Photo Credit: © Photovs | Dreamstime.com
Editor’s Note: This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what’s going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and “wander around” the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions, and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues and ask the leaders among the readership to share their knowledge and experiences.
In the previous “LBWA” column, I wrote of my encounter with a recreation legend, John H. Davis (he led the first Georgia Recreation Commission, which later became the Georgia Recreation and Park Association; he was President of NRPA in 1975 and worked there for 10 years, etc.). He had called me after reading the column, and when I realized his important place in recreation history, I asked him to send me a letter with some of his thoughts about today’s recreation.
I would like to share some of his thoughts--what he called “random thoughts”--because in this complicated and diverse recreation industry, we need to refocus on what is really important. He wrote:
- “During my 40-plus years in the public recreation field, I witnessed some of the worst facilities one can imagine. I suppose that is why I am so compelled to advocate excellent maintenance. Well-planned and maintained facilities serve as a magnet in attracting more people to use them.”