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���vrr I�o�rat : I.���re �r�r.� in ii�e
<br />The Holistic Approach:
<br />�an Leisure Services Bscome
<br />All Things to All People
<br />e�
<br />RiChrtl RodCa, Supenntendental Recieafion, Teaneek NewJersey
<br />Fer tha relative conservative in a fast
<br />prowin8 fiNtl of Recreation anA Park Ad-
<br />miniatrmion, �here hns b¢en eoncem regar-
<br />d�n8 90e�s anA objectives sought antl prac-
<br />ticotl by wnremooraries.
<br />We are m:tl that al1 indications point ro
<br />en �penvon ot areaa M responsibiliry [�a�
<br />a�e to inelupe tliseiplines wMirA, in timea
<br />Veet, were lak m those eaperts Eetlicatetl to
<br />and atlueatetl in those tliseiplinp. We sre
<br />now mid that thox who tlo not become im
<br />voNetl in, etluwtM for antl activists for a
<br />witle e�pansion of sarviees embracing all
<br />trom planned parenthootl lo gariavica antl
<br />every[hing in betw¢ep that the professional
<br />worltl wll pas them by and for certain theY
<br />will be erying in tha wiltlemasa.
<br />Very shang Oosi[ions have been taken
<br />aPparting this concepl They may well be
<br />va0tl. Aswming this m be the casa, great
<br />^mpet6y must go in sava�al tlirections. The
<br />{ is ro tha etlucarors who are making
<br />every eHOrt to encourage young pro0�e [o
<br />build their fuNre in parks, recreation antl
<br />wnservation.
<br />The educators are very much embmiled
<br />in the tlevelopment of pa�ks and recreacion
<br />as e prohseion. We were mIA some years
<br />a8o that a profesion inhn — A¢mands —
<br />mastery of an ecceptetl body of knowleAge
<br />dirxtly rNa�eE ro tlro diaeipline. Opinions es
<br />lo whM mngtitutee the aceepteE botly of
<br />knowletlge han bron d'ucusseE for years by
<br />all interesteE aiM, as Mis is written, thare
<br />has been IiMe known unanimitY of oPinian.
<br />In Rie meaMtme, smdenp are attenaing
<br />elaesea antl abaorbiig eoursa marerial wm
<br />tenL Tasts are contluctetl, researth papen
<br />wbmrtttM antl araminaKone given, taken
<br />M�� CaaseE orfailetl. Depreas are Branted,
<br />ioternehips eervetl ane eareers launchetl.
<br />Empethy m�st alw be Cireetetl st the
<br />quCem who, m tha outse[, a.prasses a
<br />Eetlro to make a/uWre in the erea en-
<br />eomPaving parks. recrention enA con-
<br />servation.
<br />The wrNeulum material pmaently offered
<br />Is rtqst compre�msiw, a9 it must be, to
<br />aEppuetNy O�epare the s[udent for a major
<br />r in the edminnvation antl opero[ion of a
<br />—=rosshl eapxienqv Spero here will not
<br />permit a thorpuph tlxlineation of material in-
<br />clu0tl. It ahoutd be �ro19y, howevar, thm
<br />ths 6roedn lM mk uf tha Atlministroro�,
<br />� BM+tx Ma eouras conronc Tha 9reatm
<br />aM aro the ropuirm�ann of fioee ro
<br />present the marerial. If aress formady
<br />assoeiatetl wtth social work res0a�sibilities
<br />are to be addeA to tha assigned taeks of
<br />those �esponsibla tor park4, recrealion anC
<br />conservaNOn, tnen k woula seem tnac atan
<br />additions in tlepartments woultl be e
<br />prerequisite for successiul overation.
<br />It has been pointad out thatin t�e State
<br />ot New Jersey, ot those communities being
<br />served by tull-tima year-roun0 recreation
<br />antl park perwnnel, 85% have a Oopulatian
<br />ot less than 25,OW. Most are "one man"
<br />Eepartments which means that the perspn
<br />in charge has the responabilky for
<br />acquisition, tlevelapmertt, prpgramming,
<br />supervision, atlminisHa�ion antl all else
<br />rela[etl [o [he operation. Samehow, the par-
<br />son is expecretl also m 6e available at least
<br />ro Ixal clubs an0 organizations, serve on
<br />' boartls pr comminees, be aetive in tha
<br />religioos in»iwtfon of his/hx faith and a
<br />good family perwn. Atlditionai time is m ba
<br />devotetl m profassional davelopment by eF
<br />tending seminan, conbrences or meetinga
<br />related ro recreation, parks entl ccn-
<br />urvation. Fraa time �eyontl that no Eoubt,
<br />is axpecreE ro be uxetl for penonal
<br />recreation m set an etample for the rest oi
<br />the community.
<br />The person is azpxro� [o be en autho�iry
<br />on park dasign, budgeting 725% worth of
<br />servicos with 90% epproprietion, know all
<br />relevant /acb e0out physical, Wciel,
<br />culmral antl hobby interesro for thoxe fmm
<br />prexhool ro senior citizen.
<br />To spread this perwn yet thimror by atl�
<br />tling a"holistic" apD�oech to hie essign�
<br />mant may subject tha enlhuaiestic and lear
<br />ned itlealist to more then was bargainatl for.
<br />Incidantally, the term "holiatio" hae been
<br />usatl of late bY a limitetl number of thoae
<br />who migh� be claseifietl as pnctitbnero.
<br />Ot puestiona — antl tlemanES — matla by
<br />conatituents saned by flecrearion entl Park
<br />DeOertmmts, mast have ro tlo with
<br />faeilhias, program, mainlensnea and leadar-
<br />s�ip. "�n we hava anothar paol, ball /ield
<br />picnic area, open spaee, neture cenfer, in�
<br />tloor facility, senior dtken canter, placs for
<br />teena, culwral cmw7•' em, aL in/inNum.
<br />"IS it not posgiWS lor Ihe maintananie
<br />Vaople ro rapai� tlamepes inllinetl 6y ven�
<br />tlab without shutlin8 �'+� an mtire
<br />facility7
<br />Canl. an Mp� 0. Cal. f
<br />The Recreation Move
<br />A Human Service Pei
<br />bY
<br />✓ackFO/ey, S✓pt.olqeaeefioqCWverCiry,Celi/or �
<br />Tna recreatian antl paek mo'vemmt is �wt
<br />immune ro tha social and economic iasun
<br />that tlominaee as aur wuntry enten ita third
<br />eaneury. Naving eoneluded a netional tla
<br />bate and electian last fall, solutions ara'tle-
<br />veloping for economie problema, hip� y�-
<br />¢mployment, efficiency in govemmmt,
<br />crime, poveM. racial entl athni< harmony
<br />and moral leatlership. Our innx cily popy.
<br />lacioiw are ohan replero wiN alienation,
<br />emotional tleprivatian, high erime, unem-
<br />ploymant antl a Aisintegrared senae of crom-
<br />munrty. Citizens in ur6an America are
<br />becoming increasingly mobile, fleaing tha
<br />innar sitY, involvaE in changinp famtly reb-
<br />tionsnios antl lifastYlm, eMperiencing new or
<br />altereE petrerns of houaig, xrork enE lei-
<br />sure, and are entwinatl in changinB value
<br />sys[ems.
<br />The question being aekeA amon0 ma�ry
<br />recreation and park prpfectinnale ic: �¢n
<br />lhe leisure nervicen motlel copa in a perbd
<br />of npid meial anE economie chanpe) We
<br />are wimeasing e saeiel revolutfon that has
<br />alrered the mnsciousnw of xromen,
<br />minoritiee. eltlerlY, WY VbPle. hanEicapOeE
<br />anE the young. Thpse ppweAut wclai forem
<br />are clashing with UatlitionN vaWn a� a time
<br />when some park end rxrwtbn pMapn� ere
<br />aweking to lhe amrmow potenliel nf
<br />laisure for human devebpmertt, menul
<br />health, anE conaervatian ol humsn and
<br />physicelrenowces.
<br />It ia thie potmtNl that tlqinw our fulure
<br />enC will tlerormins wr roN In AmxkeY
<br />third emtury. XperoaNOn antl pnk panei»
<br />mus[ choop Esryvae� pryx��p e�chedule
<br />of laiwra sarvieea, pkhp ean oi our park�
<br />or Easigning aur aeMeae Io meks peopb
<br />nronBer antl improvinp the liri�p environ-
<br />ment of our communXies.
<br />One optlmiatic vend 6 the prowi�g
<br />awarenen in reemn yesn ehat ons of ths
<br />most preszing problems heNqbeal povarn-
<br />ment is the tlelivery ol wrvicei to meel tM
<br />increaHng sociel needs Inherent in Iivinp in
<br />the seventias.
<br />Some cities in'Califo�nie are now ehiiting
<br />tmm maoting the mog basic humnn naeds
<br />— fire, police xnd communi�y davelopmenl
<br />— m aaempts to addran a van erray of
<br />soeial issves. One reawr. u the tmnd to
<br />shiit lederal finaneinl axuten<a to cXia
<br />and counties (rom the tretliponal catepori-
<br />cul luntling �o bbck Brenta. Another rea�on
<br />is ihe close proximity of eitiee �p ita eitlrom,
<br />where ciiizens wn afily Mentily e�M
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