Open Space Radio

Latest Episodes:

It's Not Goodbye, It's See Ya Later! — Episode 091 May 18, 2021

Show notes

Today's episode is a very bittersweet one, as we are bidding farewell to one-half of the Open Space Radio team. Roxanne Sutton, NRPA Director of Communications and the creative mind behind launching Open Space Radio, will be moving on and pursuing some really cool new adventures soon — but this, unfortunately, means she will no longer be co-hosting the podcast.

We won't lie to you, neither one of us were looking forward to recording this one, but we were grateful to be able to chat on this episode and reflect back on how Roxanne started Open Space Radio from the ground up back in 2017, what she's enjoyed about it, what experiences and lessons she's taking with her, some of her favorite memories and more.

Tune in to the full episode below to hear our conversation and learn about:

The story of how Roxanne was tasked with launching Open Space Radio in 2017.
What conversations from over the years have moved her the most and continue to stick with her.
What life lessons she has learned through podcasting.
What words of advice she has for park and recreation professionals.
What she's looking forward to most in this new chapter in her life, and more!

If you want to stay in touch with Roxanne, be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.

Coffee Talk Replay: Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change — Episode 090 May 04, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode of Open Space Radio, we're re-releasing one of our Coffee Talks from last year's NRPA Virtual, where we discussed the importance of park and recreation professionals being prepared for disasters due to a changing climate. We were joined by Kenny Weigandt from Willamalane Park and Recreation District in Oregon and John DiSpaldo, a regional preparedness liaison for FEMA to talk specifically about the wildfires that were impacting much of the western part of the country last year. We chose to release this episode today because it aligns well with a new tool NRPA just released.

We know there is an increase in the number of climate events we see each year — like wildfires, hurricanes, extreme wind events and more — and that increase is directly related to the impacts of climate change. We also know park and recreation professionals, as managers of a large percentage of our public lands, play a critical role in climate mitigation strategies. One of these solutions is a new tool called Climate.Park.Change., which was created by the design firm Sasaki in partnership with NRPA. This toolkit compiles data on how climate change is affecting park and recreation spaces and offers physical design and community engagement solutions to address climate impacts. The tool currently covers 10 intermountain west states, but the strategies can be applied throughout much of the country.

We encourage you to check out this tool after listening to our Coffee Talk. Tune in below to learn how climate change is impacting the work of park and recreation professionals in the western part of the country, as well as:

How the Willamalane Park and Recreation District responded to the wildfires in September 2020.
How park and recreation professionals play a role in disaster recovery efforts.
How FEMA works with local governments and park and recreation agencies in responding to and recovering from disasters.
Why it's critical for park and recreation professionals to be prepared for disasters that take place due to a changing climate.
How the wildfires made Willamalane Park and Recreation District re-evaluate their disaster preparedness plans, and more!

Other resources that may be of interest:

Addressing Issues at the Intersection of Climate and Health — Episode 089 Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

In celebration of April being Earth Month, and with Earth Day coming up on Thursday, we're excited to be discussing a program focused on creating leaders for climate solutions. The program, Climate for Health, was founded by ecoAmerica and NRPA has partnered with them to bring the initiative to park and recreation professionals.

Climate for Health is a national initiative that offers tools, resources and communications to demonstrate visible climate leadership, and inspires health leaders to advocate for climate solutions. The training program we're collaborating on will elevate the essential role park and recreation professionals play in dismantling climate and health disparities in order to build resilient communities where everyone thrives.

In this episode we welcome:

Cheryl Salazar, CPRP, Recreation Supervisor II for City of San Marcos, California, and participant in the first Climate for Health Ambassadors Training
Rebecca Rehr, director of Climate for Health at ecoAmerica,
Jenny Cox, program manager for NRPA

Tune in to the full episode below to learn what sparked Cheryl, Rebecca and Jenny's passion for this work, as well as:

Why the Climate for Health Ambassador Training is an important piece of addressing issues at the intersection of climate and health.
How NRPA is committed to ensuring that park and recreation professionals are contributing to the overall resilience of their communities.
How the Climate for Health Ambassador Training is valuable for park and recreation professionals at all levels of experience, and why you should sign up.
Simple steps you can take today to reduce your climate impact, and more!

Other resources/information discussed in this episode:

Sign up for Climate for Health Ambassador Training
- On this website, we also have a suite of resources, including webinars, research and toolkits, for park and recreation professionals and partners to address inequitable climate-related health impacts through the power of parks and recreation.

Equity-Centered Planning Is About More Than Just Metrics — May Bonus Episode Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

The May issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today's bonus episode of the podcast, we're diving deeper into one of this month's feature stories, "From Plans to Parks." In this article, Clement Lau details how the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation is implementing equity-focused park and recreation plans to ensure that communities with the highest need for parks are prioritized.

Clement Lau, AICP, is a departmental facilities planner for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to park planning. He's worked in the field for over two decades, and regularly contributes his expertise to Parks & Recreation magazine and the Open Space blog, so we're excited to finally welcome him to the podcast to talk about how keeping equity at the center of park planning will ensure park and recreation professionals are able to serve every member of their community.

Tune in below to learn about what sparked Clement's passion for planning and why he wanted to pursue a career in the field, as well as:

How the Los Angeles County DPR creates plans with equity and implementation in mind, ensuring that the plans prioritize communities with the greatest need.
How the Los Angeles Countywide Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment's 2016 findings were so compelling that the county board of supervisors decided to put a parks funding measure on the ballot, which passed with overwhelming support.
How strategic community partnerships have helped Los Angeles County DPR's efforts to address the needs of six communities with the highest need for parks in Los Angeles County.
How Earvin "Magic" Johnson Park is "an oasis in a region lacking green space."
Why the stories and experiences that take place in our parks and community spaces are more important than always focusing on data and metrics, and more!

What Inclusion and Accessibility Means to a Special Olympian — Episode 088 Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Today's episode is airing on April 6, National Student-Athlete Day. While today's guest is no longer a student, she has been an athlete for Special Olympics Minnesota for 19 years. Abby Hirsch, who was born with Down syndrome, competes in various sports, including basketball, bocce ball, bowling, downhill skiing, poly hockey, powerlifting, SOfit, swimming, and track and field. In addition to being a talented athlete, Abby's list of accomplishments goes well beyond sports. She was a commencement speaker at a high school graduation, spoke on Capitol Hill, has emceed galas, has received numerous awards and is an active volunteer, coach and health and wellness ambassador.

Most recently, Abby even lent NRPA her voiceover talents for a video we're producing on accessibility in parks and recreation. And did we mention she works Monday through Friday at Walgreens? To say she has an impressive resume is an understatement, and that's why we're thrilled to have her join us on the show today to talk about accessibility and inclusion in parks and recreation.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about Abby's story and what accessibility and inclusion mean to her, as well as:

How she got involved in Special Olympics and why she continues to play today.
How the COVID-19 pandemic affected her as an athlete and health and wellness ambassador.
What her favorite local parks mean to her.
Why she feels parks and recreation is important for all people, but especially those with disabilities.
How park and recreation professionals can make sure their spaces are welcoming and inclusive for all people, and more!

From Experiencing Homelessness to Becoming a Community Leader — Episode 087 Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

A few months ago, we came across a post on LinkedIn that really pulled at our heartstrings and demonstrated how resilient a person can be when they have their mind set on a goal. The post chronicled the journey of one individual who went from experiencing homelessness to becoming the director of a park and recreation agency and a leader in his community, and we knew we wanted to connect with him to learn more about his story of adversity, resilience and how parks and recreation saved his life.

Today we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Samose Mays, the director of Bryan County Parks and Recreation in Georgia as well as the Georgia Recreation and Park Association district two commissioner. Dr. Mays is also a Certified Park and Recreation Professional, an Aquatic Facility Operator, a Certified Youth Sports Administrator, as well as a professor at Georgia Southern University. On top of all that, he is leading efforts to increase diverse representation within the park and recreation profession through the Minority Recreational Leadership Academy. But, it wasn't an easy road for Dr. Mays to get to where he is today, and we're so grateful he joined us to tell us more about his journey.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about Dr. Mays' journey and how he responded to adversity in order to pursue his dream of a career in parks and recreation, as well as:

What challenges he overcame while pursuing his goal.
How the resources at his local library and rec center helped him pursue his doctorate degree while he was experiencing homelessness.
How his lived experiences have helped him to identify and fill any potential gaps in the programming his agency provides.
How the Minority Recreational Leadership Academy is increasing diverse representation in the profession.
What being a professor at the same university he dropped out of twice means to him and what values he shares with his students.
How his story can serve as a valuable tool to break down the stigma associated with people experiencing homelessness, as well as other challenges people may face, and more!

The Importance of Amplifying Contemporary Indigenous Voices — April Bonus Episode Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

The April issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today's bonus episode of the podcast, we're diving deeper into one of this month's cover stories, "Protecting the Land and Its History." If you tuned in to last month's bonus episode, then you're probably just as excited as we are for tomorrow's TEDxCollegePark event, "An Equal Future." On today's episode, we're thrilled to be joined by one of the event speakers, as well as an individual who is doing vital work with Indigenous communities on-the-ground in Wisconsin, to discuss the importance of working with Indigenous communities in building "An Equal Future."

Today, we're welcoming Sara Sinclair, an oral historian of Cree-Ojibwa and German-Jewish ancestry, Columbia University professor and editor of How We Go Home: Voices from Indigenous North America, which is a book of first-person stories in the long and ongoing fight to protect the land, rights and life of Indigenous people in North America. Sara will be speaking on Friday, March 19 during "An Equal Future," and we can't wait for her presentation.

We're also excited to welcome Stephanie Lozano, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation tribe — a federally recognized tribe with traditional territory across Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri — and tribal liaison for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, which works with the eleven federally recognized tribes located within Wisconsin to provide child welfare, support for families and other critical services.

Tune in to our conversation below to learn more about Sara and Stephanie and the importance of amplifying contemporary Indigenous voices to help change the narrative for future generations, as well as:

What real equity looks like from each of their perspectives and lived experiences.
The role of climate resiliency in discussing Indigenous people.
The history of Ho-Chunk Nation and the tribe's participation in advocacy efforts.
How activism plays a role in addressing the needs of tribal communities.
What Deb Haaland's confirmation as Secretary of the Department of the Interior will mean for the future of tribal consultation and where priorities lie.
How baking a cake can be used as a good metaphor for explaining equity, and more!

Other resources discussed in this episode:

One Year Later: COVID-19 and Parks and Recreation — Episode 086 Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

When this episode airs on March 9, 2021, we will be two days away from the one-year anniversary of coronavirus (COVID-19) being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The past year has been filled with challenges, adaptations, pivots and so much more. We're battling multiple health crises on top of economic pressures and racial injustices. And through it all, park and recreation professionals have come together in service of their communities, including taking on new roles and providing essential pandemic response services, while also continuing to deliver their already-life saving services and programs.

The work hasn't been easy, and we know professionals are facing their own mental health issues while they continue to support equity, resiliency and health efforts for the people they serve. To chat about what the past year has meant to park and recreation professionals and to discuss where we go from here, we are thrilled to welcome Jesús Aguirre, NRPA Board Member and superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation. Jesús joined us almost exactly a year ago as we explored what effects COVID-19 was already having in parts of the country like Seattle as well as what we thought the year would bring. Also joining us is Allison Colman, NRPA's Director of Health, who has led much of the COVID-19 response and content creation for NRPA.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn about the impact COVID-19 has had on parks and recreation from Jesús and Allison's perspectives, as well as:

Some of the main challenges that park and recreation professionals have faced during the pandemic and how they're trying to address them.
How COVID-19 has uncovered the disparities in our society, as well as in parks and recreation, and what kinds of guidance has been provided to reduce these disparities.
What kinds of opportunities have arisen due to the pandemic that could change the future of parks and recreation.
The stories of resilience that have stuck out to Jesús and Allison over the past year.
How the upcoming COVID-19 and Parks and Recreation: Response and Recovery report, along with the corresponding communications toolkit, COVID-19 and Parks and Recreation: Making the Case for the Future, will assist in educating decision-makers about the essential nature of parks and recreation, and more!

For more information about NRPA's response to COVID-19, as well as available resources for park and recreation professionals, please see our Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage.

Creating a Space for Women in Parks and Recreation — Episode 085 Feb 23, 2021

Show notes

Women's History Month starts next month, and we thought it would be a good time to tackle a topic that has been on our episode wish list for a while now — women in parks and recreation. Parks and recreation, like many professions, was once a male-dominated industry. Now, however, those figures seem like they may be shifting. When thinking about who to bring on the podcast to talk about women in the field of parks and recreation, there seemed to be an obvious choice.

Today we are welcoming three park and recreation professionals who wanted to create a community for women in the field to come together and share their ideas, struggles and triumphs — something that has become even more important throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining us are Lakita Watson, NRPA board member and executive director of the Richland County Recreation Commission (South Carolina); Katy Keller, Recreation Program Coordinator for Indian Trail Parks and Recreation (North Carolina); and Melanie White, Business Development and Retention Manager at Town of Leesburg (Virginia).

Tune in to the full episode below as we discuss their experiences as well as the inspiration behind the Facebook group they created, which now has more than 8,000 members — made up entirely of women in parks and recreation — as well as:

Why they feel it's important for women to have their own space to collaborate on ideas related to our field.
Some of the ways they are sharing the "mental load" of invisible work that women take on in their personal and professional lives.
What their experiences have been working through a pandemic and what challenges have been unique to women.
What advice they would give young women in the field of parks and recreation.
Some of their favorite stories and ideas that have come from the Women in Parks and Recreation Facebook group, and more!

Building 'An Equal Future' with TEDxCollegePark — March Bonus Episode Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

The March issue of Parks & Recreation magazine is out now, and on today's bonus episode of the podcast, we're diving deeper into the feature story, "Ensuring 'An Equal Future' for All," which introduces a new TEDxCollegePark virtual event that park and recreation professionals won't want to miss. Many of us have seen a TED talk on one topic or another, and they have become a powerful way to use storytelling to provide a deeper understanding of an issue. TEDx events are independently organized TED events, and we're excited to speak with two of our favorite guests of the podcast about their roles in TEDxCollegePark's 'An Equal Future' coming up on March 19.

On today's episode, we are thrilled to be joined by the author of this month's feature story, Neelay Bhatt, who is the vice president and principal of PROS Consulting and curator for TEDxCollegePark. We're also equally thrilled to be joined by Roslyn Johnson, director of Baltimore County Recreation and Parks. Roslyn is the co-organizer for 'An Equal Future,' and during this conversation we learn more about this highly inspirational and educational event.

Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about TEDxCollegePark's 'An Equal Future' and why it is going to be such a valuable experience for park and recreation professionals, as well as:

What the theme 'An Equal Future' means
Who the inspirational presenters are that will be bringing this event to life
Why it was important to have park and recreation professionals involved behind-the-scenes
How they made this event as inclusive as possible by making it free to attend and available in multiple languages
How the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges, as well as opportunities
What Neelay and Roslyn are personally looking forward to most, and more!

To learn more and register for 'An Equal Future,' taking place on March 19, visit TEDxCollegePark.com.

Be sure to follow TEDxCollegePark on social media to stay up-to-date and learn more about the presenters:

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