July 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 10

EDITOR'S LET TER

Safe Spaces
For millions of people, parks, open natural landscapes and inviting recreation centers have served as
places of respite and restoration. These are places where we let down our guard and open our hearts
and minds to the possibility of increased health and more meaningful connections.
Orlando, Florida's Pulse nightclub was a similar refuge for its mostly LGBTQ, mostly
Latino, patrons. It was a place to dance, laugh, talk and perhaps even fall in love. That
sense of openness and security was shattered when
Omar Mateen exacted his twisted vengeance June
12, murdering 49 people and injuring 53 others.
NRPA's July 2016 Park and Recreation Month activities feature a superhero theme and characters customized
to elevate our Three Pillars: Conservation, Health and Wellness,
and Social Equity. The Green Guardian, Fit Twins and Captain
Community are steadfast, ready to defend the principle of open
access to parks and recreation for all. They are strong heroes
protecting safe spaces, for all people, in all communities.
Park and Recreation Month is an opportunity to bond together and support our communities - to truly let our superpowers shine. Beginning on page 38, NRPA Senior Marketing and
Communications Specialist Roxanne Sutton spotlights the winners and runners-up of our Park and Recreation Month cover contest and some real-life superheroes of parks and recreation, as nominated by their peers.
We're approximately three months away from the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference - turn to page
44 to get the latest on the transformative power of play from author Paula M. Jacoby-Garrett, as
well as what's new in the area of conservation education and essential tips for first-time attendees
from Conference veterans.
The superpowers of park and recreation professionals are as real and effective as any mystical
enchantment or genetically enhanced bicep. We bring people together. We make connections -
in health, well-being and across racial and demographic lines - where before there were none,
in hopes that, even in the face of unspeakable violence and hatred, we will have the capacity to
gather ourselves up and keep striving for better outcomes.
While it's impossible to prevent every tragic act or heinous plot, it is possible to cultivate safe,
supportive communities wherever we live and work. That's what park and rec does, day in, day
out, in times of both distress and peace.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN
Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing
Editorial Director

Parks & Recreation

| J U LY 2 0 1 6 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

PRESIDENT AND CEO
Barbara Tulipane, CAE
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS AND
PUBLISHING, AND EDITORIAL
DIRECTOR
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Samantha Bartram
sbartram@nrpa.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Sonia Myrick
smyrick@nrpa.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Catrina Belt
cbelt@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Creative By Design
www.creativebydesign.net
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Dana Storm
703.858.2174
dstorm@nrpa.org
SALES MANAGER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Mike Abbaté
Keith Anderson
Gerald Brown
Ernest Burkeen
Gwendolyn Chambers
Brendan Daley
Ryan Eaker
Mariela Fernandez
Robert García
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert
Sandra Gonzalez
Greg Harrison
Tim Herd
Mareya Ibrahim
Edward Krafcik
Todd Lehman
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Gil Peñalosa
Dr. Kevin Riley
Paula Sliefert
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
Randy Wiger

July 2016 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2016 - Parks & Recreation