June 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 21

far, as well as deep partnerships inside
and outside of NRPA. Some
of my key goals and priorities are:
* Promoting the growth and value
of parks and recreation, especially
natural areas and conservation
in both urban and rural areas
* Working to make sure these invaluable
spaces are welcoming
and available to people of all
backgrounds and abilities
* Advocating for an equitable distribution
of resources to support
these essential spaces
Advocacy is certainly something
I know a lot about. I've gained insights
and learned from my fellow
members during my tenure on the
NRPA Board of Directors. I also
have many professional experiences
and accomplishments.
First and foremost, I have
helped shepherd a tax levy referendum
that provided additional
resources to the Forest Preserves
of Cook County. Voters cast their
ballots overwhelmingly in favor
of the measure. I also worked to
roll back a long-standing moratorium
on prescribed burns and
increased the number of acres
under active conservation management
tenfold. What's more, I
have lived my values of ensuring
that everybody could access and
enjoy the preserves. In addition
to increasing the amount of land
under conservation tenfold,
I
have helped to grow the number
of visitors by more than 60 percent,
making the preserves welcoming
places of recreation and
discovery for people of all backgrounds.
Engagement
represents a
watchword for me - working
with
people,
talking,
learning
and, most importantly, listening.
Providing:
Signs
Trailers
Data
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | JUNE 2 0 2 4 | Parks & Recreation
21
Those early lessons learned
on the horse and in the stable
are still relevant today: my
transformative successes at the
forest preserves did not come
overnight, but as a result, I
built trust and relationships and
showed up to do the work. Take
it from me: effective advocacy can
take place anywhere, whether it's
walleye fishing in the morning to
attending a council meeting in a
suit later that evening. It is about
having clear goals, understanding
your audience and being willing
to roll up your sleeves - or put
on the waders! Most importantly,
engagement
can
take many
forms and anyone can be an
advocate. NRPA makes it easy by
providing timely calls to action
Arnold Randall is Executive Director at
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley
Foundation.
Create Safer Streets
StreetDynamics.com
Slow down traffic in
your community
with Stalker Street
Dynamics' radar
speed signs,
messaging
signs, and
traffic data
collectors.
It is about having clear goals,
understanding your audience
and being willing to roll up your
sleeves - or put on the waders!
Most importantly, engagement
can take many forms and
anyone can be an advocate.
to contact federal lawmakers on
the issues that matter. Sign up
for action alerts today at tinyurl.
com/2vct3v8b.
http://tinyurl.com/2vct3v8b http://www.StreetDynamics.com
June 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2024 – Parks & Recreation
