December 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 54

nrpaupdate
The Crap Factor
ECONOMIST LOWELL CATLETT, dean
of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Services
and Regents' professor at New Mexico
State University, then launched into
an engaging keynote presentation
that linked the subjects of economics,
human health, parks, and reconnecting people with nature. Catlett noted
that with housing, food, and utilities at
their lowest cost in history in the United States, disposable income (which he
memorably called " the crap factor " ) has
now reached almost 70 percent of the
average American's income.
" You've got a 69 percent crap factor,
folks. Let me tell you something-you
can afford the best parks in the world, "
Catlett said. " The Smithsonian did a
survey two years ago and the crap factor for the world is 8 percent. "
Citing the old adage that " people afford what they want, " Catlett said the
challenge for park and recreation agencies is to be innovative and creative to
make people want to connect to nature and each other. New studies suggest that closer bonds with other people
and animals lead to higher production
of oxytocin and other chemicals, and
that such bonds also are related to lower
disease rates.
" You want to have healthy people?
Don't separate them from plants and
animals and people! " he admonished.
Catlett wrapped up his talk with a
poignant description of how the creation of a riverfront park in his hometown of Las Cruces gave him a place
to bond with his retriever Tango in her
last days, often going there with her
at night.
" It's about plants, it's about connections, and it's about a place for a
blind dog to let a man see the stars, "
he ended, as the crowd rose to a thunderous standing ovation. For those
who want to relive that moment, Dr.
52

Parks & Recreation

Dr. Lowell Catlett
Dr. Lowell Catlett

Catlett's speech can be viewed at the
2012 NRPA Congress Resource Center Library at www.nrpaconnect.
org/2012CongressResourceCenter.

Professional Playground
FROM THE OPENING GENERAL SESSION, attendees ﬂooded directly into
the trade show, where they were greeted by more than 400 exhibitors who
collectively had assembled one of the
world's largest playgrounds. Acres of
the newest and most imaginative play
and water structures ﬁlled the two large
halls. One big draw was the appearance of Paul Teutul, Jr., of the television show " American Chopper, " who
displayed three custom motorcycles at
the Cre8Play booth. Exhibitors enthusiastically approved the new two-day
format for the trade show, as extended
exclusive hours brought a steady ﬂow
of heavy foot traffic. Most also reported
a higher percentage of serious buyers
than seen in recent years.

| DECEMBER 2012 | WWW.NRPA.ORG

Upstairs, dozens of continuing education sessions covered topics including citizen advocacy; employee and
volunteer management; environmental stewardship; healthy lifestyles; leadership and management; planning,
design, and maintenance; professional
development; public relations and marketing; recreation programming; revenue and customer service; and sports.
Many sessions were completely full
and included lively question-and-answer sessions.
At the NRPA Community Center, laptops and staff were available to help
agencies start their PRORAGIS proﬁles
(PRORAGIS, short for Park and Recreation Operating Ratio and Geographic Information System, is a national
database that allows park and recreation agencies to benchmark with others, develop program planning, and

December 2012 - Parks & Recreation

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