For 31 years we have celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Every year, we use it as an opportunity to focus on a particular aspect or benefit of this great and diverse field. In 2016, thanks to an idea submitted by Hayley Nath (a member of NRPA’s Young Professionals Network and recreation assistant at city of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Parks and Recreation) and chosen by popular vote, we’re celebrating the superpowers and superheroes of parks and recreation.
This theme has manifested itself in many ways this year — discovering the superpowers of a community that rallies together to vote its photo to the top, and learning about some amazing people who are truly superheroes for parks and recreation. Beautiful photographs and inspiring stories will leave you ready to don your cape the next time you’re heading to work for parks and recreation.
A Cover-Worthy Chattahoochee
For the second year in a row, NRPA solicited photos from you, our members, to serve as the cover of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine. With more than 230 photos submitted, it was a challenge to narrow them down to the top 10 to be put to a public vote. From there, community superpowers took over to generate thousands of votes on the photos. All were great, but only one could make the cover. With more than 1,500 votes, the city of Roswell (Georgia) Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department won the coveted spot with its peaceful and serene image of a crew team gliding down the Chattahoochee River.
Morgan Rodgers, director of Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department, shared that the photo was actually taken while the NRPA CAPRA accreditation team was touring the Chattahoochee River aboard a riverboat called the “Spirit of Roswell.” According to Rodgers, the city purchased a large amount of property along the river in 2000 in order to preserve the land from being developed. “Now the Chattahoochee River houses over 101 acres of city parkland which includes Roswell Riverwalk, boat ramps, fishing docks, blue trails for rafting/canoeing, passive parks and trail connectivity with other bordering communities,” he said.
The photo was taken by Bobbie Daniels, communications manager for the department. She has been with the department for 30 years and considers photography a hobby (one at which she clearly excels). The rowers in the photo are part of the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association — a longtime partner of the department.
Besides capturing a stellar photo for the cover of our magazine, Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department is a superhero in its own right. A CAPRA-accredited agency and four-time finalist for the Gold Medal Award, it is doing some innovative things to bring excellent park and recreation opportunities to its community. The city has declared this summer the “Summer of Fun,” which it kicked off with a ceremonial first pitch from Atlanta Braves legend Tom Glavine. The “Summer of Fun” initiative includes free outdoor fitness classes, free concerts, human foosball and much more.
The hard work of the department doesn’t go unnoticed, as evidenced by the rave comments left on this photo via Facebook during the contest. A beautiful photo is one thing, but knowing that it represents a city and department that is passionate about parks and recreation makes it inspiring.
The Runners-Up
- City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department, CA
- Town of Gilbert, AZ
- Scottsdale Parks and Recreation, AZ
Roxanne Sutton is NRPA’s Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist.
The Superheroes of Parks and Recreation
Kenny Davis, former councilman and citizen, Steubenville, Ohio
Superhero skills: Saving the pool from closure.
If he could have any superpower: The power to convince others to give back to their community.
Kenny Davis has been a longtime advocate and supporter of the Steubenville Parks and Recreation Department. Davis says his passion for parks and recreation stems from his childhood when he spent the majority of his time playing sports or swimming at the city pool — encouraged in these activities by his single mother of seven children. When faced with budget shortfalls and the closing of the city pool on two separate occasions, he tirelessly worked to raise the funds needed to operate the pool. He rallied the community to keep this important community asset open — and it still is three years later. In addition to saving pools, each year Davis also plays Santa for local youth, not only as part of park and recreation programming, but also on his own time by visiting low-income neighborhoods and spreading holiday joy. Even though his council term is over, Davis has helped to solicit donations and assists with maintenance through the adoption of a park in his neighborhood that he cleans and mows. Davis’ love and passion for the park and recreation profession makes him a true superhero.
Denise Underwood, head swim coach of Chandler Recreation Swim Team, Chandler, Arizona
Superhero skills: Teaching swimming and inspiring thousands of youth.
If she could have any superpower: Super stretch skills to be able to reach across the pool and fix things that need fixing.
When Denise Underwood answered the call for a swim coach in 1990, she joined a program that was barely surviving with access to just one pool to serve 60-80 swimmers. With her guidance, Chandler Recreation was able to grow the program into what it is today — six city-run pools and more than 635 recreational swim team members. Underwood’s support of parks and recreation is rooted in her knowledge that these services are the bedrock of community amenities because they give residents a multitude of skill sets and benefits that in turn make Chandler greater as a whole. Recently, Underwood attended the city of Chandler aquatic staff orientation with more than 300 lifeguards, instructors, managers and administrative staff. When asked how many people had been coached by Underwood in a summer program or were taught by her in a learn-to-swim class, more than half of the room stood. Students she once instructed now bring their children to her to learn, excited for them to experience the same enjoyment and satisfaction of swimming. This trend is something Underwood considers to be one of her greatest achievements.
Kara Browning, trails volunteer coordinator at Cleveland Metro Parks, Cleveland, Ohio
Superhero skills: Trail building and volunteer coordinator.
If she could have any superpower: Give everyone access and time to experience green spaces daily.
Coordinating trails volunteers is Kara Browning’s (pictured above, right) second career. While practicing medicine for more than 20 years, she started volunteering for Cleveland Metroparks as an avid and sustainable trail builder, trail monitor and trail fundraiser. In 2016, a part-time paid position was created for her and Browning resigned as a physician to take the job. Now paid for trail work, she has started volunteering in the natural resources department to help with habitat restoration and invasive species control. She sees how trails and resource management can work together and likes to challenge herself to constantly learn new things. Browning sees the connection between the environment and public health and works to bring people together with her quiet charisma. Her passion for parks and recreation has been building since childhood, when a Cleveland Metroparks facility was always within 5 miles of home. She considers Cleveland Metroparks a key component of her general well-being and if she can do something to preserve that resource for others, then it is well worth her time, talent and resources.
Jerry Burgess, CPSI, park maintenance tech coordinator for Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District, Beaverton, Oregon
Superhero skills: Ensuring safe playgrounds for kids of all ages.
If he could have any superpower: Super sight skills in order to see play parts (and everything else) clearly.
In addition to his 36 years of service on Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District’s (THPRD) maintenance team, Jerry Burgess has also volunteered his time to help other park districts complete safe and efficient play equipment installations. Through his involvement in the Oregon Recreation and Park Association’s Maintenance Construction Section, Burgess has coordinated 21 volunteer playground installations throughout the state. Burgess says his passion for parks and recreation stems from being brought up in parks as a child — his mom always took her children to local parks and his dad took them camping. Burgess shared this passion with his kids and now shares it with his grandchildren. He believes his greatest accomplishment to be installing a full set of playground equipment with just one other person and a backhoe. A favorite part of his job is going into a community and working with the children to decide what their playground is going to look like — he gets to be the bearer of good news.
Karen West, lead consultant of Keep Genesee County Beautiful, Flint, Michigan
Superhero skills: Providing safe and clean places to play and recreate through a citywide adopt-a-park program.
If she could have any superpower: Creating one super park system for the whole county and creating an endowment fund that would pay for anything and everything parks need…forever!
In 2010, Karen West was tasked with creating a framework to replace an eroding park and recreation department in Flint, Michigan. She launched a pilot program that included residents adopting a park in their neighborhood and providing basic maintenance. They started with five park adoptions in 2011 and today have adopted 38 of the city’s 63 parks. This program takes over the work that the city of Flint is no longer able to do because of budget constraints. In a city hit hard by the recession and the recent crisis involving the poisoning of Flint’s public water supply, having clean, safe places to play, recreate and relax are more important than ever and are vital to the well-being of the community. Her passion for parks and recreation is rooted in a deep concern about everything that happens in her city. West’s work not only helps maintain parks that increase property values, reduce crime and attract new residents and business, but also engages thousands of volunteers who find and take ownership of “their” city of Flint park.
Roxanne Sutton is NRPA’s Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist.