Building an urban agenda: NRPA takes the lead to advocate for a stronger urban agenda for parks and recreation.

This past summer, I had the pleasure of working with Joe Wynns, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for Indianapolis, Ind., on NRPA's strategic planning committee. Those who know Joe understand his overall dedication to the field of parks and recreation. But Joe's specific passion centers on parks and recreation in urban areas.

During numerous discussions with the committee, Joe expressed his view that our largest concentrations of population, including some of our most economically disadvantaged communities, are not being well served by the federal, state and local governments. He went so far as to say that the current administration in Washington, D.C., which gets most of its political power from suburban and rural areas, is ignoring the problems of America's inner cities.

Joe specifically mentioned the decline of support for the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery program (UPARR). In the past this legislation has provided funding for renovation of aging and decaying park and recreation resources, particularly in economically distressed cities and neighborhoods. The program is supposed to be funded at $30 million annually, but no funds have been included in the president's budget for the past four years.

"For urban communities, where there is little new land available for park and recreation facilities, securing funds for renovation of inner city facilities is just as important as securing funds for land acquisition through Land and Water Conservation Fund stateside assistance," Joe says. "Inner city recreation centers not only provide a safe place for kids to get off the streets and play, they also often provide a place where families can get a decent meal or access [to] health care."

Joe strenuously urged the planning committee to make an agenda to assist large urban park and recreation departments, a key component of NRPA's actions during the next three years. Largely because of Joe's efforts, the plan adopted by NRPA's Board of Trustees this past October states, as one of its imperatives, that "NRPA must establish an urban agenda."

Plans are already underway to take steps in that direction, thanks to a generous grant from the National Recreation Foundation. NRPA, in cooperation with the City Park Alliance, the Trust for Public Land, the Urban Park and Recreation Alliance, the Roundtable Associates and the Ethnic Minority Society, will convene an agenda-building meeting June 15 and 16 for park and recreation agency directors from America's 25 largest cities.

During this summit, which will be co-chaired by Joe Wynns and general superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District Tim Mitchell, attendees will develop a list of the greatest challenges facing large urban park and recreation departments. This list will form the foundation for a major national symposium on urban park and recreation issues that NRPA and the other cooperating organizations will host in Chicago in May 2006.

We anticipate the summit planning meeting and May 2006 symposium will attract the kind of media attention that will awaken a broader public to the challenges of urban places. And we hope that these events will provide the catalyst for park and recreation professionals and citizens to become strong and effective advocates for quality parks.

Convening this summit and symposium will also strengthen NRPA's voice in representing all who serve and are served by America's park and recreation programs and activities.

If you would like more information about this June's summit meeting or next May's symposium, which will be open to the entire park and recreation community, please contact me at [e-mail].