What will the outcome of the 2012 elections mean for the field of parks and recreation? As the governing body of the association, members of NRPA's board of directors have distinct views on what the elections mean on the national, state, and local levels. Below, these representatives from professional and citizen ranks share their personal thoughts on the elections.

The post-election outlook will be another two years of partisan politics. The economy will not take a dramatic shot upward during this time, nor will the deficit disappear any time soon. However, the NRPA membership should be proud, and remember that we have already weathered this tumultuous political atmosphere for two years. So, while it has not been easy, the advocacy efforts of NRPA Public Policy staff and members have still produced quantifiable results that few organizations or interest groups can claim.
Steven J. Thompson, CPRP
Greendale, Wisconsin
NRPA Chair

 
Congress will come to a deal and avoid falling off the cliff—the stakes are too high for another recession. With the next elections two years away, now is the time to come together, come to a deal, and get the economy moving. For park and recreation agencies, though, the next few years will continue to be difficult on a national level. While it shouldn’t be this way, we will continue to take a backseat to other conversations because of so many other issues. That said, we continue to resonate locally, as evidenced by the successful park and recreation issues on local ballots. This is encouraging.

We must continue to tie ourselves as solutions to the bigger issues: health, wellness, children in nature, conservation, and open space. In many cases we are the solution to many of our nation’s problems.
Bob Johnson, CPCU, ARM
Overland Park, Kansas
NRPA Immediate Past Chair


The American public spoke clearly on Election Day. They want Congress and the president to work together to address the serious economic and social issues facing this country, cities, and communities. Business as usual in Washington cannot continue. And I, for one, am optimistic that we will see a president who understands this as well as congressional leadership that will use a more productive strategy in how it works with the president. Although it’s too early to tell, we will get a sense of the tone leaders in Washington are setting as they address the fiscal cliff. Let’s hope they got the message.
Leon T. Andrews
Washington, D.C.

 
Traditionally, the impact of national elections offers more hope and promise than meaningful solutions for the park and recreation profession. The Land and Water Conservation Fund experienced a boost in Bill Clinton’s second term, and perhaps it will occur again during President Obama’s second term. Congress will act no differently until leadership in both chambers stand up to remind their members that “united we stand and divided we fall.”

Nothing impacts our profession more than local politics. Unfortunately, our local challenge is that public safety (fire/police) comprises between 40 percent and 60 percent of local budgets, and that number continues to grow. Our only solution is to develop special park taxing districts with dedicated funding. We can sell that idea to the public based on our past success of creating recreation opportunities with bond dollars.
Ernest W. Burkeen Jr., CPRP
Baltimore, Maryland

 
While I see the outcome of the national election as good for parks and recreation, the results at the state and local levels may represent challenging times. The issue is funding to operate and maintain current facilities and services. The fiscal cliff impacts local resources needed to meet local needs. As states shift fiscal responsibility to localities, the competition for scarce dollars grows. Parks and recreation will be [expected] to generate revenue or gifts to sustain programs which will impact access to programs. While the election did not change the position on many issues, hopefully it will encourage all agencies to consider how they do business and explore structures, cooperation, and partnerships.
Larry Blackstad
Minnetonka, Minnesota

 
Remember, all politics are local. We must be the voice of (dare I say, improved) funding for our park and recreation programs. It will be difficult for federal legislators and many at the state level to not move to the left or the right. We need them to just move forward. We will need to continue to be persistent, yet respectful, with our legislators at all levels. We have a great story—you all know it, you all live it—now more than ever we need to get our legislators to listen to it. I am reminded of a statement from a 30-year-plus legislator in my state who said, “I have never been to a park that has a Republican side and a Democratic side.”
Peter Camin
Oak Brook, Illinois

 
Congress and the White House have huge work ahead of them. The elections do not change the fact that park and recreation advocates will have to work even harder as everyone from the federal government down to local governments finds ways to increase revenue and cut expenses. It will be our job as advocates to sell the importance and benefits of parks and recreation and fight just to keep what we currently have in these rough economic times. Many of us have new relationships to build with some of the newly elected members of Congress as well as local legislators. The weight we carry as professionals and citizen advocates has a huge impact in moving NRPA’s legislative platform forward.
Steve Eckelberry
Carol Stream, Illinois


The recent November elections showed us once again that the public continues to support parks and recreation and open space initiatives at the local level. Many jurisdictions across the United States debated ballot measures funding new park facilities and capital projects, and most passed with resounding approval. Here in Northern Virginia, two such measures, one in Arlington County and the other in Fairfax County, had widespread public support. These measures will have a lasting impact on parks and recreation for years to come.

Unfortunately, there is very little to cheer about at the federal level. In the President’s second term, the White House and Congress will absolutely need to solve our budget crisis and address our mounting debt. Even if Democrats and Republicans come together in the coming months and identify solutions to the tax cuts, debt ceiling, sequestration, and the FY13 budget, we will absolutely face declining federal budgets for the next four years, maybe longer.

You can be sure that NRPA will be a leader in actively promoting funding for key federal programs in parks and recreation, trails, and conservation.
Brian Knapp
Fairfax, Virginia


The recent election has resulted in what appears to be a more balanced House and Senate. Both parties are agreeing to create more bipartisan legislative decisions, many that will affect the park and recreation programs that impact our local community’s needs. It will be important to keep a close eye on legislation relevant to park and recreation programs. Though the economy will not take a dramatic jolt upward during the next several years, both parties have agreed to significantly focus on the nation’s young adults regarding their educational needs, health and fitness, and progressive skilled trade issues. Funding priorities for programs supporting park and recreational efforts may experience a political polarization unless they can connect to these three objectives. Historically, NRPA member advocacy efforts have produced quantifiable results. Now, more than ever, is the time for strong advocacy by park and recreation advocates and at the national, state, and local levels.
Pam Sloan, CPRP
Stockton, California

 
Parks and recreation have the potential to benefit from the re-election of President Obama by strengthening their mission to enhance the health and well-being of the populations they serve. His re-election provides public support for health care reform to progress. The original advisory committee for health care reform with 18 stakeholders agreed on only one thing: If the U.S. is going to afford health care for all, then programs will need to help Americans adopt healthier lifestyles. We need to help the public and policy makers to appreciate that parks and recreation can be open gateways to building healthier communities.
Janice M. Prochaska, Ph.D.
West Kingston, Rhode Island

 
The outcome of the 2012 election will call for continuous citizens’ demand for accountability, transparency, and productivity in government services. Park and recreation agencies, as producers, are aggressively seeking strategies to concurrently generate revenue and expand service levels to broader segments of society. However, if partisan politics are the business of the day, resource allocation may be contingent upon both how well professionals are communicating our story and the influence of your elected officials to secure funding. Interestingly enough, the results spoke to voters understanding that government should play a role in impacting the quality of life for all we serve. The next four years will speak to what extent.
Detrick Stanford, CPRP
Jonesboro, Georgia

 
Will the two political parties overcome the political divide in order to legislate for the good of the country? Eventually. It will be difficult and will not likely result in any great change that sets the right course. We need a balance of fiscal conservatism and social values. There are too many special interest groups with deep pockets who control outcomes.

I think we have already seen much of the cuts [in federal support for park and recreation programs] in the last few years. Will there be more? Probably, but we will also see minor contributions to programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The change at the local level continues, but the issue is more about a lack of funds and less about politics. Hard decisions have been made and will continue to be made. The cities and states that chart their own courses and steer their own ships will succeed. We have a responsibility to help our neighbors who have less. We can no longer think about problems—we must get up every day and think about solutions. And the solutions must be local and collaborative.
Susan Trautman, CPRP
St. Louis, Missouri