October 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 8

EDITOR' S LETTER
Think Inclusive, Not Exclusive
Nearly every day, we hear about the amazing projects that park
and recreation agencies across the country are working on, especially
newly completed park projects that often set a higher bar for
our profession. These projects challenge all of us to think differently
about how we plan and design our open spaces, so that we can
make them more inclusive to all community members rather than
exclusive to a select group. This month, we illustrate that sentiment
with our Access issue.
In the cover story, " More Than Access: Designing Inclusive
Parks, " on page 34, contributor Logan Garrett takes a closer look
at the completion of newly renovated Arch Street Park in Lawrenceburg,
Indiana, which takes the standards of the Americans
with Disabilities Act to a whole new level. " Accessible playgrounds
allow people with disabilities to visit the play area, whereas fully
inclusive playgrounds provide the opportunity for everyone to actually
use and interact with the playground equipment, " Garrett
writes. " In other words, inclusive play is not solely about physically accessing an environment, but
also intensely focused on what happens once an individual gets there. " What's more, the park's
inclusive playground features elements, such as swings, seesaws and ziplines, that are accessible
to people in mobility devices.
Letchworth State Park in Castile, New York, is a prime example of inclusivity. Voted Best State
Park in the United States by USA Today, the park earned a reputation for having the most inclusive
trail in the nation. Much of that is likely due to its Autism Nature Trail, which is profiled in the
feature article, " An Inclusive Trail, " on page 38. Author Julia Garstecki offers greater insight into
this first-of-its-kind trail - which was designed to meet the needs of those with autism spectrum
disorder - and highlights the individuals who helped to make this project possible.
In the feature article, " The New Parks Movement: Resilient Park Access, " on page 46, NRPA's
Jared Mummert checks in with some of the grantees of NRPA's 10 Minute Walk grant program
to see how their park-access work has evolved and how they are supporting a new phase of the
parks movement. " Lacking access to parks and recreation is an injustice, " Mummert writes. " To
achieve just and fair park access for all people, agencies must acknowledge, harness and celebrate
the unique power and resilience that dwell within communities while working to remove the barriers
that perpetuate the inequities that exist between them. "
As you read these powerful stories in the October issue, I hope they bring inspiration to you and
your park and recreation agency when developing your community's master plan. Remember -
think inclusive, not exclusive.
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
VICE PRESIDENT OF
COMMUNICATIONS AND CHIEF
MARKETING OFFICER
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR AND
DIRECTOR OF PRINT AND
ONLINE CONTENT
Vitisia Paynich
vpaynich@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND
WRITER
Lindsay Hogeboom
lhogeboom@nrpa.org
MANAGER OF ONLINE
CONTENT
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
Melissa Hunter
703.858.2199
mhunter@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
VITISIA " VI " PAYNICH
Executive Editor
Director, Print and Online Content
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
8 Parks & Recreation | O CTOBER 2 0 2 1
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
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October 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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