May 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 13

NRPA envisions a future
in which the full power of
parks and recreation will
be recognized and utilized
to create a better life for all
people.
played and continues to play throughout the
COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates its impact
on local agencies, and highlights policy changes
to support investment in parks and recreation.
COVID-19 and Parks and Recreation: Making
the Case for the Future is a communications toolkit that provides key messaging, strategies and
template graphics to equip park and recreation
professionals and advocates with the knowledge
and tools to communicate about the essential
role parks and recreation has in the well-being of
communities.
NRPA continues to advocate for policies and funding that benefit parks and recreation - we garner the support of
members of Congress, elected officials and likeminded organizations, and we are equipping
park and recreation professionals with the
tools to do the same at the local and state
level. The communications toolkit showcases data and critical statistics about the
national-level park and recreation mission to
provide essential services, but the messaging,
graphics and stories should be tailored to each
community and COVID-19 response. We recognize that many of these roles extend well beyond the response of COVID-19 - this toolkit
was designed to showcase that both every day
and in crises parks and recreation is essential.
As we look toward a post-COVID-19 future,
it is critical that parks and recreation continues
its role as a catalyst for equity, climatereadiness and overall well-being, as well as an
advocate for increased support of these vital
systems. Indeed, NRPA envisions a future in
which the full power of parks and recreation
will be recognized and utilized to create a
better life for all people.
Jenny Cox is NRPA's Conservation Program Manager
(jcox@nrpa.org).

Member Benefit: ADA
in 2021 - An Old Topic
That Is New Again!

ecently, a park and recreation director asked, " Why don't
the 2010 Standards include enforceable requirements for
trails? " Great question! That does not mean that trails are exempt though. To comply is to meet both the design and program requirements. This short discussion clears up how to view
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and
offers readers some simple advice.
The 2010 Standards for Accessible Design are issued pursuant to the
ADA regulations. Local governments must adhere to ADA Title II
(see it at 28 CFR Part 35) (tinyurl.com/k962vwhp). That regulation
says that park and recreation agencies must follow the 2010 Standards. But the Standards are incomplete - they do not address disc
golf, dog parks, skate parks, trails, beaches, campsites, picnic areas,
viewing areas and constructed elements like a grill at a pavilion.
Think of the standards as a very nice car that you enjoy driving.
The Title II regulation also addresses programs. A program is
defined very broadly, and is any opportunity made available by an
entity to the general public. Playgrounds are built, and they are also
the program of playgrounds. Other " programs " we might see are
the programs of sports fields, dog parks or programs requiring registration, such as summer camps or swim lessons. The programs are
the fuel for the car - one without the other is useless.
Congress and the Department of Justice realized that final
and enforceable standards might be slowed, so it is made clear
in the ADA that in the absence of final and enforceable design
standards, programs offered by an entity must be accessible.
Some simple advice: check your programs of your website,
trails, pools, golf courses, centers, rinks, picnic areas and all other opportunities you offer the public. Make them and keep them
accessible.

John N. McGovern leads the Accessibility Practice at The
WT Group, LLC. Since 2013, his firm has been the NRPA preferred provider of access consulting for the more than 60,000
members of NRPA. Contact him at jmcgovern@wtgroup.
com. For more information, please visit nrpa.org/Accessibility
AuditsDiscountProgram.
PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | M AY 2 02 1 |

Parks & Recreation

http://www.tinyurl.com/k962vwhp http://www.nrpa.org/Accessibilityauditsdiscountprogram http://www.nrpa.org/Accessibilityauditsdiscountprogram

May 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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