May 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 47

A group of Northern Virginia park directors.
From left to right: Paul Gilbert, Seth
Handler-Voss, Kirk Kincannon, Laura
Kowalski, Cindy Hoeder and Jane Rudolph.

County director, Department of
Parks and Recreation, reflects, " In
this time of so many unknowns, having regional colleagues to ask questions, get feedback and coordinate
our decisions is vital. Northern Virginia's park systems are intertwined
from our extensive trail network to
our residents, engaging in each other's programs and facilities. Our coordination and collaboration has ensured that the same messages to our
residents are consistent. I am grateful
to work with these park and recreation leaders during this time, and I
am buoyed by their dedication and
empathy. " Leslie Herman, Town of
Vienna director of parks and recreation, shares a similar appreciation
for being able to work through the
many issues together. She says, " I
have not had to navigate this uncharted territory alone. It has been
reassuring to discuss the concerns we
all are experiencing. "

Strength in Numbers
The field of parks and recreation is one
where we are all working to serve the
public in new and exciting ways. We
are normally trying to attract people to
our places and programs. Shifting to
closing down activities and discouraging gatherings [are] completely counter, and very difficult to adjust to. But
as responsible public servants, we have
shifted to focus on reducing the spread
of the virus until this crisis is resolved.
" Bottom line is that members from the
community within the region benefit
by these coordinated efforts. It has certainly made it easier when I am asked
'what are other agencies/departments
doing about this?' " says Danny Schlitt,
City of Falls Church director of parks
and recreation.

While this loose group of about
10 park and recreation directors
have known each other for years
and worked on many things, there
has never been a time when the connections, trust and mutual support
among these directors have been
more critical. It is one region and
one media market. Many people in
this dense urban/suburban area are
not clear where the city, county and
town lines are, so common and coordinated messaging from the park
agencies is a great help to the public.
We all can think of situations
where stress has brought out the
worst in people, but when positive
connections and networks are in
place, they can also bring out the
best in people. " It was impressive
how the Northern Virginia agencies made it a priority to respond
and keep one another informed in
a very fast-moving environment.
It aided greatly when informing
our boards and the public, " says
Laura Kowalski, Reston Association's director of recreation and
environmental education.
Steve Torpy, Loudoun County
director of parks, recreation and
community services, remarks on
this dynamic that has been observed
and appreciated by the group of
directors when he says, " In a time
when uncertainty and anxiety are
both in unlimited amounts, people
look to parks and recreation to be

the calm in the storm. For so many
citizens, we are the face of county
government, and they look to county government in times of emergency. Having the ability to lean
on the other directors, share ideas
and decisions, and even find time
for laughter, which is so important
to remember to do, has helped me
in my efforts to be that calm for my
own department. "
At the most immediate level,
the pandemic is a world health
crisis like none that we have seen
in 100 years. In the medium and
long term, this will be a fiscal crisis
with huge effects. But, it also can
be a time to come together around
a common set of challenges and
shared values. In Northern Virginia, the network of park leaders
formed over the years has taken on
a new importance. As a profession
of highly adaptive and creative
public servants, the park and recreation field is uniquely positioned to
help our communities in the days
ahead. And in Northern Virginia,
we will look at our professional
networks in a new light, knowing
how important they can be in a
time of crisis.
Tune in to the May bonus episode of
Open Space Radio (QUSD.org0D\%RQXV
(SLVRGH) to hear Gilbert talk about collabor
ation during a pandemic.
Paul Gilbert is Executive Director of
NOVA Parks (pgilbert@nvrpa.org).

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

Parks & Recreation

May 2020 - Parks & Recreation

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