February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 44

HOUSTON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

SOCIAL EQUITY

Children at Shady Lane Park put handprints in
newly poured cement.

Introducing the Parks for Inclusion Policy
Guide, Because Everyone Is Welcome at Parks
By Maureen Acquino and Suzanne Nathan

T

rue to the very philosophy of public parks and recreation is the
idea that all people - no matter where they come from, what they
look like, the neighborhood they live in or how they identify -
have access to quality programs, facilities, places and spaces that
make their lives and communities more enjoyable. In theory, this is great.
In reality, this can be a challenging goal to achieve.

With this in mind, NRPA
launched the Parks for Inclusion
(www.nrpa.org/ParksForInclu
sion) initiative in September 2017,
in response to a formal pledge
made to the global Commit to
Inclusion program. The goal of
Parks for Inclusion is to ensure that
everyone has access to the benefits
of parks and recreation, especially
historically marginalized groups,
including those with physical and
cognitive disabilities, racial and
ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+
42

Parks & Recreation

community, and refugees and immigrants or New Americans.
These historically marginalized
groups face significant health,
economic and environmental disparities in relation to the social
determinants of health, including
diminished access to good jobs,
quality housing and education,
healthy food, and physical activity
opportunities. Park and recreation
agencies have the power and the
responsibility to address these disparities by creating welcoming and

| F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 9 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

inclusive spaces that promote positive health outcomes physically,
socially and mentally for our most
vulnerable populations and community members.
Shortly after Parks for Inclusion
was launched, NRPA membership
was surveyed to get a sense of how
agencies were creating inclusive
spaces in their facilities and programs, and what challenges existed
that acted as barriers to inclusion.
Agencies were also asked what resources would be valuable to them,
with the goal of inclusion in mind.
Survey results were released in
February 2018 in the Park and Recreation Inclusion Report (www.nrpa.
org/inclusionreport), which found
that while park and recreation
professionals agree their facilities



February 2019 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2019 - Parks & Recreation

February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 1
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 2
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 3
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 4
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 5
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 6
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 7
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 8
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 9
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 10
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 11
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 12
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 13
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 14
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 15
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 16
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 17
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 18
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 19
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 20
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 21
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 22
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 23
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 24
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 25
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 26
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 27
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 28
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 29
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 30
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 31
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 32
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 33
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 34
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 35
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 36
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 37
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 38
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 39
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 40
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 41
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 42
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 43
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 44
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 45
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 46
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 47
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 48
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 49
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 50
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 51
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 52
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 53
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 54
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 55
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 56
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 57
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 58
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 59
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 60
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 61
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 62
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 63
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 64
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 65
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 66
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 67
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 68
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 69
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 70
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 71
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 72
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 73
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 74
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 75
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 76
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 77
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 78
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 79
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 80
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 81
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 82
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 83
February 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 84
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2009
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com