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As I have been reflecting on the March issue and the range of topics, it occurred to me that the issue is, at its heart, about one core thing — supporting people. Within that goal, there are two sides of an important coin. One side is enabling as many people as possible to enjoy as much of our spaces and programs as possible. The other equally important side is ensuring park and recreation professionals and volunteers can perform their responsibilities as safely and skillfully as possible so that they too can enjoy the experience while providing these programs and spaces.
We want park and recreation professionals to enjoy all aspects of their work. However, not all experiences providing programs and services are inherently pleasant. For those tasks, it’s even more important to ensure that thorough training, tools and equipment are provided to support the work. What’s more, we recognize that providing services and spaces to the public can take its toll, even on the best days. It’s important to remember that and offer park and recreation staff ongoing support, encouragement and time to process impacts with each other in a supportive environment.
A real and growing challenge exists across the country that is hitting park and recreation teams harder than ever — supporting people experiencing mental health conditions, substance use disorder, and homelessness in parks and public spaces. Park and recreation professionals who originally signed up to maintain parks, trees and trails, or develop engaging programs for youth and elders, are finding themselves faced with populations in crisis and needing to manage the impacts. As a baseline, agencies must support staff with the safety-oriented training and personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to operate safely. Think of it as the equivalent of putting the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others.
I recommend reading the article on developing a comprehensive and effective safety management system on page 40. Having a holistic focus on safety as part of department planning and operations is more important than ever. In addition, and specific to the issues I referenced, there are a few links that I recommend checking out. First is the report that NRPA created to help agencies navigate substance use impacts. The other two are guidance from OSHA and CDC on safety practices and PPE, specifically for staff who are working in the field and confronting park impacts that could be hazardous to their health.
Shifting to accessibility, I have appreciated the personal journey that Andrew Leslie has shared publicly on finding ways to continue his outdoor recreation experience in the wake of a mountain bike crash that left him with tetraplegia. Andrew is the longtime former chief executive at Recreation Aotearoa, NRPA’s counterpart in New Zealand. As he has shared his experiences navigating trails, his recent first-person account highlighted the challenge of relying on information that describes and rates trails. For example, when reading about one trail marked as “easy,” he asks, “Easy for who?”
The article “The Three Ps of Inclusion,” on page 46, delves into adaptability and accessibility in the field and how we can support people with disabilities to explore their recreation journey as fully as possible. The article “The Complete Coach,” on page 34, is another lens on supporting our volunteers so they can better support youth in sports. And rounding out the issue is our annual Aquatics Guide, which offers content on design and special features as well as creating safe spaces. Given that about 69 percent of park and recreation departments offer some form of aquatics, the guide is not to be missed!
As you work to ensure park and recreation spaces and programs are as effective and inclusive as possible, please make sure that you’re taking care of yourselves with the same level of care and diligence.
Kristine Stratton is NRPA's President and CEO.