Perspectives on People, Parks, and Recreation.

For most Americans, Colombia is largely an unknown country, a land of myths and legends, violence, emeralds, coffee, and the mysterious El Dorado. Those were my perceptions too before I was privileged to represent the National Recreation and Park Association at the VI Congress Nacional de Recracion and Seminario International in Santa Fe de Bogota in August. This visit is one result of a 1999 protocol between NRPA and the Fundacion Colombiana de Tiempo Libre y Recreacion Funlibre. We also have exchange agreements with NRPA-like groups in Japan and Canada.

In reality, Colombia is a country of amazing physical and cultural diversity-40 million warm and friendly people, exotic foods, music, distinctive flora and fauna, and architecture, colonial churches, crafts, and festiva. It is a land of more than 3,000 species of orchids alone. Certainly, the nation has serious problems!

My opportunity to witness the signing of the Messenger of Manifesto 2000, Peace is in Our Hands, was the highlight of this international symposium where I joined representatives from organizations in Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. The event was in recognition of the culture of peace which embraces the respect of all life, rejection of violence, sharing with others, listening to understand, stewardship, and solidarity. It is of particular note that I believe that recreation is perceived as the means to reach these objectives.

I had the opportunity to discuss our benefits, initiatives, and marketing ideas from an American perspective. Colombian park and recreation professionals are anxious to learn much more about our diversity of programs and facilities, and reciprocal exchange of small groups will allow this to happen.

My host, Carlos Alberto Rico A., the tireless president of Funlibre, and his staff were extraordinary. They arranged site visits in Manizales and Bogota, coffee plantation, and places to observe native flora and lakes and mountains. The ride to Monserrate Mounatin, overlooking Bogota, was spectacular and the Museum de Oro (gold museum), memorable!

But it is the vibrant people of Colombia and their warmth, respect, optimism, and spirit that were most enriching. These are the characteristics that, in my judgement, will turn the NRPA-Funlibre exchange into a long-term, vibrant, protocol between our respective organizations and members.

I encourage individuals interested in future NRPA-Funlibre invites to contact Barry Tindall, NRPA International Liaison, at our Washington, D.C. office.