September 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 41

tests across the United States and
around the world. It also marked
the beginning of substantive conversations about race within companies and organizations. BCRP was
no different, as the agency wanted
to address race both internally and
externally. " My thought was if it's
affecting me, I'm sure it's affecting
everyone else, " recalls Johnson.
" So, we called in a consultant to actually meet with our staff virtually.
And, we had segregated meetings,
which is unheard of but is actually
a best practice in these situations. "
The rationale behind this decision
was to first provide a safe space
and lay the groundwork with each
group individually - first with the
African American staff and then
with people who are allies or want
to become an ally - and then bring
everyone together. The department
held a series of meetings, in which
people shared their frustration, anger and other emotions. " It was really kind of a place for healing for
all staff, " notes Johnson.
Externally, BCRP supported several Black Lives Matter protests that
took place in many of the parks.
Johnson says, " We worked in partnership with our police department.
And, when we found out protests
were occurring, we would let the police know " and vice versa. She adds
that BCRP staff offered support by
providing loudspeakers, stages or
whatever organizers needed.
These historic events also inspired BCRP to launch the All
Parks for All People initiative. As
André Clark, PAL coordinator at
Cockeysville PAL Center, explains:
" It's just our way of letting the
community know that we do rec-

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWEST VOICE NEWS

BCRP lends support to the organizers of
local Black Lives Matter protests.

ognize that...people may feel marginalized and we're going to do everything that we can to make sure
that they understand that the parks
are not just for one set of people or
one type of person, but...that all
of our parks are for all people. " In
fact, BCRP staff produced a series
of public service announcements
(PSAs) in multiple languages to
drive this message home. County
Executive Olszewski appears in the
first PSA for the campaign.
" Director Johnson and I are
actually putting forward a pretty
significant bond referendum this
November, " says Olszewski. This
$35 million bond referendum is focused on expanding equity in park
facilities, which is consistent with
the goal of the All Parks for All
People campaign.
Johnson also reveals that to
commemorate the anniversary of
the March on Washington on August 28, 2021 and to promote racial equity in all parks, Baltimore
County will curate a photography
exhibition at Gwynn Oak Park in
Woodlawn, Maryland, in Spring
2021. The art exhibit will depict

racism and how it has affected
people throughout the United
States - while the chosen site is
historically significant to the Civil
Rights Movement. " It's a park that
in the past, was segregated and it
was desegregated the same day as
the first March on Washington, "
Johnson notes.

The New Normal
For the past several months, BCRP
staff have been adapting to their
new roles and the new normal
while continuing to serve their citizens and emphasizing the importance of equity. As Olszewski puts
it: " It's been incredible how they've
responded, but I think good leadership and a good team environment
make all the difference.... "
Tune in to the September bonus episode of Open Space Radio to hear
Roslyn Johnson discuss equity and how
her team continues to help Baltimore
County through difficult times at nrpa.
org/SeptemberBonusEpisode.
Vitisia Paynich is Executive Editor, Print and
Online Content at NRPA (vpaynich@nrpa.org).

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September 2020 - Parks & Recreation

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