Photo Credit: Illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc. / jbrouckaert
With their attention focused on the need to stretch ever-dwindling budgets, many managers may not have noticed a trend now taking hold in all types of facilities, from offices and hotels to schools and, yes, even park and recreation centers. This new phenomenon—or megatrend—is sustainability. In creating a “culture of sustainability,” individuals throughout an organization look for ways to reduce their resource usage and their impact on the environment. This trend may be how park and recreation facilities are operated and used for generations to come.
According to John Naisbitt, who popularized the term in his bestselling book of the same name, a megatrend is a great force that builds over time until it affects all aspects of society and people around the world. Globalization is an example of a megatrend; starting slowly some 25 years ago, it now affects people and companies world-wide. While it has been met with some resistance—as many megatrends are—globalization has become an irresistible force in many ways. Most observers now consider it here to stay.
Defining sustainability can be more complicated. It originally referred to using natural resources in such a way that they meet the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs as well. However, sustainability today also emphasizes finding a balance among people, profits, and the planet.