Parks & Recreation - December 2014

E-Cigarette Policies | Surfacing Guidelines Controversy | 2015 NRPA Board of Directors DECEMBER 2014 W W W. N R PA . O R G

Advancing the Field

NRPA’s 49th annual conference showcased the best in parks and recreation today and provided education and support for professionals in the field Page 38

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contents december 2014 volume 49 | number 12 | www.nrpa.org

contents COVER STORY

FEATURE

38 Advancing the Field NRPA’s 49 annual conference showcased the best in parks and recreation today and provided education and support for professionals in the field th

C harlotte Convergence 38

35 Building Success Author and industry leader Paul Gilbert details how adopting an entrepreneurial operational model can create highperformance agencies Barbara Tulipane, CAE, and Richard J. Dolesh

The Opening Session Strikes a Chord 40 Reinforcing the Education Cornerstone 41 Show Floor Showcase 42 C ommunity Effort 43 Award-Winning Members 44 Quiz Bowl Cred 45 Straight from the Members’ Mouths 45

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Read the digital edition of this issue online at http://ezine.parks andrecreation.org.

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contents december 2014

departments 5 Web Exclusives 10 Letters

columns 6 Perspectives Promise to Keep Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP

8 Editor’s Letter

12 Community Center Sensory Sojurn 12 Notable News 14 NRPA Connect Hot Topics 14

15 By the Numbers Conference Counts

16 People for the Parks Tom Norquist: A Pioneer for Play Samantha Bartram

18 Member to Member Taming Twitter Linda Oakleaf, Ph.D.

46 NRPA Update Board of Directors Update 46 PRORAGIS and Special-Needs Populations 47 Accreditation Anniversaries 48 Member Benefit: Energy Partner 49 Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge 49 NRPA Board Nominations 49 Member Spotlight: Anna Pechenik Mausolf 50

Tipping Points Gina Mullins-Cohen

20 Advocacy Looking Forward to 2015 Kevin O’Hara

22 Law Review Safety Feature Practice Standard in Sport?

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

26 Future Leaders Investing in Your Own Professional Development Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D., and Jody M. Baker

28 Conservation Debate Over the Purpose of Conservation Heats Up Richard J. Dolesh

30 Health and Wellness Smoke-Free Parks: A Win-Win for Everyone Sue Beatty

32 Social Equity San Gabriel Mountains National Monument for All Robert García

Staff Spotlight: Amanda Hersey 51 Professional Development Calendar 52

54 Operations Surfacing Guidelines Controversy 54 Richard J. Dolesh Today’s UTVs: A 9-Step Buyer’s Guide 57 Betty Sosnin Snap Happy 58 Becki Cramer

61 Products 63 Advertiser Index 64 Park Bench No Fear Marissa Bracamonte 4

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Web Exclusives

ParksandRecreation.org Couldn’t make it to the 2014 NRPA Congress but still want to “attend” the education sessions and gain CEUs? Congress Live is here to help! It’s an on-demand way to see recorded education sessions from 2014 and get the Congress experience from the comfort of your home or office. For just $199, you’ll get access to 10 education sessions and presentations from the top-rated speakers, and you can earn 1.0 CEUs for completing the 10 cours-

es. With Congress Live, you can see the great ideas shared in Charlotte for yourself and gain new tools for your agency, as well as get the opportunity to virtually learn and interact with park and recreation professionals all over the United States. Visit www.nrpa. org/Congress2014/Live-Streaming.

Don’t forget to follow Parks & Recreation Magazine on Twitter (@ParksRecMag) to keep up with all of the upcoming events and stories from the world of parks and recreation.

Even if you already follow NRPA (@ NRPA_news), follow the magazine for updates and information about the publication. You can also use the magazine’s Twitter account to share articles or photos about parks and recreation that you think would interest your fellow readers, and you could even see yourself mentioned in Parks & Recreation.

Check out our digital edition at http://ezine.parks andrecreation .org

Roundtable Recap

| Natural Playsca

rtation pes | Transpo

Updates from

Congress

4 JUNE 201 A.ORG

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Trailblazers

and Park agencies mountain biking te groups collaborang to build exhilarati their trail systems for 48 Page communities

Mark your calendars and take out your cameras; the opportunity to enter a photo for the Parks & Recreation cover contest ends December 31. We’re looking for images that showcase the spirit of parks and recreation in fun, engaging ways. After we’ve received all your great shots, we will choose a handful of them to put to a public vote on our Facebook page next spring. The winning photograph will be featured on the July 2015 magazine cover to help celebrate 30 years of Park and Recreation Month.

Submissions must be high-resolution at a minimum of 300 dpi and at least 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall. Images will also need to have space available for the Parks & Recreation logo and cover text. You must also include the following information with your photo(s): the name of the photographer, the photographer’s email address and where the photo was taken. By submitting images, you are confirming that you have all legal rights to the image and consent of those pictured in the image, and understand that submitted images may be used by NRPA for printed materials, websites and social media. Submissions and questions can be sent to Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist Roxanne Sutton (rsutton@nrpa.org), and you can find inspiration with the digital version of the magazine at http://ezine.parksandrecreation.org. Visit www.nrpa.org/cover-contest for more information.

Stay in touch!

NRPA website: www.nrpa.org Parks & Recreation website: www.parksandrecreation.org Digital edition: http://ezine.parksandrecreation.org NRPA Connect: www.nrpaconnect.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/NationalRecreationandParkAssociation Twitter: www.twitter.com/NRPA_news, www.twitter.com/ParksRecMag Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nrpa Instagram: www.instagram.com/nrpa W W W. N R PA . O R G | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4 |

Parks & Recreation

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

Promises to Keep On the heels of an energizing Congress and the thoughtful leadership of our Board of Directors and Past Chair Robert Ashcraft, it is truly an honor to be in this space of service and to be a participant in propelling our movement forward.

Our association has a great strategic foundation in our Three Pillars — Conservation, Health and Wellness, and Social Equity. Although the first two pillars are generally widely understood and accepted, when it comes to defining Social Equity into policy and programmatic actions, the interpretation of what that looks like becomes vague at best. As a profession having a great influence on and responsibility to the quality of life in our communities, it becomes incumbent upon us to get into the space where we feel comfortable identifying and addressing the tough and socially conscious issues we face.

Our work mandates that we assist in the creation of an environment that promotes diversity and values individual differences in the area of leisure services, whether it be gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation or religion. If we are to remain relevant and address the “tough” issues that most people tend to dance around, then we need to be willing to address those issues. Based upon the numerous discussions and wide range of responses around how the Social Equity pillar was presented in Charlotte, it appears that we have a solid foundation in fostering the conversation.

Understanding the dialogue that has been generated, social equity can be defined in myriad ways and means different things to different people, but what does it mean in the context of our association and the communities that we all serve? How do we, as leisure professionals, transfer the idea of social equity into an action plan? Although uncomfortable for many, this is a conversation we must have if we are going to move forward with and advance our mission.

In NRPA’s 2014-2016 Strategic Plan, the goal states: “Agencies are foundational in ensuring social equity and access to park and recreation experiences,” and it goes on to provide objectives in the areas of awareness, research, education and advocacy. We have the road map, and it is now our responsibility to continue identifying specific actions in support of this pillar.

Human culture holds a high standard of equity and justice in relationship to people and their communities. In a sustainable community, people honor and uphold the well-being of the entire community.

D E T R I CK L . S TAN FO R D, CPR P Chair of the Board of Directors

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

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

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Jack Kardys

Chair of the Board of Directors Detrick L. Stanford, CPRP

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

Clayton County Parks and Recreation Jonesboro, Georgia

Michael Kelly

Chair-Elect Susan Trautman, CPRP

Chicago Park District Chicago, Illinois

Great Rivers Greenway District St. Louis, Missouri

Brian Knapp

Past Chair Robert F. Ashcraft, Ph.D. ASU Lodestar Center Phoenix, Arizona

Treasurer Neelay Bhatt PROS Consulting Indianapolis, Indiana

Secretary Stephen Eckelberry

NOVA Parks Fairfax, Virginia

Molly Stevens Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Austin, Texas

William “Joe” Turner Houston Parks and Recreation Houston, Texas

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LIFE TRUSTEES

Bartlett Park District Bartlett, Illinois

Beverly D. Chrisman

President and CEO Barbara Tulipane, CAE

Anne S. Close

National Recreation and Park Association Ashburn, Virginia

themed CONCEPTS

Lexington, South Carolina

Fort Mill, South Carolina

James H. Evans BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New York, New York

Leon T. Andrews

Rosemary Hall Evans

National League of Cities Washington, D.C.

Sugar Hill, New Hampshire

Barbara Baca

Cullman, Alabama

Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department Albuquerque, New Mexico

Earl T. Groves

Rebecca Benná, CPRP

Charles E. Hartsoe, Ph.D.

Five River Metro Parks Dayton, Ohio

Kevin Coyle National Wildlife Federation Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Harnish Southwest Christian School Fort Worth, Texas

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

Chester W. Freeman

Gastonia, North Carolina

Richmond, Virginia

Harry G. Haskell Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Kathryn A. Porter Mendham, New Jersey

Perry J. Segura New Iberia, Louisiana

R. Dean Tice Round Hill, Virginia

Eugene A. Young, CPRP Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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EDITOR’S LET TER

Tipping Points Where is that corner, the one that you turn heading off in a new and irreversible direction?

Is it to be discovered out there in the near or distant future, waiting to appear in sabotage without warning? Is it simply a slow-to-realize plan coming to form as you close in on it, walking step by step toward an elusive image — an ideal?

This issue of Parks & Recreation speaks to such concepts — the revelation holding the ability to trip up the well-intended and the best-laid plans or the dream that changes a course of direction forever.

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Barbara Tulipane, CAE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Gina Mullins-Cohen gcohen@nrpa.org EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Danielle Taylor

dtaylor@nrpa.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Samantha Bartram sbartram@nrpa.org EDITORIAL INTERN

Marissa Bracamonte mbracamonte@nrpa.org

NRPA’s CEO and President Barbara Tulipane interviews Paul Gilbert, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, in this must-read feature. Gilbert, who has written a book addressing the ambitions of professionals in the field of parks, recreation and tourism, asserts that park and recreation agencies can only continue to flourish by continually reinventing themselves as in an entrepreneurial organizational model. Do you agree? Read the interview and book review starting on page 35.

Rich Dolesh, NRPA’s vice president of conservation and parks, addresses the new and more limiting safety standards for playground surfaces recently adopted by an ASTM subcommittee in his Operations article on page 54. If these new conditions are finally approved by ASTM’s Committee on Standards, they could have critical bearing on our public playgrounds throughout the nation. The principles intend to lessen the chance of injury in playground falls, and Dolesh asks the tough questions dogging the industry in this developing story.

We also give you one final look at NRPA’s 2014 annual convention. This special section provides a roundup of the education sessions, the award presentations, the exhibit hall and the opening general session, each a reminder of the progression of opportunities available now and in the future for park and recreation professionals.

Our goal at NRPA is to provide answers and seek out solutions. Solutions that work when you reach that point in the future that might trip things up, and answers so when opportunity comes, you will be prepared to seize it. Your NRPA membership, the content in this magazine, and the networking opportunities and education provided from NRPA’s annual convention provide these solutions and answers. The social and moral awareness established through NRPA’s Three Pillars of Conservation, Health and Wellness, and Social Equity have been established to offer hope and afford ongoing opportunities of positive, irreversible change.

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

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PUBLICATION DESIGN

Creative By Design www.creativebydesign.net SENIOR MANAGER OF ADVERTISING

Dana Storm

703.858.2174 dstorm@nrpa.org (ISSN 0031-2215) is published monthly by the National Recreation and Park Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148, a service organization supported by membership dues and voluntary contributions. Copyright ©2014 by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of NRPA. Issued to members at the annual subscription price of $30, included in dues. Subscription: $36 a year in the U.S.; $46 elsewhere. Single copy price: $4.50. Library rate: $48 a year in the U.S.; $58 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.

Letters We hope the articles you read in Parks & Recreation are thought-provoking and engaging, and we want to hear your opinions on what you read in these pages. Through social media posts, website comments, emails to staff or posts on NRPA Connect, let us know how the magazine’s articles apply to your job and your agency. To submit feedback for this section directly, email Associate Editor Samantha Bartram at sbartram@nrpa.org.

I want to compliment you on the excellent Julie Bowen article regarding anaphylaxis. You have sent the absolute correct message. I don’t know if you know how controversial this has been — many departments refuse to address this proactively, perhaps thinking, “That’s not our role,” “We’ll have risk management all over us” or “What if our part-time staff does it wrong?”

Worst of all, those directors at agencies that want to do this find their hands tied by the city attorney, human resources or risk management. The tasks Bowen describes in her article are so easy to do, and so important. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see this article.

Social equity indeed!

Email from John N. McGovern, J.D., President of Recreation Accessibility Consultants LLC, regarding Emmy Award-winning actress Julie Bowen’s October article “It’s Time to ‘Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis’” (www. parksandrecreation.org/2014/October/ItsTime-to-Get-Schooled-in-Anaphylaxis) Your article avoids the most important ethical issues. What right do individuals have to go into a national forest that they do not own (you hint at some level of ownership by individuals of the Forest Service lands, but that is clearly not the case, legally or ethically) and build whatever they feel is best for their use? The whole reason for establishing governmental control over these resources is to prevent this type of activity. What would be left if everyone went into the forests and just started 10 Parks & Recreation

digging and constructing whatever they felt was “best?” The answer is “a ruined forest.” Just because you can find support from others that like your particular sport and you can force the Forest Service to accept your vandalism does not make it right or considerate to everyone else. The idea of preservation is to keep the resource as it is, to be enjoyed by everyone in its natural state, not to turn it into some kind of X Games amusement park.

Comment by Dan Baker, Superintendent of Parks at Richardson Parks and Recreation in Richardson, Texas, on Executive Editor Danielle Taylor’s blog post “Who Owns the Forests?” (www.nrpa.org/ Blog/Who-Owns-the-Forests) Thanks for your article on Minneapolis’ downtown park. I thought you did a good job laying out the issue and challenge. It appears that the park will go ahead with a conservancy model and a small board of private directors. If the conservancy ever fails, however, the bills will end up in the city’s lap anyway. This story will have many more chapters. Nice work.

Email from Dave Smith, a Minneapolis-based freelance writer, regarding NRPA Vice President of Conservation and Parks Rich Dolesh’s October article “‘No Thanks’ Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Rejects Offer of Downtown East Park” (www.parksandrecreation. org/2014/October/No-Thanks-Minneapolis-Park-and-Recreation-Board-RejectsOffer-of-Downtown-East-Park)

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Is this the product of an audit, possibly just good timing or something else entirely? All parks programs should be experiencing some natural increases in a recovering economy that has been basically down since 2009. How the sales increases account for the more recent economic upswing [and] population increases, and were exactly figured in relation to the cost of the audit is unknown. It is important to remember that correlation is not the same as causation. Ice cream sales increase in the summer and so do drownings, but eating ice cream does not cause drowning. Similarly, two things could be happened independently here as well, an audit and an increase in sales. Unless we have more information, like how park district sales as a whole, across the nation, have been performing, it is not possible to control for other variables and determine causation or if the performed audit had the effect it’s claiming. I am not suggesting that it is not possible the audit led to increased sales, but that it is just as possible that some other variable led to it, or that the audit did not have as much of an impact as is being suggested.

Comment from Dr. Brad Kayden, Founder and President of Jelly Bean Sports, an early learning in sports production and research company in Chicago, Illinois, on Verde Martin Marketing Coordinator Alli Meyer’s September article “The ‘Other’ Audit” (www.parksandrecreation.org/2014/ September/The-Other-Audit)

NRPA PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT Alliance for a Healthier Generation and NRPA are providing technical assistance and planning support to park and recreation sites as they implement the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards as part of NRPA’s Commit to Health campaign.

American Water Charitable Foundation and NRPA are creating nature-based play areas within community parks, while also promoting water stewardship education through the Building Better Communities program.

AMERICAN WATER CHARITABLE F O U N D AT I O N

Arthritis Foundation and NRPA, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are providing communities the Walk With Ease and the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program.

CBS EcoMedia and NRPA are providing opportunities for CBS television, radio, interactive and outdoor media advertisers to support park and recreation projects benefiting communities nationwide.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NRPA are enhancing the ability of community park and recreation agencies to create environments that increase access to opportunities for physical activity, with a specific focus on community walkability. Additionally, the CDC is supporting NRPA’s Commit to Health campaign.

The Coca-Cola Company and NRPA are providing increased access to physical activity spaces for youth in parks. In addition, the program is funding healthy, active living programming for youth.

The Coca-Cola Foundation and NRPA are implementing the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program. The program helps to inspire communities to get fit through boot camps and fitness classes at community parks, while hiring veterans as instructors and role models for healthy living.

ConAgra Foods Foundation and NRPA are increasing awareness of community summer and after-school nutrition programs while also working to expand and improve food service programs through the distribution of best practices.

Darden Foundation and NRPA are expanding community gardens through the Grow Your Park program to benefit low-income families through the donation of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

ESPN and NRPA are teaming up to implement the Access to Sports program, which improves and expands youth sports programs in underserved communities.

Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in partnership with ESPN is supporting NRPA’s Green Parks Green Kids program to develop and expand children’s environmental education programs.

Food Research and Action Center and NRPA are increasing the number of park and recreation agencies participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program to help eliminate hunger during out-of-school times.

The Hershey Company and NRPA are enhancing the awareness of track and field through the Hershey’s Track & Field Games. This program increases the number of active, healthy youth engaged in sports and the outdoors.

Lockheed Martin and NRPA are supporting the Parks: Return & Restore program. This program is working to create and expand adaptive and therapeutic programming for injured service members and veterans.

Macy’s and NRPA are raising awareness and connecting people with their community parks through a national customer engagement program conducted in nearly 700 Macy’s stores.

Major League Baseball and NRPA are advancing baseball and softball in local communities through Major League Baseball’s local initiatives — Pitch Hit & Run, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities and The Baseball Tomorrow Fund.

National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and NRPA, with support from the CDC, are providing evidence-based arthritis intervention programs across the country.

National Environmental Education Foundation, the Hispanic Communications Network, and NRPA are raising awareness of the value of urban forests nationwide and supporting community urban forestry demonstration projects.

National Recreation Foundation is supporting NRPA’s Commit to Health campaign to expand implementation of the HEPA standards.

NATIONAL

RECREATION FOUNDATION

National Wildlife Federation, NRPA and more than 700 park and recreation agencies are expanding opportunities for active outdoor learning and exploration in community parks through the 10 Million Kids Outdoors initiative.

NFL and the NFL Network support park and recreation after school programs through NFL PLAY 60 and NFL FLAG Football initiatives to improve the health and wellness of children through physical activity.

Partnership for a Healthier America and NRPA are carrying out a national campaign that improves healthy eating and physical activity among youth across the nation through implementation of standards.

Rain CII Carbon LLC and NRPA are supporting park improvements within communities where Rain CII employees work and live, while engaging employees in volunteer opportunities.

Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation and NRPA are providing the Take Me Fishing program to park and recreation agencies along with resources to help build and grow recreational boating and fishing programs.

The Toro Company and NRPA are presenting the Green School to educate park and recreational professionals on how to be environmentally responsible, teach environmental stewardship and position themselves as “green” advocates.

United States Tennis Association and NRPA are growing the game through community parks and recreation and building healthier communities through tennis.

Walmart Foundation and NRPA are increasing the number of healthy meals served during out-of-school times and providing nutrition literacy to communities nationwide in support of NRPA’s Commit to Health campaign.

To learn more about partnering with NRPA and customized partnership opportunities, please contact Rebecca Wickline, Vice President of Development, at 703.858.2163 or rwickline@nrpa.org. www.nrpa.org/Partnerships

Community Center Sensory Sojourn

An inclusive trail at a Maryland state park provides an all-sensory nature experience specifically designed for people with mobility, hearing and vision impairments

By Danielle Taylor

A

s program director for the Maryland Department of Natural Resource’s Conservation Job Corps, Fred Banks manages a lot of youth volunteers and has been privy to a number of off-the-wall ideas. But last fall, when some of his teen volunteers with disabilities suggested they develop a nature trail for others with similar impairments, Banks took notice.

“They asked us, ‘Have you ever thought about doing a trail for everybody?’” Banks recalls. “We ran it past the park managers [at Patapsco Valley State Park], and they thought it was a good idea.”

Just west of Baltimore, Patapsco Valley State Park is centrally located in Maryland, making it a convenient spot for such a project.

The park also features a number of elements that made it attractive for a sensory trail, including climbable rocks, gently sloping topography and audible wildlife. “We have prob-

ably one of the foremost experts on trails who works at the park, Ranger Amy Lutsko,” Banks says. “She gave some insight on what type of topography we’d want to look for if there were existing unmaintained trails that we could take over, which is what we did, or if we should just start from scratch. We went from one end of the Patapsco to the other to find a perfect spot, and found one right outside the nature center.”

A grant provided by the National Park Service and the Scrooby Foundation funded the initial phase of de-

The trail was designed so people with disabilities could safely navigate it solo.

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velopment, and Banks and his corps of volunteers quickly got to work. To develop plans for the trail, Project Coordinator Chass Seymour enlisted the unique perspectives of students at the nearby Maryland School for the Blind. “We got a lot of ideas from the kids at the Maryland School for the Blind,” Banks says. “They came out on several occasions after school to walk the trail and tell us what they like and didn’t like. That information was invaluable — there was no way we could have done it without them.”

Their input led to a number of modifications to the original plans.

For example, the trail crews had originally intended to take out a number of rocks along the trail, thinking they would cause obstructions for blind hikers, but it turned out that the kids loved climbing on the rocks and using them as places to sit, so they were left in place.

“We had no idea what to look for,” Banks freely admits. “The things that we thought would be obstacles when they got on the trail, they were just like, ‘Nope, we love it!’”

In addition to factoring in the thoughts and opinions from the local visually impaired population, Seymour also enlisted a group of community members in wheelchairs to test out the surfacing and grade of the path. “The grade goes downhill, then there’s a dip when they come back up,” Banks says. “We looked at people who use wheelchairs and wondered, would the incline be too

Colorful musical instruments, textured plants and strongly scented herbs add an extra level of sensory stimulation for trail users.

much for them to get up?” Seymour and Banks encouraged the volunteers working on the project to experience the trail as their intended audience would, using blindfolds or wheelchairs to help them make the connection. “We’re rookies, so navigating that hill in wheelchairs was a little strange for us, but people who use normally wheelchairs blew right through that.”

In addition to navigability and safety concerns, the project team strove to include elements that would enhance users’ sensory experience along the trail. To stimulate the sense of smell, fragrant plants and herbs were included in the plans, as well as foliage unique to the touch, such as lamb’s ear. A sound garden with drums and wind chimes was also mapped out to provide an auditory component, plus a number of bluebird boxes along the trail to attract colorful wildlife that would delight visitors with their songs. A guide rope offers a continuous navigation tool for the 0.1-mile trail, and bells on the guideposts mark special elements visitors wouldn’t want to miss. Finally, signage in Braille gives visually impaired walkers a chance to learn more about their surroundings.

The volunteer corps completed most of the construction this July, although finishing touches continued into the early fall. The trail opened to the public on October 16, and the team behind it is already gathering input from users for additional developments and tweaks to put into place next summer.

“There’s so much more than sight that we take advantage of,” Banks says. “These kids pick up on stuff I miss every single day.”

Danielle Taylor is the Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine (dtaylor@nrpa.org).

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Community Center

Notable News n John “Jack” Hewitt, former executive director of the Maryl a n d - Na t io n a l Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), died Saturday, October 25. He first joined M-NCPPC staff in 1946 as an administrative assistant and was appointed administrative aide to the vice chairman and park commissioner in 1948. By 1957, he was appointed director of parks. Outside M-NCPPC, Hewitt was an instructor at the Revenue Resources School at North Carolina State University; a contributing author and member of the editorial board at the international park and recreation professional journal Trends; a lecturer for the Indiana University-sponsored Great Lakes Park and Recreation Training Institute; a faculty member with the Southwest Park and Recreation Training Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma; and a consultant for a seminar on stream control for Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. Among his many accolades, Hewitt received the American Institute of Park Executives’ Mr. Chairman Award in recognition of his enthusiastic devotion to public service and outstanding leadership, as well as the Governor’s Citation in 1992 for outstanding contributions in the field of parks and recreation. He was also cited for excellence in William H. Whyte’s national award-winning book on urban planning, The Last Landscape; given special recognition by the Izaak Walton League of America, Silver Spring Chapter, for outstanding accomplishment in the field of conservation; and was honored by the Maryland Recreation and Parks Society for his outstanding service.

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n Tony Langoni, an influential park and recreation professional with more than 45 years in the industry, died November 1 at the age of 79. Langoni began his career in the late 1950s as a recreation specialist for the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo, Colorado, and later served within that institution as acting recreation director. Later, residents would report high levels of satisfaction with recreational and leisure programming under his direction as the park and recreation director for the City of Pueblo. Langoni is also remembered for his assistance in creating one of Colorado’s earliest known partnerships between a municipal park and recreation department and a local school district. His vision as a recreation professional also helped create one of the first multipurpose recreation centers in Pueblo. Langoni served as past vice president and president of the Colorado Therapeutic Recreation Society; past member of the NRPA Standards Committee; Midwest representative on the NRPA Forum; past member of the executive board of the Therapeutic Recreation Society; and past area coordinator for the Colorado Special Olympics. In 1993, just prior to Langoni’s retirement, the Pueblo City Council passed a resolution naming the city’s new multifield soccer complex the “Anthony J. Langoni Sports Complex,” recognizing him for his dedicated service to the community. Among his other accolades, in 2003, Langoni was awarded NRPA’s Fellow Award for his professionalism, leadership ability and outstanding job performance.

For more news from around the industry, visit www.parksandrecreation.org/2014/December/Notable-News.

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NRPA Connect Hot Topics

E

ven though the year is coming to an end, that doesn’t mean the conversations are stopping on NRPA Connect! Below is a preview of some of the topics being discussed on the only professional networking platform dedicated to the park and recreation profession: 1) Turf Damage from Lacrosse: Does playing lacrosse cause more damage on turf than soccer or football? Read what your colleagues suggest for the best turf management practices to promote healthy turf on athletic fields.

2) Aquatic Inflatable Toys: Thinking about purchasing inflatable toys for your pool? There are many factors to consider before making this purchase, including insurance coverage, lifeguard positioning and health codes. See what participants think are the risks and rewards.

3) Shared Use Off-Leash vs.

Fenced Dog Parks: Visit this discussion to learn what your colleagues believe are the pros and cons of shared use off-leash dog parks and fenced dog parks.

4) EpiPen Policy: What policies are recommended for the use of EpiPens and other epinephrine autoinjectors? How do these policies differ from other medication regulations? Check out this discussion to read how professionals weigh in.

Participating is easy! Visit www.nrpaconnect.org to contribute!

— Hayley MacDonell, NRPA’s Membership Programs Manager

By the Numbers

Conference Counts

This year’s NRPA Congress in Charlotte, North Carolina, was one of the most successful in recent memory by a number of measures, but don’t take our word for it. Although these statistics can’t capture the knowledge attendees got from the education sessions, the connections professionals made as they networked, the significance of the improved neighborhood park built for the Parks Build Community initiative or the joy untold numbers of kids will get when they play on playground equipment bought on the show floor, they give a slice of the action and showcase some of what happened at this year’s 49th annual event.

50: Number of states represented by attendees (plus 88 percent: Portion of attendees who

Germany, France, India, China, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Brazil and other countries).

280:

Number of traditional education sessions, speed sessions, Off-Site Institutes and Pre-Congress Workshops presented (out of 571 submissions).

2,200+: Number of hours invested by approximately 160 attendee volunteers.

4,292: Number of downloads of the 2014 NRPA Congress app.

3,000+: Number of attendees at the Opening Party for networking with their fellow members.

476: Number of speakers.

391: Number of exhibitors on the show floor.

280,000: Total square footage used for the exhibit hall’s show floor.

155: Number of exhibitors already booked for the 2015 conference.

8.5 percent: Increase in attendance over the 2013 NRPA Congress in Houston.

are at the middle to executive management level at their agencies.

46: Number of awards, scholarships, fellowships and Hall of Fame honors presented.

1,515: Number of times the #NRPACongress hashtag was used on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

126,000+: Number of impressions made by social media mentions of the #NRPACongress hashtag.

91.3 percent: Portion of surveyed

attendees who play a role in the purchasing process for their agency.

63.9 percent: Portion of surveyed

attendees who spent more than three hours on the show floor (12.8 percent of whom spent more than five hours).

87.4 percent: Portion of surveyed

attendees who rated their overall satisfaction level of their 2014 NRPA Congress experience as a 4 or 5 out of 5.

97.1 percent: Portion of surveyed

attendees who would recommend attending NRPA Congress to their colleagues.

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People for Parks Tom Norquist: A Pioneer for Play

By Samantha Bartram

C

lose your eyes and picture yourself situated on a playground swing.

Gently pumping your legs back and forth, you begin to move, enjoying the breeze, hearing the creak of the chain and feeling the sense of freedom that comes from sailing through the air. That experience is owed to the stimulation of the vestibular system — the tiny canals and organs located in the inner ear. They’re responsible for our sense of balance and of our body in space. They’re also responsible for Tom Norquist’s profound love of play, which he attributes to his fondness for swinging. “I love to swing because of the way it affects my inner ear,” the senior vice president of product development and design at PlayCore’s GameTime says. “Experts…explain that during swinging, the three semicircular canals in the inner ear are responding to movement and acceleration in the horizontal, vertical and diagonal planes. For me, it just feels really good, especially when I close my eyes.”

But it wasn’t just the act of swinging that motivated Norquist to make a career out of play. It was the connection between the act of play and a child’s healthy development that fomented the “aha” moment he needed. “The same experts have

explained that [vestibular] stimulation is directly related to our sense of balance,” Norquist continues.

“This reminds me of my first play research experience back in 1984 when Ken Kirn, the president of [outdoor equipment manufacturer] Columbia

Tom Norquist

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Cascade [Company], explained that young children having difficulty with balancing may also have difficulty with reading. Ken introduced me to the world of play research and… sparked my lifelong love for play.”

Advocating Play for All Norquist’s introduction to the world of playgrounds and site amenities took place at Columbia Cascade.

Fresh from earning bachelors’ degrees in finance/law and marketing at Portland State University, Norquist spent the subsequent decade learning all he could about the industry.

In 1995, he was a founding board member of the International Play Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (IPEMA), and later served as president and treasurer before settling into his current role as secretary.

He’s also a long-term, active representative for the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services, including those related to playgrounds.

During the past 30 years, Norquist’s name has appeared on a number of prestigious boards and organizations related to play and equal access, including the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), the United States Access Board’s Recreation Access Advisory Committee, the International Playground Contractor’s Association (NPCAI), the U.S. Play Coalition and the

Pub Name: PRM 2.19 x 9.88

National Institute for Play (NIFP).

He’s solidified his reputation in the industry as a skilled marketer, product innovator, motivational speaker, award-winning playground designer and children’s advocate for safe, creative, inclusive and fun play.

Safety First Norquist has seen a lot of new playground products and amenities come down the pike, but he cites the now-common use of safety surfacing at playgrounds as the most critical innovation by far in modern play. Indeed, the most common playground injuries result from falls (40 percent of the estimated 250,000 injuries reported annually), and organizations like the Consumer Products Safety Commission and ASTM have been working since the early 1980s to establish guidelines for impact absorption of playground surfaces.

Beyond physical safety, Norquist also makes a point to mention the cognitive impact of play and how that relates to healthy development in children. “When we study play in the field of child development, we learn about the powerful physical, social, cognitive and emotional skills obtained through a regime of free, unobstructed play,” he says. Children who are exposed to regular sessions of free play tend to test higher on IQ tests and are better learners, “but one of the most important findings is how bad play deprivation, the lack of outdoor free play, can be on an individual,” Norquist continues.

He cites studies by Dr. Stuart Brown of the National Institute for Play, which have shown the negative effects play-deprived animals show in a laboratory setting. Animals that are restricted from free play are less able to avoid aggression or social

ize comfortably. “In other words, play deprivation can result in severe mental illness or even much worse,” Norquist warns.

Making Free Play Possible In light of such research and considering Norquist’s personal attachment to the joy of play, he’s also devoted a large chunk of his professional career to developing play systems and equipment that challenge and excite children. Back in the 1980s, Norquist worked on Columbia Cascades’ custom PipeLine and TimberForm playgrounds. While at GameTime in the 1990s, he helped design the BigFoot slide, featuring three different sliding experiences.

He also worked with the GameTime design team to help pioneer lifelike rock climbing experiences at playgrounds in the MegaRock and WallCano systems and, most recently, a system called Ionix that merges science with light and shadow play.

Inclusive playgrounds are also on Norquist’s radar as he works to develop new ways for children of all abilities to play together and get parents involved in their children’s play experiences. Currently, he’s working with Dr. Brown to develop a swing designed to facilitate greater bonding between parents and children.

Even with more than 30 years in the business of play, it seems we’ve but scratched the surface of Norquist’s unique, innovative talent and passion for the industry. “Watch out,” he says, “we have a bunch of really cool new inventions in the works and soon coming to a playground near you.”

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

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Parks & Recreation

17

Member to Member Taming Twitter

Adding a Twitter account to your agency’s social media profile can help reach more constituents and elevate visibility for events and programs

By Linda Oakleaf, Ph.D.

M

any park and recreation agencies have a robust presence on Twitter, but for many others, Twitter remains one piece of the social media puzzle that is missing. Twitter can be a useful way to publicize your agency and the good work that your staff members and volunteers are doing.

Adoption of Twitter has been growing across all age categories. As of January 2014, 19 percent of adults in the United States used Twitter, and the largest group of those users (35 percent) is between the ages of 18 and 29, according to data from the Pew Research Center. Twitter can be an effective way to engage with park users.

The public nature of tweets means it is likely that your agency is being discussed on Twitter whether you have an active account there or not. This could mean that disgruntled park visitors’ needs are not being addressed, but more importantly, it means that you are not able to reap the benefits when users publically praise your agency or your events.

Managed well, an active Twitter account means that you can be a part of the conversation instead of simply being its subject. Joining that conversation will mean devoting agency resources to the planning and maintenance of your Twitter account. As with other social media, it is free to join but will cost the agency in terms of staff time and attention.

Once you’ve decided to take the plunge, you will need to make a plan and execute it. Most Twitter users follow many accounts and cannot read every tweet of the accounts they follow. Instead, users generally

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read only the most recent tweets. As a result, you will want to keep your tweets focused on what has happened in the last 24 hours and what will be happening soon. Twitter was once mostly text-based, but the site has been redesigned to emphasize photos and videos. Use of pictures and video can make your Twitter feed more eye-catching. Make sure that many of your tweets also include pictures and consider adding video right in your feed. To do that, you’ll need to use Vine, a service that allows users to record and edit six-second long looping video clips (www.vine.co).

Implementing a Twitter strategy takes time and effort. To ensure that you are tweeting regularly and that you are being purposeful about your content, create a calendar. Determine when you will tweet reminders for event registration, opening and closing of seasonal facilities, and other regular reminders.

Around these important dates, be sure to schedule other content such as photos from events and programs, pictures of staff members getting ready for upcoming events, photos from your archives for “Throwback Thursday,” quotes, giveaways, coupons, thanks to donors or volunteers, etc. As you schedule tweets, think about what your followers will find interesting and worthwhile.

You will want to tweet at least once or twice a day. Make sure that your

Managed well, an active Twitter account means that you can be a part of the conversation instead of simply being its subject.

Twitter strategy reflects the mission and vision of your organization. Retweeting is another way to provide good content to your followers, so be purposeful about whom you follow so that you can retweet relevant and interesting information. While you’re at it, be sure to add tweeting into your emergency procedures as another venue for communicating with the public during an emergency.

You have a schedule, you have content to tweet — now you need to gain followers. Make sure that your profile is readily searchable by inserting likely keywords into it.

Also, be sure to include your Twitter handle on all promotional materials — your brochures, website and emails.

Consider creating hashtags for your signature events and

make sure to publicize them. Signage at large events can help draw followers and also encourage people to tweet about your events. Engaging with park users who tweet about your facilities and events will also help you gain more followers. Do regular keyword searches of event, park and program names to find people tweeting about your facilities and your programs, and then retweet positive comments and pictures. Regular searches also mean that if you find negative comments, you can reach out to provide better customer service.

As you begin tweeting, remember these three principles and you won’t go wrong: 1. Think about your tweets from the point of view of your readers; 2. Make sure your tweets support your agency’s mission; and 3. Be willing to have a little fun. After all, fun is part of our mission, too.

Linda Oakleaf, Ph.D., is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Leisure, Sport and Tourism Studies program at Middle Tennessee State University (oakleaf@gmail.com). Follow her on Twitter @parks_and_rec.

Twitter Basics The maximum length for a tweet is 140 characters.

Hashtags (what we used to call “the pound sign”) turn words into clickable links.

The default (and typical) setting is for all tweets to be public. “Followers” see what you say in their feed, and your feed consists of what the people you’re following are saying.

Reply to others by placing the “@” symbol before a user name, e.g., @parks_and_rec. The user will get a notification that you mentioned them.

Retweet (repeat what other users said) with the retweet button, or by typing RT: @user_name “Whatever they said goes here.”

Consider using tools like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to help manage your Twitter account. These tools can automate scheduled posts, keep tabs on specific search terms and help you manage multiple accounts.

Make sure you track your progress. Measure user engagement by the hour at http://analytics. twitter.com.

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ADVOCACY

Looking Forward to 2015

By Kevin O’Hara

P

eople all over are frustrated with Washington, D.C. So are we. Incentives for cooperation between our two major political parties are few and far between, and as the reins of Congress are about to be handed over to the Grand Old Party for the final two years of President Obama’s term, we anticipate more of the same old gridlock and finger pointing. So where does that leave us? Is all hope lost? Should we throw up our hands and walk away in frustration? As tempting as it may be, it’s time to flip the script. Traditionally we come to Washington looking for dollars and solutions. This year, we are going to be asking for our federal partners to either help or get out of the way. It’s time to shine the spotlight away from D.C. and onto the places around the country where government is working, and has to work.

As we gear up for the 114th Congress, we look forward to working with our members to tell our story on your turf (be it natural grass or artificial). Sharing and showing examples of federal-local partnerships on the ground will help us amplify that message here in D.C. So skip the long flight and the security lines. Spend 2015 inviting your elected officials to join you for park open20 Parks & Recreation

ings, trail dedications, and summer and after-school meals programs to show elected officials that those dollars that come from Washington make a difference back home. We’re not asking for the federal government to pay for all of our infrastructure and programming, just to be a reliable and stable partner year in and year out so that park and recreation agencies can do their work

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transforming lives in their communities. You are innovating, and will continue to do so, but those dollars, programs and partnerships make your job easier and multiply the impact of your work. Next year, we’re focusing on three major programs up for reauthorization. Each has a long history of bipartisan support and will require some sort of action next year. Use your best assets — your parks, recreation centers, staff and community — to help our federal elected officials understand how you leverage federal dollars.

Land and Water Conservation Fund The Land and Water Conservation Fund will expire in September 2015, and new leaders in the House and Senate are looking at major reforms to this 50-year-old program. The State Assistance Program, which funds state

and community park and recreation projects across America, has received around $45 million annually. We’d like to see that number go way up. With new chairs of the Natural Resources Committee in both the House and Senate, we’ll have to work together to educate these leaders on the close-tohome impact that State Assistance has in every county in the U.S.

As we continue to learn more about the new Congress, we’ll share more information to help arm you to tell your story back home. Despite our frustrations with the political climate and gridlock, we’ve got a lot of

work to do, and we look forward to helping you tell your stories. Buckle up — it’s going to be a busy year.

Kevin O’Hara is NRPA’s Vice President of Urban and Government Affairs (kohara@ nrpa.org).

MAP-21 (AKA the Transportation Bill) MAP-21, the primary source of federal funding for active transportation, is set to expire in May 2015. Last year, the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) distributed more than $900 million to communities across the country to fund bicycle and pedestrian projects, including the Recreational Trails Program. We’ll be fighting to maintain funding for TAP and Rec Trails. If you’ve received federal transportation dollars in the past and used them to fund development in your parks, make sure to show the outcome and impact of this funding to your elected officials.

Child Nutrition Reauthorization The Child Nutrition Act is also set to be reauthorized in 2015. This traditionally bipartisan bill authorizes the USDA programs that provide funding for after-school and summer feeding programs delivered to children in almost every community. According to NRPA’s PRORAGIS™ data, park and recreation agencies provided more than 560 million meals to children in 2013. Earlier this year, we did a successful pilot congressional site visit in Minneapolis, where Rep. Keith Ellison saw how Minneapolis Parks and Recreation staff leverage these dollars to feed kids in their community. For a toolkit of materials you can use when inviting a member of Congress for a site visit, go to www.nrpa.org/advocacy.

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L AW R E V I E W

Safety Feature Practice Standard in Sport?

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

A

s a general rule, coaches/instructors and other individuals and agencies responsible for conducting sport, recreation and physical fitness programs owe a legal duty to participants to supply proper and necessary protective equipment before going forward with an activity. Moreover, if the necessary protective equipment is supplied by the participant or his/her parents, those responsible for conducting the activity have a legal duty to ensure that such self-furnished protective equipment is reasonably adequate under the circumstances, or provide alternative protective equipment that is adequate. What protective equipment is considered necessary or optional may vary with the setting and generally accepted customs and practices of a given sport or recreational activity.

As illustrated by the case report described herein, the failure to provide the injured plaintiff with a helmet and mouthguard may have created a foreseeable risk of the type of head and facial injury sustained during the activity. Accordingly, since football helmets with attached faceguards and mouthpieces are used for safety or protective devices, a jury could reasonably find the failure to supply such necessary protective equipment provided a

22 Parks & Recreation

basis for negligence liability. Further, the assumption of risk defense against a claim of negligence by an injured participant in a contact sport is limited to the risk of injury inherent in ordinary play and does not include the risk of participating in a training drill that has insufficient protective equipment.

Jaw Breaker In the case of Sonetti v. Huntington Beach Union School District, 2014

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Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 7088 (10/1/2014), plaintiff Mark Sonetti was injured during a high school football kickoff drill. After being struck from behind by another player, Sonetti lurched forward and struck another player with his chin, breaking his jaw.

In August 2011, Sonetti had played football for Fountain Valley High School for three years. He made the varsity team in his junior year and was returning as a varsity player for his senior season. In each of his previous seasons, helmets and mouthguards had been used in all fall kickoff coverage drills. In his deposition, Sonetti testified that no fall kickoff coverage drill had ever been run without a helmet. Sonetti admitted, however, that spring drills were not normally run with helmets.

There was no dispute as to what the kickoff coverage drill run that particular Monday was to entail:

There was to be no tackling. However, blocking was envisaged, and Sonetti’s coach, defendant John Shipp, admitted that, in the context of the drill, a defender running down the field could end up being blocked. As Sonetti described what happened, he was running down the field in his lane, when he was blocked (or pushed) from behind, and went into the upper torso of an adjacent player, resulting in his injuries.

During his deposition, Coach Shipp effectively conceded helmets were required for football drills. Specifically, Shipp admitted that players would have been wearing properly fitted helmets during the kickoff drill “if the helmets had arrived prior to the day of the accident.” In addition, at Fountain Valley, it was standard practice for players in kickoff drills to wear mouthguards.

Coach Shipp further testified, “All of our kids are supposed to be wearing mouthguards.” According to Shipp, “A player would not be allowed to be in the drill if he wasn’t wearing one.” Shipp also indicated, “Mouthguards normally come attached to the helmets.” When questioned, Coach Shipp indicated he would have sent Sonetti “to go get a mouthpiece” if he had realized Sonetti was not wearing a mouthpiece prior to the kickoff coverage drill in which Sonetti was injured.

The district’s equipment manager also testified that players should have been given a mouthguard attached to helmets, or “get their own individual mouthpiece.” The equipment manager, however, did not recollect whether the required mouthguards had been given out prior to the day of the accident.

Similarly, Sonetti testified at his deposition that mouthguards were normally given out to the players when

they received their helmets. Sonetti further testified that he wasn’t given a mouthguard when he picked up his shoulder pads the preceding Saturday.

Such testimony further supported the inference that mouthguards were not

given out to team members prior to Monday’s practice because the helmets had not yet arrived.

In his complaint, Sonetti alleged his injuries were caused by the school district’s negligence. In response, the

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Parks & Recreation

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L AW R E V I E W

district brought a motion for summary judgment. In so doing, the district “did not submit any expert testimony establishing that high school kickoff coverage drills in California are normally run without helmets.” Instead, the appeals court found the school district had simply argued, a “rather remarkable position,” that the “[a]bsence of football helmets does not increase the risks inherent in football.”

In the opinion of Sonetti’s sports safety expert, contact football “must be played with helmets and mouthguards.” Further, Sonetti’s expert stated “kickoff drills are one of the most dangerous plays in all of football due to high rates of speed and the likelihood of violent collisions.” In offering his opinion, however, Sonetti’s expert “did not say whether the normal practice of high school coaches in California is to run kickoff coverage drills with or without helmets.”

The trial court granted summary judgment to the defendant school district based on primary assumption of risk, i.e., participants assume “the normal, inherent risks in the sports activity.” Specifically, the trial court found “bumping, blocking and falling are inherent in football.”

In so doing, the trial court further noted Coach Shipp’s testimony that “Players run the kickoff drill without helmets often.” While Coach Shipp conceded “helmets would have been used if available,” the trial court found such helmet use “had nothing to do with safety.” In so doing, the trial court apparently accepted Shipp’s testimony that the purpose was to “have the players get used to their helmets and improve tackling.”

On Appeal On appeal, Sonetti argued that the district fell below its standard of care for 24 Parks & Recreation

organizing high school football by not supplying helmets or mouthguards.

Accordingly, the appeals court would “ascertain what is the standard practice as regards a given safety feature in an organized sporting activity:” Going the extra mile beyond what is normal, or providing safety precautions beyond what is standard practice, is not required of a defendant. But complying with standard, customary safety procedures is. (Emphasis of court).

In this particular instance, Sonetti had argued that “supplying helmets and mouthguards is a standard, customary safety procedure that would have prevented or ameliorated his injury.” While participants assume normal, inherent risks in a sport, the appeals court acknowledged that participants would not necessarily assume “increased risks attributable to the defendant, usually an organizer, instructor or promoter.”

Since the trial court had entered summary judgment in favor of the school district, effectively dismissing Sonetti’s claim without a trial, the appeals court would interpret any conflicting evidence in the pretrial record in favor of Sonetti. In so doing, the appeals court found that the school district had “failed to establish that kickoff coverage drills are normally run without helmets.” On the contrary, the appeals court found conflicting evidence from which an inference in favor of Sonetti could be drawn, i.e., the “standard practice is for kickoff coverage drills to be run with helmets at the time Sonetti was injured.” Similarly, the appeals court found conflicting evidence as to whether the district actually had supplied mouthguards for the practice that injured Sonetti, even though “the district admitted it is standard practice to supply mouthguards for kickoff coverage drills.”

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Sport Safety Assumption of Risk As a general rule, the appeals court reiterated the point that “plaintiffs assume the risk inherent in the sport or activity, but do not assume increased risks caused by the defendant.”

Although defendants generally have no legal duty to eliminate (or protect a plaintiff against) risks inherent in the sport itself, it is well-established that defendants generally do have a duty to use due care not to increase the risks to a participant over and above those inherent in the sport.

Further, in determining whether a plaintiff could assume the risk of unavailable safety measures in a sport, the appeals court would determine “a norm or industry standard or practice” for a particular safety measure — in other words, the “customary” approach to particular safety precautions in a given sport.

In resolving reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of Sonetti, the appeals court found Sonetti had established a sufficient basis for the following facts in contesting the summary judgment granted to the district by the trial court: (1) No mouthguards were given out. In combination with Sonetti’s statement that mouthguards were normally given out with the helmets, and the fact the helmets did not arrive that Saturday, there is a reasonable inference no mouthguards were given out on the Saturday before the Monday practice… [Further, the district] did not provide the declarations of any players to the effect that mouthguards had been given out.

(2) The standard practice of Fountain Valley High School was not to allow players to run kickoff drills without mouthguards. Coach Shipp said that himself.

(3) The standard practice of Fountain Valley High was to run full practices in the fall with helmets, not without them.

Sonetti testified that every time the drill had been run in the fall in the previous three seasons, it had been run with helmets. Beyond that, Coach Shipp admitted that if he had had helmets available, he would have had the players wear them. If standard practice was not to wear helmets, Coach Shipp might very well have said he wouldn’t have had the players wear them.

In light of these facts, the appeals court found the pretrial evidence had not conclusively established that Sonetti had necessarily assumed the risk of injury under these circumstances. On the contrary, if Sonetti’s negligence claim was allowed to proceed to trial, a jury could “reasonably conclude that helmets and/or mouthguards were standard practice.”

Similarly, a reasonable jury could find “Sonetti’s injuries would have been prevented or would have been less severe” if the district had “passed out helmets or mouthguards.”

While there was conflicting pretrial evidence on whether mouthguards were passed out, the appeals court found there was no dispute that helmets had not been passed out prior to the practice in which Sonetti was injured. Moreover, the appeals court found the district had not established a “standard practice in fall kickoff coverage drills to dispense with helmets.”

Coach Shipp’s testimony suggesting helmets weren’t used is wobbly, and his statement the drill would have been run with helmets if they had arrived suggests a standard practice of conducting kickoff coverage drills with helmets. It is hard to read that testimony as anything other than an admission that the only reason Sonetti wasn’t wearing a helmet was that they were not yet available.

When compared with the unequivocal testimony of Sonetti that in the fall season, kickoff drills had always previously been conducted with helmets, it cannot be said there is no issue as to whether the standard practice of the school was to run such drills without helmets.

Further, in the opinion of the appeals court, there was no pretrial evidence that helmets were “disfavored in the particular drill being run,” nor any pretrial evidence that helmets increased the risk of injury. On the contrary, there was pretrial evidence that the use of properly fitted helmets with mouthguards could be considered a customary safety precaution under the circumstances.

Even assuming the trial court was correct to read Coach Shipp’s testimony to the effect that the only reason helmets had been worn for kickoff drills was to accustom players to their helmets and tackling technique and the coach was indifferent to the extra safety provided by helmets, the uncon

tradicted evidence, from Sonetti’s sports safety expert, is that helmets would have been desirable for safety reasons…

The kickoff coverage drill here may have fallen short of that standard as well as the law’s. By not waiting until the helmets and mouthguards arrived, the team lost an experienced player to a broken jaw. Football has its inherent risks, but in most contexts, including this kickoff coverage drill, the standard practice appears to be mitigation of those risks by playing the game with helmets and mouthguards.

Accordingly, the appeals court concluded that the trial court had erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the district. As a result, the appeals court reversed the trial court’s effective pretrial dismissal of Sonetti’s negligence claim and allowed the case to proceed to trial. At trial, a jury would decide whether Sonetti had assumed the risk of injury by participating in the kickoff drill without a mouthguard.

PARKS & R Salsbur

Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec

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

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FUTURE LEADERS

Investing in Your Own Professional Development

By Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D., and Jody M. Baker

R

ecently, many folks in parks and recreation have discussed “the new economic reality” and how it affects both the world of work that we live in and our personal lives. However, during times where finances are under the microscope and budgets are cinched more than ever before, professionals must not neglect their own development. In the past, many professionals relied on their employing agency or organization to help fund professional development. Now, in “the new economic reality,” some employers are eliminating or limiting the number of dollars allocated to such opportunities. Whether it involves attending conferences, taking academic courses, participating in webinars, reading books or joining an online community, professional development is meaningful and essential in ensuring you and your agency are doing what it takes to be top notch. However, in some instances you as the professional must build a case to invest in professional development, meaning securing time off and financial support of the endeavor.

While there is certainly a wide range of reasons to justify professional development need, we have started a quick list to help you begin brainstorming support for such opportunities.

1

Constituents expect you to be an expert in your profession.

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We must remember that we are professionals, and many external and internal members of the community and beyond hold us to that standard.

This means we must stay aware and connected to the profession’s trends, advancements, laws and challenges.

Keeping up with such aspects of our

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profession enables each of us to understand and appropriately respond to current and future issues that may affect the services we provide. This includes meeting best practices related to these services and viewing recreation as an important part of the communities we reach.

2

Develop primary and complimentary skill sets.

In the realm of parks and recreation, there are many opportunities to expand individual skill sets. If you have ambitions of managing a recreation center, one that includes an aquatics facility, then perhaps seeking out AFO certification could help you become a better candidate when the position becomes available. Another example might be if you want to make a transition from summer camp direc-

tor to managerial oversight of all recreation programs. Seek out resources like academic courses and webinars that will expose you to things such as policy development, risk management, program evaluation and budgeting. Seeking out opportunities to expand your skills in the areas you need to progress professionally can help you achieve your goals.

3

Education and knowledge lends credibility when dealing with others related to your job, agency and profession.

Education is the best way to get a foothold in the industry and provides the structure for the understanding of common policies, procedures and practices. Classes related to programming, areas and facilities, and evaluation give a future professional the basic tools that can be applied to situations that occur in the field. While obtaining an advanced degree may help validate your credibility and secure some job positions, it is not a “golden ticket” to the top. It is crucial that credibility is developed through knowledge and solid experiences that prove you have the ability to handle the variety of experiences common in our field.

Another way to gain credibility is through professional certification.

Professional certification demonstrates you have the basic knowledge needed for certification and highlights your vested interest in this great profession. A truly credible professional has the tools to handle daily situations, certifiable knowledge and a proven record of success developed from field experiences.

4

Facilitate improvement within the agency with better practices.

Through your own professional development, you will also have the

Smart young professionals take advantage of networking, education, certification and other professional development opportunities in a continued effort to stay well-informed and well-prepared to serve their communities.

ability to improve agency practices.

This is accomplished by networking with other professionals who are experiencing the same challenges, becoming aware of resources and increasing your ability to learn from the challenges and issues within other agencies as well as your own.

5

The best leaders share knowledge and encourage others to learn and develop.

Mark Wilkerson, director of parks and recreation for Muskogee, Oklahoma, once said one of his professional goals was supporting the future leaders in our field. In addition to setting aside time to share his knowledge and experiences with his employees, he invests time in listening and learning from his employees, peers and concerned citizens. Wilkerson makes a point of allowing his employees to be engaged in service roles, seek out professional development opportunities and grow within

the field. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a young professional in the field, sharing and supporting professional development allows this great profession to progress.

Each of these tips serves as a starting point to any conversation related to supporting professional development. An important aspect to remember is that professional development takes place not just at a conference or only within a classroom — do not limit yourself to a specific type of development. As much as possible, diversify the ways in which you engage professionally and grow personally.

Challenge yourself to take on different roles and try new ways of learning and networking.

Michael J. Bradley, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation and Park Administration at Eastern Kentucky University (michael.bradley@eku.edu). Jody M. Baker is a Recreation Leader III with the Tulsa County Parks Department (jbaker@ tulsacounty.org).

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Debate Over the Purpose of Conservation Heats Up

By Richard J. Dolesh

W

ho is conservation for? The debate over this age-old question has recently taken a surprising and unfortunately acrimonious turn. The feud between those in conservation who believe that nature should be protected for its own sake, or its “intrinsic” value, and those who believe that we should conserve nature to help man, or for the “instrumental” value of nature, has broken into the open in an embarrassingly public squabble. The January issue of Parks & Recreation Magazine provided background on how the issue has been brewing and its relevance to public parks and recreation (www. parksandrecreation.org/2014/January/Who-is-Conservation-For).

Clearly the issues about who conservation benefits have not been resolved, and as the debate has intensified and become more personal, there is a growing fear that the continuing arguments are harming the cause of conservation by chilling potential grantors and driving students away from entering a field that has become so divisive.

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The issue of who conservation is for is not just a philosophical or theoretical debate by ivory-towered

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academics.

The simmering dispute was brought to a head recently with the publication of a commentary in the November 2014 journal Nature (www.nature.com/news/working-together-a-call-for-inclusive-conservation-1.16260) by two highly respected ecologists, Heather Tallis of the Nature Conservancy and Jane Lubchenco, former administrator of NOAA who is now at Oregon State University. In their commentary, cosigned by 238 other respected scientists, ecologists and biologists, the pair calls out colleagues in the field for their uncompromising stance and the increasingly vitriolic dialogue over the question of why we should conserve natural resources.

Tallis and Lubchenco identify two

sets of voices, namely the proponents of instrumental value and the proponents of intrinsic value. The instrumental value point of view is espoused by those who believe that protecting nature for its own sake has not slowed the loss of habitat or the extinction of species, and that the only prudent course of action is to directly couple conservation efforts with the goals of business, industry and agriculture, which will encourage more support for protecting what matters to people. They argue we should not worry about protecting all of nature for nature’s sake.

Conversely, Tallis and Lubchenco identify the proponents of intrinsic value as those who believe that protecting nature for its own sake is right and proper and that partnering with business, industry or big agriculture is a craven sell-out, for it is those very industries that have led to species extinction and widespread loss of critical habitat. According to the intrinsic value point of view, protecting nature and all species within it for their own sake, even those that have no apparent value to man, is sufficient reason to promote the cause of conservation.

Tallis and Lubchenco decry the present state of affairs and forcefully call for an end to the destructive debate that is raging among a small minority of mostly men within academia, institutions and organizations. They advocate for the adoption of a big-tent philosophy that allows for acceptance of both views according to the context, and which addresses needs that align with the values of promoting diverse points of view. They claim that the very future of conservation science, practice and policy is at stake unless the hatchet is buried, and they state that there is plenty of room for a diverse and unified conservation ethic, “one that recognizes and accepts all values of nature, from intrinsic to instrumental, and welcomes all philosophies justifying nature protection and restoration, from ethical to economic, and from aesthetic to utilitarian.”

They note that this combined, diverse set of ethics has guided conservation in America for more than 100 years and was the underpinning of the rationale to create Yellowstone National Park, perhaps America’s greatest conservation success. They pointedly note that there is little gender equity within this raging debate and that the views of women, minorities and other cultures are rarely heard.

They call for more diverse voices and points of view, and for a more constructive dialogue.

The issue of who conservation is for is not just a philosophical or theoretical debate by ivory-towered academics.

It has very real meaning to all of us in the field of parks and recreation. Increasingly, parks are viewed as protectors of

biodiversity. A recent report by the World Wildlife Fund, the 2014 Living Planet Index, identifies the shocking loss of the word’s vertebrate wildlife species — more than 50 percent in the past 40 years. The greatest losses have been in freshwater species of fish, reptiles and amphibians — up to 76 percent decline, but virtually all species have shown significant downturns.

Park and recreation agencies are coming to see that the public wants and expects them to conserve wildlife species and make this a priority of their mission. And there is ample evidence to show public support. Bond measures for land conservation and open-space protection passed at

Park and recreation agencies are coming to see that the public wants and expects them to conserve wildlife species and make this a priority of their mission. an astonishing 75 percent approval rate in the recent midterm elections. The Outdoor Industry Association’s annual report on outdoor recreation participation trends identifies wildlife viewing and birdwatching as among the top three favorite activities nationwide for youth and adults. Perhaps more tellingly, however, more than one-third of respondents, when asked why they did not participate in outdoor activities, replied, “Not interested.” This is an area of deep concern for those who believe conservation is important.

For parks and public lands, conservation is very much about what we do every day — it is about protecting habitat, educating the public, managing volunteers and being protectors of our natural resources and wildlife. Perhaps most importantly, it is also about connecting kids to nature and the outdoors and guiding youth to develop a sense of conservation ethics and responsibility for conservation stewardship.

The debate may continue to rage among academics and scientists about the purpose of conservation, but clearly the adults in the room are taking notice of how destructive some of it has become. For those of us in parks and recreation who manage conservation lands, frankly, we think it is more important to be spending our time making conservation matter to all people, all the time.

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

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Smoke-Free Parks: A Win-Win for Everyone A groundbreaking smoke-free park policy in Texas addresses the new, and harmful, trend of e-cigarettes and secondhand smoke

By Sue Beatty

O

n June 17, 2014, the El Paso (Texas) City Council approved changes to a smoke-free ordinance that was originally passed in 2001. Two ordinance changes affected the city’s park and recreation system. The first was that beginning January 1, 2015, smoking will be banned on all city-owned or city-leased properties, including parks. The second was that electronic cigarettes are banned wherever smoking is banned. What this means is that beginning in 2015, there will be no smoking of any kind (including “vaping,” as smoking e-cigarettes is known) allowed in El Paso city parks.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is unhealthy, even in outdoor spaces. Studies have found that levels of secondhand smoke in outdoor areas can be equal to amounts found inside where smoking is allowed. The U.S. Surgeon General’s report in 2010 concluded there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke, which causes almost 3,000 deaths

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from lung cancer and 46,000 deaths from heart disease every year in the United States. Exposure to concentrated amounts of secondhand smoke outdoors can cause respiratory irritation and may trigger asthma attacks.

Cigarette butts are the most commonly littered item in the United States with more than 175 million pounds littered every year. Cigarette butts can re-

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main in the environment for years and contain toxic ingredients that cause problems when ingested by children, pets or marine life.

The purpose of the El Paso Parks and Recreation Department is to provide indoor and outdoor leisure services to persons of all ages so they can develop skills, socialize, experience nature, relax and live a healthier lifestyle. Having smoke-free parks will help to ensure this purpose is met. In March 2013, the problem of smoking in parks was highlighted by the El Paso Clean Air Coalition. This group of dedicated individuals spent a Saturday morning at one of El Paso’s most popular parks. The group placed a red flag at every spot they

found a cigarette butt. They were armed with 500 flags and quickly ran out. The flags were retrieved, and the team gathered in another part of the park and again used all 500 flags.

Most alarming was the number of cigarette butts found in and around the playground.

Shortly afterward, members of the coalition approached the park and recreation department leadership to discuss the issue and gain the needed support to improve the current smoke-free ordinance to include a smoking ban in parks. The parks’ leadership was immediately onboard and shared their dedication to offering the residents of El Paso a safe, healthy place to play. The issue was discussed with the neighborhood association leadership, who also pledged their support. Finally, coalition members engaged the general public about the issue at health fairs and events throughout the city. More than 1,000 endorsements were gathered from residents pledging their support of smoke-free parks. Letters of support also came in from area agencies such as the El Paso Medical Society, YMCA, Alpha Youth Leadership Academy, Creative Kids and the Housing Authority of El Paso.

Coalition members then took this information to individual members of the El Paso City Council in advance of the ordinance being placed on the city council agenda. Each city representative was visited and provided with information about the dangers of outdoor secondhand smoke, cigarette butt litter, electronic smoking devices and other information to be included in the proposed ordinance changes. The Department of Public Health director addressed the city council and asked for their vote to update the smoke-free ordi

Each red flag marks the location of a littered cigarette butt found at this popular El Paso park.

nance. He stressed the need for parks that are free of smoke and the need to include a ban of electronic cigarettes in the same places that smoking is banned. Opponents of the ordinance change collected hundreds of signatures and made numerous pleas to the council to not support the proposed change. In all, more than 40 community members, pro and con, voiced their opinions to the city council. Despite the opposition (which was primarily about adding e-cigarettes to the smoking ban), the new ordinance changes passed with a vote of 6-1.

El Paso is proud to be a leader in smoke-free policy. In 2001, the city council passed one of the strongest smoke-free policies in the nation.

The University of Texas at El Paso is a tobacco-free campus, and there are several local hospitals that have tobacco-free policies for their campuses as well. The updated, improved ordinance that passed in June 2014 will again move El Paso to the national forefront through the implementation and enforcement of a comprehensive smoke-free law that will protect our residents, including their children and pets.

The next step will be to educate the public about the new law. This will be done in several ways. The Department of Public Health will issue a press release in December 2014 reminding El Paso residents that beginning in January 2015, all

city parks will be smoke-free. The park and recreation department will post no-smoking signs at every park and make an announcement on their website. Park and recreation department employees will have an opportunity to attend an in-service program regarding the ordinance changes and to learn the best ways to approach smokers and enforce the new law. Luckily, it has been found that most smoke-free ordinances are self-enforcing once the public is aware of the law.

Department of Public Health Director Robert Resendes states, “This is truly a victory for the people of El Paso who expect to step outside their homes every day and breathe clean air, free from smoke, nicotine and any other contaminants caused by smoking and vaping.”

Park and Recreation Department Director Tracy Novak adds, “Our primary concern in delivering our mission is to provide a safe environment for our users. This updated ordinance sends a strong message of leadership that we will not risk the public health of our young people and families due to cigarettes [and] their residue, as well as the new risk that vaping represents. Some of our most vulnerable residents are children at playgrounds, and this new ordinance protects them.”

Sue Beatty is the Health Education Manager for the City of El Paso Department of Public Health (sue.e.beatty@elpasotexas.gov).

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The San Gabriels National Monument includes 346,177 acres of national forest land.

The San Gabriel Mountains: A National Monument for All

By Robert García and Michelle Kao

P

resident Barack Obama designated a national monument in the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California to promote environmental quality, economic vitality and health for all on October 10, 2014. This is a historic moment, when the president recognizes that green access is a social justice issue and agencies need to address these values. His words and actions resonate with NRPA’s Three Pillars: Conservation, Health and Wellness, and Social Equity.

“That’s what makes this particular designation so important,” President Obama said. “We heard from the community…Too many children in L.A. County, especially children of color, don’t have access to parks where they can run free, breathe fresh air, experience nature and learn about their environment. This is an issue of social justice. Because it’s not enough to have this awesome natural wonder within your sight — you have to be able to access it.”

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Improving public access helps address equally important health justice values. According to the White House, studies show that increasing recreational access to public lands translates to higher levels of youth activity and lower youth obesity rates.

The National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) agree. Communities with the least amount of parks and open space tend to have higher rates of childhood diseases related to obesity

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such as diabetes, according to the NPS study on the San Gabriels. Los Angeles is one of the most disadvantaged counties in terms of access to park and open space for people of color, particularly children. Non-Hispanic white people have 12 to 15 times more park acreage per capita than Latinos and African-Americans. According to USACE, much of Los Angeles is park-deficient, with less than 3 acres of green space per 1,000 residents. Park access is lowest in areas with the highest number of families below an annual household income of $47,331. Environmental justice requires agencies to address these disparities, according to both agencies, citing Executive Order 12898 on environmental justice and health.

The NPS and USACE studies are best

practices for an environmental justice framework to address park, health and conservation values and outcomes.

San Gabriel advocates relied on these best practices in comments submitted to the president, and John Podesta in the White House, in August 2014.

The Presidential Proclamation also recognizes the role of Native Americans in the rich cultural history of the San Gabriels. In part, it reads, “Native American history runs deep, at least 8,000 years, including the best preserved example of a Gabrielino pictograph rock painting.” The management plan for the monument “shall protect and preserve Indian sacred sites…and access by Indian tribal members for traditional cultural, spiritual, and tree and forest product-, foodand medicine-gathering purposes.”

The San Gabriel Mountains are a core part of the Los Angeles landscape, providing 70 percent of the open space for residents and 30 percent of their drinking water. More than 15 million people live within 90 minutes of the mountains. According to the president, “This incredible 346,000 acres of rugged slopes and remote canyons are home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The rare Arroyo Chub swims through the cool streams, while the California condor soars above the vistas. You can hike through the chaparral, amid wild lilacs and mountain mahogany.”

These diverse values have been well-received. Daniel Rossman, chair of the San Gabriel Mountains Forever coalition (SGMF), said, “The president not only displayed compassion and understanding of environmental justice but was fundamentally motivated by the issues when he declared the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The City Project thanks for your work to make the case for en

vironmental justice and the San Gabriel National Monument a reality.”

The recognition of Native American values receives praise from Robert Bracamontes, Acjachemen Nation, Nican Tlaca, who grew up nearby and continues to visit the San Gabriel Mountains with his family. “To see those words in writing used by the president in the proclamation, ‘preserve and protect sacred sites,’ brings me a great sense of hope. For indigenous people, the land gives us food, a place to play, a place where we are put to rest in peace, a place for ceremony, a place where life and culture are one. We need our land, we need to protect it for future generations,” says Bracamontes.

George Sánchez-Tello, who teaches at California State University-Northridge and oversees the SGMF Leadership Academy, emphasizes the essential role of local community groups. “While traditional conservation organizations, like the Wilderness Society and the Sierra Club, were key allies, the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument would not exist without the support of local environmental justice, education and immigrant-advocacy groups. This scenario will play out across the country in future public land campaigns as communities of color and urban populations continue to grow.”

“The City Project’s work on park access is one of the two leading areas in environmental justice,” according to Leslie Fields, national director of environmental justice and community partnership at the Sierra Club.

A key argument for creating the monument is to give the U.S. Forest Service money and staff to maintain trails, creeks and picnic areas damaged by overuse. Under the Proclamation, the secretaries of agriculture and the interior will prepare a management plan

with maximum public involvement, including consultation with tribal, state and local government, as well as community environmental conservation, health and justice organizations.

Congresswoman Judy Chu has also introduced legislation to create a San Gabriel national recreation area, which would bring in NPS oversight, money and focus on recreation. The goal remains for the Forest Service and NPS to work together to meet the needs of the people as defined by the people. This is a simple concept; it’s called sharing.

Not all people have access to the San Gabriels. People of color and low-income people visit national park land at disproportionately low rates, but not because they do not value the environment, health and outdoor recreation.

This is evident in NPS’s findings that “economically disadvantaged populations in the [area] lack access and the ability to partake of existing opportunities due to lack of close-to-home open space, lack of effective transportation, lack of culturally advantageous facilities or opportunities, and lack of knowledge about recreation and natural resources.”

One solution is the Transit to Trails program developed by Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), NPS, Anahuak Youth Sports Association and The City Project with diverse allies. Transit to Trails provides opportunities for park-poor, income-poor communities to learn about water, land, wildlife and cultural history, and engage in healthy physical activity. Transit to Trails is a best practice according to NPS, and will help increase access to the San Gabriels, as emphasized in the president’s speech.

Monument status is only the latest milestone to enhance the San Gabriels for all. Hilda Solis, who originally called for the national recreation area as a congresswoman, will help imple-

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Author Robert García greets President Barack Obama at the dedication ceremony.

ment the management plan as a county supervisor and wrote the California statutory definition of environmental justice as a state legislator.

The struggle for green justice continues. No sooner had the president designated the monument than the L.A. Times argued that he didn’t go far enough by protecting only portions of the San Gabriels. The Times editorial ignores the practical and symbolic value of the president recognizing the San Gabriels are not just a land use but a civil rights issue. The president also acted because Congress is not likely to act soon on the legislation for the national recreation area.

Partisan critics argue President Obama abused his power by taking executive action, but the value of protecting the San Gabriels transcends politics and time. Republican presidents have protected the San Gabriels for more than 100 years. Benjamin Harrison created the forerunner of the Angeles National Forest in 1892, Teddy Roosevelt transferred the land from the Department of the Interior to Agriculture in 1905, and Calvin Coolidge divided the Angeles and the San Bernardino National Forests in 1926.

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National monuments play an important role in supporting local economies, according to the White House.

Jobs and apprenticeships for youth, and diversification of government contracts to involve local workforce, can promote economic vitality for all. Forest Service crews have already been out enhancing lands and improving trails and recreation sites. Almost 200 jobs and educational experiences have been created as the Forest Service hired youth crews from the Youth Conservation Corps, California Conservation Corps and the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps in the past two months. Economic vitality also requires addressing gentrification and displacement by increasing home ownership and support for small businesses as communities become greener and more desirable. Otherwise, lower-income residents will no longer be able to live or work nearby.

Grassroots groups are vital in the struggle for the San Gabriels, but mainstream environmentalists receive vastly more funding. They are in a gold rush to seek funding from the greening of the San Gabriels and the L.A. River. Increasing the number of people of color in mainstream environmental organizations is important, but it’s still not enough. Government agencies and foundations must ensure equal funding for local environmental justice and grassroots groups, or diverse values at stake for the community will not be represented. Funding for organizations where conservation, health and social justice are integral to their values and culture is key to enhance the San Gabriels, and to transform the environmental movement to reflect the new California and the critical electorate of Latinos, African Americans, young people and single mothers. California surveys show that Latinos, African Americans and

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Asian Americans have been the biggest supporters of park bond measures, and the most concerned about the environment.

The City Project has been working to diversify access to and support for the San Gabriels since 2001, working with nontraditional partners and SGMF. We will continue to support (1) implementation of a national monument management plan, (2) proposed legislation for a national recreation area, and for wilderness and wild and scenic river designations, and (3) compliance with environmental and health justice laws and principles, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 12898 on environnental justice and health.

President Obama has designated 13 national monuments, and has personally traveled to designate only two: the San Gabriels and the Cesar Chavez National Monument. Cesar Chavez is the first national monument in the U.S. dedicated to a Latino born after the 1700s, according to NPS. The president has preserved 3 million acres of public lands.

President Obama spoke eloquently in the San Gabriels: “My commitment to conservation isn’t about locking away our natural treasures; it’s about working with communities to open up our glorious heritage to everybody — young and old, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American — to make sure everybody can experience these incredible gifts.”

That is the promise of the San Gabriel Mountains with green justice for all.

Robert García is the Founding Director and Counsel of The City Project and an Assistant Professor, Community Faculty, at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. He served as a keynote speaker at the 2014 NRPA Congress (rgarcia@cityprojectca.org).

Michelle Kao, UCLA ‘15, is an Intern for The City Project (mkao@cityprojectca.org).

Building

Success Author and industry leader Paul Gilbert details how adopting an entrepreneurial operational model can create highperformance agencies

Introduction by Richard J. Dolesh Interview by Barbara Tulipane, CAE

P

aul Gilbert, author of “High Performance Agencies: The Entrepreneurial Model for Public Parks, Recreation and Tourism Organizations,” is a many-faceted man. He is the executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks, formerly known as NVRPA), a multijurisdictional park agency with an annual operating and capital budget of almost $30 million. He is an adjunct professor at George Mason University. He is also the author of “Lead Like a General,” an award-winning book exploring the qualities that make a superb leader. And in his spare time, Gilbert serves as a volunteer on the boards or in leadership roles of several organizations in his area of expertise.

As executive director of NOVA Parks, Gilbert implemented a number of entrepreneurial practices that grew his agency’s enterprise revenue more than 75 percent between 2005-2014.

According to Gilbert, the steps to becoming an organizational entrepreneur and creating an entrepreneurial organi

zation are not so difficult. Thinking entrepreneurially starts simply with the willingness to have an open mind, take risks, and manage and organize for the success of the agency.

NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane, who wrote the foreword for “High Performance Agencies,” recently sat

Paul Gilbert

down with Gilbert to talk about his book and the experiences in his career that led him to write it.

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BUILDING SUCCESS

Barbara Tulipane: You have been a strong proponent of park and recreation agencies becoming more entrepreneurial. What formed your thinking on this and why did you want to write this book?

Paul Gilbert: In my work experience — first in the private sector, then in the nonprofit world and most recently for NOVA Parks — I have learned that you have to constantly reinvent yourself, especially when you don’t have deep-pocket resources. When you don’t have the resources, you can’t just throw money at problems. You must be an innovator, and you have to engage customers where they are, rather than where you want them to be.

Tulipane: Who should read this book and why should they read it?

Gilbert: I think that this book appeals to two audiences — first, to professionals in the field who want to take their agency to the next level. I try to answer the question of how we can be more effective and do more, and not necessarily with less. But I also think this book works extremely well

as a textbook for the administration and management of park and recreation agencies. This is a new kind of book for that audience. It’s filled with real-life examples of how others are doing cutting-edge innovation in their agencies. I think it works equally well for professionals in the field and for students who are entering the field.

ganization must start with a shared vision for the future and then create a strategic plan on how to get there.

This is the critical transformational step — it will guide your board, your staff and all employees toward reaching your goals. Everyone needs to work toward achieving a part of that plan. Among the elements that will

If you think that all you need to do is cut the grass, do the programs and keep things running, you really aren’t much different than a public works department.

Tulipane: In your book, you say that the critical first step to creating a high-performance agency is to begin by creating an entrepreneurial organization. Just what is an “entrepreneurial organization,” and how do park and recreation agencies go about reinventing themselves to be one?

Gilbert: I believe this starts with the individual and his or her enthusiasm and willingness to succeed. The or-

help achieve this are creating a sustainable funding model, repositioning your agency to offer a more compelling value proposition to the public, and creating a performance-driven organization that motivates employees and brings value to the community.

Tulipane: I recently reviewed a 240page strategic plan developed for a relatively small agency. It seems ridiculous to have a strategic plan that is that detailed.

Gilbert: I agree. Simpler is better — that is what a strategic plan should be. It needs to focus on the transformational steps an agency must take as an organization.

You know if you don’t have a clear mission and vision, you might as well be a public works department. If you think that all you need to do is cut the grass, do the programs and keep things running, you really aren’t much different than a public works department.

Tulipane: What are some of the most important things that individuals can do to contribute to making a high-performance agency?

Gilbert: Energy. Passion. Enthusiasm.

It comes down to optimism for me.

You need to put forth an aspirational

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vision about what is unique and transformational about what you do. If we are serious about high performance, we must put out a positive message.

And there is quite a bit of science that backs this up — if staff members are feeling downtrodden, beaten and lost, they will not reach high levels of performance. If you hope to achieve such high performance, you will never get there through gloom and doom.

Tulipane: What about taking risks?

Why is it important we do so?

Gilbert: We should not shy away from risk. Nothing risked, nothing gained.

We need to do a better job explaining why we should try out new things, and we especially need to do a better job explaining the risks of not taking action.

Tulipane: You don’t get a pass on risk. Everyone must take them and at the end of the day, you will be judged on how well you met the challenges you faced.

Gilbert: If you are willing to take risks to better your agency, you are well on the way to creating an entrepreneurial organization.

Tulipane: Do you think most park and recreation agencies follow an enterprise approach?

Gilbert: I don’t know that there is clear evidence to support that. The average agency gains about 30 percent of revenue from enterprise operations. This is good, but you can’t measure success on cost recovery. It may seem counterintuitive, but your measure is taken in how you react, change and reinvent yourself — you build public support, taxpayer support, by how you will achieve your mission. The organization must constantly change and adapt.

Barbara Tulipane, CAE, is NRPA’s President and CEO (btulipane@nrpa.org). Richard J. Dolesh is NRPA’s Vice President of Conservation and Parks (rdolesh@nrpa.org).

BOOK REVIEW High Performance Agencies: The Entrepreneurial Model for Public Parks, Recreation and Tourism Agencies

By Paul A. Gilbert Paul Gilbert, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks), has written a book that speaks to the aspirations of professionals in the field of parks, recreation and tourism. In the opening pages of “High Performance Agencies: The Entrepreneurial Model for Public Parks, Recreation and Tourism Agencies,” he states, “The passive manager…no longer will be a model of success.”

Gilbert goes on to lay out a thesis that park and recreation agencies will only remain successful and vibrant if they continually reinvent themselves according to an entrepreneurial organizational model.

The entrepreneurial organization is not solely about raising revenue, although that is a large part of the measure of success. It is as much about managing successfully in a time of profound change. Those agencies that are capable of creating a sustainable revenue model, adopting the best practices of business and industry, repositioning to continuously create value for the public, and advancing a mission and vision that is in tune with community needs, will all lead to high performance and providing top-quality service to the public .

The book will appeal to experienced professionals in the field, and it will be especially valuable for those entering the field.

“High Performance Agencies” examines the enterprise approach, delves into how to best manage human and financial resources, and ends with some very good content on positioning, leadership and creating a vision for the future. The book will appeal to experienced professionals in the field, and it will be especially valuable for those entering the field. It was also recently adopted as an official text of NRPA’s Revenue Development and Management School. There are a number of subsidiary resources interspersed in the text, and numerous real-life examples of how agencies are transforming into entrepreneurial organizations.

Gilbert’s latest text is a good read for managers, entry-level professionals and students alike. The examples are relevant to the challenges facing agencies today, and the prescriptions for managing in a time of change are valuable lessons grounded in reality.

“High Performance Agencies: The Entrepreneurial Model for Public Parks, Recreation and Tourism Agencies,” copyright Sagamore Publishing, 2014, is available for purchase at www.sagamorepub.com.

— Richard J. Dolesh, NRPA’s Vice President of Conservation and Parks

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E T T E O C L R N E A CHCONVERG

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f this year’s NRPA Congress in Charlotte, North Carolina, could be summed up in one word, it would probably be “energy.” When you gather approximately 7,000 professionals who have dedicated their lives to the cause of parks and recreation, you’re going to find a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for this field, and that energy was palpable in Charlotte. From the uplifting Opening General Session to the enter-

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taining Vegas-inspired Closing Party, attendees stayed busy during their week in Charlotte and brought home a lot of great ideas from their trip.

Although the conference officially kicked off on Tuesday, October 14, hundreds of attendees came early for Off-Site Institutes and Pre-Congress Workshops, such as the tour of the U.S. National Whitewater Center and the popular Agency Accreditation and CAPRA Visitor Training Workshop on Monday. Tuesday started bright and early with the Opening General Session featuring NRPA leadership

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as well as social equity activists Dr. Maya Rockeymoore and Robert García (see page 40 for more). Attendees then flooded the show floor to meet with hundreds of exhibitors sharing their latest innovations from the industry (highlights on page 42), and the afternoon continued with dozens of education sessions providing insights and information to keep park and recreation professionals current and relevant in their work (more details on page 41).

Tuesday afternoon wrapped up with a popular Tailgate Party on the show floor, new for this year’s conference, which featured plenty of great Carolina food, fun music sponsored by Neptune Radio, drinks served in red Solo

n creatio e r d n sa in park in the field t s e b e ls ased th professiona c w o h r s ngress d support fo o C A P an l NR th annua cation u d e 9 4 d ide The d prov n a y a tod

Cups sponsored by PerfectMIND, tailgate games, lots of beach balls to toss around and a meet-and-greet with NASCAR legend Bobby Labonte. Finally, attendees moved into the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the Opening Party sponsored by GameTime, which featured more food and drinks as well as ample networking opportunities with fellow park and recreation professionals.

Wednesday also offered tons of education sessions and show floor time throughout the day, and the two formerly separate parts of the conference united this year with the popular Glass Room Sessions, Learning Labs and Learning Playground (learn more on page 41). Throughout the conference, attendees navigated the different offerings using the 2014 NRPA Congress smartphone app as well as the new Pocket

Guide, both of which were developed to improve the green nature of the conference and enjoyed high approval ratings by surveyed members.

After a full day of learning about new ideas and products, attendees could choose between celebrating their colleagues’ achievements at the Best of the Best Ceremony (page 44), cheering on their favorite college team at the Park and Recreation Student Quiz Bowl (page 45) or relaxing for a double feature at the conference’s Movie Night sponsored by Swank Motion Pictures.

Many attendees started Thursday morning at the energizing 5K Fun Run/Walk at Little Sugar Creek Greenway, and the day continued with the last 100 education sessions of the conference. That morning, several busloads of conference goers also took a trip to the dedication ceremony

at Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park, site of the 2014 NRPA Parks Build Community initiative (learn more on page 43). After a final full day of inspiration and education, the conference wrapped up with a Vegas-themed Closing Reception, designed to get everyone excited for next year’s 50th-anniversary conference in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

After a very full week, attendees went home tired but brimming with new ideas and connections made with others in the field. NRPA looks forward to welcoming all of its members and partners back next year for its golden anniversary. If you felt the energy at this year’s conference, just wait for 2015!

— Danielle Taylor, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine

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The Opening Session Strikes a Chord

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ere weeks ago, thousands of park and recreation professionals, leaders and supporters filed into the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom, filling the space with an audible buzz of excitement. The Opening General Session (OGS) was about to start.

The ballroom darkened and guests were greeted by a video courtesy of the City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. Soon outgoing Chair of the NRPA Board of Directors Robert Ashcraft, Ph.D., appeared on the stage and said what likely everyone in the room was thinking, “Wow!” Dr. Ashcraft explained the decision to begin with the Philadelphia video, saying, “Not only is it a beautiful, moving piece, it touches on the overall impact parks and recreation are making in our Three Pillar areas of Health and Wellness, Conservation and particularly Social Equity.”

From beginning to end, this year’s OGS aimed to generate discussion and thoughtful reflection about social equity.

Following Dr. Ashcraft’s remarks, NRPA President and CEO Barbara Tulipane took the stage. She acknowl-

edged that while social equity is a difficult topic, park and recreation professional in particular must commit to understanding and embracing it.

Tulipane said, “Let’s focus on what matters: making parks and recreation equally accessible to all people.”

Tulipane then called two of the nation’s top thought leaders on social equity to join her on stage: Robert García of The City Project, and Maya Rockeymoore, Ph.D., of the Center for Global Policy Solutions. Their noholds-barred reality checks on equity, or the lack thereof, in present society struck a chord with the audience.

Rockeymoore spoke about health disparities, emphasizing, “Health happens in communities.” She encouraged the audience to understand the connection between health disparities and “lived experiences,” as well as the social

Thousands of park and recreation professionals packed in for the Opening General Session, excited to kick off the 2014 conference and hear from leaders in the field.

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determinants of health. Directly addressing the park and recreation leaders in the room, Rockeymoore enjoined them to consider themselves as health leaders responsible for quality of life.

García explored themes around social and “green justice,” and civil rights.

He reflected on the recent presidential dedication of the San Gabriel National Monument (see page 32), which will provide much-needed, easily accessible open space to millions of Los Angeles residents — particularly those of color — reinforcing the point that easy access to open space and parks is essential to upholding the Three Pillars.

Incoming NRPA Board Chair Detrick Stanford, CPRP, then provided the audience with glimpses of the future in his message of innovation. Stanford brought a special guest to the stage, Jonathan Jarvis, director of the National Park Service (NPS), who shared word of a new campaign titled “Find Your Park,” which will raise the profile of national and local parks as part of the NPS centennial. Jarvis highlighted the millennial generation’s love of parks and discussed the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and critical State Assistance Program as expiration looms in September 2015.

Attendees were left with many messages to ponder, from the role each individual plays in social equity and green justice to the future of parks and recreation. You can see videos of all the session speakers and guests, as well as the 2014 Gold Medal Awards ceremony, by visiting www.nrpa.org/Congress2014/Event-Resources.

— Lauren Hoffmann, NRPA’s Director of Marketing and Communications

Reinforcing the Education Cornerstone

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very NRPA Congress is anchored by a strong offering of educational opportunities carefully selected to advance the most up-to-date and relevant concepts and protocols in our field. These are accompanied by exciting Off-Site Institutes (OSIs), workshops and, new this year, interactive Learning Labs and the Learning Playground. All were met with success and useful feedback from attendees, which will inform our offerings for 2015. Now that all the data is in from the 280 total sessions — including nine OSIs, eight Pre-Conference Workshops (PCWs) and 38 Speed Sessions — we’re happy to share some highlights related to the education side of NRPA’s largest event of the year.

Top Picks Attendees had an overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s new class offerings, particularly the lively and interactive Learning Labs and Learning Playground. “The Learning Playground education sessions were a smashing success thanks to the hard work of our fun-loving presenters,” says Tom Crosley, NRPA’s education manager of conferences and schools. Indeed, this year’s top-rated session, with an average rating of 6.88 on a scale of 1 to 7, was Sandy Slade’s Learning Playground program “Having a Ball — Creative Fitness Activities for All!” Speed sessions — a series of quick, lively and innovative 20-minute class-

es designed to energize and inspire — continue to build a strong contingent of participants. The top-rated Speed Session for 2014 was NRPA Board Member Neelay Bhatt’s “Build Lifelong Customers...In Just 60 Seconds.”

Speed sessions will return for the third year running in 2015.

Another new feature at this year’s conference, the Glass Room Sessions, were consistently packed for classes like John Dargle and Dody Erickson’s “Beer and Pot in the Parks — Really?” and “Creating High-Performance Parks and Recreation Systems,” facilitated by leading planner and designer David Barth. These, too, will return with

David Barth, a planner, facilitator and designer with more than three decades of experience examining and reimagining public spaces, facilitates a Glass Room Session.

more thought leaders and hot topics for discussion in 2015.

In the more traditional class settings, speaker Angela Summers’ presentation “The Art of W.A.R. — Winning Admiration and Respect from Your Employees,” was the most highly attended session overall. While there, participants learned how to gain admiration and respect from employees by learning how to trust, empower and gain knowledge from them.

We all know the park and recreation profession is one where knowledge is readily shared and guidance willingly offered, and 2014 conference attendees reinforced this truism by taking time out to learn the best strategies for positive and effective leadership.

For members who were unable to join us in Charlotte this year, we’ve got you covered, too! Visit www.nrpa.org/ Congress2014/Live-Streaming to view 10 of the most compelling sessions from this year’s event and gain half the CEUs required for CPRP renewal.

Looking Ahead We’re in the planning process for next year’s conference in Las Vegas and we’re currently accepting proposals for Speed Sessions you’d like to see in our lineup of education offerings. Go to www.nrpa.org/proposals to offer your suggestions — submissions will be accepted until next spring.

In the meantime, go to www.nrpa. org/Congress2015 to keep abreast of all the announcements, deadlines, contests and more as we gear up for Vegas!

— Samantha Bartram, Associate Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine

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Show Floor Showcase

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ear after year, the exhibitors who display their products and services at NRPA Congress outdo themselves, and 2014’s show floor once again exceeded attendees’ expectations. With almost 400 companies spread across the exhibit hall, attendees had plenty to see and do, and the high level of traffic on the floor was a testament to the attendees’ interest in the exhibitors’ offerings. The NRPA annual conference’s show floor is the most extensive place for park and recreation professionals to learn about and experience new possibilities for their communities, and with 91.3 percent of this year’s surveyed attendees noting that they play a role in the purchasing process for their agency, this popular component of the conference is an invaluable resource for park and recreation departments looking to renew or expand their offerings.

As they did in Houston in 2013, exhibitors in Charlotte put their best foot forward as they vied for the coveted Best in Show prize, awarded to the most engaging and innovative booths on the floor. After all the votes were in, Playcraft Systems took home the firstplace blue ribbon for an island booth thanks to their popular pirate ship playground complete with costumed staffers and pirate hat giveaways. Themed Concepts, whose display featured an enormous dragon, won the runner-up red ribbon for an island booth. DOGIPOT’s booth, which caught passers-by off guard with its realistic ca42 Parks & Recreation

nine “deposits” scattered around, took home the first-place blue ribbon for an in-line booth, and Masters of the Hunt, a company that specializes in creating scavenger and treasure hunts for team building and promotions, was awarded runner-up for an in-line booth.

New to the show floor this year were the Glass Room Sessions, Learning Labs and Learning Playground, which offered attendees opportunities to dive into complex topics, engage with their colleagues, and learn in new and interactive ways right on the show floor. The casual Tailgate Party on Tuesday afternoon

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also gave attendees an additional chance to explore the floor and gather ideas while networking with colleagues and industry members alike.

Exhibitors expressed high levels of satisfaction with the turnout at this year’s show, and more than 150 exhibitors have already booked their spots for the 2015 NRPA conference in Las Vegas, which is already generating a lot of excitement. If you’re looking for the best new equipment, services or ideas for your agency, NRPA’s show floor is a resource you can’t miss.

— Danielle Taylor, Executive Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine

Community Effort

W

hen does a neighborhood park become a park? If this question were posted on NRPA Connect, the responses would be many and varied.

A planner may indicate this as the moment the respective authority identifies in writing the given piece of land as parkland. The mayor might not call it a park until a ribbon has been cut — even if still raw land. But, the community living near this site won’t call it a park until they can use it and enjoy it. ing neighborhood park. Now, there is no question whether Lincoln Heights neighborhood has a park. Because, they have THE park!

® ™

® by

PORTER

CORP

And use and enjoy they can at this year’s Parks Build Community beneficiary — Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. While this park was officially opened several years ago and contained a small playground and community garden, it was clear Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department was not done with this space.

And it was clear the community wanted more. After looking at several parks and parklands throughout the Charlotte area in mid-2013, NRPA staff honed in on Lincoln Heights, knowing the potential to transform this space.

On October 16, 2014, a crowd of almost 200 NRPA Congress attendees and Charlotte residents broke the proverbial bottle of champagne on what is now Charlotte’s most glitter-

TM

Neighborhood kids from the Lincoln Heights community jumped at the chance to finally use the playground they had watched being constructed for weeks.

Made possible in large part through the generosity of Playworld Systems, Greenfields Outdoor Fitness, Poligon

by Porter Corp. and Cornilleau USA, this park build transformed a fine park into an amazing park. Complete with a variety of play pieces that invite children of all ages to run, climb, jump and swing, along with covered seating for parents to visit while keeping an eye on the youngsters, the expanded play opportunities were a hit even before construction was finished. Including the park system’s first outdoor fitness equipment installation further defined this neighborhood park as a special place for residents to build stronger health and community. Through great support from Mecklenburg County providing considerable time and resources, the new and improved Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Park opened on schedule and with much fanfare.

The dedication of this park included a truly impressive high school marching band performance, a few incredibly aggressive rounds of table tennis and one council member so impassioned she took to swinging her cane. NRPA has its sights set on Las Vegas and by the time you read this, we may have next year’s Parks Build Community site selected. It will take a lot to top Charlotte, but thanks to this year’s Parks Build Community success, we know just how to do it.

Learn more about Parks Build Community at www.nrpa.org/parksbuildcommunity.

— Jimmy O’Connor, NRPA’s Director of Grants and Partnerships

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Award-Winning Members

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t’s one of the great pleasures at NRPA’s annual conference to recognize agencies and individuals who stand out as truly excellent in our field. The anticipation and excitement leading up to the various awards ceremonies is palpable, and the joy in the faces of the winners is undeniable. Receptions at this year’s conference were no exception, as hundreds of attendees packed the Westin Charlotte’s grand ballroom to applaud their colleagues whose talent, expertise and innovative spirits secured the following well-deserved awards.

NRPA’s coveted Gold Medal Awards await their recipients before the October 14 ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Gold Medal Awards Highly coveted and respected throughout the industry, the Gold Medal Award represents the peak national achievement in parks and recreation, recognizing excellence in planning, resource management and innovation.

The 2014 Gold Medal Award Grand Plaque recipients include: • Class I (population 250,000 and over): Chicago Park District, Chicago, Illinois • Class II (population 100,001250,000): City of Henderson Public Works, Parks and Recreation Department, Henderson, Nevada • Class III (population 50,001100,000): Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Carmel, Indiana • Class IV (population 25,00150,000): City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, Kettering, Ohio 44 Parks & Recreation

• Class V (population less than 25,000): City of Lafayette, Colorado • Armed Forces Recreation: Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia National Awards At the Best of the Best ceremony held October 15, NRPA recognized 10 outstanding members and agencies: Dr. Tony Zeiss of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina; Tyler Nicholas Tapps of Northwest Missouri State University; Geoffrey Godbey of Pennsylvania State University; Jerry J. Vaske of Colorado State University; Fairfax County Park Authority of Fairfax, Virginia; DeSoto Parks and Recreation of DeSoto, Texas; Highland Recreation of Largo, Florida; Three Rivers Park District of Plymouth, Minnesota; and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks of Los Angeles, California. Awards specifically targeted excellence in citizen advocacy, youth leadership, programming, facility and park design, marketing, environmental stewardship, partnerships and research.

Scholarships and Fellowships NRPA offers one fellowship and two scholarship programs annually,

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and the 2014 recipients began their programs while still at this year’s conference. They include: Diversity Scholarship winners Tori Spaugh of Raleigh, North Carolina, and James Worsley of Columbus, Georgia; Student Scholarship winners Rebecca Lackey of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Kendrick Mayes of Garner, North Carolina; and Young Professional Fellows Brandon Barrow of Las Vegas, Nevada, Gabe Huffington of Columbia, Missouri, Errin Koon of Parker, Colorado, and Kayode Lewis of Medfield, Massachusetts.

Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame Individuals inducted into this hallowed hall have demonstrated their lifelong commitment to the advancement of parks and recreation in America, and serve as examples to future generations. This year, NRPA was honored to welcome Thomas Hines — you can read more about his work at www. parksandrecreation.org/2014/September/Hall-of-Fame-Update.

Pugsley Awards The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration was also pleased to grant three Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals, recognizing outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of public parks in the United States. This year’s winners were Eric O’Brien of Medfield, Massachusetts; James Peterson of Bloomington, Indiana; and Kathryn Porter of Mendham Township, New Jersey.

— Samantha Bartram, Associate Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine

Straight from the Members’ Mouths

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RPA wouldn’t be the organization it is without the valuable input and participation of our members. At the 2014 NRPA Congress, dozens of you took the time to stop by our Member Pit Stop, chat with us and leave fantastic testimonials of your experiences as members. We greatly appreciate all the feedback, suggestions and anecdotes you shared, some of which are included below. Of course, we’re already anticipating more great conversations at next year’s event in Las Vegas, but in the meantime, you can submit questions, comments and other general feedback via our toll-free number, 800.626.6772, or email customerservice@nrpa.org. to have subject-matter experts there and willing to share their information. I greatly benefited from the sessions and exhibit hall, but it’s the networking and mentorship that are the reasons I’ll continue to come to Congress. What an experience, what benefits, what fun!

— Brandon Barrow, Young Professional Fellowship recipient NRPA members show their pride alongside the association’s Director of Membership Julie Boland (far left) and Membership Manager Tiffany Walther (center).

“I was excited about receiving the Young Professional Fellowship and what doors this would open for me.

NRPA’s 2014 Congress didn’t disappoint, either! Education sessions proved to be valuable as I have already discussed several improvements to our program with our staff members, who are receptive and willing to change our current programs. I didn’t leave the Exhibit Hall empty-handed, either. Having multiple vendors in one spot enabled me to discuss ideas, show them photos of my parks and get feedback on what might work. What an asset

“Amazing venue for learning, networking and fun!”

— Robin Vannes, HQ Marine Corps, Virginia

“NRPA brings our profession together on a national scale…it unites us.”

— Andy Bass, City of Reno, Nevada “CPRP [certification] has afforded me the opportunities of advancement and increased professional development in the field of recreation.”

— Malik Willoughby, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, Ohio “PRORAGIS™ is so helpful in looking at trends around the country outside of our own community and state!”

— Monica Kaskey, Pewaukee Park and Recreation Department, Wisconsin “I LOVE the Oriental Trading discount member benefit. I saved time, money, energy and stress on products and availability. I love that I can order one time and receive shipments over several months when I call in.”

— Emmalee Morse, Eau Claire Parks and Recreation, Wisconsin

Quiz Bowl Cred This year, six teams stacked with the brightest young minds in academia participated in the Park and Recreation Student Quiz Bowl. Teams from Texas A&M, East Carolina University, Brigham Young University, California Polytechnic State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Mississippi plowed through rounds of tough questions on all aspects of the field.

When the dust cleared, California Polytechnic took home the coveted prize, “despite an intimidating hometown crowd [for North Carolina State],” according to NRPA Customer Service Representative and Quiz Bowl facilitator Matt Cowan.

NRPA wishes to congratulate all participants in this year’s Quiz Bowl — we look forward to more exciting competition at the 2015 conference in Las Vegas!

The 2014 NRPA Congress Park and Recreation Student Quiz Bowl winning team from California Polytechnic State University flaunt their certificates. From left to right: Josh Pighetti, Hayley De Carolis, Jennifer Kiesewetter and Team Captain Michael Higgins.

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NRPA Update Board of Directors Update

By Samantha Bartram

E

ach year, NRPA packs its Board of Directors with the foremost leaders, thinkers and practitioners in the field of parks and recreation. As we bid a fond farewell with our sincerest thanks to Past Chair Steven Thompson, CPRP; Janice M. Prochaska, Ph.D.; Pamela Sloan, CPRP; and Lewis Ledford, we welcome with enthusiasm a trio of outstanding new members.

Jack Kardys, Michael Kelly and Molly Stevens each bring a wealth of experience and talent to their roles on NRPA’s Board of Directors, joining more than a dozen previous members who will continue their invaluable contributions to the operation and direction of NRPA. Some of these board veterans have shifted roles within our organization — Chair Detrick Stanford, CPRP, has taken the leadership baton from past chair Robert Ashcraft, Ph.D., while Neelay Bhatt assumes the role of treasurer, Stephen Eckelberry that of secretary, and Susan Trautman, CPRP, chair-elect.

Jack Kardys Jack Kardys, director of the nationally accredited and Gold Medal Award-winning Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (MDPROS), oversees one of the largest and most diverse park systems in the country with 260 parks on 12,800 acres of land in South Florida. Under Kardys’ leadership, Miami-Dade County established a forward-thinking master plan designed to improve the quality of life of area residents and transform the community into a more livable, sustainable space. Currently, MDPROS serves 2.5 million residents and 10 million visitors annually — certainly a heavy lift, but one for which Kardys is more than up to the task. He has dedicated his entire career to public service, serving MDPROS for more than 34 years and securing a

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number of accolades including the Florida Governor’s Sterling and FRPA Agency Excellence Awards.

Kardys also serves as an executive board member on the Miami-Dade Sports Commission, Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade and Zoo Miami Oversight Boards of Directors.

Michael Kelly Following a 2011 appointment by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Michael Kelly has served as general superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District (CPD) for the past three years.

He assumed the role with a wealth of experience in tow, having worked as CPD’s COO since 2007, during which time he provided executive management in park operations, capital construction, repairs and maintenance, landscape services, security and other contract services. During his tenure

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as COO, Kelly led the development of the district’s long-term capital investment program, prioritizing $350 million in park design and construction projects. Those efforts included the completion of LEED-certified field houses, ADA-compliant playgrounds, new beach houses and the extensive restoration of Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain.

Molly Stevens A tireless advocate for the natural environment, Molly Stevens is the executive director of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center and co-founder of the Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin (CiNCA). Stevens’ efforts to protect natural resources and support outdoor recreation span more than 20 years — she spent 13 years with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Texas regional office as director of development and then regional managing director. Prior to that position, Stevens served as the state development director for the Nature Conservancy of Texas.

NRPA extends its thanks to our four departing board members for their years of service and welcomes its three newest members. If you would like to be considered for the Class of 2018 Board of Directors, see page 49.

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

PRORAGIS and Special-Needs Populations

By David Kurtz and Travis Smith, Ph.D.

R

ecreational opportunities for special-needs individuals are critical.

Individuals with disabilities have unique challenges that may inhibit their ability to participate in traditional recreational activities, so providing additional, specialized opportunities for recreation may increase their self-esteem and physical health. Almost 60 percent of the agencies that provided data to PRORAGIS™ between 2011 and 2014 offer programs for people with disabilities, with more than 75 percent of these agencies indicating that programs for individuals with significant disabilities are part of their agency’s program offerings.

While most people realize that those with special needs are likely to have physical barriers to participation in recreation activities, we should realize that psychological barriers are equally significant in limiting participation in rec-

58% 98% 75%

reational activities. These barriers to participation may include: lack of knowledge of the activity, social ineffectiveness, emotional dependency, and/or skill or challenge gaps. Special-needs programs should facilitate the opportunity

of PRORAGIS agencies offer programs for individuals with disabilities. of these agencies make accommodations for inclusion in regular activities. offer program opportunities for people with significant disabilities.

for individuals to participate in recreational activities by addressing such emotional challenges. Making these emotional barriers easier to surmount can make an agency’s programming for those with special needs even more effective.

Individuals with special needs may need recreational activities to help improve their health even more than individuals without a disability. Recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control have found that in the United States, obesity rates among disabled adults are approximately 58 percent higher than adults without disabilities, while obesity rates among children with disabilities are 38 percent above those of children without disabilities. With the increased risk of obesity among those with disabilities, they are subsequently also at higher risk for a number of health problems, including heart disease, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. Furthermore, individuals with disabilities are more likely to be inactive and have sedentary lifestyles.

What does this all mean? It means that once again, park and recreation agencies are providing critical services to their communities. If your agency isn’t currently offering inclusive programs or programs targeted toward those citizens with special needs, it might be time to think about how you can serve this important part of your jurisdiction.

David Kurtz is NRPA’s Research Specialist (dkurtz@nrpa.org). Travis Smith, Ph.D., is NRPA’s Vice President of Research (tsmith@ nrpa.org).

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NRPA Update

Accreditation Anniversaries CAPRA and COAPRT accreditation standards have been around for decades now, with 2014 marking major birthday milestones for both

By Brenda Beales

N

RPA’s accreditation programs celebrated two milestones in 2014.

The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) celebrated its 20th anniversary, while the Council on Accreditation Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) celebrated its 40th anniversary.

CAPRA, which implements and administers the agency accreditation process, was established in 1993, and the first six agencies were accredited in 1994. Five of those initial agencies were granted continuing accreditation at the 2014 CAPRA hearings.

Enjoying 20 years of CAPRA accreditation are: City of Scottsdale Parks and Recreation in Arizona; Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) Recreation and Park Commission in Louisiana; City of Roseville Parks and Recreation in Minnesota; Monmouth County Park System in New Jersey; and City of Plano Parks and Recreation in Texas.

“As we have reached our 20th year, CAPRA is now more important than ever,” says Sara Hensley, park and recreation director for Austin, Texas, and CAPRA chair. “It is imperative that city and county park and recreation agencies, as well as park districts, continue to show the essential nature of what we do. Agency accreditation is a huge factor in not only best practices development and operations, but it assists with articulation of our importance to a community.”

The CAPRA standards provide an authoritative assessment tool for agencies. CAPRA accreditation assures that an accredited park and 48 Parks & Recreation

recreation agency has been independently evaluated against established benchmarks as delivering a high level of quality. Each agency’s accreditation is revisited every five years. Within each of the four years between onsite visits, the agency will submit an annual report that addresses its continued compliance with the accreditation standards. Currently there are 135 accredited agencies.

The Council on Accreditation was formed in 1974 and changed its name to the Council on Accreditation Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) in 2009. Accreditation is granted to an institution or a

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program that meets or exceeds stated criteria of educational quality. Accreditation has two fundamental purposes: to assure program quality and assist in program improvement. A further benefit to the accredited program is broader recognition in the academic community and the professional field. COAPRT is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), an accrediting body for higher education.

The Council held its first meeting in October 1974. Recreation and park educators and practitioners had been working on the development of a plan and evaluative criteria for many years. This development included a trial run and evaluation of the process at four institutions. The first program to be accredited was North Carolina State University’s Department of Recreation Resources Administration in 1977. Currently there are 81 accredited programs.

North Carolina State University Associate Professor Candace Vick recently stated, “As we celebrate our 40th year, undergraduate program accreditation is as relevant as ever. COAPRT accreditation provides a rigorous, consistent and comprehensive process ensuring students, families, employers and the public that those enrolled in accredited parks, recreation, tourism, recreation therapy and related programs are provided a quality education. COAPRT accreditation continues to be a mark of excellence.”

Brenda Beales is NRPA’s Awards and Accreditation Manager (bbeales@nrpa.org).

Make a Resolution to Reduce Energy Costs!

T

hinking about making a resolution for the 2015 new year? Why not make one that can assist in managing and reducing your energy costs? NRPA has partnered with Affiliated Power Purchasers International (APPI Energy) to provide the Powerful Solutions Program!

As a Premier Member of NRPA, you have access to APPI’s Powerful Solutions Program, which provides energy procurement services with minimal time commitment and no upfront cost to you! What does this

mean? APPI Energy’s team of experts will analyze your energy usage and negotiate the lowest price, best contract terms and smartest conditions for your next supply. APPI’s operating model is focused on providing excellent customer service while saving you time and effort.

Why not have consultants help you reduce a major operating expense on an ongoing basis?

The process to get started is simple. Contact APPI by calling 800.520.6685 or emailing info@appienergy.com. Verify your member status, develop a procurement strategy and make a plan of action!

Not a Premier Member? Visit www.nrpa.org/premier to sign up today!

— Hayley MacDonell, NRPA’s Membership Programs Manager

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

Call for NRPA Board of Directors Nominations

H

ave you ever thought about being a board member or know someone you think would excel as one? NRPA is looking for both professional and citizen leaders who are passionate about parks, recreation and environmental conservation. Candidates should be active leaders who wish to further the mission of the association and who have demonstrated talent and expertise in the field or in their community. NRPA values and seeks diverse leadership as defined by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexu-

Test Your Park and Recreation Knowledge

al orientation, nationality, disability, appearance and geographic location.

We also encourage all types and sizes of park and recreation organizations.

For more information and to apply, please visit www.nrpa.org/leadership, where you can find the Class of 2018 Nomination Book. All nominations must be submitted or datestamped by January 30, 2015. If you are interested in serving, know someone who is or have questions about the nomination process, please contact Michele White at mwhite@nrpa. org or 703.858.2144.

Which of the following should be the primary consideration in developing park and recreation staff work schedules?

A. Staff availability B. Union contracts C. Salary costs D. Program needs Calling all beginning to midlevel professionals! The Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) is the national standard for all park and recreation professionals who want to be at the forefront of their profession.

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

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NRPA Update

Member Spotlight: Anna Pechenik Mausolf, CPRP

I

f you want to be encouraged by the future of park and recreation research, look no further than Anna Pechenik Mausolf. The 30-year-old doctoral student in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University lives her passion for recreation and inspires her students to do the same. Winner of NRPA’s 2012 Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Mausolf is highly involved with NRPA’s Young Professionals Network and augments her bachelor’s degree in earth science and outdoor and environmental recreation as well as her master’s degree in park and recreation management with a variety of professional experiences from the field. We took time to chat with her at the 2014 NRPA Congress to discuss her professional travels, academic aspirations and coaching experiences for the association’s Park and Recreation Student Quiz Bowl.

Parks & Recreation Magazine: Your professional experiences have taken you to some interesting corners of the globe. Tell us about some highlights.

Anna Pechenik Mausolf: Recreation is such an amazing career field because you can work with so many different populations across the globe. One of my favorite experiences was in February 2009 with the Red Cross in Victoria, Australia. Immense bushfires had recently burned many towns, causing school closures across the region. Because local children were not in class, we provided recreational experiences as a welcome break from the profound stress these families were facing while rebuilding their lives. The ability to facilitate joy in the midst of tragedy reminded me why I love this field.

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P&R: How do you plan to focus your future research?

Mausolf: From a research perspective, the relationship between outdoor recreation and health outcomes is challenging to measure in a scientifically meaningful way. I intend to spend my academic career conducting objective, quality research that investigates the nature of the relationship between participation in outdoor recreation activities and personal health. If our field wants primary care physicians and health insurance providers as allies, we must have unbiased scientific evidence to support our claims.

P&R: You’ve been a member of NRPA since you were in your master’s program at the University of Mississippi. Why did you decide to join the association, and what benefits have you most enjoyed from your membership?

Mausolf: Dr. Kim Beason, CPRP, was a wonderful mentor [at Ole Miss]. He is a true advocate of the researcher-practitioner partnership as he helped me to understand the role of the university system in preparing the future of our field. By obtaining and maintaining his CPRP, Dr. Beason is a model of dedi-

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cation to both the practice and research of recreation. That in turn led me to approach the field on similar terms. As a future academic, joining NRPA and earning my CPRP certification were both smart moves as they’ve helped me to meet like-minded individuals and establish a network of fellow recreators, and it has inspired innovative research questions and opportunities that are both timely and relevant.

P&R: You’ve served as a Quiz Bowl coach at three NRPA Congresses.

Tell us about this experience and how it helped your students.

Mausolf: I absolutely love coaching these extroverted, high-achieving students. I think that academically strong students deserve this external reward and recognition for their efforts. Texas A&M University is a strong supporter of NRPA, and its COAPRT accreditation is one of the reasons I chose to apply here for my doctoral studies. It is great to be a part of this push toward academic excellence, backed by the fundamental support of our department head, Dr. Gary Ellis, and our generous financial donors who have sponsored an undergraduate quiz bowl team for every year of the competition. I hope that the student quiz bowl continues to grow in size and popularity, as it is such a fun, friendly way to cheer on the future leaders in our field!

Mausolf, her husband Adam and their pit bull, Athena, live in College Station, Texas, and enjoy taking advantage of local and international outdoor recreation opportunities.

— Danielle Taylor, Executive Editor for Parks & Recreation Magazine

Staff Spotlight: Amanda Hersey

T

o modify an old saying, behind every great event is a great woman. At NRPA, that attribute belongs in large part to Amanda Hersey, the association’s director of conferences and point person behind our biggest event of the year: NRPA Congress. For the past three years, the self-described “over-volunteerer” has worked hand-in-glove with our in-house conferences team and onsite local host committees to put together a conference that we know has deep influence on attendees and our industry as a whole. Now that everyone’s settled back in at headquarters following the October conference in Charlotte, we caught up with the married mother of four to get a better sense of her work and life outside NRPA. Parks & Recreation Magazine: What drew you to the type of work you do here at NRPA? Amanda Hersey: I think I have been a planner my whole life — I’m not very spontaneous! I loved planning my wedding, dinners, family holiday gatherings and birthday parties, and I am the chairperson for the Fun Fair where my children attend elementary school. Doing something I enjoy as my job and getting paid for it is even better. I started my event career in 2003 working on consumer-based Log and Timber Home Shows and immediately knew I had found what I wanted to continue to do!

P&R: We’ve just finished the 2014 conference — describe your state of mind ramping up to the event and immediately after. How did you feel about the way things went this year?

Hersey: I’m always very excited to get onsite and get working. I LOVE the live part of the event-planning process. It’s very rewarding to see the event you’ve been working so hard on come to life. Having such a great team of people to work with (NRPA staff and the Local Host Committee) plus a lot of Starbucks really helps me get through it. We tried a lot of new ideas in Charlotte — education areas on the exhibit hall floor, new networking socials and the upgraded app to name a few — and we got a lot of positive

feedback onsite and in the survey afterwards. I know there is always room for improvement, but I felt Charlotte was a huge success!

P&R: What’s the most challenging aspect of your role at NRPA? Hersey: They say you can’t please everyone, but I will always strive to make sure that everyone who attends the NRPA annual conference feels it was a valuable experience and that they walk away with great ideas, feeling motivated to go back and incorporate them into their workplace.

P&R: What’s the most rewarding aspect?

Hersey: I like to help people. By far the most rewarding aspect of my job is meeting members and hearing stories about how the conference makes a difference to each attendee’s professional development.

P&R: What do you consider to be the top elements that really “make” a conference?

Hersey: Innovative and relevant content to share with your members is a top element. Also, making sure you have a balanced conference schedule is very important — you need the right mix of education and networking. Not all conferences include exhibits, or have the volume of exhibits

that NRPA’s annual conference does, but I think it is a tremendous value to the attendees. NRPA’s conference exhibit hall is really fun, lively and just an amazing display of top-of-the-line products and services. Bringing all of those companies together in one place is truly a benefit for our members. Behind the scenes, having the right internal team members in place is key, working side by side with the Local Host Committee and having true business partners in your vendors are the top elements that make a conference.

P&R: The 2015 conference will be held in Las Vegas — can you give us any teasers that might entice folks to begin making plans to attend?

Hersey: We will be celebrating 50 years next September, and our initiative for Las Vegas and the next 50 years will include a lot of member engagement to help shape the future of the conference and determine what elements are most important to the field. So, I encourage everyone to participate in the surveys, polls and various feedback opportunities in the coming months — your opinion matters!

— Samantha Bartram, Associate Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine

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

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

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

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ONLINE LEARNING Online Learning is a cost-effective and flexible way to educate staff, provide training and earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) without leaving the comfort of your home or office. Visit NRPA’s Online Learning Center and choose from one of our many courses.

CPRP Prep Course Bundle Member: $100 Nonmember: $130

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

The CPRP Online Prep Course Bundle is designed as an intensive review program for professionals seeking the CPRP certification. The course bundle includes four individual modules including Programming, Human Resources, Finance and Operations, plus the CPRP Practice Exam.

CEUs: 0.4.

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52 Parks & Recreation

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Operations New Playground Criteria Adopted Amid Controversy

By Richard J. Dolesh

N

ew, more restrictive changes to the safety standard for playground surfaces that are intended to lessen the chance of head injuries from falls has been adopted by a key subcommittee of ASTM, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials. If formally approved by ASTM, the nonprofit international organization that sets standards for testing and materials, this new standard could have a significant impact on public playgrounds across the nation, leaving them out of compliance with the newly revised standard or resulting in as-yet unknown retrofitting costs to meet the new criteria.

NRPA has opposed adoption of these new criteria because of a lack of specific evidence of serious head injuries to children caused by falls on playground surfaces that meet the present safety standard. And even though NRPA’s arguments against changing the standard were upheld as persuasive this past spring, the subcommittee on playground surfacing voted to approve the changes to the standard before it even heard evidence from a task group that was formed to study the issue.

Of the 250,000 playground injuries annually, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates more than 40 percent result from falls. With recent public and media attention on preventing head injuries in youth sports, there has been keen interest by parents, park and recreation administrators, and advocates for play in making playgrounds safer for all children.

Changing and updating standards for materials for the purpose of providing greater safety is nothing new

The depth of engineered wood fiber surfaces like Zeager Bros.’ WoodCarpet can be easily measured to ensure impact criteria are met.

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for ASTM. The organization has been in the business of testing and reviewing standards for materials such as steel, cement, electrical conductors, non-ferrous metals and many other types of materials and services for more than 100 years.

However, the process by which the new criteria for playground surfaces were recently approved caused a number of committee members to question both the rationale for the change and how it was adopted. Some felt the more restrictive change to the existing standard was not based on relevant data, nor was there was sufficient direct evidence of head injuries that would be cause for changing the standard that has been in place for more than 20 years.

In fact, one committee member, Jeff Mrakovich, director of surfacing products for Zeager Companies, a national manufacturer and distributor of playground surfacing, said, “We just allowed a change in criteria to a standard that has been in place for 21 years with not one reported serious head injury on a surface that met the current criteria.“ Some members of the playground surfacing subcommittee also called into question the way relevant data on playground head injuries was made available to the committee. After a review of negative votes on an earlier proposal to change the criteria, a task group was formed to evaluate the best available data. However, before the

Impact-attenuating surfaces, like this one installed

by TotTurf at a Portland, Oregon, park, can include multiple types of materials.

task group ever had a chance to review that information, a letter ballot was distributed to the full subcommittee, which then voted to approve the changes to the standard.

By way of background, the standard for surfaces installed under and around playground equipment is based primarily on two factors: Head Injury Criterion (HIC), which is a score for the measure of head injury severity, and g-max, a gravity-based, instrumented measurement that represents the maximum deceleration experienced at the point of impact in a fall, usually calculated in milliseconds. The recently approved change to the existing ASTM standard reduces the HIC from 1000, the level it has been since 1991, to 700. A lower HIC number and lower g-max value indicates better performance by surfaces in absorbing impact.

The implications of this new standard, F1292-14, if formally adopted, will be highly significant for public parks and recreation because the higher standard for impact attenuation may require the surfaces of many playgrounds to be replaced or upgraded, or the playgrounds to be taken out of service.

Although ASTM standards for playground surfacing materials do not constitute law or regulation in and of themselves, they may be codified within state regulations that require local adherence to the ASTM standard. No matter whether they are adopted as regulation or not, the ASTM standard for playground surfacing is influential in determining contract specifications by park and recreation agencies when deciding how shock absorbing they want their installed playground surfaces to be.

The HIC score is one of the determining factors in making that decision. Agencies that contract out the installation of playground surfaces decide what HIC rating they want their playgrounds to meet, and then installers generally provide proof that their surfacing system has been tested in a lab or in the field to determine that it meets the specifications set forth in the contract.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) first issued guidelines in 1981 and has updated them regularly in the Handbook for Public Playground Safety (www.cpsc. gov/pagefiles/122149/325.pdf).

However, the group does not man-

Surfacing Safety NRPA encourages its members to keep up with the latest in safety standards, as well as take advantage of cutting-edge technology and aesthetics when it comes to playground surfacing materials. Below, find information on a variety of surfacing manufacturers.

• LTR Products LLC 3410 Midcourt Rd., Suite 108 Carrollton, TX 75006 800.961.0909 www.groundsmartrubbermulch.com • Matéflex 2007 Beechgrove Place Utica, NY 13501 800.926.3539 www.mateflex.com • Mitchell Rubber Products Inc. 10220 San Sevaine Way Mira Loma, CA 91752 951.681.5655 www.mitchellrubber.com • PlayGuard Safety Surfacing 715 Fountain Ave. Lancaster, PA 17601 800.851.4746 www.playguardsurfacing.com • SofSURFACES Inc. P.O. Box 239 4393 Discovery Line Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0 800.263.2363 www.sofsurfaces.com • Surface America P.O. Box 157 Williamsville, NY 14231 800.999.0555 www.surfaceamerica.com • TotTurf by Robertson Recreational Surfaces A PlayCore Company 2414 West 12th St., Suite 5 Tempe, AZ 85281 800.858.0519 www.totturf.com • Zeager Bros Inc. 4000 E. Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057 800.346.8524 www.zeager.com

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Operations

Poured-in-place surfaces like this one created by Surface America, offer design versatility while meeting industry standards.

date what type of surface should be installed under play equipment, only that it meets certain criteria for impact attenuation. Playground surfaces range from natural materials like sand, wood chips and pea gravel to man-made materials including engineered wood fiber (EWF), rubber tiles, loose rubber mulch from recycled tires, and unitary surfaces such as poured-in-place rubber (PIP), bonded wood-fiber mats and hybrid surfaces, such as those that have an underlayment of rubber mulch packed in bags and covered by a carpet.

Impact-attenuating surfaces are designed to absorb impacts to prevent head injuries from critical fall heights. The critical fall height is a measurement above which a serious head injury might be expected occur.

Impact-attenuating surfaces also protect against other types of injuries, such as long-bone fractures that are 56 Parks & Recreation

commonly associated with playground falls. Both ASTM and CPSC note that no matter what type of surface is installed and how impact-attenuating it may be, not all injuries may be prevented.

So what are the implications for public park and recreation agencies if these revisions are made to the existing standard? Ken Kutska, a playground safety expert and CPSI instructor, notes that because the current standard has been in place for so many years without change, “There is a ‘don’t want to know, don’t care’ mentality” about the HIC ratings of playground surfacing. He predicts that the new standard will cause park and recreation agencies to pay much closer attention to the HIC rating of their playground surfaces and more testing will be needed to measure performance in the field. He also notes that more information will be needed to educate the end-user on how to make the best decisions for their needs.

“The new standard may affect you and it may not,” says Elaine Sherman, the designer of a proprietary surfacing system now owned by Playworld.

“It all depends on what type of equipment you have in your playgrounds, the fall heights, the type of surfaces you installed and the manufacturer’s specifications for that surfacing.”

Industry representatives and consultants attending the recent ASTM committee meetings noted that some installed surfaces might already meet or exceed the new 700 HIC standard, while others could be retrofitted without substantial costs. “Those who installed to the basic minimum,” says Rolf Huber, a Canadian playground surface expert, “will have the greatest issues with the new standard. If you just spent 50 percent of your

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playground budget on surfacing that is destined to fail, then you may have made a bad decision.” No matter what, say the consultants and committee members, the new standard will require careful attention to developing specifications, writing contract language and monitoring the installation to ensure that purchased surfaces meet the standard to which they were designed.

It should be emphasized that the revision to F1292-14 has not yet been formally adopted by ASTM. The recommendation for adoption must be approved by the ASTM Committee on Standards. Some members of the playground surfacing subcommittee have indicated their intention to formally object to what they viewed as irregularities in the review process for changing the impact attenuation standard.

NRPA has never objected to making playgrounds safer for kids and works continually to ensure that public playgrounds in parks and recreation are safe for all users. NRPA has led the way nationally in providing training, education, certification and awareness of playground safety.

NRPA objected to the passage of these revisions to the current ASTM standard for playground surfacing on the grounds that the process by which they were approved was flawed and because there was not sufficient evidence of relevant data from playground injuries to lead to reconsideration of the present standard.

Stay tuned. More information on this developing story will be provided by NRPA in Parks & Recreation Magazine and though NRPA’s social media outlets as it becomes available.

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

Today’s UTVs: A 9-Step Buyer’s Guide

By Betty Sosnin

U

tility vehicle manufacturers are responding to the changing needs of the park and recreation industry with durable, powerful and versatile UTVs designed to do the work of pickup trucks. It’s important to do your due diligence, however, as there can be big differences in performance, reliability and financing among various manufacturers and models.

Maximize Your ROI with These 9 Steps 1. Shop for durability. Club Car’s Commercial Marketing Manager Kurt Meyer suggests looking for vehicles that are built as utility vehicles from the ground up, rather than buying converted golf carts. “Though inexpensive, these vehicles don’t have the suspension or chassis strength you need. And getting parts can be a nightmare,” he says.

Get a strong bed box that won’t rust and is lined with a hard-wearing material, and check the towing capacity, payload capacity and suspension system to be sure the vehicle is appropriate for your site.

2. Choose the right powertrain. Most park and recreation professionals prefer gasoline-driven vehicles, and the best of these have engines with electronic fuel injection (EFI).

“EFI vehicles are game-changers. They’re more powerful and fuel-efficient, easier to maintain and automatically adjust to altitude without jets. Since there is no choke or carburetor, they start right up, even in cold weather,” Meyer says.

Meyer notes, however, that the performance of EFI engines varies, depending on their components and tuning. Also, make sure the vehicle has spark arrestors certified to National Forestry Standards if applicable to your location.

3. Shop for versatility. Buy vehicles that can perform a range of tasks and consider the availability of accessories up front.

Also, consider cabs, enclosures, heaters and fans that can turn your vehicles into year-round assets.

“Look for cabs with doors and windshields that sit flush with the frame to keep wind and rain out. Many are simply bolted on,” Meyer says.

4. Don’t toy around. Though often sold as work vehicles, recreational vehicles may reach 50-60 mph, so their suspension systems are built for speed, not payload. “When loaded, the rear suspension tends to sag, reducing ground clearance and unbalancing the vehicle’s weight distribution. They also tend to have short warranties,” Meyer says.

5. Think safety. Make an inventory of the safety equipment you’ll need and make sure the vendor offers it.

Certain areas, particularly municipal park and recreation departments, now require Roll Over Protection Structures (ROPS) and seat belts. In Canada, all federal park and recreation departments require ROPS. If you buy a 4x2 with a manufacturer’s ROPS, make sure it can be retrofitted with canopies, windshields, enclosures or cabs. Many cannot.

6. Consider seating. Multi-seating UTVs are growing in popularity and are an especially good option for the narrow trails in parks. However,

adding a rear-facing, two-passenger seat may eat into your bed space.

“Vehicles with four forward-facing seats and an extended bed have room for two crews and their gear,” Meyer says.

7. Look for 4x2s with limited slip differentials. “Many 4x4s are sold due to perception, not need. Well-designed two-wheel-drive systems are sufficient for many applications, especially if the vehicle has a limited slip differential (LSD),” Meyer says.

Here’s why. When vehicles with open differentials get stuck, the power is transferred to the tire with the least traction, so the tires keep spinning. Vehicles with LSDs deliver true on-demand traction whether you’re driving in a straight line or navigating curves.

8. Think ease of use when buying 4x4s. A 4x4 can be a smart choice for construction, climbing hills, covering rough terrain or driving in snow, or mud.

Meyer also suggests you choose an all-wheel drive system that automatically shifts as needed. “If you don’t, you’ll have to train crews to pull the right levers, push the right buttons, and lock and unlock the differentials. Yet they can be getting stuck before they even know it,” he says.

9. Add value with a strong warranty. Look for the longest, most inclusive warranty you can find. This indicates that a manufacturer has confidence in its products and will stand behind them.

Betty Sosnin is Club Car’s Marketing and Public Relations Specialist (bettysosnin@ knology.net).

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Snap Happy A picture may say a thousand words, but legal restrictions on photography may curtail your inclination to shoot. Here’s what you need to know.

By Becki Cramer

P

romotion of our parks and recreational activities is vital for public awareness, and a good picture can be a wonderful promotion tool, but what are the legalities regarding using photos taken in our parks without signed releases? Although the laws of the 50 states vary, all states recognize that individuals have a right to be left alone in their daily lives and that harm (in the form of embarrassment, scorn or loss of status) can result if that right is violated. However, our right of privacy is not absolute. In particular, according to the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), the courts have long held that news reporting and social, political and economic commentary — the things the First Amendment was designed to protect — are more valuable to society than an individual’s right to be let alone. Therefore, images that are part of the public colloquy about events have usually been exempt from privacy lawsuits. In contrast, the courts have generally held that making money is distinctly less valuable to society than the right to be left alone.

That doesn’t mean anyone with a camera has free rein to take photos anywhere. Your First Amendment rights stop when it comes to locations where people have a “reasonable expectation of privacy,” such as public bathrooms and hospitals. In addition,

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you may not take photographs of people in their home through their windows even if you are photographing from a public place such as a road.

The determining factor for when you need a release is based on how the photograph is used. Without a release,

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the photos taken can only be used for “editorial” purposes. That doesn’t mean the photo can only be in a newspaper or magazine; photographers can and do use those images in books and galleries. It does, however, mean that images cannot be used for commercial purposes. Using a photo of a cute kid for an advertisement requires a release. Using the same photo in a newsletter does not. ASMP states, “Thus, privacy issues typically arise when an image is used for purposes of trade or advertising.” That means it’s not the picture, but how it is used that determines the need for a release. For instance, an image that is printed in a newspaper, shown in an exhibition or reproduced in a book might well be immune from a privacy suit. But the commercial sale of coffee mugs or t-shirts with the same image would probably not enjoy such protection.

An advertisement almost certainly would be considered “commercial usage.” The American Civil Liberties Union puts it this way: “When in public spaces where you are lawfully present, you have the right to photograph anything that is in plain view. When you are on private property, the property owner may set rules about the taking of photographs.”

One important consideration is if the individual is playing in an amateur league in a park. Amateur leagues often rent public parks for events. Some jurisdictions consider the property private for the event’s duration. If that is the case, the league has the right to ban photography during the game.

As stated above, you can’t publish images that depict someone who would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, or images captured on private land where the landowner forbids photography. It is important to note that while you may be on public land when photographing, you cannot publish photographs that are defamatory, or in the case of a minor, anything that could be considered indecent. I expect all of us in the park and recreation business are very cognizant of issues relating to decency, especially when it comes to minors.

So the question becomes, why use a release? ASMP states, “A release is a written agreement between you and the person you are photographing, or the person who owns the property you are photographing. The purpose of the release is to protect you from any future lawsuits the person might file for claims such as defamation and invasion of privacy. It doesn’t

just apply to professional models or situations where people know they are posing for photos. You should seek to get a signed model release any time that your photos contain recognizable images of people, unless you are certain that you will never want to use them for anything other than editorial purposes.

“A property release says that the owner of a certain property, such as a pet or a building, has given you

consent to take and use images of the property. You don’t need one for public property, such as government buildings (although you may run into problems just from photographing them, for security reasons). But for images of private property — and particularly of objects that are closely identified with specific people — you are safer if you get a release.

“The releases you obtain should be saved forever and should be linked in some way with the photographs to which they relate. You can expect to be asked to produce them whenever you license an image, and you will need them if you ever have to defend yourself in court.”

That means that technically you do not need a release for any photos you take and use on your social media page or send off to use in editorial publications. However, we live in a litigious society, and people are not always aware of the laws. So the decision to have a release is left up to the individual and organization, keeping in mind that while the law is on your side, others are not always aware of the law.

Becki Cramer is the Director of Communications for the New York State Recreation and Park Society (becki@nysrps. org).

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Park Bench

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Grandner believes that what the climbing wall provides — besides an opportunity for children to be challenged mentally, physically and in areas of problem-solving — is something invaluable: a sense of security. “It’s a way to help the children cope and recover. Learning new things and completing the climbing wall builds their self-esteem,” Grandner says, adding that the children learn they’re capable and feel safer in that respect. Grandner believes, “We should be doing as much as we can for these military families; we need to show them how much they are appreciated, and we hope that other companies see this and take note.”

— Marissa Bracamonte, Editorial Intern for Parks & Recreation Magazine

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