April 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR'S LET TER
PRESIDENT AND CEO

In Parks We Trust
These days, it seems like anything can happen at any moment. A definite uneasy feeling has hovered over the nation since September 11, 2001-sometimes retreating almost
out of mind but roaring back to the forefront after events like Newtown and the Boston
Marathon. Despite these lingering worries, the public still places great trust in agencies
like park and recreation departments to safely run special events, care for children and
seniors, and provide secure places to relax, exercise, and recreate.
And the public's expectations for government agencies during a crisis situation are realistic, but still high: that public employees will
remain calm, organized, and know what to do. In Associate Editor
Danielle Taylor's article " Under Fire " on page 50, agencies are living up to that trust by thinking about the unthinkable and preparing
emergency action plans so that every staff person knows what to do
to best protect the public and themselves.
But the public's trust doesn't end with safety. Surveys show that the
public also views park and recreation departments as not just stewards of community natural resources and green spaces, but also
as leaders in conservation that set an example to follow. Likewise,
agencies are also promoters of public health and wellness, supporting healthy lifestyles through efforts as varied as formal fitness and
wellness classes, community gardens, and even just simple walking
trails. Finally, and perhaps more obscurely because so many consider it to be a given,
social equity is a huge area of public trust in agencies to provide equal access to quality
parks and programming for all, regardless of income, race, gender, culture, or physical
and mental ability. As Kevin Regan from the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and
Parks says in this month's cover story, " Our mission is not just for those who can pay. "
Those areas of conservation, health and wellness, and social equity, although always
present, have now been brought to the forefront and formally recognized as the " pillars "
of the field of parks and recreation. We hope your agency will join NRPA in this new
effort to communicate the many ways parks and recreation fulfills the public's trust and
improves the quality of life in thousands of communities across the country. In this increasingly uncertain world, it's nice to have someone you can count on.
***
You may have noticed we've added graphic elements for each of the three pillars in the
past couple of issues. These pillar icons are also prominently displayed on our newly
redesigned website at www.nrpa.org. We hope this helps visually organize and focus our
messages while also calling attention to relevant columns and articles. Look for them
when flipping through the magazine to quickly find articles related to conservation,
health and wellness, and social equity.

ELIZ AB E T H B E AR D
Managing Editor
8

Parks & Recreation

| A P R I L 2 0 1 3 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

Barbara Tulipane, CAE
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS, & PUBLISHING

Gina M. Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR

Elizabeth Beard
ebeard@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Danielle Taylor
dtaylor@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN

Creative By Design
www.creativebydesign.net
ADVERTISING SALES

Gina M. Cohen
703.858.2184
gcohen@nrpa.org
(Issn 0031-2215) is published monthly
by the National Recreation and Park
Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge
Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148, a service
organization supported by membership
dues and voluntary contributions. Copyright ©2013 by the National Recreation
and Park Association.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Opinions
expressed in signed articles are those
of the writers and not necessarily
those of NRPA. Issued to members at
the annual subscription price of $30,
included in dues. Subscription: $36 a
year in the U.S.; $46 elsewhere. Single
copy price: $4.50. Library rate: $48 a
year in the U.S.; $58 elsewhere. Periodical postage paid at Ashburn, Virginia,
and at additional mailing offices. Editorial and advertising offices at 22377
Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148.
703.858.0784. Postmaster, send address changes to Parks & Recreation,
22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn,
VA 20148-4501.
April 2013 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2013 - Parks & Recreation
