May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 26

EQUITY
Increasing Art Access
Through Parks and
Recreation
By Rachel Smith
W
26 Parks & Recreation | MAY 2 0 2 3
hat does creating art access through a park and recreation
department look like? Simply stated, it is taking
an art medium directly to a community that otherwise
may not have access to hands-on art education. Historically,
art has been - and continues to be - a foundational layer in
world culture. Think of the volume of art that impacts us daily: listening
to music on the ride to work, drinking out of a hand-thrown mug,
scrolling through social media filled with digital designs, or appreciating
a public mural. All bring expression, joy and enhancement to what
would otherwise be a very mundane existence. Its creation is not limited
to only certain members of the community. Art is influenced and contributed
to by all people, and everyone deserves the chance to create
their stamp on the art world.
In 2017, the University of Pennsylvania
released a study on cultural
art integration into neighborhoods
(tinyurl.com/29c8twce). The research
emphasized that the pres|
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
ence of cultural resources in neighborhoods
has " a significant positive
impact on a neighborhood's health,
the outcomes of its schools, and its
crime rate, " and found:
Children in James City County, Virginia,
paint on a giant paint-by-numbers canvas
in a local park.
* 14
percent
decrease in
abuse or neglect
* 5 percent decrease in obesity
* 18 percent decrease in serious
crime rates
* 18 percent increase in children's
math and reading exam scores
" Although low- and moderateincome
neighborhoods have relatively
few cultural resources, it's
these neighborhoods where [the]
strongest
connection
between
culture and social [well-being is
found], " states the study report.
Recognizing the connection
between culture and the effect
it can have on social well-being,
the park and recreation field
can clearly support art access
programming in alignment with
NRPA's pillars of health and
wellness and equity. Departments
should research population
child
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES CITY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

http://tinyurl.com/29c8twce

May 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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

May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 1
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 2
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 3
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 4
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 5
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 6
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 7
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 8
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 9
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 10
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 11
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 12
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 13
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 14
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 15
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 16
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 17
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 18
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 19
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 20
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 21
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 22
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 23
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 24
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 25
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 26
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 27
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 28
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 29
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 30
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 31
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 32
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 33
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 34
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 35
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 36
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 37
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 38
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 39
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 40
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 41
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 42
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 43
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 44
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 45
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 46
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 47
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 48
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 49
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 50
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 51
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 52
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 53
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 54
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 55
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 56
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
May 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com