April 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 25

By Joel Pannel

advo cacy update

A Clear Voice
Delivering NRPA's Message on the Homefront

hose of us who work in the field and those of us who appreciate the many

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benefits of public parks and recreation know the immense value of what these
services bring to a community. What we do is about much more than simply offering space and facilities for people to make the most of their leisure time.
Parks and recreation is about providing our children with safe and healthy ways to play, learn, and
develop. It's about improving the physical and mental well-being for people of all ages by engaging
them in healthier, more active lifestyles. It's about
providing everyone access to our shared natural
resources. It's about teaching people how to preserve and protect these resources through conservation and environmental stewardship. It's about
reducing our nation's oil dependency by utilizing
alternate and more energy-efficient means of transportation. It's about creating jobs and revitalizing
neighborhoods. It's about building livable and sustainable communities that enhance the quality of
life for all people.
This is the message that NRPA members and advocates delivered to Capitol Hill during last month's
National Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation. This same message must be delivered on a
regular basis to civic leaders and elected representatives at all levels of government. In the face
of severe budget shortfalls, county and state officials across the country must make difficult decisions. It is imperative for agencies to illustrate that
the return on investment far outweighs any minimal
short-term savings gained from cutting parks and
recreation funding. Now, more than ever, we must
use the collective power of our voices to advocate
for continued investment in the parks and recreation

programs and projects that make communities better places to live, work, learn, and play. According
to Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Association Executive Director, Steve Thompson, " There simply
is no more important service that can be provided
to the park and recreation industry than advocacy. "
And there is no more important place to start advocacy efforts than at home in your local community.
Here are some key points to consider as you
work advance the cause of parks and recreation in
your community and throughout the nation.

Know That You Can Make a Difference
When discussing political influence, many people
immediately think of lobbyists in stuffed suits making back room deals in state capitols or Washington, D.C. Thompson notes, however; that " our best
advocates are simply members and supporters who
work to educate their communities about important
issues. In order to be supported by members in local and state units of government, professionals and
citizens must be strong and consistent advocates
for issues affecting the delivery of public recreation
and park programs and services to their community. " As an industry that focuses on people instead
of profits, our advocacy efforts rely on the voices of
everyday parks and recreation professionals and
citizens to tell the real-life stories that exemplify the
importance of parks and recreation to communities.

w w w . NR P A . ORG

APRIL 2010

Parks & Recreation 23

April 2010 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2010 - Parks & Recreation