Rejuvenating Neighborhoods and Communities Through Parks—A Guide To Success www.NRPA.org National Recreation and Park Association © 2011 All Rights Reserved 68 Clearly, the goal of sustainability is challenging and universal Jason Schwartz, director of New York City’s Partnerships for Parks, believes that helping neighborhoods sustain their efforts is part of his organization’s ongoing work Catalyst empowers New Yorkers by building the lasting networks and structure they need to be effective leaders, as they work to revitalize their communities and reclaim their local parks. As a public-private partnership that maintains relationships with a broad array of community groups, we are perfectly situated to serve as a link between public agencies, non-profits, and community members. – JASON SCHWARTZ, DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIPS FOR PARKS Source: Catalyst: Step Three. Partnerships for Parks Future Viability Sustainability of a park project that ultimately leads to the revitalization of a neighborhood creates additional opportunities • Individuals and groups that have committed extensive time, effort, and resources are justified in celebrating the important changes their involvement has brought • Foundations and other funding organizations that supported the project report the success of these investments to their boards and donors • Residents and members of the community become empowered and inspired to sustain not just the park but the improved way of life within the community • Public parks and recreation can re-establish its role as a facilitator of positive results for individuals, neighborhoods, and communities, thus contributing to its future viability as a public servant Such revitalization does not occur in a short period of time—nor does it end with the completion of the park project and the dedication ceremony The challenge of ensuring future viability has no end date Unlike ecological capital which humans do not create, social capital is created by people and can be grown virtually at will; we can always adjust its supply in order to meet our needs. Thus, the gaps that must be closed in the case of social capital are not gaps between what we are stuck with and what we use; they are gaps between what we need and what we have decided to produce or make available. – MARK MCELROY, AUTHOR AND CONSULTANT ON INNOVATIONS THROUGH KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
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