March 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 14

EDITOR'S LET TER

Putting People into Park Design
Public parks serve as the ultimate equalizer by welcoming people
- regardless of culture, race, age, abilities or income level - to recreate, experience and learn. This is a belief that park professionals
strive toward every day. To accomplish this, it is essential to include
this principle from the first imagining of a park through its design,
creation, implementation and subsequent management. Over and
over, we see that the key to equitable and inclusionary practices is
the involvement of diverse individuals and groups from the start,
to consider their feedback and act upon their ideas. In this issue
of Parks & Recreation magazine, we look at ways to engage various
groups and partners throughout the park design process to ensure
our equity values are realized.
Our cover story this month is Part 2 of an ongoing series on the
Chouteau Greenway. While Part 1 (nrpa.org/StLouisFuture) focused on the project's initial public relations strategy and public outreach efforts, the story in this issue by author Vitisia Paynich,
titled " St. Louis: A Path Toward Equitable Design, " beginning on page 36, discusses how the
greenway's new Framework Plan acts as a blueprint for social equity and economic prosperity for
residents all across the city of St. Louis, Missouri.
In the North Baton Rouge neighborhood of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, is Greenwood Park, home to the Baton Rouge Zoo, a culturally significant amenity that was at risk of
being relocated. In the feature story, titled " Designing with Community in Mind, " contributors Anna Cawrse and Joshua Brooks describe how the Recreation and Park Commission
for the Parish of East Baton Rouge and Sasaki, a design firm, are addressing and reversing a
decades-long pattern of disinvestment in this community through the reimaging of Greenwood
Park and the Baton Rouge Zoo.
Throughout the park design and maintenance process, many park agencies turn to publicprivate partnerships, conservancies and advocacy groups for funding assistance. However, there
is another funding source to be tapped - one that, sometimes, is a challenge to navigate for park
professionals. In the feature, titled " Making Corporate Partnerships Work, " on page 44, author
Maura Lout explains how park agencies can engage corporate-sector partners for financial, marketing and media support to increase corporate social investment and meet the strategic, long-term
goals of both parties. If this subject piques your interest, be sure to read the upcoming August
2020 issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, which will feature an article from contributor Gordon
Feller, founder of Meeting of the Minds (meetingoftheminds.org), that expands on this topic.
I'd also like to note that we have retracted an article, titled " Building Water Confidence, " that
was printed in the January 2020 issue, from the Parks & Recreation website and ezine version of the
publication. Safety is always the primary concern for NRPA and for dedicated park professionals
everywhere. The program featured was highly specialized, requiring strict supervision. Prudent
feedback voiced by members alerted us to potential safety risks to the general public. We thank
those who are diligent about promoting awareness of best safety practices.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN
Vice President of Communications
and Chief Marketing Officer

12

Parks & Recreation

| M A R C H 2 02 0 | PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G

PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
VICE PRESIDENT OF
COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF
MARKETING OFFICER
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Suzanne Nathan
snathan@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By
Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Kip Ongstad
703.858.2174
kongstad@nrpa.org
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
SALES COORDINATOR
Meghan Fredriksen
703.858.2190
mfredriksen@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Anthony-Paul Diaz, Chair
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Ryan Eaker
Beau Fieldsend
Robert García
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Brian Johnson, CPSI
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP
Michele Lemons
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
March 2020 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2020 - Parks & Recreation
