April 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 43

SWA created conceptual renderings to
show how spaces that have undergone
treatments to reduce wildfire risk can be
utilized for recreation, such as this shaded
fuel break used as a ropes course.
When park and recreation agencies
assess wildfire preparedness in
their own communities, Susskind
recommends examining plans and
forming partnerships. " One of the
easiest and, I think, most effective
approaches to partnership is to become
familiar with existing community
wildfire protection plans,
as well as any other planning or
regulatory frameworks related to
wildfire, " he says. " If there are opportunities
to align open space and
recreation plans with these other
documents, that is such a critical
first step towards aligning with other
potential partnerships. "
Since different departments and
jurisdictions in a community have
their own plans, becoming familiar
with how these impact areas of
overlap, such as with wildfire planning,
and determining how to align
these plans can set the stage for
forming partnerships. In addition
to other local and national organizations,
he recommends partnering
with design firms, landscape architecture
companies and urban planning
studios as a way to build up
a suite of graphics and other tools
for community outreach.
Forming Partnerships and
Amplifying Messages in
Oregon
After stepping into the role of disaster
responders during the Holiday
Farm Fire in 2020 (tinyurl.com/
bdf3nhb3), Willamalane Park and
Recreation District in Springfield,
Oregon, decided to take action.
In fall 2020, the district decided to
start pursuing funding to escalate
the work they already had been doThis
rendering shows
SWA's proposed
90,000-acre wildfire
risk reduction buffer
around Paradise,
California, and the surrounding
communities.
ing for wildfire suppression.
Luckily, the district had two superpowers:
strong partnerships
and a powerful story. The district
has been part of United Front -
a group of local stakeholders in
Oregon that includes the City of
Eugene, City of Springfield, Lane
County, Lane Transit
District,
Springfield Public Schools and
Willamalane Park and Recreation
District. " We all collectively work
together to try to solve as many
problems as we can and really work
with our legislators to try to bring
as much funding back for essential
projects to our region as a whole, "
says Kenny Weigandt, community
engagement director for Willamalane
Park and Recreation
District. The group decides on the
" most essential community needs "
and works together to secure the
support to meet these needs. Since
2020, wildfire suppression has continued
to rank top on the list.
During the Holiday Farm Fire,
the district's connection to NRPA
staff turned out to be invaluable.
Kyle Simpson, NRPA director of
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | APRIL 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
43
IMAGES COURTESY OF SWA
http://tinyurl.com/bdf3nhb3 http://tinyurl.com/bdf3nhb3
April 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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