September 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 14

EDITOR'S LETTER

Celebrating Parks and Recreation
The NRPA Annual Conference has officially
arrived! Here at headquarters, the feeling is akin
to the countdown to a new year. This event is
not only a gathering of thousands of park and
recreational professionals to share their knowledge, but it is also a time to reflect on individual
accomplishments as well as those across our
field. It is now time to set goals for the upcoming year.
I can't think of a better way to spark inspiration than with an Opening General Session keynote from one of the greatest baseball players of
all time. We are thrilled to have Cal Ripken Jr.
kick off the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference -
so excited, in fact, we couldn't wait to talk with
him! If you can't wait either, turn to the feature
on page 50, " A Conversation with Baseball's
'Iron Man.' " This in-depth interview with Cal
Ripken Jr., by NRPA's communications manager, Cort Jones, speaks to his baseball career, the work of his foundation and why he's excited to be
with us in Baltimore.
Then, we delve into one of the most vital questions pertaining to the field of parks and recreation:
what makes a great park? The feature on page 56, by contributors Mike Abbaté, Gina Ford and Joseph
Webb, " Designing the Great Park that Everyone Deserves, " gives the perspective of three landscape architects who provide answers and insight on how to create truly great spaces and how residents, elected
officials and park and recreation professionals can assess the " greatness " of their parks.
Once we've got you thinking about big ideas, we provide you with just a couple of the trends and
tactics to consider implementing at your parks. On page 62, NRPA Board member Neelay Bhatt explains why parks and recreation should get into esports, the fastest-growing sport genre on a national
and global scale. And, on page 68, in " Tennis: A Game Changer in Park Revitalization, " Mary Helen
Sprecher lays out how one of the country's most popular and accessible recreation activities can revitalize your parks and create additional revenue by putting a little love and attention into your preexisting infrastructure.
All that you need to know to explore Baltimore is contained in the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference
feature section, beginning on page 74. Be sure to read up on all the activities Charm City has to offer to
make the most of your trip, as well as about Parks Build Community and the people and organizations
that make these events possible.
Whether you are joining us in Baltimore, attending our NRPA Live sessions or reading your updates
in Parks & Recreation magazine, we hope you are proud of the achievements we've made together and
are excited about what's to come.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN
Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing
Editorial Director

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Parks & Recreation

| S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | W W W. 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 MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING,
AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Sonia Myrick
smyrick@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Suzanne Nathan
snathan@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Kip Ongstad
703.858.2174
kongstad@nrpa.org
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
SALES COORDINATOR
Meghan Fredriksen
703.858.2190
mfredriksen@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Robert García
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Brian Johnson, CPSI
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP
Michele Lemons
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
September 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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