May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 47

pool that includes removable parallel
bars, accessible pool ramps
and lifts, water wheelchairs and
walkers, and an adult-size changing
table located within a universal
(non-gender specific
needs, the pool area
or
family-labeled) changing room. To
accommodate patrons with sound
sensitivity
was painted using sound reduction
paint. This facility was specifically
designed with accessibility in mind,
making this new aquatic wellness
center a vital aquatics resource for
individuals of varying abilities.
A new partnership the department
recently launched is supporting
efforts by the United States
Coast Guard (USCG) to recruit and
prepare diverse candidates for their
swim-skill entrance requirements.
Our department will provide swim
lessons to USCG recruits and the
USCG will
provide
funding
to
cover the costs of instruction for
the recruit's swim lessons and for
lifeguarding instructors, so the department
can offer free lifeguard
training and certification for our
patrons. Offering free training and
certification to employment candidates
has been extremely helpful to
recruit new lifeguards, especially as
we emerge from the pandemic and
are still addressing staffing shortages
throughout the county.
From the operational perspective,
providing well-trained and certified
lifeguards
and
another
pool
strategy
operators
employed
is
by
our agency. We place significant
emphasis on monthly in-service
training, annual aquatics team and
pool operator refresher training,
and adherence to local, state and
national
pool
Ensuring
patron
operating
safety
codes.
is a top
priority and doing our best to provide
the safest swimming pool experience
is expected. Swimming pools are
expensive to operate. However,
publicly operated swimming pools
are an essential community resource
necessary for reducing fatal and nonfatal
drowning. Communities need
access to swimming pools for learnto-swim
programs, water fitness and
employment opportunities.
Most
aquatics
operating pools,
professionals
including myself,
started as lifeguards in their
communities. Public swimming
pools are natural hubs for producing
the next generation of aquatics and
park and recreation professionals.
Swimming pools are an essential
resource for all communities. It's
critical for agencies and park and
recreation leadership to advocate for
keeping pools funded and accessible
to communities most in need. You do
not have to operate pools to become a
water safety advocate and to promote
water safety in your community. We
welcome all allies in this mission to
end drowning nationwide.
Prioritizing Diversity and
Inclusivity in Employment
As communities
nationwide
Water Safety Resources
There are several organizations
offering resources and information
to support community pool
operations,
learn-to-swim and
water safety programs:
* American Red Cross Water
Safety Resources: tinyurl.
com/4dbzmxj5
* Association of Aquatic
Professionals R.E.S.P.E.C.T. the
Water Drowning Prevention
Program (materials offered in
English and Spanish): tinyurl.
com/y9wwjjs5
* Diversity in Aquatics (several
special interest councils to
include Adapted Aquatics):
tinyurl.com/2p9yxmce
* Swim Angelfish Adaptive
Swim Education and Training
Resources: tinyurl.com/
mr4dp9t3
* National Drowning Prevention
Alliance: tinyurl.com/4crmw54a
* Council for the Model Aquatic
Health Code: tinyurl.com/
bdzevhpw
* Pool Safely: tinyurl.com/2s3m
knhk
increase
in their levels of diversity, it is
equally important for park and recreation
departments to also embrace
inclusivity and diversity within the
employment process - and not just
from the seasonal or part-time perspective,
but also within the management
and leadership structure.
In Prince George's County, we are
proud of the diversity we have been
able to recruit, employ, develop and
promote as leaders within the aquatics
industry. For instance, our deputy
director of recreation and leisure
services represents the Hispanic/
Latino community. I am the division
chief for aquatics and athletic
facilities and an African American
woman. Our aquatics specialists,
regional managers and facility managers
also are direct reflections of
the community we serve to include
supervisors who are African American,
Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic/
Latino, as well as individuals from
the LGBTQ+ community.
As you explore ways to improve
inclusivity and equitable access to
your aquatics programs and services,
remember: Improving diversity in
aquatics is not just an urban issue, it
is a national issue. As park and recreation
professionals, we have the power
and resources to improve drowning
statistics - one lap at a time!
To hear Eggleston Stewart speak more
about National Water Safety Month,
tune in to the May bonus episode
of Open Space Radio at nrpa.org/
May2022BonusEpisode.
Tara Eggleston Stewart, CPRE, M.S., is the Division Chief for
Aquatics and Athletic Facilities with The Maryland-National
Capital Park and Planning Commission's (M-NCPPC)
Department of Parks and Recreation.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | MAY 2 0 22 | Parks & Recreation
47
http://www.tinyurl.com/4dbzmxj5 http://www.tinyurl.com/4dbzmxj5 http://www.tinyurl.com/y9wwjjs5 http://www.tinyurl.com/y9wwjjs5 http://www.tinyurl.com/2p9yxmce http://www.tinyurl.com/mr4dp9t3 http://www.tinyurl.com/mr4dp9t3 http://www.tinyurl.com/4crmw54a http://www.tinyurl.com/bdzevhpw http://www.tinyurl.com/bdzevhpw http://www.tinyurl.com/2s3mknhk http://www.tinyurl.com/2s3mknhk http://www.nrpa.org/May2022BonusEpisode http://www.nrpa.org/May2022BonusEpisode

May 2022 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2022 - Parks & Recreation

May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 1
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 2
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 3
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 4
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 5
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 6
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 7
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8a
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8b
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 9
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 10
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 11
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 12
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 13
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 14
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 15
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 16
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 17
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 18
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 19
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 20
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 21
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 22
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 23
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 24
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 25
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 26
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 27
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 28
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 29
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 30
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 31
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 32
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 33
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 34
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 35
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 36
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 37
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 38
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 39
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 40
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 41
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 42
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 43
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 44
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 45
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 46
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 47
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 48
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 49
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 50
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 51
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 52
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 53
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 54
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 55
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 56
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
May 2022 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
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