Encampment Response and Management in Parks
Wednesday, April 22 | 10:45am - 12:00pm
Session Description: Metro Parks Tacoma, like most cities and park districts on the West Coast, has increasingly felt the pressures on our public spaces to accommodate individuals experiencing homelessness. This session focuses on our agency journey over the past five years in facing the challenge of providing safe, clean and welcoming parks for the entire community to enjoy, while respecting the basic human rights of an extremely vulnerable population.
Learning Objectives:
- To understand the scope of this problem in our communities and the impact to park budgets, work plans, and staff morale.
- That it takes a village to provide the resources to address the root causes of homelessness, and make a real impact towards better futures for everyone in our communities.
- Provide awareness through the equity lens on the topic of people experiencing homelessness, and the disproportionate societal toll on people of color.
Speakers: Mary Anderson, Pete Mayer, Joe Brady
About the Speakers: Mary’s career at Metro Parks Tacoma has spanned 4 decades and a variety of positions in the field of parks and recreation. She was born in Tacoma and graduated from Washington State University with a BS in Forest Management. Currently she serves as the Natural Resources Manager for Metro Parks with 5 program areas: Chip-In volunteer programs, Urban Forestry, Natural Areas, Community Gardens, and The Tacoma Nature Center.
Pete Mayer holds a master’s degree in parks and recreation administration from Washington State University, where he also earned his undergraduate degree. Pete has 25 years of experience managing public agencies and parks and recreation operations. Pete is a past president of the Washington Recreation and Parks Association.
A Tacoma resident for 20 years, Joe Brady is proud to work on behalf of citizens in a dedicated effort to make our region the best it can be- for everyone. As the Chief Strategy Officer for Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT), Joe is responsible for the agency’s government relations efforts at the local, state and federal levels, the development and maintenance of the District’s long-term planning framework, it’s national accreditations, and special project management on behalf of the Executive Director and Board of Park Commissioners. As former Peace Corps’ volunteers and parents to two children, Joe and his wife, Brynn (a lifelong Tacoma resident), are passionate leaders whom have dedicated their time and talents to important causes, including Amara Foster Care, Downtown on the Go, Tacoma Farmers Markets, Centro Latino, Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church and School and the Nortac Soccer Club. Joe is a 1996 graduate of Colorado State University and holds B.S. degrees in Range and Forest Management.
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