Our plenary will feature a moderated panel of city leaders discussing new roles and responsibilities that parks and recreation departments are being asked to perform. Climate-related stressors and shocks — such as flooding, fires and extreme heat — are forcing public agencies to collaborate with each other and nonprofit partners to provide emergency social services like shelter, childcare, and the distribution of emergency supplies. Drawing on their assets and expertise, parks practitioners are finding themselves serving more often as first responders in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Join us for a discussion with city leaders who are rethinking what a parks and recreation department needs to be to serve the changing needs of its community today and in the future, and are innovating and evolving their partnerships to deliver those functions.
Speakers to be announced.