The National Summit on Environmental Stewardship for People, Parks and Public Lands was held May 4-7, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. Please refer to the posts and links on this site for details about the event.
The Summit was made possible through generous grants from the National Recreation Foundation and the National Recreation and Park Foundation. We thank them for their support of this event and the parks and recreation community.
Bigger than sprawl, bigger than climate change, Gina McCarthy, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, told NSES participants that the biggest problem we face today is the disconnect between children and nature.
"We are terrifying our children today," said McCarthy, referring to parents' over-protective urges. "We don't let them out of our sight."
In discussing Connecticut State Parks' initiatives aimed at reconnecting families with nature, McCarthy asked, Is a kid who has never climbed a tree going to care if a forest is cut down?
Listen to an excerpt from her keynote address below:
One reason that people in New York's South Bronx struggle with obesity, says Sustainable South Bronx Deputy Director Miquela Craytor, is the lack of opportunity to exercise safely outdoors. In response, her organization is developing the South Bronx Grennway to provide residents with safe public space, and to create better transportation policy. Craytor described the tactics her organization is using, including the integration of traffic-calming measures and truck routes that keep trucks away from the residential areas, to help integrate physical activity into citizens' daily life.
A community-led plan for a bicycle and pedestrian greenway along the South Bronx waterfront, Crayor says the South Bronx Greenway project will provide critical open space, waterfront access, and opportunities for mixed-used economic development. In addition, she says, it will help to grow "green-collar" jobs in a neglected community.
We talked with Craytor following her session and asked a few questions about the energy behind her organization's project. Listen below:
In this morning's keynote address, Metro Council President David Bragdon stressed the importance of making connections in identifying solutions for towns and cities. Bragdon, who grew up in Manhattan, has relied upon connections--with Portland residents, business owners, nonprofits, and others--to create jobs, support thriving neighborhoods, and improve regional transportation options--since being elected to his position in 2003.
"Parks are part and parcel of the urban system," said Bragdon. "We've got to get over turf issues, and enlist other agencies" in advancing sustainable, livable practices.
Listen below to an excerpt from Bragdon's address:
One of the best methods of engaging youth and parents to reconnect with nature and the outdoors is through rewarding, fun outdoor programs. Today's breakout breakout session on "Engaging Youth in the Outdoors" offered a number of examples of successful outdoor youth and family programs in private school settings, scouts, state parks, and local park programs.
Examples of successful programs such as the Catlin Gabel School, presented by director of outdoor education Peter Green, and REI's "Let's Go Camping" initiative, presented by Bob Leonard, focused on some simple guiding principles. One key they each pointed out was that the programs must break down the fear of the unknown.
Many of the participants in these programs have had limited experience in the outdoors and the simple act of setting up shelter can prove to be a daunting barrier to those who wish to participate. One other key concept that each of the presenters related was that the program should be experiential as opposed to a technical skills class. Presenters and participants agreed that the outdoors can be a great equalizer when working with a diverse cross-section of youth cutting across physical ability as well as age differences.
The other obvious keyword is . . . "fun."
Delegates gathered for a working lunch on Tuesday, their goal to participate in a formative discussion that will lead to the creation of a National Stewardship Ethic for Parks and Recreation. This call to action will encourage park and recreation leaders, advocates, and other stakeholders to embrace sustainability and preservation leadership as crucial to advancing the value or our mission.
Attendees were asked two questions:
1. Do the philosophies and principles in the draft National Stewardship Ethic best capture the responsibility of park and recreation and best position NRPA to contribute to the support of parks and recreation to advance this ethic?
2. What guiding stewardship practices should NRPA articulate and endorse as part of a National Stewardship Ethic?
Responses from table to table ran the gamut from ideas for engaging kids in nature through technology to working collaboratively with state and local governments to encourage regional planning solutions.
There are several keys to creating sustainable, healthy, livable regional landscapes, but some of the most essential include creating effective partnerships, building quality relationships, forging grassroots support, and using the media to your benefit.
These--and other--practices were identified in Tuesday's compelling "Creating Ecologically Sustainable Regions" education session, which looked at case studies in Chicago and Eugene and Portland, Ore., for inspiration and practical application.
Participants were treated to a discussion of how comprehensive visions are leading to formal plans for ecosystem protection and sustainable landscapes.
We caught up with speaker Jim Desmond, director of the parks and greenspaces department at Metro Parks and Greenspaces in Portland, after the session to ask a few questions. Listen to what he had to say:
Boarding a fully restored 1932 Brill Trolley Car, 20 summit attendees took a scenic 6-mile historic rail ride between Portland and Lake Oswego along the west shore of the Willamette River. Along the way, the history of the fascinating rail service and the evolution of the line was discussed. At the end of the line, attendees made the short hike to the nine-acre Foothills Park in Lake Oswego to learn more about local and regional efforts to preserve, restore, enhance and provide public access to the Willamette Shoreline. The remarkable cooperation between localities and the involvement of federal ecological assistance given by U.S. Fish and Wildlife are resulting in gorgeous public spaces and sustainable landscapes for future generations.
Lois Finkelman, president and citizen member of the National Recreation and Park Association, opened NRPA’s National Summit on Environmental Stewardship for People, Parks and Public Lands on Sunday in Portland, Ore. Hundreds of parks and recreation professionals, nonprofit leaders, and citizen advocates have gathered here this week to discuss how the nation’s local park and recreation agencies and citizen support groups can respond to global climate change and young people’s disconnect from the natural world.
In her opening remarks, Finkelman expressed the need for park and recreation professionals, along with citizen advocates, to identify the principles and practices required so every community can be part of the solution.
On Monday afternoon, summit attendees participated in off-site educational tours of Portland and the surrounding area. Jenny McIlvaine, volunteer coordinator for Presidio Trust from San Francisco, joined yesterday’s tour of the Fanno Creek Greenway. Reflecting on the tour, McIlvaine said she was impressed to see the amount of connected greenspace that has been preserved through Portland’s Clean Water Services and the city of Tigard’s Tree for All program. As the volunteer coordinator for Presidio Trust, McIlvaine was particularly impressed with how citizens and youth have engaged in preserving and protecting the Tualatin River Basin.
As summit participants work today (Tuesday) on creating a National Stewardship Ethic for Parks and Recreation, a call to action for park and recreation leaders and citizen advocates to embrace stewardship as a core responsibility, they will surely draw upon the important work already being done in every community by professionals like Kendra Smith, Carla Steader, and Peter Guillozet, who are taking every opportunity to engage citizens in reinvesting in the health and sustainability of their communities.
Yesterday's off-site tours gave many summit attendees the chance to explore Portland and discover some of the ways the area has become known for its sustainability and high marks for energy conservation.
Behold the TriMet Streetcar system! Energy-efficient, passenger-friendly and affordable. A large segment of the downtown area is designated as a "free zone" and you can travel to points throughout for--yep, you guessed it--FREE. And it includes some of the most popular destinations around town.
For points outside the FreeZone, there are very affordable rates. Most locals buy monthly passes and swipe their rider cards as they enter. Another atypical feature of the system: it's very easy to navigate. Even for riders who are prone to getting themselves lost!
And frankly, from what we've seen of the city of Portland, getting yourself lost amongst the friendly people, interesting architecture, great shopping, and myriad eating establishments, getting yourself lost may be the best way to spend an afternoon in town.
There was no shortage of examples of the effects of global warming trends on parks when Paul Gilbert, executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, asked to hear from attendees at the beginning of his session on reducing the carbon footprint of park agencies.
Representatives from northern California told of unusually dry conditions and the effect on water usage and sustaining landscapes. A park manager from the Great Lakes region shared a story about how storm events have resulted in increased erosion in their parks. An attendee from northern Canada talked about late snowfall events that destroyed budding trees and foliage. Gilbert explained that while there was no national policy for dealing with the vast array of global warming effects, park agencies and many local governments have taken steps to address the issue of carbon emissions.
Gilbert related how the current cap and trade climate policies are largely based on benchmarks that many agencies may not have data to establish. He went on to talk about the success he has had with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. NVRPA conservation programs have been very much in the spirit of the "Cool Cities" and "Cool County" initiatives, whereby his agency has set policy and instituted practices to reduce carbon emission incrementally over time using best practices and establishing methods to collect baseline data in ways that are more like traditional monetary budgeting.
Gilbert said that he set a goal for NVRPA of a 5 percent carbon emission reduction in the first year of the initiative. While he freely admits that his agency fell short of that goal, he is proud of the fact that it realized a savings of more than 3 percent. Gilbert urged those attending his session to not discount the overall improvements that can be made by tackling the obvious areas for improvement. Even a small percentage saved is a positive step in the right direction.
The secret to NVRPA's success can be found in a series of steps that Gilbert says are critical to tracking, saving, and rewarding success in an initiative such as this. First, park agencies need to establish baseline data. By qualifying energy into measurable units, park agencies can begin to get a clearer picture of true energy consumption and begin tracking it more closely to gather the baseline data necessary to make improvements and measure success.
Second, Gilbert suggests creating site-specific plans and creating task lists with those who will implement each task. Finally, Gilbert suggests regular review of progress and recognition of success. In the case of NVRPA, the 19-plus park system includes varied park usage from golf courses to waterparks to campgrounds and trails. At NVRPA, conservation awards are given based on a percentage reduction basis to account for operations both big and small.
Further, Gilbert went on to discuss the role of parks in their communities. He discussed three main missions: parks as environmental educators, parks as energy conservation advocates, and parks as leaders and protectors of natural resources.
How can park agencies use energy conservation programs as an opportunity for environmental education?
Monday night's reception at the Portland Zoo was a crowd-favorite, as guests dined and socialized among the primates, sea otters, and elephants--all in a gorgeous urban forest oasis. The local host committee has outdone itself--terrific job!
Participants to NRPA's National Summit on Environmental Stewardship came expecting a knock-out keynote address from Richard Louv, author of the critically acclaimed Last Child in the Woods, which chronicles children's lack of connection from nature and the outdoors.
They weren't disappointed.
For 30 minutes, Louv kept delegates' attention, taking on issues including suburban development that removes natural play from children's lifestyles, physical education disappearing from local schools, and parents' fear of releasing their children into the "unknown world."
"Parks need to be seen as preventative medicine," said Louv, who also stressed that we, as adults and parents, "need to enjoy the outdoors with our kids."
Also needed, stressed Louv, is greater support to organizations (such as parks) that help parents and kids "feel safe outdoors."
Listen below to an excerpt from Louv's address:
Don't know whether you've noticed, but in Portland, car-free is more than a movement. It's a way of life. From the trendy Pearl District to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park to the Hawthorne Bridge, you're much more likely to see Portlanders on two wheels than on four. In fact, the city is celebrating its lack of auto dependence by hosting Toward Carfree Cities VIII, a multi-day conference (June 16-20) that "attracts professionals, advocates, and community leaders who focus on the creation of sustainable transportation systems and on the transformation of cities, towns, and villages into human-scaled environments rich in public space and community life."
The trend toward a car-free existence is actually not a new phenomenon--nor is it restricted to Portland. From Boulder, Colo., to Grand Forks, N.D., communities large and small are discovering the many benefits of the auto-free revolution: healthier residents, reduced pollution, lessened traffic, and more.
Looking for more? Check out author John Greenfield's article on the topic, "Wreck-Less and Car-Free," which appeared in the May 2008 issue of NRPA's Parks & Recreation magazine. John has posted it on his blog here.
Conservation Fund CEO and President Larry Selzer provided an inspiring keynote address on Monday morning, rousing a sleepy-eyed crowd. Since its founding in 1985, the Conservation Fund has protected more than 6 million acres of wildlife habitat, wetlands, working forests, and historic sites in America. Summit participants warmly welcomed his words.
In response to concerns that the country's young people are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature, Selzer said, "The virtual is replacing the real. Perhaps it is time to seek a little more balance."
Continuing his address, Selzer suggested, "We need a children's bill of rights. This is a compelling vision of America. It needs to become mine and yours."
Monday afternoon's warm, sunny weather played gracious host to a group of 20 participants who toured the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, a 170-acre refuge on the east bank of Portland's Willamette River. The area, home to more than 100 species of birds, is Portland's flagship urban wildlife refuge.
Portland Parks and Recreation, along with a number of partners, has created a long-term restoration plan for the refuge, and manages ongoing research, education, stewardship, and recreation activities at the site.
This video shows how our Key Sponsor is living sustainability every day.
NRPA's National Summit on Environmental Stewardship kicked off in earnest last night with a welcome reception at the waterfront hotel. Guests mingled, gnoshed on tasty treats, and sipped cocktails, all the while discussing local efforts at greening their own communities. Sustainability, much more than a buzzword for this crew, is at the top of the list of priorities for public park and recreation agencies and others represented at the NSES.
The conference continues this morning with a keynote address by Conservation Fund President and CEO Larry Selzer, followed by education sessions and a number of summit educational tours, including one of the Columbia River Gorge.
We'll give you parks. Honestly, NRPA couldn't have selected a better city than Portland, Ore., to celebrate "people, parks, and public lands" with its National Summit on Environmental Stewardship. From 5,100-acre Forest Park to teeny-tiny Mill Ends (more on this in a moment) in the central downtown district, this city boasts more than 10,000 acres of green.
Filled with biking, hiking, and equestrial trails and more than 100 species of birds, Forest Park is, according to the Portland Parks & Recreation Web site, the "largest, forested natural area within city limits in the United States."
By contrast, Mill Ends is the smallest -- absurdly small, in fact. At a microscopic 12 inches across, it was the creation of Portland newspaperman Dick Fagan, who planted flowers in an unused strip of freeway median where a light pole was to go. Check out the rest of the story online.
Big or small, you can't go wrong in a city with this many parks.
At the “No Child Left Inside” Power Session held at the 2007 NRPA Congress in Indianapolis, participants heard from Gina McCarthy, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and a recognized leader in the growing movement to reconnect children with nature and the outdoors. McCarthy’s work in Connecticut has resulted in a truly innovative and remarkably successful program aimed at encouraging families to explore and enjoy state parks and other public lands. McCarthy will continue her engagement with the parks and recreation community when she delivers the closing keynote address at the National Summit on Environmental Stewardship in Portland. Read more.
As part of our ongoing "green" series, leading up to the NRPA Summit on Environmental Stewardship, May 4-7 in Portland, Ore., we featured a great story in the February issue of Parks & Recreation that combines the best of youth development and conservation efforts. It's the KidsGrow program, run by Baltimore's Parks & People Foundation.
The full article, of course, is in the magazine. But we were also able to catch up with Jackie Carrera, the foundation's executive director, and Monica Logan, KidsGrow program manager, to ask a few questions about their experiences with getting the program up and running, and what they might suggest to other agencies considering a similar program. Read more.
