May 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 8

EDITOR'S LET TER

Images Are a Window
Into Your Community
How many times have you come across a captivating photo in a
newspaper or magazine that instantly triggered an emotion? The photograph, " V-J Day in Times Square, " is among the most iconic images
from World War II. On August 14, 1945, photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt  shot the black-and-white photograph of a U.S. Navy Sailor
kissing and embracing a dental assistant in celebration of V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day). This candid image is compelling and memorable because it so vividly encapsulates the emotions of an entire nation
during an historic event. It also reminds us how powerful a photo can
be, especially during the most candid moments. What's more, park and
recreation images, when done successfully, can serve as a window into
your community and promote your agency.
This month's cover story, " Is Your Park Ready for Its Close-Up? " on
page 34, offers park and recreation professionals quick troubleshooting
tips and best practices for taking impactful images that communicate a compelling park and recreation story to the public within your marketing materials or editorial content. " Photos that capture engagement, emotion and experience of people are the most powerful because that emotion
engages the audience, " says Kim Mabon, founder and creative director of Creative By Design.
Over the next couple of years, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
will have plenty of opportunities to capture compelling images. In the feature article, " From Plans
to Parks, " DPR Park Planner Clement Lau takes an in-depth look at DPR's implementation of
Community Parks and Recreation Plans (CPRP) focused on multiple projects at varying stages of
development. " Each CPRP begins with an examination of local demographics, existing parks and
recreational facilities, parkland gaps, recreation programs, tree canopy coverage, transportation and
connectivity to parks, as well as availability of land for new parks. This baseline information, together
with public input, informs a detailed assessment and prioritization of local park needs, " he writes.
Next, in the feature article, " Miami-Dade County Parks: Achieving a Safe Reopening, " on page
46, Maria Nardi, director of Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, reveals
how her agency overcame challenges to reopen during the height of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic in 2020. " Given the complexity of our park system, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces set out to rapidly develop a coordinated and prioritized set of protocols for
how to open parks, as well as a communications plan to explain the transition to a 'new normal,'
bringing people together and maintaining guidelines mandated by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, " Nardi writes.
I highly encourage you to review the 10 tips for achieving the best results with your photos in
this month's cover story. In addition to marketing to local constituents, you might want to consider promoting your park and recreation agency and community to a national audience. After all,
your eye-catching images not only could bring attention to your community and agency, but also
can help elevate the field as a whole.

VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Print and Online Content
8	

Parks & Recreation

| M AY 2 02 1 | PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G

PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
VICE PRESIDENT OF
COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF
MARKETING OFFICER
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR, PRINT
AND ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
WEB EDITOR
Jennifer Fulcher-Nguyen
jnguyen@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By
Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Meghan Fredriksen
703.858.2190
mfredriksen@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
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
Anne-Marie Spencer	
Stephen Springs
http://www.CreativeByDesign.net http://www.Dreamstime.com
May 2021 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021 - Parks & Recreation
