August 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 8

PERSPECT I VES A MESSAGE FROM NRPA' S LEADERS
Centering Equity in Communities
Large and Small
Park and recreation professionals
share a common goal:
to build strong, resilient communities
through parks and
recreation. While we are united
in purpose, the challenges
individual professionals
and
agencies face vary as widely as
the regions and communities
we serve. When facing unique
challenges, what matters is that
we pursue solutions rooted in
equity.
A recent study (tinyurl.com/
mr47wtxd) maps " play oases "
and " play deserts " across the
nation and identifies areas where children need
increased access to play spaces for physical activity.
The researchers used " ...five measures of access,
namely availability, accessibility, affordability,
accommodation and acceptability (commonly
referred to as the 5 As of access) and Geographic
Information System (GIS) methods to design
and build a children's Physical Activity Disparity
(PAD) index for the [United States]. " Among the
counties with the greatest disparities in children's
physical activity, most " ...are rural, followed by
suburban and urban. Additionally, the High PAD
rural and urban counties were clustered in the
south and west [United States]. " The study creates
a framework for improvement by highlighting
the distinct barriers to access present in different
regions. By increasing equitable access to play
spaces, we work toward a future in which all
children can reap the innumerable health benefits
of recreation and play.
As we build healthy communities, we also must
pursue equitable conservation practices. In the
feature story, " Stewarding Urban Desert Park
Design, " on page 38, author Brandon Sobiech
discusses the importance of balancing the conservation
of natural resources with the responsibility
to provide community members with green space
8 Parks & Recreation | A UGUS T 2 0 2 3
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
for recreation within the urban desert landscape
of Phoenix. He writes, city parks " mitigate urban
heat island effect and support our public health infrastructure....
The function parks serve must be
deeply considered against and alongside best practices
for resource use. " Sobiech discusses creative
solutions the city has employed that could benefit
other communities, such as using both natural
and mechanical shade and utilizing structural soil
to route stormwater to trees. The story highlights
the resilience and creativity of park and recreation
and other local government professionals and
their valued partners in landscape architecture as
they design spaces that will meet our needs today
and in the future.
As we explore and pursue creative solutions and
strategies, let's remember that park and recreation
professionals in communities large and small are
leaders in our field, creating pathways to health
and wellness, centering equity, and acting as stewards
of precious natural resources. I hope you remember
to appreciate the vital role you play and
inspire your colleagues to do the same.
Throughout my time as chair of the NRPA
Board of Directors, I've watched our field and
NRPA grow as we've innovated, faced challenges,
and advanced parks as central hubs for wellness,
socialization and play. This October, I'm looking
forward to seeing everyone and sharing more about
my time as chair at the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference
in Dallas. I value the bonds and teamwork
we nurture within our field, and our time together
always reminds me that we have the strength and
ingenuity to build a bright future.
CAROLYN F. MCKNIGHT FREDD
Chair, NRPA Board of Directors
http://tinyurl.com/mr47wtxd http://tinyurl.com/mr47wtxd
August 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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