Friends Network-2007 Partners in Parks Conference

MA FRIENDS GROUPS

FRIENDS' RESOURCES

HOT TOPICS

Serving as a resource to help strengthen the ability of friends groups to better protect and enhance Massachusetts’ forests and parks since 2007.

Partners in Parks Conference Workshop June 6, 2007—Where the Friends Network Began!

Partners in Parks was a one-day statewide conference involving state and municipal agency staff, open-space users and advocates, non-profits and long-time volunteers working together to make progress toward seeing the Commonwealth’s forests, parks and open space achieve their potential as wonderful places to work, play and be restored. The issues discussed at this conference continue to form the basis of action for the Friends Network.

The Workshops

Conserving the Commons

Enhancing Public Private Partnerships

Green Dollars: Open Space Investment and Economic Development

Keeping it Civil: Balancing Interests, Expectations and Impacts

Making Places Matter: Exercise, Events, Education and the Arts

Planning for Resilience, Managing for Excellence

Toward Equity and Environmental Justice: Parks and Open Space for All

Sponsors of the Partners in Parks Conference

Partners in Parks: Celebrating and Restoring Massachusetts’ Public Places Conference—Workshop Report

The Friends Network thanks the Forests and Parks Partnership for sharing the Partnerships in Parks Conference data.

Workshop—Conserving the Commons

What/who’s Missing from the current vision?

Municipalities

Regional planners

Historic preservation community

Developers

State needs to help promote, facilitate, fund effort

Need more public relations, marketing

Need a master plan for the state that includes conservation, industry and people’s values for a healthy state.

How do we articulate a vision that we can all get behind?

Needs to be a collective vision of all constituents (urban, suburban, rural)

Get wide range of participants to endorse final vision

Speak to multifaceted benefits (economic, physical)

Need good slogan backed up by maps and data.

How can we sustain buy-in from Conservation Community, Public, Legislature, Leadership?

Need real estate developers and conservationists working together.

Focus on public health benefits, especially in urban areas.

Insurers have vested interest in supporting healthy open space.

Make this a Commonwealth vision

Strategic planning for our quality of life

Mobilize the 151 land trusts covering 351 communities—each should help promote this vision of the state.

Solutions to Issues, Impediment

Encourage the state to be the convener with the possibility of a non-governmental entity being the champion

Budget for a PR/marketing firm to develop a messaging campaign

Need small group asap to decide on next steps

Broad appealing vision, policy document, campaign.

Begin with updating conservation plan we have

On a parallel track, create a development plan for the state.

Together: “Commonwealth’s Conservation and Development Plan”

Develop broad themes and apply to local needs

To Top

Workshop—Enhancing Public Private Partnerships

Successful modes/what works?

Friends groups and the agency have clearly defined roles and responsibilities - Point persons on each side

Shared public and private understanding of vision, goals, operating agreements and directions

Clear communications – including annual meeting for goal setting and planning

Friends groups need to communicate with each other

Accountability – annual performance review of each side

DCR support for Friends groups

Funding – Equitable funding model

Friends are advocates for sufficient public funding of parks

Private group represent all shareholders

Possible Friends “umbrella” group

Creating a manual – DCR starter kit – online and hardcopy – identify roles and responsibilities – coordination between groups and DCR

“Friends” as a name has positive value

Agency has to be advocate for itself

Top issues, challenges, obstacles—short list

Funding

Liability Insurance and requirements

Communications between government agencies and Friends groups – lopsided partnership

Pace of decision making is different between Friends and government

Top issues, challenges, obstacles—the longer list

Access physical

Funding

Safety and perception of safety in the park

Liability Insurance

Liability requirements

Permitting – red tape for events

Communications between government agencies and Friends groups – lopsided partnership 1

Top down design of DCR policies

No one listening to the Friends groups

Inadequate distribution of resources and not enough funding

Insurance

Aspects of setting up a 501C group are daunting

Long term viability of Friends group

Misunderstandings and expectations of the Friends group with the agency Donors may have their own agenda

Perception of competition for available funding

Pace of decision making is different between Friends and government

Volunteers are not valued appropriately

Decision making authority is lacking

Different park users have different perspectives.

To Top

Workshop—Green Dollars: Open Space: Investment and Economic Development

Top Issues

Disorganized movement / talk to ourselves

Need to show benefits & market parks system

No long-term vision

Need to focus more on specifics (what to spend on)

Don’t reward good government by having investments stay in place – no incentives

Don’t invest enough in our youth

Issues and Solutions

Issue: Need to show benefits & market parks system

Solutions:

Market to groups outside of parks community working with youth (e.g. working with public health or violence prevention)

Market our treasures – e.g. Plymouth Rock – at the state level create a marketing campaign

Quantify economic benefits of successful parks and models to measure park’s economic values

Issue: Need to Focus More on Specifics of What to Spend On

Solutions:

Power in numbers – can sell an idea better to elected officials and others as a large group – at the community level or state?

Take the larger reports and bring it down to the local community level, provide examples of local parks, regions, and areas

Clearly articulate the needs at the local level

Missed opportunities to build on

Frisbee golf —lots of kids playing

Corporate donations—inclusion of open space in developments—difficult to do at the state level, may need legislative action—

Market the DCR trusts which can accept corporate donations

Lots of public open spaces being used by private entities—fines or rental fees

Creative partnerships with corporations

Better link up with sister agencies—supplemental environmental projects (violators)

Raise the revenue ceiling so can retain more revenue

More activities that bring in different kinds of users

To Top

Workshop—Keeping it Civil: Balancing Interests, Expectations and Impacts

What makes for a wonderful parks experience?

“Parks are where life is”

Safety, well maintained, healthy parks with clean air and water

Quiet enjoyment of nature and wildlife, solitude, peacefulness, tranquility, no interruptions by bikes, dogs, vehicles

Diversity of usage, various user groups respect each other, including dog walkers, mountain bikers, birders, etc…….

Active and passive uses that contribute to a sense of history and community

Urban park—walking, dogs under control

To be in a place that is purely open space, nature, not built space

Recapture childhood experiences

I don’t have a yard. Parks are important for me to have open space.

Issues and Solutions

Issue: Preservation of nature; Preservation, conservation, especially in urban areas… balance uses with managed land

Solutions:

management plans for all parks; consult users and experts in design of plans

more education in schools re: natural resources

state assistance ($ and advice) for management plans

expanding and promoting friends groups

environmental designs to protect areas

partner with other organizations for interpretive work

designating distinctive uses, separate more/less active areas**

Issue: Active vs. passive recreation

Solutions:

look for all potential uses

separate solutions/paths for separate uses

physical controls for enforcement

self-enforcement by user groups and volunteers; non-contentious way of offering warnings

Issue: Lack of respect or understanding between user groups e.g., Cultural differences, people not understanding each other. Sense of power or entitlement from some long-time users. Need to reconcile differences with newer users, being respectful that there is no one way to use any of the resources

Solutions:

distinctive uses

hearing out the other side, understand concerns on all sides

educate re: what responsible behavior looks like

more balanced press coverage

reaching all users effectively, bringing everyone to the table who has a stake in solving the problem

use pilot programs, adjust on the basis of evaluation

include newer users; DCR to take a strong role in bringing people to the table

help raise funds, develop new ways to raise funds (e.g., user fees), bring in more volunteers

Issue: People not taking responsibility for themselves (Cleaning up after dog, use designated areas for bikes, etc.) and adhering to the rules. Conflicts probably most prevalent within user groups

Solutions:

creating volunteer groups as ambassadors to public as a whole

creating peer groups by interest, hopes for self-policing

creating signage, brochures that clearly state rules. “Please do” vs. “Do not”

encouraging compliance rather than enforcing the rules

Issue: Enforcement: e.g., Western MA: abuse of state parks, including illegal ATV use. not enough resource to enforce. Perception and/or real lack of safety Illicit activities at some parks (e.g., illicit sexual activity, drugs, etc.)

Solutions:

echoes in education group

do something about the fines; e.g., levy based on % of income

public involvement of volunteers, neighbors, public policing

greater presence: rangers, management, volunteers

alternative sentencing for violators

directed patrols

seek avenues for good/poor behavior recognition

increase training for police officers re: environmental issues

increase training for park rangers

more park rangers

Potential Areas of Compatibility

Clean ups

Groups forming for user groups, coming together for mutual things

Corridor parks: walking, cycling, dog walking

Urban: Single uses or single times

Ways to recognize the need and the truth that the parks are a shared resource… respect for appropriate use of certain venues.

Win-win or lose least-lose least solutions

Signage

Design

Enforcement

Education

Silencers for ATV's and motorcycles

Find place for each activity

Forming user groups

Meetings between user groups and regulatory bodies

Designated times for different uses (trails)

To Top

Workshop—Making Places Matter: Exercise, Events, Education and the Arts

Top issues, challenges, obstacles—the longer list

Getting previously untargeted groups into the parks (HS students) Engaging a wider user base

User group conflicts

Lack of Money for programming, personnel, maintenance Competition for funding

Changing people from park visitors to stewards/volunteers

Technology vs. parks (get outside)

Need more activities and organized plans for park use

Fear of outside

Lack of access to parks

Kids are over-scheduled (organized sports)

MCAS focus; lack of time for outdoor activities

Administrative barriers for private organizations

Seasonal issues and weather

Lack of interest

Not knowing where to get information on parks

Language differences

Trained interpreters

Lack of parental and school admin support for trips to parks

Need for evidence of value of PBE, time spent outside

Top issues, challenges, obstacles—the short list of group priorities

Getting previously untargeted groups into the parks (HS students)

Engaging a wider user base

Lack of Money for programming, personnel, maintenance

Competition for funding

Fear of outside

Kids are over-scheduled (organized sports)

Solutions/strategies for addressing

Issue: Getting previously untargeted groups into the parks (HS students) Engaging a wider user base

Solutions:

Build bridges with currently organized groups that serve the populations we want to reach

Park user study (Who? Why?) Neighborhood assessment – who’s not using it and why?

Give groups more responsibility – make them teachers of younger kids, for example (leadership and training)

Diversity training among our own organizations (boards of directors and staff)

Creating and upgrading existing recreational opportunities in the parks

Flexible outdoor facilities

Citizen-organized groups such as walking clubs

schedule public mtgs when working ppl can attend

Nature/exercise as prescrip

Using technology to get word out

Events and contests to attract young ppl

Using schools to get the word out to young people

Issue: Lack of Money for programming, personnel, maintenance Competition for funding

Solutions:

Smaller advocacy grps join together; coalition bldg, listserv

Coordinate funding requests

Documentation – collecting data to prove the need

Accessing recreation committees for $$$ for transportation

Instituting user fees

Returning greater % of gate receipts to parks themselves

Encouraging perm. Private endowment to support parks

Cultivate several revenue sources

Issue: Fear of outside

Solutions:

Easy, comfortable, basic programming

Addressing safety issues (lighting, pruning, etc.)

Offering regular options (consistent)

Educate people that scary things are from ppl, not outside itself

Utilizing young people to pass on word to their peers

Education

Programming from familiar activities in the outdoors

Multilingual outreach and Interpretation

Supervised time for youth in parks to reassure parents that it’s safe outdoors

It’s normal and good to spend time outdoors

Redesigning parks to have areas for creative play and supervised areas

School grounds – exploration to ease fears

Issue: Kids are over-scheduled (organized sports)

Solutions:

Booklet of things you can do in your park – guide to your local park

Parents and kids doing things together

Family events

Co-scheduling organized events (piggybacking interpretive activity with organized event like baseball)

To Top

Workshop—Planning for Resilience, Managing for Excellence

Combined Issues and Solutions

Issue: Strategic plans are needed at all levels and integrated as needed

Solution: Start with DCR

Issue: Resources for planning & managing/maintenance

Solution: Building public support to increase state appropriation

Issue: Protecting natural resources

Solution: Planning and public support & COMMUNICATION

Issue: Lack of understanding by users of regulations and plans that guide management of parks

Solution: Reestablish citizen advisory committees by law; actively solicit input from user groups & others for regulations and plans; enforce regulations/consequences

Issue: Lack of clarity in planning “tracks” both within the agency and the public

Solution: Effective statewide strategy for government/NGO’s, etc. (SCORP); two-way, simpler communication element to all planning and implementation; telling the story of why we need regulations and plans.

Issue: Lack of resource inventories

Solution: Utilize stakeholder groups to assist, including existing protocols; two-way, simpler communication element to all planning and implementation; telling the story of why we need regulations and plans.

Issue: Lack of site-specific plans

Solution: Pull together existing general guidance for site; seek money for planning from non-traditional sources, e.g. grants; two-way, simpler communication element to all planning and implementation; telling the story of why we need regulations and plans.

Issue: Lack of implementation as part of the planning process

Solution: Adopt DCR Watershed Plan elements of funding and implementation plans

Issue: Resources are not allocated appropriately

Solution: Synthesize program and prioritize allocations

Issue: There is a disconnect between goals and interests of friends, groups & agencies

Solution: Memorandum’s of Agreements – site and/or issue specific

Issue: Plans are too often unrealistic in aiming at perfection

Solution: Prepare prioritized plans within allocated resources

Issue: Agencies incur high expenses because of emphasis on infrastructure over programs and events

Solution: De-emphasize infrastructure and focus on natural resources and experience

Issue: Lack of Strategic Plan

Solution: Create continuity & consistency in organizational leadership; development of strategic plan and educate upper level management of critical value for strategic planning & taking long term view

Issue: Persistent internal conflicts and dysfunctional organizational structure

Solution: Better public relations & marketing to general public/constituencies; create continuity & consistency in organizational leadership; development of strategic plan and educate upper level management of critical value for strategic planning & taking long team view

Issue: Need for public & political support from outside agency

Solution: Create continuity & consistency in organizational leadership; development of strategic plan and educate upper level management of critical value for strategic planning & taking long team view; conduct critical analysis of organizational structure & functions

Issue: Lack of funding

Solution: Better public relations & marketing to general public/constituencies

Issue: Crisis management with minimal resources

Solution: Better public relations & marketing to general public/constituencies; pursue dedicated funding

Issue: Funding for planning

Solution: Petitioning and campaign to increase public awareness

Issue: No prioritization of tasks and goals in the state parks and forest

Solution: DCR should prioritize balancing between field staff maintenance issues and strategic planning issues to do both

Issue: There is no clear definition for forest versus park lands

Solution: Send to legislature a request first to clarify definitions and uses of state parks and forest lands, etc. and what are the most appropriate functions for each, and second, designate which units are park, which units are forests, etc.

To Top

Workshop—Toward Equity and Environmental Justice: Parks and Open Space for All

High leverage issues, challenges, obstacles

Making parks affordable

Mixed use and conflicts of different uses
Interpretive programs

Employment bringing in younger people to encourage interest in parks

Staff should reflect park users

Overcoming apathy

Hard to get access to decision makers

There is little information from the community about priorities, programs

There is distrust between the community and developers and the community and government

Groups that work on youth violence, affordable housing, etc. are not at the table with park advocates (and vice versa)

Allocation of resources

Communication between community members and agencies

Lack of education for community members and staff

Availability of resources for having enough parks (how much is in the pot)

Availability of vacant lots for community groups – often owned by BRA in Boston, for example

High leverage solutions, strategies

Issue: Mixed use and conflicts of different uses

Solutions:

The community defines the priorities. Community meeting to bring all parties together in a fair and equitable process for park use; define designated areas

Education and outreach in conjunction with consistent signage (across all parks) and enforcement (including warnings and maybe fines)

Issue: There is distrust between the community and developers and the community and government

Solutions:

Culturally competent education in all directions

Transparent, inclusive process that’s based on common goals, commonly arrived at, with neutral facilitation at key points

Commitment to following plans and communicating results

Lots of alcohol in informal social situations that bring people together

Issue: Groups that work on youth violence, affordable housing, etc. are not at the table with park advocates (and vice versa)

Solutions:

Directly invite as many stakeholders as possible to the table.

In an EJ community, have a town hall/panel discussion in a local setting and have one rep from each stakeholder group sit on the panel; invite an open audience; have Q&A

Outreach to students – different agencies or programs related to parks should have education programs that go into schools across the state about the park system works in the state

Issue: There is little information from the community about priorities, programs

Solutions:

Inclusive meetings with the goal to understand the community vision and go to the next step

Train and empower decision makers to do the above

Train and empower people to present and implement their vision

Who else should we involve?

Mixed use and conflicts of different uses:

Park users, including special interest groups

Community leaders

State leaders, legislators

Nonprofit and business groups

Abutters

Friends groups

Advisory groups

School groups and other youth groups

Senior groups

Law enforcement

Media

Health care groups

Day trippers (not locals)

Environmental and land trust groups

Immigrant groups

There is little information from the community about priorities, programs:

New Americans

Associations for new Americans in the US

The “real” leaders

There is distrust between the community and developers and the community and government

Neutral facilitator

Groups that work on youth violence, affordable housing, etc. are not at the table with park advocates (and vice versa)

Youth violence

Housing advocates

Frame it to attract others who care

To Top