April 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR' S LETTER
Making a Case for Renewable
Energy Resources
On May 11, 2023, the Biden administration will officially end the coronavirus
(COVID-19) national health emergency declarations. Throughout these
past three years, the global health community has released studies about the
short- and long-term health impacts caused by COVID-19. However, one
particular report worth noting comes from Boston University's School of
Public Health (tinyurl.com/2npnzx83), which found during the first year of
this global health crisis, travel by road and commercial aircraft declined by 50
and 60 percent, respectively. What's more, when cities issued shelter-in-place
mandates, air travel fell by 96 percent. Researchers discovered that " ultrafine
particle concentration [air pollution] dropped by nearly 50 percent due to
reduced aviation and road activity during the first few months of the pandemic. "
While this data is by no means a panacea to climate change, the dramatic
images of smog-free city skylines from around the world reveal what is possible when we reduce
dependency on fossil fuels in favor of renewable and clean-air transportation alternatives.
This gradual change toward electric-powered vehicles and equipment used in park maintenance
is highlighted in the cover story, " The Electrification of Parks and Recreation, " on page 34. NRPA
Editor at Large Richard J. Dolesh takes a closer look at some of the renewable energy resources
available for parks and recreation and offers insights from some field professionals who recognize
their responsibility to their community and the planet. " This is a race against time, " says Andy
Sheffer of Seattle Parks and Recreation. " First and foremost, this is about climate change. We
want to protect and preserve the environment. "
Next, author Jennifer Fulcher shares why park and recreation agencies are pivotal to preparing
for and responding to wildfires in the article, " Mitigating the Risk of Wildfires, " on page 40. Paradise
(California) Recreation and Park District knows first-hand the critical role it plays in implementing
these prevention efforts. In 2018, the Camp Fire that ravaged the City of Paradise became
the most lethal and devastating fire in the state's history. " Paradise has done...an amazing job, led
by their rec and parks district...of really taking this on as an opportunity to look at new ways of
innovating around land-use planning, building code [and] transfer of development rights, " says
Jonah Susskind, senior research associate for SWA.
Lastly, contributor Mary Chow discusses the architecture industry's decision to shift from sustainable
design to design " that reconnects humans and nature through the continuous renewal of evolving
socioecological systems, " in the article, " Embracing Regenerative Design, " on page 46.
This month's Conservation issue celebrates the important sustainable work park and recreation
agencies across the country are doing - from taking a community solar approach to reducing
carbon emissions to helping park maintenance staff transition to electric-powered equipment in
an effort to thwart climate change. These are the real-world examples that not only make a case for
renewable energy resources, but also demonstrate the field's commitment to preserving our parks
and natural spaces for future generations.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS
AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER
Clarissa Garcia
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Alexandra Reynolds
areynolds@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
703.858.4635
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER EASTERN
REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
703.858.2174
psemple@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP - Chair
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Anthony-Paul Diaz
Ryan Eaker
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Michele Lemons
Sarah Lisiecki
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Amelia Storer
10 Parks & Recreation | APRIL 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
http://tinyurl.com/2npnzx83 http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
April 2023 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2023 - Parks & Recreation
