Keynote speaker takes strong stance for parks and recreation: McGovern's support through the years has produced serious results

Parks & Recreation, April, 2006

The keynote speaker for NRPA's Legislative Forum on Parks and Recreation took control of the room, and never let go. Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) was introduced by NRPA President Steve Neu who called him a "champion of federal investments for parks, trails and natural resources."

McGovern turned the heads of park and recreation advocates in the 1990s, and has continued to support parks and recreation, even co-sponsoring a "Dear Colleague" letter this year to his fellow members of the House to help re-instate federal money for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state assistance program.

"Few issues mean more to me than protecting parks and conserving open space," he said. "Thank you, thank you, thank you for being here."

Although he has fought for funding in the past, this year he said that spending for parks and recreation is a "controversial and radical" topic for some members of Congress. lie asked members of NRPA to think of themselves as teachers and to educate those who aren't supporting park and recreation issues.

McGovern questioned why LWCF hasn't been fully funded, saying that members need to tell their representatives that 98 percent of U.S. counties have benefited from this money. "This is a program that has been working well," he said. "It is a true partnership."

He also emphasized that although funding for LWCF has been zeroed out in the Administration's budget this year, that if it wasn't for NRPA's advocacy, "things would look a whole lot worse."

He applauded the association's work to restore $30 million to the Fund last year, but explained that we are again facing another attack.

"You are truly on the front lines and you have to remain committed," he said. But he wasn't asking participants to do it alone-McGovern again pledged his support. "1 will do my part and I would be honored to lead the charge in the blouse to restore LWCF."

In exchange, he told the crowd to make legislators take a stand, and to ask for concrete answers. "Be tough!" he urged. "You have the opportunity to make a real difference."