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As I write this month’s column, I’m paying close attention to the weather forecast as rain is expected to drop in Southern California. Although there is a 40 percent chance of showers in the morning, the amount of expected rainfall will be (pardon the pun) barely a drop in the bucket when it comes to reversing severe drought conditions in the Golden State. You need not live on the West Coast to know that drought, excessive heat and wildfires have been our reality for several years now. The question is: How can we all do our part to sound the alarm?
This month Parks & Recreation magazine unveils its Conservation issue, which addresses this very question. In the cover story, “Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change,” on page 32, Editor-at-Large Richard J. Dolesh takes a deep dive into this existential threat and explains how it is changing the way park and recreation agencies design, plan and manage their parks and green spaces. He also provides real-world examples of how agencies across the country are applying innovative principles for developing resilient green infrastructure. “We have to look at every part of our system and how we connect blueways and greenways and streets and communities. We must understand the impacts of climate change to the entire system, not just to the individual pieces,” says Maria Nardi, director of Miami-Dade County Department of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.
Natural disasters not only reveal the weaknesses in our national infrastructure, but also expose the racial disparities and long-term damage that climate change inflicts upon our most vulnerable communities. In the feature article, “Climate Change and the Threat to Racial Equity,” on page 38, experts in the field discuss the direct link between the environment and race, as well as parks and recreation’s role in helping to reduce our carbon footprint. “We can do a better job of working with our partners in city planning to build better sustainable development when it comes to housing in areas of the underserved population. And to me, that’s environmental justice — right planning in the right place at the right time,” says Sara Hensley, city manager for City of Denton, Texas.
Want to know how some of your park and recreation colleagues are observing Earth Day? NRPA’s Ayanna Williams shares all the details in the feature article, “Celebrating Earth Day,” on page 44. “On Earth Day, we can celebrate partnerships and programs ripe with success. We also can enjoy the parks and green spaces in our community and renew our commitment to finding solutions that build resilience,” she writes.
As you look through our special issue, I hope these articles inspire you. What’s more, I encourage you to engage with your own constituents, invite them into the climate change conversation, and discuss ways for making your communities more environmentally resilient. Because at the end of the day, we are all one community, one nation and one planet. And I think we all can agree that inaction simply isn’t an option.
Vitisia Paynich, is Executive Editor and Director of Print and Online Content at NRPA.