October 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 47

what they have been called to do, and
yes, it is a calling, then the entire living
infrastructure of communities is better,
stronger and more resilient. "
McKnight as well as other new board
members note that NRPA's three pillars
have really helped produce a unifying
voice for all of parks and recreation.
Xavier Urrurtia, director of parks and
recreation in San Antonio, Texas, says,
" I accepted the nomination to the board
of directors of NRPA because of what
NRPA stands for. When I think of the
work we do on the local level around
conservation, health and wellness, and
social equity, I see how important it is to
have a partner at the national level that
shares the same values and understanding of how parks impact people and
communities. "
Mike Abbaté, director of parks and
recreation in Portland, Oregon, says,
" We need to build awareness, support
and advocacy for parks among the public. When the public recognizes the
value of parks, they will be more likely
to support funding and expansion of
services. "
New board member Nonet Sykes, director of race equity and inclusion for
the Annie E. Casey Foundation, says
she came on the board to help NRPA
become a stronger organization. " I want
to give my knowledge and expertise to
a field that I feel passionate about, " she
says. " I want to help people of color to
find value in parks and recreation and for
NRPA to think more strategically about
the issues relating to race, social equity
and inclusion. "
What issues are the new directors focused on and what would they like to
see the board act on? Social equity, racial tension, fiscal sustainability, climate
change, resiliency, and seeing park and
recreation agencies taking a greater role
in solving community problems are at
the top of their list.

NRPA welcomes all the board members, listed below,
and looks forward to their contributions:
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair of the Board of Directors
Leon T. Andrews, Jr.
National League of Cities
Washington, D.C.
Chair-Elect
Jack Kardys
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and
Open Spaces Department
Miami, Florida

Kevin Coyle
National Wildlife Federation
Washington, D.C.
Stephen Eckelberry
Bartlett Park District
Carol Stream, Illinois
Richard Gulley
Balboa Park Conservancy
San Diego, California

Past Chair
Stephen Eckelberry
Bartlett Park District
Bartlett, Illinois

Roslyn Johnson
Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
Greenbelt, Maryland

Treasurer
Michael Kelly
Chicago Park District
Chicago, Illinois

Jack Kardys
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open
Spaces Department
Miami, Florida

Secretary
Jesús Aguirre
Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
Seattle, Washington

Michael Kelly
Chicago Park District
Chicago, Illinois

President and CEO
Barbara Tulipane, CAE
National Recreation and Park Association
Ashburn, Virginia
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
City of Portland Parks and Recreation
Portland, Oregon
Jesús Aguirre
Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
Seattle, Washington
Leon T. Andrews, Jr.
National League of Cities
Washington, D.C.
Neelay Bhatt
PROS Consulting
Indianapolis, Indiana

Karen Bates Kress
Park Advocate
Emigrant, Montana
Herman Parker
City of San Diego, California, Park and
Recreation Department
San Diego, California
Ian Proud
PlayPower
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Molly Stevens
Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center
Austin, Texas
Nonet T. Sykes
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
Baltimore, Maryland

Hayden Brooks
American Realty Corporation
Austin, Texas

Xavier Urrutia
City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation
San Antonio, Texas

Kong Chang
City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Dr. Howell Wechsler
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
New York, New York

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October 2017 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2017 - Parks & Recreation
