I hate math. Not just because I got a D in ninth grade geometry (thanks Mr. Nagel). My brain and math just don't seem to be able to get on the same page. I wish that I could I guess there is a beauty in the certainty and cold efficiency that come from plugging sums into a formula and getting a result. I'm sure mathematicians could wax poetic about the symmetry and pleasure inherent in this, but let's be honest, I'd be nodding off after about three sentences. The only good thing I can say about
numbers is that I met my wife in statistics class in grad school (generous B-, thanks Prof. Levinson). But enough about my intellectual shortcomings (of which there are many). Even for a numberphile like me, I do recognize the power of aggregating numerical data to tell a story. So here are a few numbers that have caught my attention this past week.
$1.3 trillion
The House passed and the Senate is expected to follow suit on passing a spending bill that funds the federal government through September 30. Included are increases in key federal programs from the Land and Water Conservation Fund ($425 million, of which $124 million will go towards our beloved state assistance program, including $20 million for an urban park competitive grant program known as the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program or ORLP I know, I wish we had a more clever acronym, but we'll
take the money anyway). On top of that, $3.3 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $1.2 billion for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, $1.5 billion for TIGER Grants and more.
$154 billion, 1.1 million
The economic impact of park and recreation agencies in 2015. If you're someone who thinks this is frivolous, nice-to-have stuff, go ask one of the 1.1 million people who work in and for our industry shouldn't be too hard to find someone. Check out how parks and recreation are contributing to your state, we have those numbers too.
Learn more about the economic impact of parks.
85 million
The number of meals served by local park and recreation agencies with support from the Walmart Foundation to over 4.6 million youth in underserved communities. Agencies provide meals through the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and in partnership with local school districts through the National School Lunch Program to improve access to the healthy and nutritious foods vital for youth development. Over 310 cities have directly benefited from the support of the
Walmart Foundation, with $10 million in grant funding distributed to the field in support of healthy food access, nutrition education and family engagement programming.
522
The number of NRPA Park Champions who have signed on to help us protect our share of that $1.3 trillion in federal dollars.
Add your name to the list.
5
Number of minutes you spent reading my random musings this afternoon that you'll never, ever get back.
0
Number of perfect NCAA brackets after #16 UMBC knocked off #1 UVA in last weekend's NCAA tournament first round the first time this has ever happened. Way to be Retrievers!