August 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 14

Who, What, Where & how Around the Parks

to provide access to natural areas. The
event gave us the opportunity and the
ability to use our voices to make changes that we want to see in our country. It
was democracy at its finest.
With key policy makers in attendance, we ambassadors were proud to
be part of a delegation that spoke with
confidence. Everyone's energy soared.
The smiles and emotion filling the tent
were an immediate indicator of a common passion to share our love of the
outdoors. People from every borough,
city, and small town proclaimed their
hearts and voted on the most important
issues, while compiling suggestions for
addressing them. Participant Sam Michaele, a 21-year-old recreation assistant from New Jersey, summed up what
many felt when she said, " The youth
want the ability to and the opportunity to live actively, to teach, and to play
outdoors. "
The most amazing take-away experience of the summit was being witness
to a diverse group of youths speaking
out in a unified voice and fighting for the

same thing-providing everyone the
opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. The
summit allowed me to make solid connections across the country that will continue to facilitate an exchange of ideas
for my program providing at-risk urban
youth with the same outdoor opportunities I cherish. These connections also
allowed access to data supporting the
impact that programs similar to mine are
having on students across the country.
The summit illuminated many funding
sources not only for professionals in the
field, but also community activists. This left
many in attendance " hopeful and optimistic...ready to work on the ideas discussed, "
said 25-year-old Dakota Lynch, who plans
to seek partnerships to increase internships in his agency and local universities.
A huge thank you goes out to the
sponsors of the event from all of the delegates and ambassadors.
" The sponsoring of events like this
allows us a voice for change, " said Michaele. " Keep up the work and aid. This
event is proof that your monies and
support can be used successfully. " 

No Butts
ew York City may soon join a growing number of municipalities banning smoking in parks and at beaches. Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the announcement in early July, citing health concerns and high cost of cleaning
up cigarette butt litter at beaches. As many as 7,500 deaths a year in New York City are attributed to smoking,
according to an interview, in the New York Times with the city's health commissioner, Thomas A. Farley. Farley
added that the city could save millions of dollars in litter cleanup.
Just south of New York City, the New Jersey Township of Denville expects to adopt an ordinance banning smoking in its parks
and recreation areas-much to the displeasure of a New York City-based smokers rights group. C.L.A.S.H. (Citizen's Lobbying Against Smoker Harrassment) announced it would pay the fines of anyone receiving citations for violating the ban. Fines in
Denville range between $100 and $500. When asked by the Daily Record newspaper in Denville to comment on C.L.A.S.H.'s offer, Mayor Ted Hussa replied, " Tell them we'll be glad to take them up on it. "

12 Parks & Recreation

SEPTEMBER 2010

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Smoking bans in New York and New Jersey parks

August 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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