PUBLIC POLICY.

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Public advocacy is an essential part of the Association's mission. It informs national lawmakers, public executives, and advocates about national actions required to increase recreation opportunities and park standards. In collaboration with allied groups, state recreation and park societies, and members, the NRPA Division of Public Policy rallies support for progressive national legislation, policies, and programs that encourage public investment in recreation resources and services.

The division is a national information source on policies, national studies, and practices and the content, status, and likely future of congressional and administrative initiatives. It also provides policy guidance, conducts research, and analyzes emerging issues relevant to parks and recreation.

The Association annually organizes and convenes a mid-winter Legislative Conference and Mid-Year Forum in Washington, D.C. This year's March meeting provided over 300 delegates with the opportunity to discuss current and anticipated legislative initiatives with members of Congress, federal executive branch allies, and other delegates. NRPA delegates were also among the principal participants in a national "Rally for Parks, Recreation and Wildlife." Other principal sponsors included the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation, the National Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers, National Wildlife Federation, and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Over 900 participants gathered in support of a predictable and permanent Land and Water Conservation Fund, urban park restoration programs, and related initiatives.

The national rally resulted in a grassroots coalition consisting of a number of diverse organizations working to gain support for the Conservation and Reinvestment Act. NRPA Public Policy conducts a number of outreach activities to keep recreation and park professionals, citizen advocates, and policymakers informed about national affairs that could impact their work -- and their play.

The public policy newsletter, Dateline, which is featured monthly in Parks & Recreation magazine, provides information on the status of national issues; and RecreACTION, the grassroots advocacy network, provides advocates with action items and information needed to contact their legislators in a timely manner. The division consistently explores ways to enhance outreach to members and the public. All of the significant national policy achievements enjoyed by park and recreation advocates this year owe their success to effective grassroots action.

The Association's national policy agenda includes several items of particular interest to its broad membership:

Conservation and Reinvestment Act: NRPA has been a central force in permanently reviving federal investment in "close to home parks" and recreation opportunities through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery program.

On May 11, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 315-102 to adopt H.R. 701. The bill would annually fund seven new or existing programs, including $1 billion for impact assistance and coastal conservation, $900 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, $350 million for wildlife conservation, $125 million for urban park restoration, $100 million for historic preservation, $200 million for federal and Indian land restoration, and $150 million for permanent conservation easements for threatened and endangered species recovery.

A similar bill has been adopted by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and was awaiting floor consideration in mid-summer. The bill would fund some 19 programs and would include a total of $780 million for two coastal programs ($430 million for impact aid to energy-producing states and $350 million for coastal stewardship activities authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act), $900 million from LWCF, $75 million for the UPARR program and broaden eligibility to any local jurisdiction in a standard metropolitan statistical area, $50 million for the Urban and Community Forestry program, $50 million for the Forest Legacy program, and $60 million for the Youth Conservation Corps. The Senate bill also funds farm and rangeland protection, rural development, and rural community assistance programs.

Recreation-as-Prevention: The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, authorized initially through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, is an important element of NRPA's recreation-as-prevention strategy. Support for the program has grown tremendously over the past three years and appropriated funds have been inadequate relative to demand. President Clinton requested $1 billion for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program for fiscal year 2001.

Congressional communities making appropriations for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Service, and Education had recommended $600 million for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a $147 million increase from fiscal year 2000. Also included in the bill is language that permits community-based organizations, including public park and recreation agencies, to directly apply for funding. Under the current stature only local education agencies or school districts are directly eligible for grant assistance, a provision endorsed by NRPA.

Health Promotion/Disease Prevention: On April 27, NRPA Public Policy, along with U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, the Partnership for Prevention, and the National Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers, convened an issue-briefing for congressional staff and allied interest groups. The event emphasized the roles and potential of public recreation services and park facilities in efforts to encourage physical activity among youth. Speakers included Robert Newman, director of parks and recreation for the District of Columbia, and William Dietz of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. NRPA was subsequently invited to become an organization member of the Partnership for Prevention. The Partnership includes 57 public and private health centers, corporations, academic and research institutions, nonprofit groups associated with disease prevention and health promotion, and 27 states. It emphasizes and advocates national public strategies, policy, and investments that would develop a healthier nation. The Partnership has endorsed the Conservation and Reinvestment Act and actively promotes its passage.

Transportation, Trails, and Recreation: NRPA continues to monitor legislative threats to railbanking, the practice of conserving selected abandoned railroad rights-of-way for recreation. On March 23, Rep. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) introduced H.R. 4086, proposing to amend the National Trails System Act by requiring that property owners be compensated when certain railbanked trails are developed for public use. The bill would hinder the growth and development of the existing rail-trails, which now connect neighborhoods, counties, and states and provide transportation and recreation opportunities. NRPA continues to encourage the practice of railbanking while balancing the promotion of public conservation and recreation and preserving the constitutional rights of private landowners.

Water-based Recreation: NRPA is a member of the newly formed National Recreation Lakes Coalition. The coalition continues to urge support for the proposed National Recreation Lakes Act, H.R. 4299, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' five-year recreation modernization program. The bill would earmark select federally managed lakes for a management overhaul to improve boating, fishing, and other types of recreation. The legislation would provide funds to enhance recreation access to nearly 1,800 federally managed manmade lakes. The coalition is working to gain House support for the bill; Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) is soon expected to introduce a Senate version. The bill would encourage partnerships with local and state governments and organizations and put recreation "on equal footing" with other reservoir purposes, including flood control, irrigation, power generation, and municipal water.

NRPA and the coalition are also supporting a proposed $330 million recreation modernization initiative for the Corps of Engineers Civil Works program. The funds would be used to revamp recreation facilities at 17 key recreation sites in 16 states. The Corps' modernization initiative responded in part to findings of a National Recreation Lakes Study Commission created by Congress in 1996. The commission found that federally managed manmade lakes hosted an estimated 900 million visits annually, resulting in $44 billion in economic activity. The commission also round an estimated $1 billion in backlogged maintenance needs, almost no recent or planned expansion, largely outdated and inadequate Corps-operated facilities and increasing demand.

Federal Disaster Relief Funds: The Association continues to participate in efforts to avoid loss of life and property as a result of floods, earthquakes, and natural disasters. Efforts to improve the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act continue throughout the year. The act authorizes federal assistance when the president declares that a catastrophe has overwhelmed state and local resources. Pending House- and Senate-passed legislation, it would re-emphasize the importance of pre-disaster planning and mitigation to avoid the high costs and human losses associated with disasters. Funds to remove inappropriate developments in flood plains could result in more local and regional green space. The bills do not penalize public recreation agencies with revenue development practices, including park use and registration fees.

Beyond Legislation: NRPA has led involvement in the Millennium Trails Initiative, a national program to promote trail awareness and support. NRPA has worked with the White House Millennium Council, the U.S. Department of Transportation, private businesses, and nonprofit partners to .guide the implementation of the White House Millennium Trails Initiative, created in 1998. U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater announced grants of $3.6 million in Federal Highway Administration discretionary funds on January 6. Projects included the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail in California, the historic Columbia River State Highway Trail in Oregon, the Blackstone River Bikeway in Rhode Island, and the Teton Pass Trail in Idaho and Wyoming. On June 3, during the National Trails Day celebration, the White House Millennium Council designated over 500 local trails as Community Millennium Trails, bringing the total number of Community Millennium Trails to 2,000. NRPA National Programs office staff is now serving as a liaison between properties and federal authorities.

International Exchange: Throughout the year, NRPA and the Division of Public Policy aided the professional travel of NRPA members and other individuals coming to the United States to observe our park systems and resources. An important exchange with members of Parks and Leisure Australia, an NRPA protocol partner, was initiated by the Association's New England Regional Council.

NRPA and National Recreation Association of Japan agreed to an exchange protocol in 1992. NRPA trustees Ted Flickinger, Sharon Hubler, and Robert Hall represented the Association at the NRAJ's annual conference.

The Association hosted Motoko Miyake, an NRAJ senior staff member. Miyake, who plans and implements NRAJ's leadership training curriculum, consulted with senior NRPA headquarters staff on professional and associate-level recreation training and education. NRPA also arranged visits with several hospitable member agencies including the Loudoun County (Va.) Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; the town of Wilton, N.Y.; Lee County (Fla.) Department of Parks and Recreation; Foster City (Calif.) Parks and Recreation Department; and the California Park and Recreation Society.

NRPA President-Elect Alice L. Conkey, division chief with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, represented NRPA at a meeting of the Fundacion de la Tiempe Libre y Recreacion, in Bogota, Colombia. NRPA and Funlibre signed an exchange protocol in 1999, anticipating professional and citizen exchanges involving local recreation and park agencies in the United States and Colombia.

Nations in Bloom: In other international activity, Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, with NRPA's support, agreed to host the final judging and awards of Nations in Bloom 2000, Nov. 30-Dec. 4. Some 36 international finalists will be selected from over 70 applicants. Several local U.S. agencies are competing. Considered to be the "international benchmark in environmental management," the competition evaluates a local government on several criteria: landscape enhancement, heritage management, environmental practices, community involvement, and planning and sustaining development. Presentations by key finalists and "Lessons from Abroad," reviewed by selected finalists, will be open to NRPA members and the public. Last year's finalists included Mecklenburg County, N.C., winner in jurisdictions over 1 million; Des Moines, Iowa; and Grand Junction, Colo.

Parks & Recreation Magazine

Parks & Recreation magazine is the official publication of the National Recreation and Park Association and provides news and features on a variety of topics to members and subscribers each and every month. Aquatics, playground safety, facility design, therapeutic recreation, and military recreation are just some of the many topics that are featured, The NRPA Buyer's Guide is published in the March issue et P&R and serves as an outstanding resource for information about recreation and equipment services in the park and recreation industry. This issue also features articles devoted to how park and recreation programs help provide answers to many of today's most pressing social problems.