January 2022 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR' S LETTER
A New Year With New
Insights and Fresh Ideas
There's nothing like the start of a new year. It's a time for new
insights and fresh ideas for elevating the park and recreation profession.
From an editorial perspective, it's also an opportunity for
our thought leaders who have their finger on the pulse of emerging
trends to share what they've gleaned within the pages of this
month's issue.
In the cover story, " Plan Z for Miami, " on page 34, past NRPA
Chair and former board member Jack Kardys provides an overview
of an ambitious project designed to dramatically enhance the
quality of life for 2.8 million Miami-Dade, Florida, residents and
16 million annual visitors to the Rickenbacker Causeway, as well
as serve as a case study for other cities and communities across the
country that imagine their own park-centric urban master plans.
Plan Z is a public-private partnership proposal for the Miami
LOOP, which is a 225-mile trail concept that would offer more
transportation options, as well as make bike and pedestrian trails
safer and more equitable. " The creators of Plan Z have envisioned
this multi-modal plan as being an integral part of the Miami LOOP, which would connect
the mainland's Commodore Trail, Underline, Ludlam Trail and Miami River Greenway with
Biscayne Bay and its waterfront along the Rickenbacker Causeway, " Kardys writes.
Next, Parks & Recreation Editor-at-Large Richard J. Dolesh offers the much-anticipated " Top
Trends in Parks and Recreation for 2022, " on page 40. This year's trends touch on park infrastructure,
climate change, workforce retention and technology. Dolesh also addresses the challenges
affecting today's youth sports. " Multiple studies have found that there has been a sharp and continuing
decline in youth sports participation, " he points out. " Concurrently, there also has been a
steady decline in physical activity by youth. "
Lastly, we hear from another expert in the field, Neelay Bhatt, vice president of PROS Consulting
Inc. and a former NRPA board member. In the feature article, " Next Practices for the
Post-Pandemic 2020s, " on page 46, Bhatt takes a closer look at how the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic has altered the field of parks and recreation. What's more, he identifies key " next " practices
in recreation programming, placemaking, financing, as well as experience building. " Park
and recreation departments must look at every aspect of their system and ask themselves, 'Is this
an offering or is this an experience?' " Bhatt writes.
Hopefully, this month's issue provides many valuable takeaways that you can share with your
park and recreation staff. Most importantly, may 2022 bring you much inspiration and continuous
success as you faithfully serve your communities and constituents.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
VICE PRESIDENT OF
COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF
MARKETING OFFICER
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND
WRITER
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
MANAGER OF ONLINE
CONTENT
Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen
jnguyen@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By
Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Paul Semple
916.880.5225
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
10 Parks & Recreation |
J ANUAR Y 2 0 22 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Anthony-Paul Diaz, Chair
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Ryan Eaker
Beau Fieldsend
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Brian Johnson, CPSI
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP
Michele Lemons
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Ronnetta Spalding
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
January 2022 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2022 - Parks & Recreation
