NACPRO News

March 3, 2020

In This Issue...

Welcome New Members
A Word from our Sponsors
Best Practices Forum
Member News
Research and Resources
In the News
News from NRPA
Training
Job Announcements


About NACPRO

The National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials is a non-profit professional organization that advances official policies that promote county and regional park and recreation issues while providing members with opportunities to network, exchange ideas and best practices, and enhance professional development.

Learn more about us at: www.nacpro.org


DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE

The next issue of NACPRO News will be delivered on March 17, 2020.

If you have news or an article to share, please send it to the editor by March 16.

EDITOR
Brenda Adams-Weyant
(814) 927-8212
[email protected]


NACPRO's Sponsors

Pilot Rock logo

oncell logo


Job Announcements

Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine
City of Long Beach, CA
Salary: $200,000 - $223,000 Annually
Closing Date: Mar 30, 2020

Director, Parks and Recreation
City of Overland Park, KS
Salary: Depends on qualifications
Closing Date: Mar 23, 2020

For more information:
https://nacpro.mcjobboard.net/jobs

New page on the NACPRO website about the Annual Meeting

If you are planning to attend our annual meeting in Cincinnati this May, keep an eye on https://www.nacpro.org/annual-meeting for the latest updates on the NACPRO events at the 2020 Special Park District Forum.

NEW THIS WEEK: If you are travelling to Cincinnati with a friend or spouse, who is not attending the Special Park District Forum, NACPRO is offering a guest registration to the awards banquet.


Welcome New Members

Ms. Claire Richardson, Director
Nelson County Parks & Recreation Dept.
Lovingston, Virginia

Mr. Bert Whitaker, Director
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Santa Rosa, California


A Word from our Sponsors

Pilot Rock - Lantern Poles on Sale in March

Buy One, Get One Half Off Price on all lantern poles AND lantern pole accessories during the entire month of March! You must enter "BOGOHOP" in the RFQ Promo Code field to get the discount. This deal ends March 31, 2020.

For more information:
https://www.pilotrock.com/aspx/general/dynamicpage.aspx?pageid=24


Best Practices Forum

History in Our Parks

The American Association for State and Local History has convened the History in Our Parks task force to identify the unique needs and challenges of parks and recreation agencies that care for historic and cultural resources while operating within a system that is not geared towards heritage preservation. In doing this, the task force seeks to gather data on the number of parks and recreation agencies (municipal, county, and others) that care for historic and cultural resources (historic sites, collections, archaeological sites, cemeteries, landscapes, etc.), initiate an assessment of their needs and challenges, and explore how AASLH can help through networking, training, and collaborative efforts with other organizations, including the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

If your park agency cares for historic or cultural resources, please contact Kelby Rose ([email protected]) with a brief description of the types of assets under your stewardship. This initial inventory will help guide the direction of the History in Our Parks task force over the coming months.

Got an issue you need advice on? Or a best practice you want to share? Send us the details and we will publish it in the next NACPRO News.


Member News

Bryan County Recreation Dept. Director Samose Mays to Speak at Events in NY, FL and AZ

GEORGIA – Bryan County Recreation Department Director Dr. Samose Mays has received three invitations to give presentations on identifying a recreational leader's role in bullying prevention at conferences in New York, Arizona and Florida.

The New York State Recreation and Park Society's conference in Tarrytown, NY, is April 26-28. The Arizona Parks and Recreation Association's conference in Fort McDowell, AZ, is Aug. 11-13. The Florida Recreation and Park Association's conference in Orlando is Aug. 31-Sept. 3. At each gathering, Mays will describe the types and forms of bullying, common motives and locations, the startling statistics associated with childhood bullying, and ways in which recreational leaders can work to end the epidemic.

Mays earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgia Southern University and his doctorate in sports management at North Central University in 2016. He has served as Bryan County's recreation director since March 2014. No stranger to public speaking, Mays also serves as an instructor at Georgia Southern University.

“I’m flattered by the invitations I’ve received to speak in New York, Arizona and Florida, and I’ve happily accepted. I think it’s important for everyone who has a career in the recreation field to understand that bullying is a serious problem that isn’t going away. We need to deal with it now, and those who serve as recreation leaders are in a prime spot to be able to do something about the issue. It’s time to utilize our positions and work hard to eradicate bullying, and I’m looking forward to sharing some information on how to accomplish this,” Mays said.

For more information about the Bryan County Recreation Department, please visit www.bryancountyga.org.

 

The Path More Traveled
Courtesy of NRPA

By Lindsay Collins

2019 NRPA Innovation Award for Park Design

MINNESOTA - How do you design and construct a nature-based 15-mile-long regional trail through fully developed cities comprised of homes and businesses? This was the question posed by Three Rivers Park District when it set out to create a trail that would connect the citizens it serves to numerous communities, resources and nature by removing transportation barriers.

The result is Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail, an off-road, 10-foot wide, paved, multi-use trail that spans five cities, connecting each to the park district’s 160 mile regional trail network. It also provides connections from neighborhoods to job centers, schools, libraries, churches, parks and more.

Read more:
https://issuu.com/kimlewis/docs/prig19_-_v3/6

 

Innovation, Conservation, Restoration
Courtesy of NRPA

By Lindsay Collins

2019 NRPA Innovation Award for Conservation

OHIO - The stress of water quality issues is a concern well-known by many communities across the United States. One place that has become familiar with the problem is the area bordered by Lake Erie, which battles water-quality issues from agricultural runoff in the watershed.

Such land uses affect not only human lives, but also animal populations. These changes were felt by the communities of the Toledo, Ohio, metropolitan area, home to the Lake Erie Birding Trail. The trail boasts nearly 400 species of birds who habits are being altered due to disappearing habitats.

Metroparks Toledo, through its Howard Marsh Metropark conservation project, is tackling these issues head-on, with its inventive and expansive solution to address several environmental concerns through habitat restoration, natural water quality improvement, and public education and access.

Read more:
https://issuu.com/kimlewis/docs/prig19_-_v3/12

 

Designing with Community in Mind
Courtesy of NRPA

By Anna Cawrse, PLA, ASLA, and Joshua Brooks, PLA, ASLA

LOUISIANA - Within East Baton Rouge Parish in Louisiana sits the neighborhood of North Baton Rouge. This predominantly African American community has long seen less investment than other areas within the parish. This fact, along with long-term demographic shifts due to out-migration and loss of area institutions, has left the North Baton Rouge area under-performing in key socioeconomic indicators compared to the rest of the parish. Despite decades of disinvestment, these trends are starting to be reversed through a thriving culture and incredible community leadership. One of the more visual manifestations of these efforts has been playing out in the recent redesign of the Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) Greenwood Park and the Baton Rouge Zoo.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2020/march/designing-with-community-in-mind/


Research and Resources

Study Reveals How Green Space Can Reduce Violent Crime
Courtesy of the University of Virginia

Properly designed and maintained outdoor green space has the potential to reduce violent crime and gun violence, to make communities safer and keep residents healthier, a new study suggests. Conversely, green space that is poorly designed and inadequately maintained can help crime take root and spread.

The findings come from a team of scientists that has assembled a big-picture review of research on the complicated relationship between nature and crime in urban areas. They identified several patterns that can help inform public policy, guide urban design and promote neighborhoods that are safe and pleasant to live in.

Read more:
https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2020/02/27/study-reveals-how-green-space-can-reduce-violent-crime/

 

Making Corporate Partnerships Work
Courtesy of NRPA

By Maura Lout

Both government agencies and nonprofits continue to look for funding streams to sustain their parks. An increasing mix of public-private partnerships, conservancies, advocacy groups and business improvement or park improvement districts have developed to secure more financial, community and political support for public parks. While there is corporate-sector support and increased corporate social investment in general, many agencies and other partners lack defined guidelines for engaging in and successfully managing that type of support.

One of the many ways the Central Park Conservancy’s Institute for Urban Parks shares knowledge with other parks is through Urban Park Roundtables, which are held each spring and fall. The sessions convene park professionals, leaders and administrators from around the country to collectively develop “next practices” in urban park management and public-private partnerships. With the goal of strengthening the field of practice, each roundtable focuses on a specific topic of relevance to our host city. Participants spend two days immersed in a “community of practice,” through facilitated discussions, peer networking, panels and park tours.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2020/march/making-corporate-partnerships-work/

 

Innovating the Whole Environment for Inclusive Play
Courtesy of PlayCore

Thoughtfully planned inclusive outdoor play environments can create opportunities to ensure that people of all ages and abilities can be both physically and socially active through play and recreation, while improving children's play experiences. The 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design®, developed in partnership with Utah State's Center for Persons with Disabilities and PlayCore, move outdoor play environments beyond minimum accessibility requirements, recognize everyone's right to fully participate and contribute to meaningful play, and reap the lifelong developmental, physical, and social benefits of inclusion.

Children want to "Be" and feel that their play experiences are fair, that they are included, that they are smart, and that they can be independent, safe, active, and comfortable during physical and social play. The 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design® focus on the usage of individual play activities as well as the context of the overall environmental design.

After many years of implementation, the resources have been refined and aligned to be more user-friendly and to help promote the myriad of inclusive benefits for parks and recreation, schools, designers, and community advocates to apply to their planning process.

Read more:
https://www.playcore.com/whole-environment-for-inclusive-play

 

Esports space gives gamers community
Courtesy of the Centennial Citizen

By Nick Puckett

COLORADO - Becoming highly skilled at a video game often means spending hours in isolation: a dark room with few distractions and caffeine at the ready to deter anything that could disrupt hours-long bouts of gaming. Gamers who profess devotion to “the grind” can spend thousands of hours a year in isolation.

Chris Curtis wants to change that. Curtis is the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District’s first esports program coordinator. He’s in charge of setting up the first esports-dedicated space in the district. He wants to create a place where developing gaming skills doesn’t have to be antisocial. The room is open to any and all curious in getting into esports or for seasoned pros. The idea, Curtis said, is to create an inclusive space for all with a passion for gaming.

Read more:
https://centennialcitizen.net/stories/esports-space-gives-gamers-community,294559

 

NICP CPTED Professional Directory Now Available
Courtesy of the National Institute of Crime Prevention

The National Institute of Crime Prevention (NICP) is excited to announce the creation of the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Professional Directory for those that earn and maintain the NICP's CPTED Professional Designation (CPD). This public directory will allow individuals and organizations searching for CPTED professionals to locate and contact you for consulting, projects, and assessments.

For more information:
https://www.cptedtraining.net/cpted-professionals-directory/

 

Coastal Conference abstracts due May 1
Courtesy of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association

ASBPA, in cooperation with the Coastal Zone Foundation, announces the Call for Abstracts for its 2020 National Coastal Conference, Oct. 13-, 2020 at the Westin Long Beach in Long Beach, CA.

ASBPA is the nation’s first organization to promote science-based policies for the preservation of coastal areas. The theme of the 2020 conference, “2020 Vision for Our Coasts: Shifting Shores, Surf & Sediment,” continues to broaden our focus across the coastal zone. The National Coastal Conference provides an opportunity for coastal stakeholders and managers to develop collaborative networks to promote best management practices, while learning the latest science, engineering and policy needed to maintain and improve the health of our beachfront and estuarine shorelines and ecosystems.

For more information:
http://asbpa.org/2020/02/03/abstracts-now-being-accepted-for-2020-national-coastal-conference/


In the News

Upton continues fight to protect the Great Lakes
Courtesy of Congressman Fred Upton

By Josh Paciorek

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today signed on as an original cosponsor for two bipartisan bills designed to protect the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Act - introduced by Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) – would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study, which would assess threats and resiliency measures for coastal communities.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Reauthorization Act – introduced by Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) - would reauthorize the GLRI for another five years when it expires at the end of FY2021. Under this legislation, the authorization for GLRI would be increased to $375 million in FY2022. It would then ramp up by $25 million annually over the next four years, culminating at $475 million in FY2026.

Read more:
https://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401255

 

Hoboken park receives $14 million in grants
Courtesy of the Hudson Reporter

By Marilyn Baer

NEW JERSEY - Hoboken has secured $14 million in federal funding for the construction of the Northwest Resiliency Park.

The park aims to mitigate flooding in an area where heavy rainfall often leads to flooding and residents pulling on their knee-high rain boots.

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez joined Mayor Ravi Bhalla to announce the $14 million in combined grants on Monday, Feb. 24

“This ambitious, innovative project will improve the lives of Hoboken families, children, and seniors by better protecting this community from flooding that is occurring more and more frequently,” Menendez said. “Sandy taught us that it’s a heck of a lot more expensive to rebuild in the aftermath of destructive storms than it is to prevent costly floods in the first place. That’s why I’ve been fighting to make new federal investments in forward-looking mitigation projects like Northwest Resiliency Park. When we talk about spending taxpayer dollars wisely, investing in resilience really pays off. In fact, every dollar spent on flood prevention and mitigation generates another six dollars in savings.”

Read more:
https://hudsonreporter.com/2020/02/24/hoboken-park-receives-14-million-in-grants/

 

First genetic evidence of resistance in some bats to white-nose syndrome, a devastating fungal disease
Courtesy of the University of Michigan

A new study from University of Michigan biologists presents the first genetic evidence of resistance in some bats to white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has decimated some North American bat populations.

The study involved northern Michigan populations of the little brown bat, one of the most common bats in eastern North America prior to the arrival of white-nose syndrome in 2006. Since then, some populations of the small, insect-eating bat have experienced declines of more than 90%.

Read more:
https://news.umich.edu/first-genetic-evidence-of-resistance-in-some-bats-to-white-nose-syndrome-a-devastating-fungal-disease/

 

Denver's Happy Haynes Advocates for Parks and Recreation on Capitol Hill
Courtesy of NRPA

Last week, NRPA member and executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation, Allegra "Happy" Haynes, testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands in Washington, D.C. Watch her compelling testimony as she advocates for the Outdoors for All Act and tells her story about the experiences with nature that helped her become an environmental steward. This bill, which is sponsored by U.S. Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán, would provide federal grants for projects to acquire land and water for parks and to develop new or renovate existing outdoor recreation facilities. You can help by sending a message to your members of Congress asking them to support this critical legislation.

Watch now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUl5Vxi52JA&feature=youtu.be&t=3073

 

Along the Great Lakes, It’s Time to Prepare for Extremes
Courtesy of the New York Times

By Peter Annin

The Great Lakes keep rising. Last year the five lakes that together hold 20 percent of the fresh surface water on the planet broke 10 high-water records, and more are expected to fall this year. The inundation follows a 15-year span from 1999 to 2014 when the so-called upper lakes of Superior, Michigan and Huron experienced the longest period of low water in recorded history.

The lakes have always been tempestuous neighbors, but today they appear to be entering a new era of volatility that is testing the region as never before. The simple explanation is that the last five years have been the wettest in history in the Great Lakes watershed, which encompasses parts of eight states and two Canadian provinces. But some scientists believe a more complicated dynamic is at work: a warming climate that will continue to cause extreme fluctuations in weather and water levels, threatening havoc for lakeside homeowners, towns and cities, tourism and shipping.

Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/opinion/great-lakes-climate-flooding.html


News from NRPA

Master Planning Tool for Developing Inclusive Spaces

Park system plans are a foundational tool for our profession that have been used to create great places. Yet, as we've talked with professionals across the country, many have expressed frustration in their ability to create a fair and just park system that ensures park access for all. To assist park and recreation professionals in the development of equity-based system plans, NRPA has released a new online tool — Creating Equity-Based System Master Plans. Read this blog post to learn more about how this tool can help in forming your equitable and inclusive master plan today.

For more information:
https://www.nrpa.org/blog/equipping-park-and-rec-professionals-with-master-planning-tool-for-developing-inclusive-spaces/

 

The New NRPA Evaluation Resource Hub

Are you trying to determine whether your programming is effective but are unsure of how to do so? Are you tired of administering surveys to your community and not being sure what to do with their feedback? NRPA’s new Evaluation Resource Hub provides park and recreation professionals with resources to support evaluation efforts at their agencies. The hub prioritizes easy-to-implement strategies and tactics that you can apply quickly and effortlessly in your community.

Read more:
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2020/march/the-new-nrpa-evaluation-resource-hub/


Training

Webinar: Designing the Great Park that Everyone Deserves

DATE: Thursday, March 12, 2020
TIME: 2:00 pm (Eastern Time)
COST: $35 Premier Members, $50 all other members
HOST: NRPA

In 2017, NRPA unveiled "Because Everyone Deserves a Great Park" as the new organizational tagline. But how do you define a "great park"? Join us for a webinar as three preeminent park designers discuss how you can assess the parks in your community, as well as the design principles, cultural influences and emerging trends for designing the next great park.

For more information:
https://learning.nrpa.org/products/designing-the-great-park-that-everyone-deserves#tab-product_tab_overview

 

Webinar: Equestrian Trail Design and Best Practices

DATE: April 16, 2020
TIME: 1:00 to 2:30 pm (Eastern Time)
COST: Free
HOST: American Trails

The presenters will review best practices for trail design planning, construction, and management in undeveloped natural areas and connecting to urban edge settings. The webinar will include trailhead development, urban to wildland transition design, and equestrian trail features to provide best sustainability and lowest impact.

Jim Coffman with Coffman Studio will discuss the 'merge/transition' areas from towns to wild land trails— how to design/where/how many, etc. Matt Woodson with Okanogan Trail Construction will then pick up and bring listeners into the mountains to discuss both trail techniques as well as best practices for equestrian use for maximum sustainability. Representatives from the Equine Land Conservation Resource and Backcountry Horsemen of America will open the webinar with introductions.

For more information:
https://www.americantrails.org/training/equestrian-trail-design-and-best-practices#eventDetails

 

Upcoming Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Courses
Courtesy of the National Institute of Crime Prevention

5 Day Basic CPTED

March 2 - 6, 2020, Salt Lake City, UT
March 30 - April 3, 2020, San Diego, CA
May 4 - 8, 2020, Greenville, SC
May 11 - 15, 2020, Stillwater, MN
May 11 - 15, 2020, Denver, CO
June 15 - 19, Aurora, CO
June 15 - 19, Santa Monica, CA
July 13 - 17, Ft. Collins, CO
Sept. 14 - 18, Las Vegas, NV
Oct. 12 - 16, Ontario, CA

3 Day Advanced CPTED

April 14 - 16, 2020, Bellingham, WA
April 20 - 22, 2020, Las Vegas, NV
June 29 - July 1, National City, CA
July 20 - 22, Ft. Collins, CO
Aug. 4 - 6, Phoenix, AZ
Oct. 5 - 7, Greenville, SC
Oct. 26 - 30, Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 16 - 18, Las Vegas, NV

For more information:
https://www.cptedtraining.net/cpted-training-calendar/

NACPRO | PO Box 74, Marienville, PA 16239 | (814) 927-8212