February 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 56

N R PA I n A c t i o n

The Power of Facts
NRPA publishes the first fact sheet on the accomplishments and far reach of the field.
Environment
Many park and recreation departments
also manage cemeteries, zoos, arts centers, stadiums, museums, libraries, golf
courses, water parks, and ski slopes.
The Trust for Public Land lists total
area covered by urban parkland in the
United States as exceeding one million
acres, with parks ranging in size from
the 1.7-acre Post Office Square in Boston
to the 490,125-acre Chugach State Park
in Anchorage. Urban parkland usage
surpasses that of the national parks. Lincoln Park in Chicago receives upwards
of 20 million users each year. New York's
Central Park has 25 million visits annually, which is more than five times as many
as the Grand Canyon.

The National Association of State Park
Directors lists 5,875 trails spanning more
than 43,000 miles in total length contained within state parks.

Health & Wellness
As referenced by the U.S. Olympic Committee, Paralympic Division there are
21 million physically disabled Americans, including more than 35,000 military personnel who've been severely
injured during the conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Public park and recreation
organizations provide vital rehabilitative
services to these individuals. Serving
the fastest growing segment of the population, the U.S. Administration on Aging
cites that in 2004, there were between

11,000 and 15,000 senior centers in the
United States.
The California Department of Health
Services estimates that physical inactivity costs the state $13.3 billion per year
in medical care, workers' compensation,
and lost productivity. If Californians increased their physical activity and lost
5 percent of their collective weight over
five years, they would save more than
$1.3 billion. Public park and recreation
organizations provide an affordable
means for residents to engage in physical activity.
The Afterschool Alliance reports that
the number of children participating in afterschool programs has increased significantly since 2004, with 8.4 million children

The oldest and most respected
professional development school
for parks and recreation professionals
March 14 - 19, 2010
Year One Topics Include:
* Budgeting for the Bottom Line
* Contract Services Management
* Capital Program Development
* Pricing for Cost Recovery
* Creative Revenue Development
* Sponsorships
* Partnerships

Hosted by The National Training
Center for Facility Managers at
Oglebay Resort & Conference Center

Year Two Topics Include:

* Data Management & Technology
* Communicating your Agency's Identity
* Economic Development Strategies
* Media & Public Relations
* Creating Value Through Innovation
* Business Plans for Successful Projects

For a complete list of year one
and year two topics and to
download a registration form
visit www.revenueschool.org
or visit our Facebook page.
Please call 304-243-4126 for
more information.

Resort & Conference Center
www.oglebay-resort.com/schools
ntc@oglebay-resort.com

54 Parks & Recreation

February 2010

www.NRPA .ORG

February 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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