Mere 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 acknowledged 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 no-holds-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 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.
Lauren Hoffmann is NRPA’s Director of Marketing and Communications.