OPINION: Parks and rec conference attendance needs county support

R.E.A.C.H. San Benito Parks Foundation took a look at the CPRS (California Parks and Recreation Society) Conference to see just how this yearly event might impact parks and recreation in San Benito County if the Board of Supervisors sent our Parks and Recreation commissioners and staff. 

All that said, the California Association of Park and Recreation Commissioners, Staff and Board Members is one of the various entities served by the conference, and that is the entity that requires both credential and membership, i.e. the membership is paid by the county for its staff and commissioners.

The CPRS advances California’s park and recreation profession, therefore it provides the commissioners and board members a serious platter of educational choices to enhance job and project success.  Examples are: “Be The Master – Planning for Parks and Recreation”; “Therapeutic Recreation – Providing Essential Recreation for People of All Abilities”; “Practical Ideas and Innovative Highlights from Maintenance Management School”; “Team Approach – Thinking of Park Maintenance Differently”; “How To Make Your Park Foundation Successful; Police and Recreation – A Perfect Partnership”; “Senior Health and Wellness – Preparing for the Next Generation”; and so many more! 

There were 109 available classes and discussions that provide answers to parks and recreation questions of today. This is an extreme conference, put on by a truly dedicated staff of professionals for the growth and benefit of our California communities and counties.  

The main exhibition hall at the Sacramento Conference Center was packed with upwards of 180 exhibits by businesses that serve public park needs, including landscape architecture, aquatic design, play equipment, outdoor architecture, park furniture, creative signage, and more. Importantly, there were displays of award winning park designs, park planning and projects from around the state. The entire exhibit was geared to incentivizing creative communities toward parks and recreation for healthy living.

To get the full value out of a conference such as this, a number of staff and commissioners are required. With only three days to soak up information on this scale, you need a team working together in order to bring back motivating, productive information to the full Parks and Recreation Commission, staff and county officials. 

Without a funded parks district, San Benito County has to take the lead on supporting appointed commissioners who focus on the needs of our county parks and recreation. Paying for educational opportunities like this is well worth county funding. Good parks and outdoor opportunities are required for healthy community populations and business vitality; if that was not the case, there would be no conferences like this.