January 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 53

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vOLu NtE E R sP OtLIg ht

Dina Trunzo
Federal Advocacy, Local Impact

dVoCACY iS oNe oF NrPA'S ChieF goALS-to inﬂuence policy, legislation, and
funding to benefit public parks, recreation, and environmental conservation. dina
Trunzo, therapeutic recreation manager for the Somerset County (New Jersey)
Park Commission, has been a strong advocate for the urban revitalization and Livable
Communities Act introduced by representative Albio Sires (d-NJ) in February 2011. in
fact, Trunzo was instrumental in raising rep. Sires's awareness on issues of livable communities and in motivating him to propose this bill.
We interviewed Trunzo to find out what led her to become engaged in national legislative advocacy as an NrPA volunteer.

Why do you believe it is
important for NRPA members
to engage in Capitol Hill
advocacy?

you can't sit back and
just listen: Being a
professional includes
being an advocate.

We need to be able to articulate
to our senators and Congressional representatives the importance
of parks and recreation, because i
believe that many of them aren't
well versed about the issues for
which we are advocating. it isn't
just about going in and asking for
money-it is, first and foremost,
about informing them on the benefits of parks and recreation programs and services to communities
and individuals.

Could you explain how local
agencies benefit from NRPA's
federal advocacy work?
Local agencies are the recipients of much
of the funding that is appropriated at the
federal level-and yet i feel that some
parks and recreation professionals do
not understand how to take advantage
of the state-side funding appropriations
through the Land and Water Conservation
Fund and state department of Transportation grants, for example.

ongoing basis in Washington and when
they are at their district offices. i realize that not everyone can head to Capitol
hill because of their jobs or personal lives,
but all professionals need to make a commitment to become advocates. Being an
advocate and being involved in public policy recharge me. i see it as part of my job
description.

What advice do you have for
prospective NRPA advocates
or volunteers?

NRPA schedules a Capitol Hill Day
each year. This is an opportunity for
citizens and professionals to visit
with their legislators in
Washington. How important do you
feel it is to be in Washington
advocating with hundreds of others
on the topic of parks and
recreation?
it is important, but just as important is
advocating year-round by visiting and/or
communicating with our legislators on an

Advocacy isn't just about being in
d.C. or visiting a local oﬃce once
a year. We must continually have
conversations with federal and
state legislators. i don't want to
leave an oﬃce and have the staff
turn to each other and say, " oh,
they were here for their yearly visit. " Advocacy is also about inviting your federal
legislators-as well as your state legislators
and local politicians-to events like a ribbon cutting for a new park or playground.
or sending a letter to thank them when
you have been able to purchase open
space with funding dollars they agreed to
appropriate. i also think we need to form
local citizen coalitions, because our citizens are our best advocates.
You can't sit back and just listen: Being

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January 2012 - Parks & Recreation

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