November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 45

Parks play a vital role in facilitating
human connection and expression,
nurturing the bonds that tie
communities together.
public grounds to address the different
types of use that may occur
in town. This provided great direction
for staff when determining
how each type of event or gathering
is classified and is a great tool
for informing the public of how we
define the use of public grounds.
I believe that communication is a
key component to ensuring successful
opportunities
for
parties
interested
in the use of public spaces.
We almost 'overcommunicate'
with parties to reduce the opportunity
for failures during use. "
Cureton adds, " We offer rental
opportunities at each of our parks
and facilities. We ask when contacted
by a sponsor for an 'organized
public gathering,' that they
complete a Special Event Application
or Facility Rental Application
for the use. If applicable, we may
waive fees for use, depending upon
the nature of the use, but it helps us
have a better understanding of the
type of use that may take place at a
park or facility on a given day or at
a given time. "
Training for Organizers
and Participants
" We conduct role-playing scenarios
with our team members during
departmental staff meetings. We
focus on several aspects of what
quality leadership looks like and
how leadership is not 'positional'
within our organization, " says Cureton.
" One component of these
discussions is managing conflict
and conflict resolution. We advise
our team to look into training opportunities
and try to provide options
we think will serve them well.
Additionally, we really focus on
how we can become 'more comfortable
being uncomfortable.' We
do our best to provide the tools necessary
to achieve this goal. "
Cureton continues,
" First and
foremost, we have to be open and
listen to the concerns. I continue to
bring it up, but again, communication
is key. I've found in my career
that,
oftentimes, complaints are
somewhat of a litmus test for how
we are performing. Being open and
listening can help us identify ways
in which we can improve. With
that said, we all know that not everyone
will be happy with the decisions,
rules, procedures or policies
that are created, but the important
part is being willing and able to explain
why something is the way it
is. [For] online inquiries/reactions,
we've trained our team to only respond
to questions. We can't control
opinions and, as such, do not
respond to them. We only respond
when asked a specific question
and, depending on the questions,
will guide how we approach providing
a response. "
Balancing Priorities and
Fostering Belonging
For Johnson, it's a balancing act.
" It's very hard to balance [opinions]
because the community could
feel one way. The person who's in
charge could feel another way. And
then the law states something completely
different. So, whether or not
I'm for or against [a topic or issue]
doesn't make a difference. I have
to allow this person to legally carry
out what the Constitution says
they have a right to. So, it is very
difficult. And then you have political
pressures. And how do you
satisfy the politicians? How do you
satisfy the law? How do you satisfy
your morals and values? And how
do you satisfy your staff? "
Implementing programs that harness
the potential of parks as public
forums can further enrich community
engagement. Workshops, cultural
festivals and educational seminars
can provide opportunities for
individuals to share knowledge, experiences
and perspectives. These
programs foster a sense of belonging
and promote cultural diversity,
contributing to the enrichment of
the community fabric.
As public spaces evolve with the
changing needs of society, parks
will continue to play a vital role in
facilitating human connection and
expression, nurturing the bonds that
tie communities together. Through
thoughtful management, innovative
programs and proper training, parks
can thrive as inclusive and vibrant
forums for public interaction for
generations to come.
Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett is a Freelance
Writer located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 3
| Parks & Recreation
45
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAULA JACOBY-GARRETT
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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