Park Equity: A ‘Novel’ Idea
Charles Giuffrida and Amelia Viscay | National Recreation and Park Association | December 21, 2023
https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2024/january/park-equity-a-novel-idea/
Everyone deserves a great park, and park equity is a core goal of our profession. Our departments, however, often deal with limitations that prevent us from achieving these goals. The additional pressure on park and recreation professionals challenges us to be more innovative in providing constituents with new ways to access green spaces and other healthy leisure activities.
Working to overcome these limitations, in 2023, the City of Revere (Massachusetts) Parks and Recreation Department partnered with its travel and tourism office (Next Stop Revere) and the Revere Public Library (RPL) to launch the “Be Tourists” program for residents. Not everyone has access to specialized outdoor equipment, which often limits their opportunities to go out and explore. The “Be Tourists” initiative aims to reconnect community members with nature by removing these financial burdens, making expensive outdoor equipment, such as snowshoes, camping tents and paddleboards, more accessible through its rental library program.
Built upon an existing RPL program, called the “Library of Things” — a collection of nontraditional items that can be checked out just like other traditional library materials — the rental process is simple. Residents check out equipment as they would a library book. The park and recreation department prepares the rental for the resident and stores the items until they’re ready to be borrowed again. This model not only makes the renting process convenient, but also promotes a sustainable and equitable approach to outdoor opportunities and improved public health.
The tourism office’s vision for Revere goes beyond generating economic impact for the city. We want to improve our residents’ quality of life whenever possible. Open space is limited in urban environments like Revere. So, we need to innovate to provide opportunities — both financially and materially — for our residents to take full advantage of living in Massachusetts and New England.
In the pursuit of making local exploration more convenient and enjoyable, the library also has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. This partnership allows an exclusive benefit to “Be Tourists” renters — complimentary parking passes for state properties like Bradley Palmer State Park or October Mountain State Forest. With free parking passes in hand, renters can explore without the worry of parking fees or restrictions.
Revere’s “Be Tourists” program was funded using American Rescue Plan Act funds with the goal of helping residents of an urban city gain access to new activities and open spaces. Combining the efforts of multiple city departments, this service stands as a beacon of innovative thinking in the realm of community outreach and outdoor recreation.
Charles Giuffrida, CPRP, is Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, City of Revere. Diana Luongo is Director, Revere Public Library. Amelia Viscay is Intern, Next Stop Revere.
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