March 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 8

EDITOR'S LET TER

Inspired Park Design
This month, the magazine team focuses on park design with an
emphasis on equity. As park and recreation professionals, you recognize the importance of designing open spaces that are accessible,
inclusive and inviting to all. In the cover story, " Gathering Place: A
Park for Everyone, " on page 34, contributor Mark Trieglaff drives
this point home when discussing the planning and design work
that went into Tulsa, Oklahoma's riverfront park. " To develop this
park, the park staff and designers were guided by an acronym developed more than 10 years ago: DEI, which stands for diversity,
equity and inclusion, " Trieglaff writes. He adds that the Gathering
Place designers " were highly committed to creating accessible park
features " that not only adhere to " Americans with Disabilities Act
requirements, but also incorporates many principles of universal
design. "
In the feature article " Patch Happy " on page 40, author Mike
Abbaté offers a closer look at how Portland Parks and Recreation
took park design to another level by transforming underperforming landscapes into ecologically
healthy and visually stunning natural spaces. The park agency accomplished this by implementing
a new policy, called the Ecologically Sustainable Landscapes Initiative (ESLI). Among ESLI's
three primary objectives is to " create diverse park landscapes by converting poorly performing
areas to 'nature patches.' " The Nature Patch program has not only helped to revitalize the city's
parks, but also has brought community members together for a common purpose. " As the program continues, Portland Parks and Recreation hears increasingly from neighbors requesting a
nature patch project in their local parks, " Abbaté writes.
Lastly, contributor Neelay Bhatt discusses a new TEDxCollegePark virtual event for park and
recreation professionals in the feature article " Ensuring 'An Equal Future' for All " on page 46. On
March 19, leaders in parks and recreation, academia and business - along with other innovative
thinkers - will present during TEDxCollegePark 2021: An Equal Future. Why should anyone
attend this virtual gathering? According to Bhatt, this free event aims to: " prepare the park and
recreation professional of the future; identify what true accessibility and inclusion looks like;
learn a different history than you thought you knew; have tough conversations around equity and
access; and inspire the next generation of leaders. " What's more, NRPA is excited to partner with
TEDxCollegePark and looks forward to participating in this important conversation.
We hope that as you peruse through the pages of the March issue, you find inspiration in some
of the stories that will help you in your own equitable park design practices. After all, we know
that everyone in our community deserves a great park.

VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Print and Online Content

8	

Parks & Recreation

| M A R C H 2 02 1 | 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
EXECUTIVE EDITOR, PRINT
AND ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
WEB EDITOR
Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen
jnguyen@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By
Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT 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
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
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer	
Stephen Springs
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
March 2021 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2021 - Parks & Recreation
