April 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 8

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Making a Collective Impact
On April 22, 1970, 20 million
people across the United States
came together to take a stand for
the environment and be the voice
for the future of our planet. This
event led to the enactment of environmental
laws, including the
Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered
Species Acts; spurred
the creation of the Environmental
Protection Agency; and
helped to
initiate the modern
environmental movement. Over
the past five decades, this date
has come to be recognized annually
worldwide, with more than 1
billion people across nearly 200
countries taking action to protect the environment as
part of the world's largest civic event: Earth Day.
While the first Earth Day successfully rallied people
together to raise awareness of environmental
issues and persuaded elected officials to implement
urgent policy changes, both the annual event and
the environmental movement have evolved throughout
the past 52 years. Today, the focus of Earth Day
is often individual action, such as planting trees or
volunteering, and the environmental movement has
become increasingly multifaceted with the rise in
climate change and greater understanding that the
impacts we face are highly interconnected with identities,
such as class, race, ability and more. Therefore,
for the environmental movement to succeed, we must
take a unified and intersectional approach.
During the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference, keynote
speaker Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson said:
" When I think about how...we succeed at addressing
this crisis that we have on our hands, I think, 'Well, we
have to welcome everyone in.' It's not about changing
people's minds necessarily - the vast majority of
Americans are fully aware that we have a crisis on our
hands, but aren't yet sure what to do or where they fit
in or what the future might hold for them. "
That is where parks and recreation comes in.
Collectively, park and recreation departments across
the United States manage more than 11 million acres
8 Parks & Recreation | APRIL 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
of open space (nrpa.org/Essential). Unlike many other
natural areas, many of these spaces are located directly
within communities, meaning the actions implemented
in these spaces have an immediate and direct impact
on the people around them. What's more, park and
recreation professionals are unique in that they are not
only connected to local land, but also connected to
their community members, and can be the link between
nature and people to inspire meaningful action.
During her keynote, Dr. Johnson also said, " We
can all be a part of the climate solution.... We each
have a very different role to play, and when it comes
to addressing climate change, it's really important to
think not just about our individual actions, but [also]
how we are contributing to a part of something much
bigger than ourselves. " Being literally and metaphorically
at the center of communities, park and recreation
agencies - and the professionals who serve them -
are perfectly situated to promote local, systems-level
changes that make up national and global efforts.
This Earth Day, I encourage you to take time to
consider how your agency can innovate to address
current and impending climate impacts - whether
that is planting new species of trees that will thrive
in
the changing climate or incorporating green
stormwater infrastructure into built environments
to reduce water
pollution
as
rainfall
increases.
Additionally, what new and creative environmental
education and conservation programming can we
implement to engage our community members and
cultivate their understanding and love of their local
lands, so that this stewardship is carried forward?
Working with our communities and across the profession,
together, we have the opportunity to make an
immense impact. Park and recreation professionals
are at the core of transformation that is helping to
build a healthier, more resilient future. I look forward
to seeing the innovative projects, programs and best
practices you bring to your communities this Earth
Day and beyond.
CAROLYN F. MCKNIGHT-FREDD
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
http://www.nrpa.org/Essential
April 2022 - Parks & Recreation

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