Advocacy is at the forefront of efforts set forth by NRPA, addressing concerns about our profession through newsletters, a resource center, and the National Legislative Forum. The Legislative Forum provides us the chance get in front of key decision-makers and makes the importance of park and recreation agencies known. 

Many of us have the misconception that advocacy is much bigger than each of us individually.  We feel that we do not have the time, influence, and resources to successfully advocate for parks and recreation. This is simply untrue.

Through my involvement with the New York State Recreation and Parks Society (NYSRPS), my eyes have really opened to advocacy and policy.  In November 2011, the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) decided not to renew the “Statewide Centralized Contract for Playground Equipment and Related Products.”  This decision was not popular with the various municipalities, public entities, and vendors.  NYSRPS, along with various playground equipment vendors, encouraged members to write letters supporting the contract to the OGS.  Approximately 100 letters were submitted on behalf of all of those affected by this change.  Within one month, OGS announced the decision to discontinue the contract would be overturned, and the contract would be renewed as a result of the letters. 

This was one example of a successful advocacy effort, but there are many ways to advocate, including letters of support, citizen “friends” groups, and public forums. Advocacy is not always so cut-and-dried.  In fact, it is a “tricky business,” according to retired commissioner of Westchester County Parks and current executive director of the Friends of Westchester County Parks, Joe Stout.

I decided to talk with three very experienced and successful parks and recreation advocates in order to get more insight on how to be an advocate and have a voice. Mark Young (MY), retired parks and recreation professional and 2010-2011 NRPA Public Policy Committee Chair; Richard Rose (RR), commissioner of Orange County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation and longtime New York State Recreation and Parks Society Legislative Committee chair; and Joe Stout (JS) all took some time to share their expertise on advocacy for parks and recreation. 

1. Describe advocacy in the field of parks and recreation. 

RR: Advocacy is the act or process of convincing leaders and decision makers to use their powers and influence to support an issue or cause by the changing of a law, policy, or program, and in the allocation of resources.  As professionals, we need to view advocacy as part of our jobs to get the resources we need to do our jobs.

JS:  Advocacy is getting the right information into the hands of decision makers in a timely fashion.  And maybe even more importantly, in a format that is easy to understand.  Too often we assume that they know what we know and speak our language. That is not the case.  It [our message] has to be clear and concise--information that articulates your position on a particular issue, or on the field in general, and what action you would like them to take.

2. Please stress the importance of advocacy in the field. 

MY:  Employees and participants are advocates for parks and recreation.  Too often citizens take their parks and recreation services for granted, assuming that someone will always be there to protect and maintain the parks and deliver the programs they enjoy.  A higher level of advocacy must be employed.  Friends, neighbors, businesses, and other stakeholders should be informed and engaged in advocating for parks and recreation.  Park and recreation agencies must provide the measurable positive impacts of their parks, trails, and recreation programs and services.  The beneficiaries of parks and recreation can tell a compelling story from their perspective about the value of parks and recreation. 

3. Can you share successful advocacy movements? 

RR:  Annual funding for LWCF and the reversal of the proposal to close state parks are two recent successes.  In both cases, the importance of partnering with groups who share similar interests was key.

MY:  In 2008, I invited a physician to NRPA's Legislative Forum to meet with Ohio's congressional representatives on Capitol Hill.  The doctor made a compelling argument for parks and recreation's role in community health.  Legislators listened intently and expressed appreciation for the medical/health profession's perspective, which led to favorable votes from legislators who were not previously supportive. 

JS:  Our organization advocated with legislators to restore some funding to the parks department. We did that through board contacts, meetings with key legislators, and using available data on benchmarks, usage, and statistics. Currently, our organization, Friends of Westchester Parks, is studying and will soon publish the economic impact that the services and facilities provided by the parks department have on the county's economy. We will use that data to drive home the point that parks and recreation services not only have a human impact, but a fiscal one as well.

4. How do you approach citizen support and how important is that? 

JS:  Professionals cannot advocate alone. Citizens are the key to any successful advocacy effort because they represent votes.  Professionals represent expertise.  Citizens can be much more active than staff can.  It is hard to go against your boss or the municipal governing body when you work for them.  Citizens are not encumbered by that problem.  Citizens become the cheerleaders, the advocates, the influencers.  Getting the right people on board is critical.  Only you would know who those folks are.  You need people who see the value in what you do and would be willing to volunteer a little time to help.  You have to ask.  If you don't ask, you will never get it!  You need three people on a board to incorporate in New York State. That is what you would need to do to start a friends group or a park foundation.  All of you should have friends!

MY: Friends, neighbors, businesses, and other stakeholders should be informed and engaged in advocating for parks and recreation.  The beneficiaries of parks and recreation can tell a compelling story about the value--health and wellness, environment, education, economic, and quality of life--of parks and recreation from their perspective.  It is a powerful message that resonates in city hall, the state legislature, and on Capitol Hill.

 

Mark Young, Rich Rose, Joe Stout, and the NRPA are advocacy champions.  You can be one too.

Advocacy is indeed a “tricky business” and if you are not currently supporting the cause, now is time to start.  We tend to fight for something when it is taken away from us.  As professionals and citizens alike, we need to be proactive, not reactive, in supporting parks and recreation and we need to work together to move the field forward. 

Thomas Venniro is the Recreation Supervisor for the Town of Chili (New York) Recreation Department.  He is the Chair Elect of the Young Professional Network and President Elect for the Genesee Valley Recreation and Parks Society (GVRPS).  He is also a recipient of the AAPRA Externship (2011) and the NRPA Young Professional Fellowship (2010).