Improving Park Access: A Conversation about the 10-minute Walk Campaign
Wednesday, April 22 | 10:45am - 12:00pm
Session Description: What do Tacoma, Tukwila, and Lynnwood have in common? As NRPA 10-minute walk campaign grantees, they are all working to improve access to quality parks in their communities – each with a different strategy. Joined by the Trust for Public Land, come learn about how these cities are working on joint-use agreements, updating park planning, exploring public/private partnerships, engaging underserved communities, and other strategies to improve park access.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how joint-use agreements with schools can improve level-of-service and parks access for residents particularly in low-income neighborhoods.
- Understand the potential and pitfalls of public/private partnerships, opportunity zones, and development agreements for developing parks within redevelopment projects.
- Learn successful strategies and lessons learned with conducting meaningful outreach to traditionally silent communities.
Speakers: Cary Simmons, Sarah Olson, Joe Brady
About the Speakers: Cary Simmons is the Northwest Director for The Trust for Public Land’s Parks for People Program. The program advances health equity, social justice, and nature access through community-based park planning and design in Washington and Oregon. Cary’s approach to park-making is rooted in community, with the belief that the process of community members coming together to create a park is just as transformational as the park itself. His built work includes memorials, rain gardens, playgrounds, urban plazas, and public parks.
Like many, Sarah Olson has worn many hats in her 20-year plus parks and rec career from aquatics, events, marketing, arts, community health to planning. Currently, Sarah's work is focused on long-range planning to improve community health through parks and recreation. Under her leadership, Lynnwood was selected to be part of the NRPA 10-minute walk campaign and is working on improving park access for all Lynnwood-resideOnts.
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.
|
