to numerous other published books based on his work. Mary Ruth Moore, editor of Play in American Life: Essays in Honor of Joe L. Frost and Play in American Life, Vol. 2: Essays in Honor of Joe L. Frost, regards Frost both as a mentor and a friend. Recalling her time at University of Texas at Austin with Frost, she says, “I was just amazed… because he was not like many of the other professors I’d had. He wanted to know you. When you came into his office, there was a sense of ‘Oh, I’m important here.’ He valued you as a person and always saw the potential that you have.”

Frost is remembered as a pioneer in his field, shaping the world of play and play environments while advocating for all children to have the right to play. “It’s hard to divorce [Frost’s] work from him, because he was an incredibly humble person who cared deeply about others, and it came through in every single thing he did,” says Moore. “That was the kind of man he was. He just went out of his way to help others.”

Lindsay Collins is Associate Editor for Parks & Recreation magazine (lcollins@nrpa.org).

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

Hot Topics NRPA Connect is an online network with nearly 65,000 professionals to answer your questions, share your challenges and discuss trending topics in the field.

Check out what is being discussed this month: Rental Fee Waivers or Reductions for Community Groups — An NRPA member has sought advice on different diverse community groups and organizations asking to use their community centers at no or very low cost. They are interested in the process and criteria you use to equitably vet requests and determine what percentage or if any discounts should apply.

Several NRPA members offered the following suggestions: We have an ordinance setting our fees for our community center. Our free rate states, “City business functions; local nonprofit charitable events; Copley-Fairlawn (our local school) school-related business/activities; Fairlawn civic group functions” — this includes area scouting groups as well. Then, we do have a reduced rate for nonprofit groups (that must provide us with their 501c3) using our building. Also, our residents pay half the price [of] non-residents.

As a government not-for-profit, we do not give discounts for any group or organization. As executive director, the best way for me to not get asked to give discounts is to explain that I just can’t do that.... If a group would like to request a discount or free rate, they can attend a board meeting and present to the 11-member board.

None have ever done that in nine years.... Our rates for rental are affordable enough for all and barely cover our expenses to prep, accommodate and clean up after their events!

We provide an in-kind program, where a nonprofit or service group can complete a service project or community service in our parks to offset the cost of room/field rental. We’ve only been doing it for about three months this way, so we’re still feeling out the success of it.

Our fees are set by ordinances governed by the county. If a group would like any type of reduction of fees, there is a process in place.

They must be a nonprofit, state their mission, submit an event plan. The packet is then presented at the bi-monthly Commission Meeting for approval. We also offer Enrichment Packages, where the group does service projects in the park to offset expenses prior to their event. There is an off-season and in-season option.

Log in to NRPA Connect (nrpaconnect.org) today to share examples or chime into the discussion.

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Five Tips for Using NRPA Connect

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RPA Connect is an online networking platform that makes it easy to communicate with an experienced network of nearly 65,000 peers ready to share best practices. Here are five tips to get the most out of using Connect: Update Your Email Preferences – In your Connect profile, under ‘Community Notifications,’ you have the option to customize when you receive emails. You can choose different options for different communities.

1

Join a Network – Networks are member-exclusive communities.With a diverse set of networks, you can engage with like-minded professionals who face the same challenges and opportunities as you do every day. Many have monthly phone calls and meet in person at the NRPA Annual Conference.

2

Favorite Resources – You now can save your favorite resources you find on Connect! When you want to save a resource (e.g., RFP, job description, brochure design, etc.), you can click on the blue ‘Action’ button and ‘Add to Favorites.’ It will save the resource, so you always can refer back.

3

@Mentions – The @Mentions feature allows community members to mention other users in various locations on NRPA Connect. @Mentions are a great way to invite specific individuals to join a conversation, provide recognition and call attention to specific resources.

4

NRPA Connect App – Now you can search resources, ask questions and browse discussions all from your phone. Search MemberCentric in the app store to download today!

5

Did you know? “The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly is a pollinator.�

Help Raise Pollinator Awareness Host a BioBlitz in your community this June, and your agency could win $1,000.

See nrpa.org/bioblitz for details!

RESEARCH NRPA Park Pulse Data Can Enhance Your Marketing

By Kevin Roth

T

he NRPA research team works to help park and recreation professionals on two primary goals: making optimal decisions on operations, programming and spending, and making the case for greater funding. We share our findings through detailed reports and easy-to-understand graphics that touch on the main research findings.

These findings also provide you the opportunity to market your offerings to the public and to highlight your agency’s contributions to the community.

One example is NRPA Park Pulse, our monthly poll that gauges the U.S. public’s opinion on park and recreation-related topics.

The goal of each poll is to champion the work of every park and recreation professional by broadening the public’s view of the many ways you impact our communities. The polls have covered fun topics (e.g., dog parks, outdoor holiday celebrations, parks as staycation destinations) and touched on some of the most pressing issues facing our communities (e.g., healthy food options for the most vulnerable populations, support provision during and after a natural disaster and tobacco bans in public areas).

20 Parks & Recreation

We present the NRPA Park Pulse poll results in an infographic that we publish in every issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, share through NRPA’s social media channels and post on our website (nrpa.org/ ParkPulse).

NRPA Park Pulse poll results and infographics are ready to share, whether it is to market your agency’s amenities and services or to make a case to public officials or other key stakeholders. Consider an example from January, when the poll found that nearly 3 in 5 U.S. adults acknowledge that they are less physically active during the winter months. In highlighting this result, the infographic noted that “local park and recreation agencies provide a variety of indoor and outdoor options to beat winter inactivity,” including indoor gyms and pools, yoga and skating.

On January 2, we shared the poll results and infographic on all of NRPA’s social media channels. Thousands of park and recreation professionals and enthusiasts viewed the infographic on these platforms, with many liking and sharing the posts with their networks. Some agencies used the

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shareable findings to highlight how they are an easy-to-access, lowcost/no-cost solution to the winter doldrums. A few examples include: • Chicago Park District shared the poll’s key findings on Twitter and stated, “We have you covered with a variety of indoor/outdoor options to beat the winter blues, including fitness centers & classes, swimming, ice rinks & trails.”

The tweet, which also featured a graphic of the agency’s outdoor ice skating offerings, ended with a link to the agency’s website.

• Lafayette (Indiana) Parks and Recreation tweeted out the infographic with the question: “Did you know a monthly pass to workout at McAllister Rec Center is only $30? And a day pass is only $2?!” and linked to the agency’s website.

• The Minneapolis Star-Tribune featured the January poll results in an interview with Colleen Tusa of St. Paul (Minnesota) Adaptive Recreation on recreation opportunities the city offers to people of all abilities.

Keep an eye out for NRPA Park Pulse each month. Even better, we welcome your feedback and ideas for future poll questions.

Please email me your poll question ideas at kroth@nrpa.org. I look forward to seeing your suggestions.

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

NRPA PARK PULSE Conservation Education Starts with Parks and Recreation

91%

of U.S. adults want children to learn or participate in conservation efforts, including:

Waste Reduction (74%)

Nature-Based Recreation (62%)

Wildlife Preservation (56%)

Nature Health Benefits (58%)

Planting Trees (56%)

Gardening (57%)

Climate Education (50%)

Local park and recreation professionals are leaders in educating the next generation of environmental stewards.

More than half of park and recreation agencies nationwide implement environmental sustainability activities that foster public engagement and education.

Each month, through a poll of 1,000 U.S. residents focused on park and recreation issues, NRPA Park Pulse helps tell the park and recreation story. Questions span from the serious to the more lighthearted. The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com).

Visit nrpa.org/ParkPulse for more information.

FINANCE FOR THE FIELD How Much Impact Do Parks Have on Property Values?

By John L. Crompton, Ph.D.

T

he Board of Commissioners of Central Park in their annual reports from 1856 through 1873 were the first to attempt to answer the question of how much impact parks have on property values.

Subsequently, many other studies emerged, but when viewed through today’s lens, their results were naïve and unconvincing because the research tools available to them were relatively primitive.

Around the start of the new millennium, five key methodological developments ushered in a new era of sophisticated studies: (1) research models became more robust, so they could incorporate many more explanatory variables; (2) statistical tools were more sophisticated, so more of the potential factors likely to influence a property’s value could be controlled; (3) multi-listing services’ electronic databases be-

22 Parks & Recreation

came available, so sales values rather than assessed values could be used; (4) Geographic Information Systems enabled distances between residential dwellings and parks to be measured along street networks, rather than only by straight lines; and (5) electronic mapping meant researchers no longer had to physically visit sites to measure distances and determine access, so sample sizes could be larger.

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Impact of Distance from a Park on Sales Price In a recent article in the Journal of Leisure Research, Sarah Nicholls, a professor in the department of business at Swansea University’s School of Management, and I reviewed 33 studies published in peer-reviewed publications during the new millennium, which measured the impact of distance from a park on the sales price of a residence. The review revealed six insights, comprising: Direction and Magnitude of Impact. In all but three of the 33 studies a positive premium emerged.

The magnitude of the premium reported in each study was assigned to one of three categories: lower than 4 percent, 5 percent to 9 percent and 10 percent or higher.

Approximately the same number of premiums were classified into each category. This led us to conclude that a premium of 8 percent to 10 percent on property values abutting or fronting a passive park in urban environments is a reasonable starting point guideline for developing estimates.

In the three analyses where parks had either no significant impact on sales price or a significant negative impact, the unexpected findings were attributed to noise, congestion and reduced privacy being sufficiently disturbing to adjacent property owners that they outweighed the positive amenity value associated with being close to a park.

Range of the impact. There was

reasonable consensus among the studies that parks had a substantial impact up to a distance of 500 to 600 feet. For community-sized parks measuring more than 40 acres, the influence range tended to extend out to 2,000 feet, but after 500 feet the influence was relatively small.

Potential downsides of living adjacent to a park.

A majority of studies confirmed that premiums were linear; i.e., they generally were highest for properties closest to a park and influence declined with distance.

However, in some cases, homes adjacent to a park did not show the highest premium, because the value of locating next to it was outweighed by negative factors — such as congestion, street parking, litter and vandalism, noise and intrusive ballfield lights.

The impacts of different types of parks are different.

Premiums were invariably more positive when properties were close to passive rather than active parks; and proximity to water areas and immediate adjacency to golf courses translated into higher premiums, while proximity to cemeteries, sometimes, resulted in negative premiums.

The size of the park matters. All else being equal, the larger the size of a park, the higher the premium is likely to be. This may be partially explained by larger parks having more buffers to insulate proximate residents from potential negative factors.

Premiums associated with multifamily or smalllot properties were higher than those accruing to single-family or large-lot properties. For many who live in single-family homes, backyards are a preferred substitute for amenities offered at public parks since they often contain items, such as playground equipment, decks, barbeque facilities, basketball hoops, etc.

In contrast, those living in multifamily complexes lack such amenities and, consequently, are prepared to pay a higher percentage premium for close access to them.

John L. Crompton, Ph.D., is a University Distinguished Professor, Regents Professor and Presidential Professor for Teaching Excellence in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University and an elected Councilmember for the City of College Station (jcrompton@tamu.edu).

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Conclusions Results from the 33 reviewed studies varied widely, because the context of each park is unique. Consequently, these generalizations should be viewed as ‘points of departure,’ and it should be recognized that they may not consistently apply in the context of a particular park.

Figure 1 (see p. 22) summarizes the generalized results. It recognizes both positive and negative impacts on property values are possible. Its upper half suggests positive premiums associated with proximity and recognizes that they are likely to decline as distance from

a park increases. The lower half indicates that any negative impacts are likely to be limited to properties close to a park, and these will decline more rapidly than positive impacts, as distance from the park increases — i.e., the positive curve extends for a greater distance and is likely to be flatter than the negative curve.

A large majority of studies reported results that were best characterized by the ‘a’ or ‘b’ tracks of the figure; i.e., the magnitude of the positive premium decreased with increased distance. However, there were several analyses that reflected the ‘c’ track, indicating that properties immediately adjacent to a park, sometimes, experienced nuisances that nullified the amenity value. Furthermore, only three of the 33 studies reported insignificant or negative impacts characterized by track ‘d.’

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ADVOCACY

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program Grants Application deadline is July 10

By Kyle Simpson

D

o you have a park project that lacks funding in a community that currently doesn’t have access to a local park? Is your community struggling to fund the redevelopment of an underutilized and aging park? If you answered yes to either of these questions and you live in an urban area, you might be leaving money on the table, especially if you aren’t applying for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) grants.

ORLP Grants Support Urban Spaces The ORLP grants are a subset of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and have long been a priority for NRPA. Due to the price of land and other factors, LWCF funding was largely going to more suburban and rural areas.

Thus, the ORLP program was de24 Parks & Recreation

signed to provide larger grants to more urban areas that lack access to parks.

The program has funded some truly amazing projects in its short lifetime. For this grant cycle, the Department of Interior has identified priorities, which include connecting underserved communities and projects that support economic growth

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and jobs in a community. It’s important to consider all of these factors when applying. This information can be found in the notice of funding (tinyurl.com/wkycd6q).

Do I Qualify?

While cities like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago certainly meet ORLP’s definition of “urban area,” so do cities like Dubuque, Iowa.

The definition the National Park Service uses when determining eligibility specifies that the area must have more than 50,000 residents and be one of the United States Census Bureau’s urbanized areas.

The current population list the Cen-

sus Bureau uses dates back to 2010 and has 497 eligible areas. To check to see if your city qualifies, visit the Census Bureau’s list (tinyurl.com/ rurtxgd) or learn more about the definition on the Census Bureau’s website (tinyurl.com/y6t6brld).

(tinyurl.com/ura97xr). Your state LWCF administer will be able to provide information on how they plan to select the four projects that your state will submit to the National Park Service for consideration.

How to Apply

2020 Grants

Localities that are interested in applying for the grant must go through their state. However, the National Park Service decides which projects receive grants. Each state may nominate up to four proposals that the National Park Service will select for this funding round. In order to apply, you’ll need to reach out to your state LWCF administrator; find this contact information on the National Park Service website

During this grant cycle, the National Park Service will be awarding $40 million for projects. The awards provide funding between $300,000 and $1 million. That means a lot of money is going out the door, and it could benefit your community. It’s important to remember that ORLP is a part of LWCF and as such, there are strict matching requirements and rules about the use of the land after receiving the ORLP

grants. Information on the rules is provided in the notice of funding.

The matching requirement can be met using any non-federal money, so be sure to talk to your community and state to ensure you have access to the matching funds when applying.

These grants have the power to transform underinvested local communities that currently don’t have access to local parks. If your community has these needs and meets the eligibility standards, don’t leave this money on the table. Applications from the states are due to the National Park Service by July 10, 2020, so contact your state soon to ensure you meet their upcoming deadlines.

Kyle Simpson is Senior Government Affairs Manager at NRPA (ksimpson@nrpa.org).

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Seattle P&R Tests Glyphosate Alternatives

By Patti Bakker

P

ark and recreation professionals across the country are working to ensure their agencies adopt best practices that safeguard the public’s health. One recent topic that is being debated across the field is the use of products containing glyphosate in parks, considering that the International Agency for Research on Cancer recently classified the chemical as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” To address the potential health threat posed by glyphosate, many agencies are reducing or eliminating their use of glyphosate products to ensure everyone has access to safe and healthy spaces. Not only does this shift in practice address the health of both park staff and their communities by reducing or eliminating their exposure to the chemical, but also it supports healthier environments for wildlife, such as pollinators and aquatic life. As municipalities are restricting or banning these chemicals to promote healthier spaces, they need to source alternatives to help deal with the weed issues the chemicals have been increasingly relied on to address. Seattle is one municipality that is implementing more glyphosate-free solutions on its public lands.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION

Seattle Goes Glyphosate-Free

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In Seattle, RoundUp — which contains glyphosate — was previously the most used herbicide by city gardeners and maintenance staff. In 2019, prompted by environmental and public health concerns, Seattle restricted the use of herbicides containing glyphosate on public land.

The city’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program reclassified glyphosate as a Tier 1 product, meaning that its use requires rigorous review and approval from the city’s IPM interdisciplinary team (IDT).

The restriction poses a significant challenge to Seattle Parks and Recreation, which manages 6,414 acres of parkland (11 percent of Seattle’s area). Its parkland is divided between undeveloped areas (40 percent) and

Seattle Parks and Recreation staff tests hot foam as an environmentally friendly alternative to glyphosate for weed control.

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developed parks (60 percent), and RoundUp has been an important tool in both. (It should be noted that Seattle Parks and Recreation has never used herbicides on lawn areas or athletic fields, or near children’s play areas or water bodies.) While different types of landscapes have different public uses and receive different levels of maintenance, RoundUp previously provided a single goto method for weed control. Moving forward, we are seeking effective alternatives to herbicide use, and are currently implementing three methods: (1) treat the weed, (2) pull it out and (3) heat it up.

Treat the Weed The IDT’s list of herbicide options includes products containing the active ingredients imazapyr and triclopyr. These products, like glyphosate, are highly effective in controlling the entire weed: once applied, they translocate throughout the plant, including the roots. We expect to expand our use of imazapyr and triclopyr products. However, there are lingering concerns in the community and among staff about the use of any non-organic chemical options. The IDT continues to explore and evaluate other reduced-risk options for direct treatment. For instance, plant oils can be applied to control weeds.

Pull It Out While weeds always can be removed manually, few municipalities can provide enough gardening and maintenance staff to manage weedy landscapes with manual removal alone. Another factor is how physi-

cally taxing this work is for staff.

Manual weed control can be useful, though, when augmented by applying wood-chip mulch after removal, to prevent re-emergence. With the benefit of large amounts of readily available arborist-chip mulch, Seattle has found this strategy effective.

Heat It Up Heat-based weeding devices — using either propane flame or hot water and foam — warm plants until they degrade and disintegrate. Seattle is testing these devices in limited areas.

Flame weeding carries the risks of fires, burns and smoke inhalation.

All staff using these devices must be thoroughly trained to minimize risks.

We have used hot water and foam devices with good results in city landscapes for the past several years, and believe they show great promise. These devices use a low-pressure process that combines heated water with biodegradable foam made from plant material. When the heated mixture is applied, the foam holds heat on the target weed, allowing cell degradation and desiccation to occur. When the foam cools, the area is safe for people and animals. This environmentally friendly, herbicide-free alternative allows persons without pesticide licenses to do the work that previously could be done only by license holders.

Heat treatments have far broader potential for applications, particularly in difficult-to-maintain landscapes, such as lidded reservoirs, athletic fields, gravel walking trails, pesticide-free parks, bioswales and other stormwater infrastructure.

Since glyphosate had become a major part of Seattle’s weed control, the shift to using other methods has required work to adjust

successfully. But, this also creates an opportunity for staff teams and managers to get back to the basics of IPM and refresh all staff thinking and practices around appropri-

ate, safe and healthy weed control methods.

Patti Bakker is Interim Natural Resources Unit Manager at Seattle Parks and Recreation (patricia.bakker@seattle.gov).

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SOCIAL EQUITY

Reinvigorating the Dialogue on Conservation and Social Equity

By Viniece Jennings, Ph.D., and Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D., MPH

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF EVONNE BLYTHERS LAPSEY

Darryl Haddock, WAWA’s director of environmental education, talks to children at the Outdoor Activity Center in Southwest Atlanta.

A

ccording to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, conservation can be defined as the “careful preservation and protection of something.” While the general dialogue on conservation has focused on natural resources, conserving and enhancing the highest expression of an inclusive and diverse social fabric are equally important.

Whether it’s the tenants of the “beloved community” described by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or today’s need for social equity, we are reminded that places and the experiences that we have in them matter. This understanding can also relate to our perception and value of parks and recreation. A recent article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (tinyurl.com/vafpg2r) describes the potential to enhance social cohesion and public health through access and engagement in urban parks. Social cohesion has been defined in many ways, yet it often involves the interpersonal dynamics, values and processes that support feelings of trust and belonging.

As you can imagine, the presence of positive social cohesion is tied to the social ecosystem that we have or possess the potential to create.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice every-

28 Parks & Recreation

where. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. What-

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ever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” Hence, conserving the tenants of social justice and equity can be described as a moral imperative (tinyurl.com/v7mwe4g). As natural systems have taught us the interconnected dynamic of ecosystems, social systems that reflect justice and equity are critical to truly reach a sustainable destiny. Quality communities and the ability to stay in them support the vision of social equity. This mindset recognizes that we are all part of a larger ecosystem whose components are intricately connected. Consequently, we cannot afford for social equity to be an accessory in our environmental vision, it must be a critical ingredient to infused from the onset.

Seeing Communities in a New Light Many organizations are energizing their communities through a social equity lens and urban green spaces.

For example, the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA) (wawaonline.org/about) is grounded in a mission to improve the quality of life within the West Atlanta Watershed by protecting, preserving and restoring its community’s natural resources. This Georgia communitybased organization was established as result of community efforts to halt discriminatory wastewater treatment

practices in West Atlanta, and it has grown to become an impactful force in community-centered sustainable development. For more than 20 years, WAWA has pioneered efforts to advance culturally relevant environmental education, community science and authentic community engagement in watershed and green space protection, and to advance environmental justice in Northwest and Southwest Atlanta neighborhoods. In 2012, the organization launched the Atlanta Children’s Forest Network in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This includes more than 350 acres of publicly owned green space in Southwest Atlanta to increase visitation, provide non-formal environmental education, hands-on

land and water stewardship, and programs that promote physical activity in the outdoors for underserved communities. Through its efforts, WAWA has dramatically expanded environmental education, outdoor recreation and other opportunities for diverse populations to meet others, connect with natural resources and become stewards of their community.

WAWA’s chair, Dr. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, remarks, “Conservation presents an opportunity to not only preserve natural resources, but our health and quality of life.

WAWA believes that a healthy environment is important for a healthy community. I’ve seen how community-centered opportunities for environmental education and recreation have enriched the way

people interact with one another.

Our outdoor events allow kids to meet new friends, for families to reconnect with each other and the natural world, as well as become more engaged in broader community issues.” With concerns of social isolation and limited time spent outdoors, reimagining conservation and social equity can serve us well.

The spirit of social equity has the compassion to see another’s experience, listen to needs that should be accessible to all and find the courage to bring about a new reality.

Viniece Jennings, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow at the Environmental Leadership Program (vjennings026@gmail. com). Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, Ph.D., MPH, is Co-Founder and Board Chairperson at West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (nojelks@wawa-online.org).

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L AW R EV I EW

Fired Parks Employee Claims Retaliation in Violation of ADA

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

I

n the case of Mullen v. Northampton Township, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 193630 (E.D Pa., 11/7/2019), the federal district court judge observed that this case demonstrated “no good deed goes unpunished.” The supposed “good deed” was plaintiff Robert Mullen driving a Township snowplow “to clear a drive-thru at a local McDonald’s and then to move the snow pile that he had created.” Shortly thereafter, the Township fired Mullen “for using Township property to benefit a private property owner.”

On January 4, 2018, Mullen was caught using a Township plow truck to plow snow in a McDonald’s drive-thru during a snowstorm.

In response, Mullen claimed the alleged justification for his firing was a mere pretext and the real “discriminatory reasons” for the termination of his employment was an “act of retaliation” against him as an individual with a disability in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Facts of the Case Mullen worked for Northampton 30 Parks & Recreation

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Township, Pennsylvania, as a laborer in the Department of Parks and Recreation since May 2006.

In this role, Mullen cut grass, performed various maintenance assignments and plowed snow in the winter, among other things.

The Township did not have any written disciplinary records pertaining to Mullen. Over the years, Mullen suffered from ailments, such as vertigo, a hernia and a knee injury. Because the vertigo episodes tended to occur while he was driving at night, Mullen requested an accommodation to be excused from snowplow duties at nighttime. The Township granted this request in the 2016 and 2017 snow seasons and permitted Mullen to stop plowing once it got

dark. With respect to the hernia, the Township provided help to Mullen and allowed him to return to work on light duty after he had corrective surgery in July 2016.

In March 2017, Mullen slipped on ice and injured his knee while working. He filed a formal workinjury report with the Township’s Human Resources department in May 2017 and sought treatment at that time. Because summer is a busy time of year for Mullen, work wise, he opted to have his knee surgery on August 3, 2017. The Township’s director of parks and recreation thanked Mullen for holding off on his knee surgery while it was busy. Following surgery, Mullen was out on medical leave for several weeks. He returned to work in November 2017.

On January 4, 2018, Mullen was caught using a Township plow truck to plow snow in a McDonald’s drive-thru during a snowstorm. The Township terminated Mullen on January 18, 2018. The Township explained that Mullen was being fired for plowing private property on January 4, 2018, though there was no formal policy prohibiting such conduct.

Mullen claimed the Township’s explanation was “pretext for discrimination and retaliation due to his disability and taking medical leave.” On July 25, 2018, Mullen filed a lawsuit against the Township for violations of the ADA. After pretrial discovery of documents, sworn statements and deposition testimony, the Township moved for summary judgment on Mullen’s ADA claim. Summary judgment would effectively dismiss

Mullen’s lawsuit without any trial proceedings.

A summary judgment in favor of the Township would only be granted, however, by the federal district court if the undisputed pretrial evidence shows “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact” and Mullen had failed to demonstrate the required elements to establish his ADA claim.

ADA Discrimination As cited by the federal district court, to establish a case of disability discrimination under the ADA, Mullen would have to allege and ultimately prove the following: (1) he is a disabled person within the meaning of the ADA; (2) he is otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations by the employer; and (3) he has suffered an otherwise adverse employment decision as a result of discrimination.

If the Township offered “a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the adverse employment decision — Mullen’s termination,” to maintain his ADA claim, the court noted: “Mullen must then come forward with evidence that the Township’s proffered explanation is pretextual.” According to the court, Mullen could demonstrate illegal pretext within the context of the ADA by producing evidence, which would reasonably indicate the following: (1) disbelieve the employer’s articulated legitimate reasons; or (2) believe that an invidious discriminatory reason was more likely than not a motivating or determinative cause of the employer’s action.

The Township argued Mullen’s

ADA claim should fail since he had not produced sufficient pretrial evidence to demonstrate the Township terminated him because of his disability. Moreover, the Township asserted the reason offered for Mullen’s termination was legitimate and not a mere pretext for discrimination on the basis of disability.

According to the court, to satisfy the required “causation element” for his ADA claim, Mullen would have to prove “the Township treated him differently based on his disability.”

According to the court, to satisfy the required “causation element” for his ADA claim, Mullen would have to prove “the Township treated him differently based on his disability.” In so doing, the court would further require Mullen to demonstrate his disability “played a role in the Township’s decision-making process and that it had a determinative effect on the outcome of that process.”

In an attempt to show his disability was the true basis for the Township’s termination of his employment, Mullen pointed to the following facts: (i) the temporal proximity of his termination, (ii) the lack of a formal policy against using a Township plow truck to plow on private property, (iii) the lack of a written disciplinary record, and (iv) a stray comment by a Township employee.

In the opinion of the federal district court: “None of these facts

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demonstrates that the Township fired Mullen because of his disability, especially when considered in light of the fact that the Township granted Mullen’s pri-

The federal district court found Mullen had failed to “articulate how the Township’s lack of a formal policy against using a Township snowplow on private property raises an inference that the Township terminated Mullen based on his disability.” or requests for disability-related accommodations.” In reaching this conclusion, the court further 32 Parks & Recreation

found the timing of Mullen’s termination was “not unusually suggestive of discriminatory intent.”

Mullen claimed he did not return to work following his knee surgery until November 2017. The Township terminated his employment on January 18, 2018. In the opinion of the court, the “temporal proximity” of these facts was “not unduly suggestive” of a pretext for discrimination on the basis of disability because “more than twoand-a-half months had passed before Mullen was terminated after returning from knee surgery.”

In addition, the federal district court found Mullen had failed to “articulate how the Township’s lack of a formal policy against using a Township snowplow on private property raises an infer-

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ence that the Township terminated Mullen based on his disability.”

Moreover, in the opinion of the court, “the lack of a written disciplinary record for Mullen during his years of employment with the Township” did not suggest that the Township terminated his employment on the basis of disability in violation of the ADA. While the “lack of criticism of an employee’s performance and positive reviews can be relevant,” the court found such evidence would not necessarily suggest Mullen’s termination was on the basis of disability. Similarly, the court found “the fact that the Township’s director of parks and recreation thanked Mullen for holding-off on his knee surgery during the summer does not lead to an inference of discrimination.”

PARKS BUILD A HEALTHY PLANET.

On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, we pay tribute to the park and recreation professionals nationwide who help protect the earth, and its natural resources, through the parks and open spaces they manage.

Thank you for your continuous commitment to parks and the planet.

L AW R EV I EW

Assuming Mullen had sufficiently alleged a case of discrimination, the court stated it would still conclude Mullen’s ADA claim should fail because the Township had “offered a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason” for terminating his employment.

In his ADA claim, Mullen had argued the Township had become fearful of his injuries and extended time off and “used the snowplow incident as a pretext to terminate his employment.” The federal district court, however, found Mullen had produced “no evidence to support this assertion.” On the contrary, the court characterized Mullen’s claim as “pure conjecture” and “wholly insufficient” to support an alleged violation of

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the ADA. As noted by the court, “a plaintiff ’s belief alone that he is a victim of discrimination is not enough to meet his burden of proof ” under the ADA. Moreover, the court reiterated its finding that “the Township granted Mullen’s requested accommodations” over the course of his employment.

Accordingly, the court determined Mullen was unable “to point to direct or circumstantial evidence of discrimination” by the Township based on his disability.

Pretext for Discrimination Assuming Mullen had sufficiently alleged a case of discrimination, the court stated it would still conclude Mullen’s ADA claim should fail because the Township had “offered a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason” for terminating his employment, viz., Mullen’s “use of the Township’s snowplow to clear private property.”

To overcome this legitimate

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non-discriminatory given for the Township’s decision, according to the court, Mullen would have to “present evidence that the Township’s justification was pretextual.” In so doing, Mullen could not discredit the Township’s rationale for its action by simply claiming the Township’s decision was “wrong or mistaken.” According to the court, Mullen would have to show the Township’s decision was motivated by “discriminatory animus,” not whether “the employer is wise, shrewd, prudent, or competent.”

Within the context of the ADA, the court noted that an employer’s otherwise legitimate justification for its action would be considered “pretextual” if the plaintiff could “demonstrate such weaknesses, implausibilities, inconsistencies, incoherencies, or contradictions in the employer’s proffered legitimate reasons for its actions that a reasonable fact finder could rationally find them unworthy of credence.” In this particular instance, Mullen had claimed “the Township’s proffered reason for the termination — his use of a Township plow truck to plow private property — was outlandish and a smokescreen” for discrimination on the basis of disability. The court rejected Mullen’s argument.

While characterizing the Township’s decision as “extremely harsh,” the court found “nothing implausible or incoherent about a municipal entity deciding to terminate an employee who uses the Township’s property to benefit a private property owner.” According to the court, Mullen had tried to argue that the Township’s decision to terminate him was “too

grave of a disciplinary action” under the circumstances. The court, however, found “an employer’s decision that an incident is serious enough for a given disciplinary action” would not support an inference of pretext to discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of the ADA.

Retaliation In addition to pretext, the court also considered Mullen’s claim that the Township’s decision was motivated by “retaliation” for his having taken medical leave. As cited by the court, Mullen would have to show the following to establish his claim of retaliation by the Township in violation of the ADA: (1) protected employee activity; (2) adverse action by the employer either after or contemporaneous with the employee’s protected activity; and (3) a causal connection between the employee’s protected activity and the employer’s adverse action.

To establish the required “causal connection” for retaliation, the court acknowledged: “a plaintiff usually must prove either (1) an unusually suggestive temporal proximity between the protected activity and the allegedly retaliatory action, or (2) a pattern of antagonism coupled with timing to establish a causal link.” In the absence of such proof, according to the court, a plaintiff could still demonstrate retaliation if “evidence gleaned from the record as a whole” would necessarily “infer causation.” According to the court, such evidence could include: “any intervening antagonism by the employer, inconsistencies in the reasons the employ

er gives for its adverse action, and any other evidence suggesting that the employer had a retaliatory animus when taking the adverse action.”

In this particular instance, the court found Mullen had failed to establish that his termination was in retaliation for him having taken medical leave. In so doing, the court once again found “the temporal proximity between Mullen’s medical leave to recover for knee surgery and his termination is not unduly suggestive.” Moreover, the court noted, “Mullen has not alleged a pattern of intervening antagonism by the Township.”

Conclusion Having determined that Mullen had failed to “demonstrate the existence of essential elements of his various discrimination and retaliation claims” under the ADA, the federal district court held the Township was entitled to summa-

The court found “the temporal proximity between Mullen’s medical leave to recover for knee surgery and his termination is not unduly suggestive.” Moreover, the court noted, “Mullen has not alleged a pattern of intervening antagonism by the Township.” ry judgment, effectively dismissing Mullen’s lawsuit: While one might find the Township’s action unforgiving, Mullen has not adduced evidence to demonstrate that it was illegal.

The Township is therefore entitled to summary judgment.

James C. Kozlowski, J.D., Ph.D., is an Attorney and Associate Professor in the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management at George Mason University (jkozlows@gmu.edu).

Webpage with link to law review articles archive (1982 to present): mason.gmu.edu/~jkozlows.

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Can Parks Help Save

FIREFLIES?

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Male fireflies against the backdrop of the Milky Way make for an unforgettable sight in the Ohio countryside.

Why parks are a critical component of firefly conservation

By Richard J. Dolesh

F

ireflies. Lightning bugs. Glow-worms. Just the names alone are enough to stir the hearts of kids anywhere, and perhaps even incite a little passion in adults as well. There is something magical about venturing out at dusk and seeing a field full of gently pulsing lights in the grass and in the forest, beckoning you even further into the night to discover its mysteries. It is no exaggeration to say that a large part of discovering the wonder of nature for many people began when they saw fireflies as kids. Fireflies display one of nature’s most intriguing phenomena — bioluminescence, that is, the emission of cold light by living organisms. Cold light in fireflies and other species is produced by a light-emitting molecule, called luciferin, which is activated by an enzyme called luciferase.

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There are about 2,000 species of fireflies worldwide, and approximately 170 species are found within North America.

While bioluminescence is not common in terrestrial environments, it is abundant in the sea. More than three quarters of marine organisms display some form of bioluminescence for communicating, finding prey and even camouflaging themselves.

But on land, in early and midsummer, it’s fireflies that put on the show.

What Are Fireflies?

Fireflies are not flies at all, but beetles that are mostly nocturnal flying members of the Lampyridae family,

which also includes glow-worms and the tortuously named daytime dark fireflies that don’t flash at all in the night, but rather attract their mates in the day by powerful chemical pheromones. There are about 2,000 species of fireflies worldwide, and approximately 170 species are found within North America. Most occur east of the Rockies, but there are some species that occur in the West as well.

Fireflies, like all beetles, undergo a full metamorphosis during their life cycle — egg, pupa, larva and adult. This is a cycle that might last from a couple of months to a couple of years. During the larval phase, fireflies prey on softbodied invertebrates, such as worms and grubs, which they find in leaf litter and moist soils until

they pupate into adults in the late spring or early summer. They may only live a few weeks to mate and begin the cycle all over again.

Some firefly species don’t flash as adults, but in others, the flightless adult females produce a longlasting, continuous glow to attract mates. Most species, however, exchange flashes during dark hours to find their mates — the male flies about and flashes in a particular pattern, while the female perched on tall grasses or tree branches signals her receptiveness with a brief flash.

Flashing patterns vary substantially, but one species, Photinus carolinus, puts on one of the most fascinating light shows in nature — synchronous flashing in which all the adult fireflies flash at the same time. This natural spectacle only occurs in a couple of locations in the United States. In the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, it has become so popular that visitors hoping to see it can only gain access to that area of the park by annual lottery.

TERRY PRIEST/FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS 2.0

Threats to Fireflies

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A new study, titled “A Global Perspective on Firefly Extinction Threats,” published in the February 2020 issue of the journal BioScience, reports the results of a survey of international firefly experts who were asked to identify the greatest threats to firefly populations in eight geographic regions of the world. The most serious threats to fireflies, according to these scientists, were loss of habitat, light pollution and pesticides, with drought, flooding and extreme temperatures as lesser, but still very significant, threats. Unsurprisingly, a number The Big Dipper, Photinus pyralis, is one of the most common fireflies in parks of the eastern United States.

of these factors link to climate change conditions.

The greatest threats in the eastern United States, which is the area of North America with the greatest number of species of fireflies, involve habitat destruction. “The loss of firefly habitat occurs mainly through urbanization and commercial and residential development,” the report states.

Artificial light at night, called ALAN, is a major form of manmade light pollution and the second-most serious threat to fireflies.

Because most firefly species depend on flash dialogues between the male and female for courtship, light pollution interferes with mating success.

Pesticide use, ranked as the thirdmost serious threat, is also the least understood cause of the decline of fireflies. There are few comprehensive studies investigating the impacts of insecticides and herbicides on the larval and adult forms of fireflies. Candace Fallon, senior conservation biologist for the Xerces Society, says that there are few firefly-monitoring programs in the United States. “There are so many holes in our knowledge,” she says.

“There is a lot we don’t know.”

Parks Can Help Save Fireflies In interviewing several firefly experts for this article, there was one thing they all agreed on: Parks may be one of the best ways to contribute to firefly conservation.

Emeritus professor of entomology Larry Buschman of Kansas State University, the author of Field Guide to Western North American Fireflies, says, “People love to visit where fireflies are. They are a charismatic species of wildlife.

When people get out to appreciate and value fireflies in parks, then

we can get conservation going.

And when we do, we can help educate the public as well.”

Fallon agrees. “Fireflies are in trouble,” she says. “They need conservation. Parks have a lot of opportunity to conserve fireflies. The greatest threat to fireflies is loss of habitat and degradation of existing habitat. The most important thing we can do to conserve fireflies is to protect and restore habitat.”

Some park agencies already are working to conserve fireflies and educate the public about them.

Katrina Arnold of Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, Ohio, says they have an extensive program for families that engages children and youth in firefly education and conservation. Their free program, funded by the Cox Arboretum Foundation, is offered to kids ages 3 to 13. The program has three phases, beginning with the Discover level. It progresses to the Act level, in which kids participate in Firefly Watch, a citizen science program. The third level, Share, is designed to get kids excited about conservation in an active way “without feeling nerdy,” according to Arnold. They are encouraged to come back to the program, talk to other kids about what they learned and share their stories.

The agency has received great feedback from participating families for this innovative program.

Bill Hagenbuck, senior park naturalist at Martin Park Nature Center in Oklahoma City, says they used to offer very wellattended firefly hikes in June and July each year, but in recent years, they had to stop because there was a sharp decline in firefly numbers. The 144acre park, which features a nature center, was an old dairy farm with a variety of habitats, including a mix of open meadows and forested areas.

Five Things You Can Do to Make Your Parks More Firefly Friendly

1 2 3 4 5

Mow grasslands and meadow habitat in rotational strips or a mosaic pattern. (This is great for pollinators, too.)

Create more meadows and more edge habitat. Leave a grass buffer strip around forest edges.

Try to create more moisture year-round, if possible. Plant green infrastructure areas with pollinators and fireflies in mind.

Leave forested areas natural.

Allow more leaf litter and leave downed trees in place.

Evaluate your outdoor lighting and reduce light-spread, if possible, in high-quality habitat areas.

“It seems it would be just about [an] ideal habitat for fireflies,” Hagenbuck says. However, the park has become “an encapsulated oasis in the city.”

Today, a turnpike, apartment buildings, a large medical building and a residential neighborhood surround the park. Hagenbuck says they hope to restore fireflies to the park by increasing quality habitats for them.

One method they are trying includes prescribed burns to eradicate Johnson grass, a noxious weed that has taken over some of the grasslands in the park. “We are hoping to bring back our firefly programs,” he says.

“They were extremely popular and maxed out every time we offered them. People just don’t get a chance to do something like that anymore.”

In Arlington County, Virginia, however, it is another story, accord-

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ing to Rachael Tolman, park naturalist. For 10 years, they have conducted an annual firefly festival with crafts and games and exhibits about fireflies. For the 250 to 500 people who attend this extremely popular festival, a firefly watching party follows the daytime portion of the event. Tolman notes, “We are super urban, but we try to keep diversified habitats in our parks, which benefit firefly populations.” Their resource management goals include creating new habitat areas, removing invasive plant species and managing to allow the native landscape and plants to re-

Conserving Fireflies and Educating the Public If firefly conservation in parks is to be successful, education must be an essential component of your conservation objectives. Park and recreation agencies already engaging in successful firefly conservation activities also have committed to public education and awareness activities in nature centers, on night hikes and in educational exhibits.

Knowledge of the firefly species you have in your locality is critical, especially if you plan to begin any longer-term conservation efforts.

This may not be as simple as it

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JOSHUA YORK

The popular Conservation Kids program of Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton, Ohio, engages fascinated kids to learn about the biology, ecology and chemistry of fireflies.

cover. “If we are doing best practices for fireflies, we are doing best practices for all wildlife,” she says.

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sounds and if there isn’t knowledgeable staff, agencies should look for firefly experts in the ranks of their citizen volunteers and at local universities. Hiring a consultant may be a good course of action to help you locate best habitat areas, identify the species in your locale and to assist in drafting a management plan, especially if you do not have those capabilities and knowledge in-house.

Buschman, who has studied fireflies for decades, says he has a pet peeve. “Public agencies put curfew restrictions on parks, so that people cannot enter after dark. We cannot get people interested in watching fireflies and then prohibit them from watching them!” He lobbies to keep parks open longer, at least during

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ARLINGTON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

The Annual Family Firefly Festival in Arlington County, Virginia, draws hundreds of people for an evening of fun games, picnics and firefly walks after dark.

the peak time of firefly courtship.

There is a lot of truth to what he says. Educating the public about watching wildlife at night means we might have to add limited public access after dark to any management plan along with other objectives.

Creating Ideal Firefly Habitats What should ideal firefly habitats look like in parks? It depends on the biogeographical characteristics of your parks, but four or five things are necessary, according to Fallon. “Ideally, you should have varied habitats within your parks that are a little wild, not manicured.

It depends on the firefly species you have locally, too. Some like open meadows; some need forested land.

You still need diversity within those habitats and micro-habitats within those,” she says. “Dark nights are important!” It is one reason she believes parks are ideal places for fireflies to thrive. However, park managers need to evaluate their outdoor lighting and consider what lights might be reduced or turned off during firefly mating season.

Quality habitats can vary quite a bit, but year-round moisture is essential, according to all firefly experts consulted. Whether it is moist woods, stream valley floodplains, non-tidal wetlands or even wet meadows — moisture is critical, especially for the juvenile stages. Fallon and others speculate that prolonged droughts in the West and Southwest may be seriously affecting firefly populations, which are prone to desiccation, that is, the severe drying out of larval and adult

stages, in extremely dry conditions.

Pesticides may be a serious threat to fireflies, but few studies have been conducted. Many park agencies are moving toward a much more thoughtful and limited use of pesticides. The use of weed-killing herbicides, such as Roundup and other glyphosatebased herbicides, have generated intense public interest and opposition due to fear of human health impacts and effects on the environment. Integrated Pest Management programs are limiting the amount and type of pesticides applied in parks, and many agencies are looking for organic herbicides and flame and foam (steam) treatments that are less toxic. All these actions to reduce pesticide use can only help the cause of firefly conservation.

Conserving fireflies in parks will address several conservation objectives. It will enhance habitat for species that are in need of conservation. It will provide exciting new opportunities for staff and citizen science volunteers to explain a part of the natural world to the public — something that will slip away

Whether it is moist woods, stream valley floodplains, non-tidal wetlands or even wet meadows — moisture is critical, especially for the juvenile stages. forever, unless we take effective action now to save it from disappearing. And, it is the right thing to do for these mysterious, elusive species that enrich the lives of all who see them flashing in the darkness of night and leave us wondering why and how they do.

Tune in to the April bonus episode of Open Space Radio to hear Dolesh and Michele White of NRPA’s conservation team talk about managing parks for fireflies and engaging the public at openspaceradio.org or on your favorite podcast app.

For more information on fireflies, visit xerces.org/endangered-species/ fireflies. For a detailed list of resources, visit nrpa.org/SaveFireflies.

Richard J. Dolesh is Editor at Large for Parks & Recreation magazine (rdolesh@nrpa.org).

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Wea 42 Parks & Recreation

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athering the Storm

How public parks can help build climate resilient communities

By Kyla Donato

D

eep in Ohio’s so-called “Rust Belt” is the hidden gem of Mill Creek Park. Dotted with cascading waters, steep gorges and lush meadows, Mill Creek Park, located in the city of Youngstown, beckons Ohio residents looking to reconnect with nature through hiking, fishing and cross-country skiing. The park, which was designed by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture, ranks as one of the largest public parks in the country.

More than 100 years later, Mill Creek Park is increasingly closed for repairs — either due to intense rainfall and flooding or structural damage from storms.

Coupled with nearby industrial and commercial runoff, stormwater overflows pollute the park, leading to mass fish kills and restrictions on recreational water sports. Today, Youngstown faces more than 60 percent population loss, high concentrations of poverty and an increasing number of vacant properties. Investing in its parks is simply not at the top of the city’s priorities. And yet, investing in parks, like Mill Creek Park, may be key to unlocking the most cost-effective, benefit-rich options to reinvigorating the city of Youngstown.

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Replacement Era of Infrastructure Mill Creek Park’s limited resources and disrepair are similar to the challenges that plague many of the roads, bridges and other infrastructural systems U.S. residents depend on. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Infrastructure Report Card, the United States is facing a funding shortfall of about $2 trillion.

Without serious action soon, the country’s overdue infrastructure improvements could potentially cost the average U.S. household $3,400 a year from a $3.9 trillion hit to the U.S. GDP and 2.5 million jobs lost by 2025. According to the same report, parks and recreation is an area especially in need of support, with roads, bridges, trails and other features in need of approximately $11.9 billion in deferred maintenance costs.

Regarding wastewater infra-

structure, $271 billion worth of investment will be needed over the next two decades. A growing population and increasingly extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change are only compounding this issue. While the sheer scale of flooding events in Florida and Texas command national attention, cities in the Great Lakes region are experiencing smaller but daily flooding episodes, hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean.

Stormwater infrastructure is an especially urgent area of concern.

Like much of the United States, many cities in the region have combined sewer systems, meaning that during extreme rainstorms, sewers overflow into nearby waterways, dumping hazardous waste and raw sewage into local rivers and streams or even backing up into people’s basements and toilets. According to the EPA’s 2004 Report to Congress, Impacts and Control of

CSOs and SSOs, there are more than 770 municipalities nationwide with combined sewer systems, many of which are in deep disrepair and serving under federally mandated consent decrees for cleanup action.

Effects of Outdated Infrastructure The problem of the United States’ crumbling infrastructure is not experienced equally by all.

Low-to-moderate income (LMI) and black and brown communities are far more likely to live in areas serviced by outdated infrastructural systems. Since these communities also tend to live in substandard housing clustered in low-lying, flood-prone areas, they are especially susceptible to flooding events. Less economic power makes not only evacuation and moving harder, but also prevents families from bouncing back quickly from the displacement in work, school and home life that flooding causes. Lack of infrastructure investment in these communities further deepens existing social and economic inequality so long as LMI and black and brown community members must bear the brunt of flooding and water pollution.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF GREENPRINT PARTNERS

Green Stormwater Solutions for Climate Resilient Communities

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Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is the use of vibrant natural systems that mimic the hydrological process to capture, filter and reduce stormwater. By managing water right where it falls, GSI helps reduce flooding and polluted runoff from reaching rivers, lakes

Green stormwater infrastructure is used in a permeable pavement parking lot.

Tour participants in Youngstown were able to see green infrastructure at work managing rainwater.

and streams. Ranging from rain gardens, to roadside plantings and green roofs, GSI also helps increase the quantity and quality of local water supplies and increases nature in urban areas. GSI installations also come with a host of other benefits, such as: revitalizing communities, increasing jobs, improving health outcomes through cleaner air and lower stress levels, and reducing crime and urban blight. While not a total replacement for traditional “grey” infrastructure, such as sewers and treatment plants, supplementing a water infrastructure plan with GSI is a rich addition that can be just as cost-effective while delivering the aforementioned social and economic benefits.

If GSI is so great, why hasn’t there been more widespread adoption of this benefit-rich water management strategy?

First, for GSI to be as cost competitive and effective as grey infrastructure, GSI needs to be deployed at scale. However, for resource-strapped public and municipal entities, finding large tracts of public land that they can easily install GSI infrastructure on is no small feat. Enter public parks.

With their abundant space and natural context, public parks are excellent candidates for GSI installations.

Second, public knowledge of, buy-in and support for GSI is key for its successful implementation. While it is obvious that nature manages stormwater far better than sidewalks and roads, cities using nature-based solutions is still a relatively new concept.

With so many competing needs and responsibilities, public and

municipal leaders can be hesitant to commit to GSI — both because of its shorter track record and/or a lack of knowledge about it.

However, with most stormwater overflows occurring in LMI communities, GSI’s additional social and economic benefits become far more impactful when compared to just grey infrastructure. We have found that community members support GSI when they understand its potential to increase property values, lower crime, foster civic pride and generate better health outcomes through more exercise and cleaner air. It is a winwin for stormwater maintenance and community revitalization.

While GSI initially can seem unproven and expensive, it’s definitely an option that sometimes can be as effective as or better than all grey solutions. Therefore, community engagement and support are key for successful GSI implementation campaigns.

Stories, insights and data gained from workshops from community members at public workshops are recorded and shared with city officials.

Youngstown Green Infrastructure Community Education Program With a better understanding of GSI and the challenges facing stormwater upgrades, it’s clear to see why Youngstown is getting creative with green solutions. Youngstown will now be among the first U.S. cities to undertake a holistic, equitable approach to citywide green

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infrastructure planning. Starting in 2017, Youngstown community leaders partnered with Greenprint Communities, a nonprofit that seeks to amplify the impact of green stormwater infrastructure to ensure it achieves the strongest possible community benefits, to recruit, educate and mobilize residents to share their ideas and help shape the future of green storm-

water management in Youngstown.

This program helped the city of Youngstown ultimately begin developing a GSI master plan that includes a strong emphasis on the community benefits of GSI. Greenprint Communities’ first goal was developing a passionate group of leading green infrastructure community advocates. Lead partner, The Colony Youngstown, launched, facilitated and empowered a coalition of community advocates to support GSI in Youngstown. Supporters included nonprofits, an action team, a Stakeholder Advisory Group and subject-matter experts. The action

Workshop participants take part in a mapping activity to identify key areas in the city and their relation to green stormwater infrastructure installations.

team was recruited through outreach and convened monthly to learn about GSI. Education was critical for fostering buy-in and ensured that members felt ownership of plans as they are later developed. The action team also was heavily involved with designing outreach and communications strategies for building local GSI support; as locals, their intuitions and connections helped design effective communication strategies.

Finally, the community outreach activities included presenting at resident engagement workshops, delivering GSI promotional items and engaging on social media.

The second goal of the program was to widely educate residents across the city about GSI and its potential benefits. This was achieved through hosting educational workshops to teach residents about the combined sewer overflows in Youngstown and GSI as a solution that also could uplift the community. A mapping activity encouraged attendees to mark where they saw the most foot traffic, flooding and crime events happening, while photo cards showed various GSI installations they could place on the maps. Details were posted on social and digital media and united under common branding and included other ways attendees could get involved in promoting GSI in Youngstown.

An especially interesting outreach strategy was buying a deeply discounted advertising spot at a local concert for Migos, an Atlantabased rap trio. This allowed the action team to reach thousands of

Viewers watch a demonstration of water on permeable pavement, a porous surface that catches, stores and treats rainwater where it falls.

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Community members pose with members of the action team at one of the community workshops.

people, especially a group not typically engaged in environmental issues — young people of color.

In addition to the concert, a widely publicized public tour of GSI already installed in and around Youngstown took place. Due to the groundwork laid by the action team and other partners, numerous mainstream news coverage picked up the GSI support happening in Youngstown.

The final goal of this campaign was capturing the sentiments of community members regarding their interest in GSI in Youngstown and what GSI benefits were most important to them.

At each workshop, information about locations and opinions on GSI was captured digitally to be shared with city council. Fostering open discussions about the community’s thoughts and hopes for GSI with city leadership is important because it will help plan future GSI program design. Throughout the campaign, four main benefits surfaced as the most desired: crime reduction, active living, economic development and flood mitigation. Afterwards, the data, stories and insights from this process were shared with city officials and the broader community. A synopsis of this data was created and shared with the Stakeholder Advisory Group, which created success metrics for the desired co-benefits and defining next steps.

Today, the effects of climate change continue to be felt around the world and at home. From intensified flooding to more frequent 100-year storms, preparing for a changing climate is a critical and

massive undertaking. However, it’s possible to enact positive action against climate change. When communities understand the local issues climate change is causing in their community and what they can do about it, people are far more likely to care, speak up and take action.

That’s why it’s critical to garner local support for GSI projects and other infrastructural priorities in the context of a changing climate.

In the case of Youngstown, its city council greenlit the development of a green infrastructure master plan for the entire city as a result of deep, authentic and broad public support. While the current plan is pending, the potential benefits of GSI are exciting and deeply meaningful to the people of Youngstown. In the future, Youngstown could see improved stormwater management that reduces stormwater overflows and flooding and helps provide cleaner air and water. A GSI master plan could help provide economic revitalization through the creation of local jobs and improved property values. Furthermore, increased green space could also potentially help reduce crime, encourage stronger community connections and increase healthy outdoor liv-

Educational workshops conducted in Youngstown teach residents about how GSI can be a solution to myriad challenges.

ing. The future is promising in Youngstown as a result of civic engagement and action. And perhaps, with a fully realized GSI master plan, Mill Creek Park can be restored back to its rightful place as the crown jewel of Youngstown not just for its aesthetic and natural pleasures, but as an important asset in a green infrastructure master plan.

Greenprint Communities is a nonprofit affiliate of Greenprint Partners, a stormwater delivery partner that helps cities deliver GSI at scale and in partnership with local communities.

Kyla Donato is Marketing Coordinator at Greenprint Partners (kyla@greenprintpartners.com).

PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | A P R I L 2 02 0 |

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OPERATIONS Effective Solutions to Trail Maintenance Obstacles

By Cailín Hunsaker

U

nder the pale blue gaze of Washington state’s Mount Rainier and along the Cedar River to Lake Washington, city of Renton trails chiefly run along bodies of water. Located between the Olympic and Cascade Mountain Ranges, the oceanic climate averages 44 inches of rain annually for abundant vegetation. Blazing displays of color each spring bring eager trail users out from the gray of winter, while the browning tree leaves in the fall complement the picturesque views of the river as salmon travel upstream to spawn.

The Trails

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF CAILÍN HUNSAKER

Nine miles of regional trails in Renton lie on top of converted railroad beds, formerly commercial hauling routes for coal, bricks and lumber.

Another four miles of both paved and soft-surface trails lie within park boundaries for easy strolls and nature watching. Trails are generally eight feet wide and paved with asphalt, with two-foot gravel shoulders. For multiuse recreation that is allowed on Renton trails, the Parks and Trails Division of the Community Services Department paints a stripe down the middle to help guide trail etiquette — pedestrians to the right as bicyclists pass to the left. A brick-lined lower walk next to the Cedar River is open during the summer months when

the river level is usually at its lowest.

At some of the newer neighborhood parks, design standards include pervious pavement on pathways, which require customized vacuum-type equipment to clear the surfacing and continue draining properly.

With the consistent rain yearround, drainage usually flows steadily into adjacent streams and rivers. Park maintenance staff will, sometimes, carve trailside punch-outs to direct water away from asphalt depressions and into the nearby watercourses.

On soft-surface shoulders, moss will grow in shaded areas and is removed before cooler weather ices it over to make it slippery. Gravel on the same shoulders is replaced annually. Being close to water at most locations, spot treatments for weed control are preferred, and volunteers help curb the abundant vegetation growth that comes with warmer temperatures and long, sunny days in the summer.

Signage and Enforcement

Old launch into the Cedar River at Cedar River Park.

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In 2010, an unfortunate collision occurred in Renton between a pedestrian and bicyclist on the Cedar River Trail and resulted in the death of a park patron. With community

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engagement, discussions led to the implementation of new safety protocols. In addition to striping the trail, Renton City Council adopted a lower speed limit of 10 mph into the Municipal Code, park staff created a ‘Share the Trail’ educational brochure and organized a Volunteer Trail Patrol to educate trail users about trail etiquette and the reduced speed limit. Police officers on bikes assist by enforcing the speed limit and dismount zones.

Education and Kiosks Where the Cedar River empties into Lake Washington, park maintenance staff installed a kiosk and free, informative brochures from the Kids in Parks program to make hiking both educational and fun. Once registered at the Kids in Parks website (kidsinparks.com), children can receive prizes in the mail for their hiking adventures. Additionally, in fall each year, docents from the Seattle Aquarium and staff from the Environmental Science Center lead hikes along the Cedar River Trail to view salmon swimming upstream to their natal grounds.

Regional Trail Hub Renton is a regional trails hub where trails converge from the south, west and north. One day, when these trail networks are connected and contiguous, they also will be valuable transportation and communication corridors for thousands of workers at Renton businesses. A number of agencies, companies and nonprofit groups are currently working together to plan and fund these solutions.

Cailín Hunsaker is Parks and Trails Director for City of Renton (chunsaker@ rentonwa.gov).

Illuminating Solutions to Light Pollution

By Lindsay Collins

A

s society continues to quickly urbanize, the issue of light pollution increases across the globe. This excess output of light from buildings, streetlamps, and sports stadiums and fields is not only a nuisance, but also a culprit that wastes energy, disrupts ecosystems, alters wildlife behavior and has detrimental effects on human health.

Some of the contributors of light pollution are sports fields and stadiums. And, according to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), “In the [United States] alone, it is estimated that more than 2,000 outdoor sports lighting complexes are either retrofitted or installed every year.” Many of the newly created fixtures are installed at schools, parks and neighborhood complexes (tinyurl.com/uysbbtg).

For residents in these areas, spill light (light that travels beyond its intended space and illuminates excess area) and glare (excessively bright light that reduces the ability to see) prove to be common and recurring issues. While these are the primary points of contention for neighbors of sports fields, skyglow (light that is scattered into the atmosphere) can extend farther distances and affect ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

To address the role that sports lighting plays in the increasing issue of light pollution, IDA has developed criteria for communityfriendly outdoor sports lighting (tinyurl.com/yxxkh77a). By adhering to IDA’s criteria, “…communities demonstrate and promote the vision for outdoor sports lighting that simultaneously meets the demanding task of illuminating nighttime

sports events while preserving the night skies,” the organization states.

In recent years, many manufacturers have worked to develop lighting systems that are more effective for their intended purpose while eliminating many of the undesired effects. These solutions include: • Fully shielded lighting fixtures, which prevent light from traveling upward from the source • Switching to LEDs, which conserve energy and offer more control and precision than traditional incandescent lights • Automation or control systems that allow lights to be turned off at a pre-selected curfew time • The minimization of blue wavelengths that can affect human sleep cycles by suppressing melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle In addition, Fairfax County Park Authority in Virginia produced a report (tinyurl.com/ urlmcjr) that outlines many of the issues involved with controlling light pollution and offers recommendations for tackling the problem, including: • Adhering to the International Commission of Illumination’s guidelines for light source intensity • Considering shielding, reflectors,

wattages, beam types, mounting height and aiming angles, which each influence the amount of glare produced • Taking advantage of natural screening when possible • Using timers, sensors and controllers to keep light from unnecessarily entering neighboring spaces • Closely supervising scheduling and field use to ensure that lights are not left on when not in use Taking time to assess your sports field lighting to ensure adherence to industry standards can reduce your costs and energy production and improve nighttime conditions in your community while limiting your impact on the night sky.

Lindsay Collins is Associate Editor for Parks & Recreation magazine (lcollins@ nrpa.org).

PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | A P R I L 2 02 0 |

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Parks & Recreation

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park essentials advertiser index

BCI Burke Playgrounds....................................................................7, 51

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Greenfields Outdoor Fitness................................................................ 3

Shade Systems..................................................................................C2, 1

(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 Š2020 by the National Recreation and Park Association. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of NRPA. Issued to members at the annual subscription price of $30, included in dues. Subscription: $46 a year in the U.S.; $56 elsewhere. Single copy price: $7. Library rate: $58 a year in the U.S.; $68 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148. 703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

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©MYLES MELLOR

Parks & Recreation Crossword

Across 1 Treating all fairly 7 Event for a band to play at 9 Hankering 10 Area outside the city center 12 Get involved with 13 Land of the brave and free 15 Goes with 2 down 16 River drainage area 17 Tree fluid 19 Like park donors 23 Goal 26 Highest quality, 2 words 27 Tools to use to find out local concerns 28 Apropos 29 Location of The President’s Park 30 Delivery vehicle 31 Colorado and Hudson 33 KC’s state 34 Understand 35 Noted U.S. architect 36 NRPA’s school outside Chicago teaching leadership, strategy, finance and more 37 Check for compliance to these regulations relating to disabled people before summer camp, abbr.

Down 1 Guarantees 2 Redevelopment of city areas, goes with 15 across 3 Tosses in Little League, e.g.

4 Alongside 5 Sheltered side 6 Bring dignity to 7 Term referring to local people as opposed to corporate or political groups 8 Environmentally friendly 11 Avail yourself of resources 14 Rests 18 Team up (with corporations, donors and others) 20 Drake’s music 21 All nations’ org.

22 Beautiful and silent National Park in California 24 4th in the family 25 Measuring system 27 Rescued 28 Park land measurement 29 Bucks and does 32 Voluntary Service Overseas, abbr.

33 Pre-___ (undergrad study) 35 State of the Flight 93 National Memorial, abbr.

Complete the crossword, then visit nrpa.org/crossword to verify your answers and to enter a drawing to receive a prize. A winner will be randomly selected April 30, 2020.

W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | A P R I L 2 02 0 |

Parks & Recreation

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Park Bench

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF BRANCH OUT BURLINGTON!

Branching Out Each April brings not only Earth Day, but also Arbor Day — a holiday that while not as widely celebrated, holds equal importance. Many people are aware that trees are vital to the existence of humans, as well as wildlife and nature altogether.

Some, however, may not realize that in addition to providing oxygen and clean air, trees serve numerous other functions that are critical to our daily lives. They combat climate change, conserve energy, stabilize soil, prevent water pollution, provide food, act as a home for wildlife, have healing effects on mental health — the list goes on.

In Burlington, Vermont, the city’s Parks, Recreation and Waterfront department staff works not only in April, but also year-round to increase the number of trees and the benefits they provide for the city’s residents. The department’s Trees and Greenways team consists of a full-time arborist and three full-time arborist technicians who care for 8,500 street trees, 3,100 park trees and 150 acres of forested parkland. Year-to-year, these numbers are consistently growing thanks to the work of dedicated park staff and help from volunteers.

In 1998, the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront department partnered with Branch out Burlington! (BOB!), a volunteer nonprofit, to establish a community tree nursery that provides trees for city parks and streets. According to the BOB! website (branchout burlington.org), some of the benefits of a community tree nursery include: • Reduced costs – while trees from commercial nurseries typically cost anywhere from $200 to $300, it costs approximately $100 to grow a tree in the nursery. Each year, the city of Burlington saves more than $20,000 by sourcing from the nursery.

• Better adjusted trees – trees that are grown in the area are more acclimated to the climate and environment and, therefore, are more likely to thrive once transplanted.

• Better variety – the ability to grow a greater variety of trees allows city arborists to better diversify the city’s plants to protect against mass destruction of tree populations from disease or pests, such as the emerald ash borer beetle that recently has been deemed a threat to Burlington’s trees.

• Community education and engagement – BOB! engages the public in the maintenance of the nursery, which teaches residents about the value of trees and fosters interest and investment in the long-term care of the plants that are ultimately placed in city parks and along city streets.

Each year, BOB! volunteers, with help from Parks, Recreation and Waterfront department staff, plant more than 150 trees in the community tree nursery. After two to three years, these trees are transplanted onto Burlington’s streets, growing Burlington’s urban forest. In 2016, parks department staff planted 141 new trees throughout the city. By 2019, that number had increased to 360 trees planted annually. These numbers reflect only the trees planted in city parks and along city streets. In addition, more than 3,000 restoration trees (young trees planted in natural areas) have been planted throughout Burlington.

To learn more about the city of Burlington’s efforts to bring the benefits of trees to its residents, visit enjoyburlington.com/type/trees.

–Lindsay Collins, Associate Editor for Parks & Recreation magazine

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