March 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 12

EDITOR' S LETTER
Parks Help Create Lasting Memories
Looking back at the most cherished moments in my children's lives, I
realize many of these events occurred in our local parks - from watching
my son score his first goal on the soccer field, to seeing the look of
pure excitement on my daughter's face while horseback riding along a
trail, to sitting outdoors on the grass with my family enjoying a summer
concert. These are the memories made possible thanks to parks and
recreation. The problem is: not all communities are afforded equitable
access to a quality park. This month's issue highlights equitable park
design and how innovative thinking can make park access a reality for
underserved communities.
In the cover story, " Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment
Plus, " on page 34, contributor Clement Lau discusses how the Los
Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is leading the
county's " 30x30 " plan for preserving " 30 percent of lands and coastal
waters by the year 2030 to fight climate change, advance conservation and protect biodiversity. "
What's more, the county's 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus final report utilizes wide-ranging
data collection and analysis, as well as geographic information system (GIS) mapping, to identify
the most underrepresented Los Angeles County communities, which lack accessible parks and
sufficient tree coverage. He writes, " This strategy reimagines conservation through an equity lens
to include both traditional efforts that involve the protection of natural lands and the restoration
of degraded lands, especially in lower-income communities of color where vulnerable populations
and environmental burdens are concentrated. "
Next, author John Prue explains how park and recreation agencies can support an environment
that embraces originality and forward thinking in the article, " Implementing Innovation, " on
page 44. While " thinking outside the box " isn't a novel concept, Prue asserts that " organizational
innovation " is what " fosters a culture where people are encouraged to create new thoughts and
ideas, " as well as " allows for the action of putting these new ideas into practice, despite challenges,
resistance, risk and other outside factors. " He also provides real-world examples of park and
recreation agencies putting innovative thought into action.
It's the important work that these pioneering park and recreation agencies continue to do that
will help ensure all people have the opportunity to create their own lasting memories in parks.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
MANAGER OF ONLINE
CONTENT
Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen
jnguyen@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
703.858.4635
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN
REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
703.858.2174
psemple@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP - Chair
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Michele Lemons
Sarah Lisiecki
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Amelia Storer
12 Parks & Recreation | MARCH 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
March 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023 - Parks & Recreation
