This document discusses key issues and trends that will impact parks and recreation agencies in the future. It outlines 6 main topics: 1) Politics will become more partisan and contentious, requiring agencies to justify spending. 2) Environmental issues will be a major priority and driver of decisions. 3) Health and wellness will be the largest cost burden, requiring proactive local solutions. 4) Most recreation services will need to be self-sustaining through fees. 5) Agencies must strategically promote their value through public relations. 6) Automation and technology will transform recreation delivery and participation tracking. The document advises agencies to plan accordingly in areas like stewardship, health initiatives, financial analysis, public messaging and embracing new digital tools

1. What Are You Doing Today to
Protect the Future of Parks and
Recreation?
Michigan Recreation and Park Association
February, 2015
Tom O’Rourke, Executive Director
Charleston County Park and Recreation
Commission
torourke@ccprc.com

9. 6 Things

10.  Politics are going to get “worse.”
 Environmental issues will affect everything we do.
 The Health and Wellness of the American People will
be our country’s biggest problem. $
 Most Recreation Services are going to need to pay for
themselves.
 You are going to need to strategically SELL every
great thing you do and stand for.
 Automation will change everything.

11. Politics will get worse

12. Political Parties and Interest Groups
Republicans
Democrats
Green
Party
IndependentTea Party
Occupy
Wall Street
Tea Party
Patriots

13. Governance
Future Issues
What is the Role of Government?
What is the Purpose of Government?
Is Recreation an Essential Service?

14. 2009 Conservative Politics

15. 2014 Conservative Politics
"We are showing up at city council meetings on a regular basis, showing up at
county commission meetings on a regular basis. We have organized
neighborhood groups to attend town hall meetings," says San Antonio Tea
Party president George Rodriguez. It is at those meetings that we bring up the
issues of: How are you using our money?”

16. 2014 Conservative Politics
"I think we realized that just
getting together ... and
yelling and screaming
wasn't going to do
anything," says the 52-
year-old Angus. The
best thing is to get
involved at the local
level in the party. Move
the local party to the
right ... and then the
local party will move the
state and then the state
moves the national.”

17. What can you do TODAY?
 Stay in front of the issues that will effect your
agency. You will need to justify,
quantitatively, how you are spending each
and every dollar. ( That is OK)
 Create an agency that is completely shielded
from governmental politics

18. Environmental issues
will trump everything!

19. Environmental Importance
Earth Population
7.125 Billion

20. World Population Growth
1 Billion
3 Billion
7.12
Billion
19601804
February 2015

21. Environmental Importance
 The developed countries of the world hold 25%
of the world's population, but consume 75% of all
energy, 85% of all wood products, and 72% of all
steel produced.
 It’s been only 2 years since - for the first time in
history - more than half of the world's population
lives in towns and cities.

22. Environmental Importance
 Americans consume the most natural resources of all
developed countries. For example, we consume
about twice as much energy per person as the
British, French, Swedes, Norwegians, or Japanese.

23. Environmental Importance
We are Big Fat Greedy Pigs!

24. What can you do TODAY?
 Stewardship Mission Statement
 Agency Stewardship Goal Statements
 Your governing body will need to be in this
game…Be their resource.

25. The cost of being extremely
unhealthy will be the Number One
issue facing our Country.

26. Health and Wellness
FACTS
 47 Trillion Dollars are going to be spent in the next 20 years on
diabetes/obesity issues.
 By the end of this decade, over 50 million people will be killed as a result
of their food and exercise choices. (Twice as many as infectious
disease.)
 There are more people that are overweight than people who are
starving.
 By the end of the decade there will be a half-billion diabetics and over a
billion pre-diabetics, and only half the doctors to take care of them.

27. Health and Wellness
This problem is not going to fix itself at the
National or State Level.
It will fix itself at the local level.
YOU

28. What can you do TODAY?
 Create a REAL plan with appropriate
partners.

29. Most recreation
services are going to
need to pay for
themselves.

30. Taxation Example
Total Taxable Income $10 Million
Total Rec. Dept. Budget $ 1 Million
1
2
Total Budget
Rec. Budget

31. $1,000,000 Rec. Budget
Familiarize Yourself with the Following;
 What is the total tax bill on a $200,000 home.
If a citizen pays $1,500 year in taxes, and the
Recreation Department gets 10% of the total budget, this
person REALLY, pays $150.00/year for Recreation Dept.
Taxes.
NEXT – Know what that person is getting for their $150.00

32. Calculate what the Citizens get for
their $150.00
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
Passive
Parks
Youth
Programs
Adult
Programs
Youth
Athletics
Adult
Athletics
Senior
Programs
Special
Events
Arts
Programs
Aquatic
Programs
Camps
Breakdown of the $1,000,000 Budget
Don’t tell me your priorities, show me where you spend your
money and I’ll show you your priorities.

33. Calculate the fees you collect
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
Passive
Parks
Youth
Programs
Adult
Programs
Youth
Athletics Adult
Athletics Senior
Programs
Special
Events Arts
Programs Aquatic
Programs Camps
Front Row = Budgeted Amount
Back Row = Fees Collected

34. Analyze The Data
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
Passive
Parks Youth
Programs
Adult
Programs
Youth
Athletics Adult
Athletics Senior
Programs
Special
Events Arts
Programs Aquatic
Programs Camps
Front Row = Budgeted Amount - $1,000,000
Back Row = Fees Collected - $ 246,300
What is the foundation of your department?
Are any programs
making money?

35. All recreation
agencies will need to
SELL their greatness.

36. Who is your Sales Force?
 Your internal promotions staff
 Your employees
 Social Media
 The external media
 The public

37. Public Relations

38. PR Goals and Objectives
 Raise image and awareness
 Influence product, market and recreation
agency positioning
 Position your agency staff as industry experts
 Pursue articles/placements to create
customers and advocates

39. PR Vehicles
 Press releases.
 Editor briefings
 Tradeshows
 Case histories
 Speaking engagements
 Authored articles
 Social Media

40. A Picture is worth a
thousand words.
As you post…Remember,

46. When Others “sell”
your greatness

58. Correcting Inaccuracies

60. Prepare for Everything

66. • Let the public get to the people behind the programs, and
your agency culture.

67. • Let the public get to the people behind the programs, and
your agency culture.

68. Automation will
change everything.

69. Digital Image Video
Go Pro !

70. Map my Run

71. Nike
Fuel Band

72. REALY, TRULY,
BECOME AN AGENCY OF
SERVICE!
PUBLIC SERVICE to HUMAN SERVICE

73. Thank You
torourke@ccprc.com