February 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 42

The Park and Recreation Profession:
Socially or Financially Alluring for Diversity?
By Ken Koonce

L

ike, but unlike, the hit NBC television show " Parks and Recreation, "
the real world of parks and recreation is a white-male dominated profession. Although there is some diversity, African-Americans, Latinos,
females and other demographics are in the minority. And unlike the cast of
" Parks and Recreation, " whose salaries stretch well into the high six-figure income bracket, in the real world of parks and rec, six-figure incomes are not
common among frontline, in-the-trenches employees.
Having just retired from the park and
recreation profession after a 31-year career, I've seen from whence I came to
where the next generation seems to be
heading. As a recreation administration major at North Carolina Central
University, I recall statements from
professors like, " If you expect the park
and recreation profession to be financially rewarding, you may want to get a
'drop/add' form today, " and, " In parks
and recreation, you will work when

40	 Parks & Recreation

your patrons want to play! " With such
a backdrop, I knew I wasn't going to
get rich. But, aided by my character, I
knew I would be socially enriched and
hopefully impactful to those my agency would serve.
My freshman year, I planned to be a
high school English teacher; my sophomore year, a business major (I was
going to own my own company and
make a million dollars). The summer
heading into my junior year, I took a

| F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 5 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

personality-trait survey, which revealed
that I was a people person. That, along
with obtaining a job at the Holloway
Recreation Center in Kinston, North
Carolina, cemented my path in a park
and recreation career.
Parks and recreation wasn't one of
the " glam " majors that were looked
upon with high regard and respect. It
wasn't one of the science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) majors
that you knew could garner a six-figure
income. Outside of our profession, the
perception was that anyone could work
at a recreation center - you didn't need
a college degree for that! I believe attitudes like this may account for why top
high school graduates choose to go into
professions perceived as more lucrative
and prestigious, such as medicine or law.



February 2015 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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