OPERATION RECREATION RELIEF.

"I have an idea. It's big; in fact it may be even too big for the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association. If you think it is workable, maybe we should take it to NRPA."

Excitement and enthusiasm radiated from the voice of Debbie Heller, an MRPA member and therapeutic recreation specialist for Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, in a June phone call piquing my curiosity. She continued, "I have been following the news on the refugee camps in Macedonia, and they continually report that the refugees, especially the children, have little to do in the way of exercise and recreation. I thought it would be great if we could put together teams of recreation professionals to go over for three-week tours and provide recreation programming. There are all kinds of agencies providing support for medical care, food, et cetera, but nothing for recreation. I know there will be a lot of challenges, but I think we could make this work. Will NRPA be interested?"

My response was immediate and simple: "What a great idea."

"Think about it. We would be doing something of extreme humanitarian value and, additionally, imagine the awareness we could generate about the benefits of parks and recreation on local, state, and national levels," Debbie chimed in.

There are numerous relief organizations targeting emergency relief and survival in disaster and crisis situations. It seems recreation is often overlooked or, at best, placed low on the priority list. Here was an opportunity to change the perception that recreation is not important in such situations. I contacted the National Recreation and Park Association's National Programs office and explained Debbie's idea for "Operation Recreation Relief." I suggested that by working together, Maryland and NRPA could spearhead a national effort for recreation support. Kathy J. Spangler, CLP, director of NRPA National Programs, embraced the idea, reinforcing how quickly we would need to move.

Kathy and Debbie drew up a list of potential challenges as well as a prioritized list of contact individuals and agencies. After a flurry of phone calls, it became apparent that setting up a humanitarian relief program was complicated, politically charged, and could move a snail's pace.

There are myriad well-established relief organizations. We realized we might have to refocus our vision a bit from our original goal, which was sending rotating teams, to sending one team to train individuals onsite and organize and facilitate an equipment-donation program.

After a very frank and informative discussion with Ben Curran, voluntary agency liaison with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, we realized that our greatest opportunity for success rested in developing a partnership with an existing relief organization. Fortunately for the refugees, a peace agreement was reached before we could move beyond the conceptual stage. We realized that although they might remain in the camps for some time, our efforts could not be timely.

Unwilling to abandon what we felt was a worthwhile program, we thought that if we already had a program in place, we would have been able to accomplish at least some of our goals in Macedonia. There is, unfortunately, no shortage of domestic and international natural disaster and crisis situations that could use the support of trained park and recreation professionals. Operation Recreation Relief would offer a plan that would hopefully mobilize forces quickly. After all, the American Red Cross doesn't wait for a disaster to recruit volunteers.

A list of professionals interested in donating their time to provide recreation programming, vendors willing to donate materials and supplies, and agencies willing to grant time off or lend equipment could be identified ahead of time. A training curriculum would need to be developed, with team leaders trained in advance and responsibilities clearly outlined. A wide variety of skills, talents, and roles -- ranging from recreation programmers and leaders to landscape architects, park maintenance workers, and technology and equipment specialists -- would be included in the volunteer database.

We hoped to model a recreation relief program after any one of myriad organizations currently providing medical relief to depressed areas and offering support in cases of disaster. Medical organizations serve a specific need, offering equipment, training, and staff-- items that we envision as essential to a recreation relief effort.

The International Medical Corps, headquartered in Los Angeles, offers volunteer physicians and medical personnel to provide emergency medical relief, health care services, and training to people in devastated and resource-scarce regions. IMC has also provided training in a variety of medical areas to ensure that health care is an ongoing condition.

Operation Recreation Relief would embrace a three-fold mission. First, it would facilitate a donation program for equipment as well as a service-donation program, which would assist in developing recreation and park facilities in areas not adequately served (Indian reservations and low-income rural areas as well as economically depressed urban areas). Equipment and supplies could be donated by recreation and parks agencies and manufacturers. Perhaps local park and recreation agencies could sponsor a "clean out your garage day."

Second, a training program for park and recreation professionals would be initiated. Upon completion of the training, individuals would travel to targeted areas and teach citizens how to conduct recreation programs, maintain open space, and build facilities.

Finally, teams of professionals would restore damaged parks and facilities and provide recreation programming and leadership. This would include sending equipment and offering professional advice and opinions.

It is unrealistic to assume that we could provide assistance for every domestic and international disaster and crisis. A method for identifying appropriate relief projects would need to be established. World Emergency Relief uses five criteria when selecting projects.

The first is accessibility. Are people in the host area open to help? If not, can WER link with other groups that have the accessibility? Second is availability. Are the required resources available in the host area, or can WER import them? Do local laws block the import of certain necessary products from the United States? Because WER's resources are limited, affordability is the third criterion. Do they have enough to help? If not, is there a reputable agency with which to partner?

Fourth is the issue of appropriateness. Is the project in accordance with the mission of WER? And fifth is accountability. Can WER be certain that its aid -- financial or material -- has reached the people for whom it was targeted? With some revision, these criteria could provide a prototype for writing and developing the Operation Recreation Relief guidelines.

In recent years, disasters have left park facilities severely damaged or destroyed. Recreation programs are often canceled or postponed indefinitely because of a lack of personnel or facilities. The idea of recreation and park agencies lending a hand to neighboring communities is not a new one. Such efforts have been going on locally for many years.

Hurricane Andrew defined the word devastation. Thousands of people lost everything they owned and were forced into temporary shelters to sort out their lives. Homes, businesses, and parks were all wiped out or so severely damaged that the rebuilding effort seemed daunting.

The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department was one of many area agencies that offered help. Work crews, along with the necessary heavy equipment, were sent to Dade County every day for a month to assist in rebuilding Matheson Hammock Park. These groups cleared debris, cut up trees, and did whatever they could to get the park back into working order.

Crews of professionals then began conducting daily recreation programs in the Dade County tent shelters, bringing with them all the necessary materials and supplies. Although they continued to receive their regular salaries for time spent with disaster relief, many people chose to go above and beyond donating their personal time to the relief and restoration efforts. Cathy Burdett, Palm Beach director of park operations, explained that there were many employees who would drive back to Dade County after their regular workday or on weekends.

Disaster struck America's heartland early this spring when several tornadoes touched down in parts of Oklahoma and Kansas. Haysville, Kan., a small town south of Wichita, was devastated. Laura Kelly, director of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association, reported that park and recreation agencies from all over the state offered to send park crews to clean up debris, prepare ballfields and swimming pools, and donate sports equipment.

It has been six months since the tragic rampage in Littleton, Colo., and the vision of children and adults hiking up the hill to visit the impromptu memorial set in nearby Clement Park is still fresh in our minds. Barb Wisney, director of the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association, explained how gratifying it was to see the support offered by many area park and recreation departments. The CPRA Directors Section discussed possible assistance as an agenda item and offered help in the repair and restoration of Clement Park. From the discussion came a plan to offer CPRA and agency assistance for any Colorado disaster or crisis.

I am not suggesting that the first services offered in disaster situations should be those of recreation and parks. However, recreation and parks can offer some much-needed services not usually considered in relief measures. As we all know, the benefits of parks and recreation are endless. These services go a long way to relieve tension and stress, both physical and mental, as well as provide moments of respite from dreadful situations.

The National Recreation and Park Association, in conjunction with state park and recreation associations and agencies, is in a unique position to facilitate outreach through the coordination of labor support, professional exchanges, and technical assistance. If you are interested in helping to develop Operation Recreation Relief, please contact Kathy J. Spangler, CLP, NRPA National Programs, [phone].

Sheila Franklin shares an idea, a wonderful, exciting idea. She knew that a number of organizations were already providing emergency relief to devastated areas and needy people in times of disaster and crisis. But, explains the executive director of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association, aren't they all overlooking one terribly important element? Wouldn't a recreational outlet provide a beacon of hope in these seemingly hopeless situations of grief? "Operation Recreation Relief," which begins on page 78, puts the "endless benefits" of parks and recreation to the test.