October 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 14

EDITOR'S LET TER

NRPA Rolls Out the Virtual Red Carpet
The NRPA team is gearing up for the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference: A Virtual Experience (NRPA Virtual), which will take place
October 27 to 29. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we
shifted from our initially planned in-person conference in Orlando,
Florida, to an online event. Nevertheless, we are excited to provide
NRPA members and the entire park and recreation community an
alternative venue for exchanging ideas with colleagues, learning from
subject matter experts and honoring our friends in the field. What's
more, we're rolling out the red carpet to our first-ever virtual exhibit
hall, where you can visit exhibitors' booths and view their latest products and service offerings.
In this special conference issue, you'll find further details in the
Conference Highlights section beginning on page 72 - from fun, interactive virtual events to a sampling of some noteworthy education
sessions. Just like our physical conference, NRPA will present engaging keynote speakers who
will bring their in-depth expertise and thought-provoking insights to trending topics throughout
the three-day event.
Among our featured speakers is Glenn Harris, president of the new Race Forward, a nonprofit
racial justice organization, and publisher of Colorlines. He will kick off our Opening General Session on Tuesday, October 27. In the cover story, " Glenn Harris: An Advocate for Racial Equity
and Social Justice, " on page 46, Harris addresses topics, such as racial justice as well as what park
and recreation professionals can do to build racial equity in communities throughout the country.
" Parks are essential public spaces, and equitable use and design of parks are a powerful exemplar
of multiracial democracy in practice, " Harris says.
Equity, as it applies to health and conservation, is another topic that no doubt will be top of
mind during NRPA Virtual. In the feature article, " Designing a Safe, Green Schoolyard, " on page
50, contributor Barton Robison explains how green infrastructure played a vital role in fostering
racial and health equity in a community plagued by racism and under investment located in Chiloquin, Oregon. " Parks and green spaces provide an opportunity to heal, and the green schoolyard
in Chiloquin is an example of how green spaces and public parks can be intentionally designed to
improve community health equity, " Robison writes.
Next, in the feature story, " COVID-19 and the Changing Face of Youth Sports, " on page 56,
contributor Jon Solomon explores how " the coronavirus response and recovery are providing park
and recreation professionals with a chance to emerge as key leaders in ensuring a more fair, just
and inclusive model of youth sports. "
Lastly, in the article, " Tennis Is Driving Success, " on page 62, contributor Mary Helen Sprecher shares how free programs offered by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) have
helped three major U.S. cities - Memphis (Tennessee), Orlando (Florida) and Birmingham
(Alabama) - achieve their park and recreation goals.
If you haven't already done so, I highly encourage you to register for NRPA Virtual at nrpa.
org/Conference. It will be a park and recreation event you won't want to miss. See you later this
month!

VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Print and Online Content
12

Parks & Recreation

| O C TO B E R 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
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,
WESTERN REGION, MEXICO AND
ASIA-PACIFIC
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER,
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Lindsay Shannon
703.858.2178
lshannon@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
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
October 2020 - Parks & Recreation

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