Parks & Recreation

[From my Jan. 1 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

Happy New Year! 2008 was a banner year for Colchester Parks & Recreation, with many successes and achievements. As we head into 2009, this is the perfect time to reflect on some of those accomplishments as well as refocus our efforts on goals yet to be attained.

Perhaps one of the best measures of success is our progress thus far on the 2008-2009 Strategic Plan that the department implemented at the end of 2007. Now halfway through the plan, it is an appropriate moment to determine if we are on track.

The plan has five overarching goals that dovetail with our department’s mission: “To provide high quality parks, facilities and recreation services in a way that meets Colchester’s diverse interests so that people may find identity and make meaningful connections, and enhance their quality of life.” In other words, Create Community Through People, Parks and Programs.

The five goals are: Enhance Customer Service; Provide Strong and Decisive Leadership; Maintain Fiscal Responsibility; Pursue Unique Contributions to Parks and Recreation; and Support Professional Development. Within each of those goals are strategies for achievement, which are detailed by measurable and attainable tasks.

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[From my Dec. 25 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

“Creating Community Through People, Parks and Programs” is more than an inspirational slogan. It is a philosophy that goes to the core of Colchester Parks & Recreation’s mission. Each activity, service and facility that our department coordinates or maintains is guided by the belief that we can and should strengthen the bonds that define our town, with numerous resulting benefits such as improved health, economic development, camaraderie, and better overall quality of life.

A key element of this effort is ensuring that the idea of “community” is inclusive of all that make up Colchester. Many segments of the population are routinely served, with marketing and programs geared towards their needs. Others, while always welcome, may not have felt the encouragement to participate. Specifically, I am referring to those with special needs.

Among our department’s policies you can find the following statement:

We are committed to accessibility for individuals with disabilities and strive to provide equal, integrated participation in all programs and services. We will reasonably accommodate all qualified program applicants in accordance with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We welcome questions, comments and concerns of interested community members regarding ADA compliance.

Despite its intent, upon examination this virtual footnote is most likely sending the wrong message. To me it says, “We will do what is required of us.” It may meet the letter of the law, but certainly misses the spirit.

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[From my Dec. 18 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

You might not know it, but Colchester is pretty progressive when it comes to working together and sharing services. The rapport and cooperation among departments, let alone between the Town and the Board of Education, is unheard of in most other places. We often take our easy working relationships for granted, until we face dumbfounded looks from our colleagues in other towns and school districts.

One profound example is the shared nature of the Parks & Recreation Department. For years now the department has been responsible for all grounds in town, whether they be parks, government facilities or school grounds. Over the past two years this arrangement has been formally recognized in the budget, with the Director’s salary split between the Town and Board of Education.

This type of arrangement, while strange in other towns, is not unique to our department here in Colchester. In similar ways, the salaries of the Chief Financial Officer and the Director of Facilities are both shared positions among the two budgets.

Rather than creating situations with competing responsibilities, these positions have become yet additional bridges of communication and coordination between these two halves of the town.

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[From my Dec. 11 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

Behind most successful public ventures is the dedicated work of volunteers. Throughout history, volunteers have made a tremendous impact on the American landscape in virtually every area of human endeavor. The passion that drives volunteers motivates them far more than money ever could. Two recent projects here in Colchester serve as shining examples of the great work of volunteers.

This past summer dozens of local residents answered the call for volunteers interested in working together to explore the possibility of developing a dog park in town. In just a matter of months, this committed group has done extensive research and convened numerous meetings where their many ideas have coalesced into a unified plan.

Presenting their proposal first to the Parks & Recreation Commission, of which it is a subcommittee, and then to the Board of Selectmen, both audiences were duly impressed by the obvious amount of work and level of detail that the committee had poured into the project. Presented with this level of professionalism and obvious dedication from a large group of community residents, it was easy for the boards to give the committee the green light to move on to the next phase of development, where they will develop more detailed plans and begin raising the necessary funds.

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[From my Dec. 4 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

What is more valuable than some extra time to connect with your kids? I’m going to go out on a limb and guess “not much”. With just fifteen minutes and a little effort, you could build upon your family relationship while at the same time setting a valuable example for your children.

My proposal is simple. When you head out somewhere in the car, find a place to park that is about three-fourths of a mile from your destination (or further if you are feeling ambitious), and walk the final leg of your trip. And fifteen minutes is a generous allowance for this distance – many will do it in less than ten minutes.

Not only will you feel great about the walk, with its built-in health benefits, but chances are you’ll learn something new about each other along the way. And you will be serving as a great role model for your children.

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[From my Nov. 27 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

There are so many things to be thankful for at this time of year, or any time of year for that matter. Of course, the top of the list is my family, both immediate and extended. Knowing they are healthy, and sharing their love and support, are the things that make life great.

But there’s no denying that work is a huge part of my life. Like most people, I spend more time at work than with my family. Luckily, I absolutely love my job, for many reasons.

I truly believe in the benefits of Parks and Recreation, both for individuals and communities. From health, to social, to economic, to environmental, the benefits derived from a vibrant Parks and Recreation program are numerous. Parks and Recreation is integral to the “livable community” movement, which focuses on developing healthy places and spaces where people can live, work, play and thrive. It’s part of what makes some towns more desirable and attractive, both to families and businesses.

When I get to see positive results of the work that our department does, it reminds me of how blessed I am to be a part of such a great community. Watching kids make new friends and build their self-esteem through our programs is extremely rewarding, as is seeing a family enjoying a picnic in one of the parks. When I hear that a runner in our annual Ghost Run has just completed her first half-marathon, I’m proud to know that we helped to make that achievement possible.

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The following article appeared in the August 08 issue of "Parks & Recreation", the official publication of the National Recreation and Park Association. I thought it so beautifully captured the value of local parks that I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Local Treasures, by Jay Walljasper

How does owning a vacation house at Yosemite sound? Or a beach cottage near the shores of Acadia National Park? Do you dream of hiking the Grand Canyon right outside your front door, or taking a dip in Crater Lake after getting home from work?

This is not some far-fetched fantasy of zealots who want to privatize our national parks. Actually, it’s a pretty close description of my own modest home—and probably yours, too.

Let me explain. I live just a few blocks from Lake Harriet, a national treasure where I swim and cross-country ski, walk in the woods, and spot bald eagles soaring through the skies. And all of this happens right in the middle of inner-city Minneapolis.

See the full article at: http://www.colchesterct.gov/Pages/ColchesterCT_Dept/PR/forms/ViewsFromParkBenchAug08.pdf

[From my Nov. 20 article in the Colchester Bulletin] PLUS A BLOG BONUS!

Last week I wrote about my take on the presentation given by a speaker at the statewide forum on youth obesity prevention. As I explained, Dr. Brownell’s focus was on addressing the crisis by changing default situations, with a spotlight on nutrition. However, the next speaker, CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Gina McCarthy, was just as powerful, and took a slightly different tack in addressing the situation.

As I’ve mentioned at various points in this column over the last year, children have become increasingly sedentary over the years, for multiple reasons. And this change in lifestyle has had a variety of negative effects, not only on our children, but on the environment as well.

Commissioner McCarthy brought the audience back to our youth, where we collectively recalled spending nearly every free minute we had out and about in our neighborhood with our friends. We played pick-up sports games, explored the woods and created our own activities, and didn’t come home until it was dark and time for dinner.

Few children do this any more, for a combination of reasons. The lure of TV, computers and video games is addictive and much more plentiful than in days gone by. Parents are much more apprehensive about letting children go off unsupervised, due to either real or perceived increases in danger – a discussion for another time.

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[From my Nov. 13 article in the Colchester Bulletin] PLUS A BLOG BONUS!

Optimal defaults – a simple concept that has the potential to change the world. I learned about this concept at a fantastic statewide forum about preventing youth obesity that was put on at the State Capitol last Friday. The keynote speaker, Dr. Kelly Brownell, founder and director of the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity in New Haven, presented this simple yet mind-blowing theory as the main point in his seminar that day. To say the least, this concept has impacted me profoundly.

At its crux, Dr. Brownell’s concept of optimal defaults seeks to change our environment by creating the most healthy situations possible. Rather than forcing people to choose or seek out healthy alternatives, people would automatically be in a healthy circumstance.

Dr. Brownell demonstrated the concept with two strikingly simple examples. Employers who provide pension plans have two ways of enrolling employees: they can either automatically enroll new employees, giving them the option to decline, or have employees choose to enroll when they are hired – the same options, just different defaults.

When the results are compared, however, it’s clear just how influential the defaults are. When people are automatically enrolled into a pension plan nearly 100% remain enrolled. When employees have to opt in to the plan, the number is only around 50%.

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[From my Nov. 6 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

As I write this column Tuesday morning, record numbers of people across the country are making their voices heard at the polls. They are casting their votes for not only our new President, but also local, state and federal legislators and other elected officials, as well as their positions on various referenda on the ballots.

However, this should not be the end of your involvement in the government of your community and country; instead, let it be a new beginning.

In recent elections, it has become extremely apparent just how valuable each and every vote is in the outcome. The same rule applies to the creation of laws, policies and decisions that dictate many of the ways our lives are lived.

In many respects, one person’s involvement in the legislative process has significantly more impact than their vote in an election. As it takes a majority of voters for a candidate to win an election, each individual vote is just a piece of that puzzle, albeit an important one. Conversely, one person’s voice can be the impetus that creates and ultimately passes a new law.

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[From my Oct. 30 article in the Colchester Bulletin]

It’s always a pleasant surprise when you get a fresh reminder that people really are the same no matter where you go. For the past two weeks I have been on vacation in Shanghai, China, where I have been working with a new children’s activity center that has recently opened. (I’m actually still there, returning on November 1 – the internet is a marvelous thing!) And despite the many cultural variations I have experienced, at our core, we are not all that different.

The center is a cross between a Gymboree, a YMCA and an art center, where kids can make craft projects, play sports and games, and have birthday parties. Surprisingly, it is the first of its kind in this area. Until recently, most Chinese people had neither the time nor the money to spend on this type of recreation.

However, the burgeoning economy in China has brought a new wave of leisure time, and the financial ability to afford these previously unavailable experiences. Add to that the country’s policy of only one child per family (to which most people adhere), and you have parents and two sets of grandparents all devoting their discretionary income and time to the development of just one child.

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Soon after I learned I was coming to Shanghai, I started to research the city – as any traveler would do. Obviously I wanted to know the rules, customs, attractions, etc. But I also did something a bit a-typical: I searched for the local Ultimate (Frisbee) community.

After playing ultimate for nearly 20 years now, one of my favorite things is meeting and playing with ultimate teams wherever I travel. One of the greatest aspects about the ultimate community is their hospitality – they’re happy to let people join in, whether veteran players or newcomers.

It didn’t take long for me to find a web site for Shanghai Ultimate. When I posted to their online forum that I’d be in the area for a couple of weeks, they invited me out to join their weekly Monday night league play.

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The way the activity center is currently organized, the staff are somewhat segregated by areas of responsibility: sports, arts & crafts, parties, marketing, sales, and back office. While they are certainly friendly with each other, there isn’t much professional interaction throughout the workday.

During my first few days of working at the center, the majority of my time was spent working directly with the staff. As I consulted with staff in the separate program areas, this disconnect was more evident; each group would have similar issues and ask many of the same questions.

We spent some time each morning, all together, doing games and teambuilding activities. I tried to impress upon them the notion that the entire staff, regardless of role, was an integral member of the team. Without any one person, the “machine” could not operate efficiently. They had to rely upon and assist one another.

The other focus of the training was on providing activities and methods for working with the kids that come to the center. As I teach camp staff in the U.S., it’s all about building relationships between the kids, the staff, and each other. All of the activities, games, equipment and facilities are simply vehicles that create opportunities to develop these connections.

As the staff get to know the kids, they can create situations where the kids can be successful, and give each child a chance to shine. Through this process the kids come to know themselves better, increasing their confidence and self-esteem.

After three days of training, I was looking forward to seeing the staff in action. Saturday and Sunday are the big days, with many classes and parties scheduled, as well as some open houses to bring in potential new members. It will be exciting to see the center buzzing with activity.

Getting around in the city streets of Shanghai can be a harrowing experience. At each road crossing you take your life in your hands.

Pedestrians, bikes, scooters, motorcycles, cars and trucks all do battle on the same roads. It’s a test of wills, with no one yielding an inch. A pedestrian will blithely step out in front of a truck, expecting it to give way, not even glancing over his shoulder to make sure it is stopping, while cars will weave through a throng of people and bikes crossing the street. Saying that they all coexist would imply some type of harmonious relationship. It is more like a battle royale cage match than a choreographed ballet.

Traffic signals, signs and other rules of the road appear to be optional, and certainly secondary to getting where you’re going as quickly as possible.

One thing that I’ve never understood about traffic lights in some other countries, including China, is the use of the yellow light as it changes from red to green. The caution light makes sense going from green to red, as it gives drivers a warning to slow down as they will need to stop. But tipping off drivers that the light will be turning green soon virtually dares them to jump the gun at the very time that the opposing traffic is racing to beat the impending red light. Am I missing something here?

In the midst of this craziness are the kamikaze bikers and scooters, who zip around oblivious to the surroundings. Sometimes carrying two or three passengers, none with a helmet, they come within inches of vehicles that would send them hurtling. Yet, they show no sign of fear or hesitation. In this city-wide game of chicken, no one wants to flinch.

After checking in, unpacking, and figuring out how to get my computer hooked up to the internet (my lifeline to the U.S.), I figure it’s time to get some breakfast. For sake of convenience, I enter the restaurant in the hotel lobby, with a bit of trepidation. Spread out before me is a buffet of strange foods, very few of which I can really identify. But when in Rome…

So I grab some chopsticks, load up a plate with little bit of everything, and dive in. Surprisingly, most of it is pretty tasty. There’s a variety of flavors and textures, hot and cold, spicy and bland. Even the familiar items are prepared a bit differently, such as the hard-boiled eggs which are sitting in some type of dark broth, which ends up tinting them like Easter eggs – but they’re tasty just the same.

My inexperience with chopsticks must have been obvious because the restaurant staff soon brought me a fork – oh, well, something to work on.

I soon cleared my plate – mom would be happy! Sufficiently refueled for the day, I decided to explore my surroundings.

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[The first in a series chronicling my trip to Shanghai, China]

My Shanghai adventure began late Sunday night as I headed to JFK airport for my 1:45am flight. Luckily, there wasn’t much traffic, so the driver made great time, and I arrived at the airport with more than 2 hours before boarding time.

As I prepared for my 15-hour non-stop flight, I scoured the airport for some snacks to bring aboard. The only thing open at that late hour was the duty free shop (the smart idea from my wife – thanks, Rachel!) From the wide selection of gift foods, I picked a small box of chocolate chip cookies for $5 – I didn’t think the caviar or salmon would do well on the plane, and the massive bar of Toblerone might be a little bit heavy.

When I boarded, I was seated by a window next to a Chinese woman who must have been heading home. However, as the plane was only about half full, she moved to another open seat, leaving us both more room to spread out, and hopefully get some sleep.

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[From my October 23 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

As any pizza aficionado knows, the true test of a pizza is how it tastes cold the next morning. It’s easy to make a pizza that’s delicious fresh out of the oven. But can it stand the test of time?

This litmus test can be applied in many other scenarios as well. At Parks & Recreation, we like to take our old programs “out of the fridge” and see if they’re still as good as when we cooked them up. How are they holding up? Have they gone stale? Was it really a high-quality program, or did it just seem that way because it was new and exciting?

It’s important to constantly reassess, ensuring that first-class ingredients are used and that the cooks are properly trained. When the product is a continued success, it’s tempting to not want to mess with what works. However, without tweaking and experimenting, we might never find the next big hit.

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Post your comments here about programs in which you or your family have participated.

[From my October 16 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. When something does not go your way, it’s because you were meant to do something else. And such was the case with this year’s 57 Fest. As disappointed as we were that the event could not happen on its originally scheduled weekend in September, last Friday’s weather could not have been better. The unseasonably warm temperatures helped the festival kick off the long holiday weekend with a bang.

The greatest thing about the 57 Fest is that it is not only a celebration OF Colchester, but it is also a celebration BY Colchester. While some organizations were unable to regroup for last Friday, most activities and entertainment took place as originally scheduled. The vast majority of booths are coordinated and operated by volunteers, from sports leagues and community organizations to political parties and schools.

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[From my October 9 column in the Colchester Bulletin]

In the Jewish religion, today is the most holy day of the year – Yom Kippur – when Jews conclude their celebration of the New Year by repenting for their misdeeds of the previous year and promising to change their ways. As part of the tradition, we fast for twenty-four hours, and spend much of the time praying in synagogue. We believe that God, for his part, writes down in his Book of Life how each person will fare in the coming year, for better or worse.

In many ways, this holiday is about starting fresh, cleaning the slate, and refocusing your efforts. At its core, this is good practice for virtually everyone. Who among us has not done something that we wish we could take back, or at least not repeat?

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