Photo Credit: Courtesy of mconnors
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.
As the world’s population grows, more emphasis is being placed on “sustainability” in every aspect of life, from the types of fuel we use to the food we eat; parks and recreation professionals are in a particularly unique position to promote sustainability, especially in maintenance.
What exactly does “sustainability” mean? Like so many words, it can mean different things to different people in different circumstances. Globally, sustainability refers to the long-term ability to maintain an ecosystem or human society, according to Vanderbilt University Professor John C. Ayers, writing for the website “Best Thinking.” In the article, the professor of earth and environmental sciences notes the importance of not only stopping unsustainable practices, but also creating new, sustainable ways of doing things.
Most parks and rec maintenance managers probably aren’t thinking globally each day as they go about the business of caring for sports fields, keeping facilities running, and dealing with trimmed budgets and diminished staffs.