November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 42
PUBLIC FORUMS
A Forum for Free Expression
" People express themselves in parks,
whether it's through a statue, whether
it's through protesting, whether
it's through marches, whether it's
through passing papers out, it's always
their go-to place, " says Roslyn
Johnson, the director of Annapolis
(Maryland) Parks and Recreation.
" People realize and recognize that
the parks belong to them. Every
single person in the United States
is a property owner because they all
own the parks collectively. "
Parks as public forums represent
an essential intersection of recreation,
interaction and community
engagement. They hold the potential
to foster dialogue, cultural expression
and social change while
also serving as spaces for relaxation
and play. Striking the right balance
between these roles requires careful
planning, clear guidelines and
a commitment to safety, especially
with the increase in demonstrations
throughout the past several years.
Increasing Park Use for
Demonstrations and Protests
People utilizing parks as public
forums is essential to who we are
as a nation. " The 60th anniversary
of the March on Washington occurred
recently, which happened in
a park. And when we think about
all the pivotal changes that have
happened
in
America, they've
started in parks, " says Johnson.
Johnson believes that everyone
has a right to express themselves.
In fact, she was asked to sign a permit
for the KKK to assemble at a
park she managed. As an African
American woman, she was asked
by her supervisor if she felt uncomfortable
with signing it. She gave
her permission and signature for
the event to occur.
Events like the coronavirus
Parks hold the potential
to foster dialogue, cultural
expression and social
change while also serving
as spaces for relaxation
and play.
42 Parks & Recreation | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 3
(COVID-19) pandemic, George
Floyd's death and the subsequent
Black Lives Matter movement led to
a sharp increase in demonstrations,
a record 42 percent increase from
2019 to 2020. Most of these events
were peaceful, with only 5 percent
of protesters engaging in violent
behavior (tinyurl.com/2p9669uw).
" After the George Floyd murder,
many people started to protest and
protested in parks. And that's where
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
people come together, " says Johnson.
" It's a nonpartisan place. It's
a place where people have rights to
express their freedom of speech. As
park and recreation professionals,
we try to find ways to make it safe
for everyone. "
Several of these gatherings extend
beyond the confines of a single
day, some movements spanning
years. In the picturesque town of
Warrenton, Virginia, a demonstration
of civil activism takes shape
every week. Commencing on June
20, 2020, and continuing steadfastly
ever since, the township's residents
have convened every Saturday
to partake in what has become
a poignant event - the Black Lives
Matter: Vigil for Action.
Safety Considerations
Parks are essential for physical
and mental well-being, offering a
respite from urban environments.
Designating specific areas within
parks for gatherings, discussions
and performances while maintaining
recreational zones allows both
functions to coexist harmoniously.
The challenge lies in balancing using
parks as public forums for interaction
and preserving their primary
role as recreational spaces.
Safety is paramount in any public
space. As parks serve as public
forums, ensuring the security of
participants and visitors becomes
even more crucial. Local authorities
should collaborate with event
organizers to establish safety protocols,
including crowd management,
emergency exits, medical facilities
and compliance with fire codes.
If appropriately deployed, surveillance
systems can enhance security
without compromising the openness
of the space. Guidelines might
include regulations for sound amplification,
time limits for gatherings,
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF ANNAPOLIS
DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS
http://tinyurl.com/2p9669uw
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2023 - Parks & Recreation
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 1
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 2
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 3
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 4
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 5
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 6
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 7
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 8
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 9
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 10
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 11
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 12
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 13
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 14
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 15
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 16
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 17
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 18
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 19
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 20
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 21
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 22
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 23
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 24
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 25
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 26
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 27
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 28
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 29
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 30
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 31
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 32
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 33
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 34
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 35
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 36
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 37
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 38
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 39
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 40
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 41
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 42
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 43
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 44
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 45
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 46
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 47
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 48
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 49
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 50
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 51
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 52
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 53
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 54
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 55
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 56
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
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https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
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
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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
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