Parks and recreation in Georgia [Vol. 2, No. 1 (July-Aug. 1975)]

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VOL. 2, NO. 1

THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE OF PLANNING AND RESEARCH RECREATION PLANNING SECTION

JULY-AUGUST. 1975

STEPS FOR RECREATION CERTIFICATION
In response to numerous inquiries, the Recreation Planning Section has developed basic information relative to the Recreation Certification process. This information simply outlines the necessary steps an applicant must follow to become certified.
Certification laws for Recreation and Park professionals became effective in 1968. The law created the Georgia Board of Recreation Examiners and gave them the authority to certify eligible individuals. Current members of the Board are Mr James R. Champlin, University of Georgia; Dr Douglas Leavitt, Georgia Southern College; Mr. Claude Lewis, Warner Robins; Mr. James Miller, Cobb County
A professional may become certified in one of three levels. They include (a) "Recreation Administrator". (b) "Recreation Supervisor", and (c) "Recreation Leader" The Board of Recreation Examiners determines the level for which an applicant qualifies.
After meeting minimum eligibility requirements, the applicant must take and pass a written examination. The examination is held twice a year, on the first Mondays in April and October A total of S20.00 is required from each applicant prior to the examination.
There are presently 447 recreation professionals certified. They include 173 administrators, 159 supervisors, and 115 leaders.
If you are interested m becoming certified, the Recreation Planning Section urges you to contact .\'Irs. Shirley Lucero, Georgia Board of Recreation Examiners, 166 Pryor Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
(Continued on page 5)

TRENDS IN OUTDOOR RECREATION By Larry Hodges Planner
Recreation Planning Section
There is a trend in outdoor recreation that is just beginning to take shape that will play a very important part in the types of activities the recreating public will be participating in over the next few years. This trend has been greatly influenced by the environmental movement and is readily seen in the younger citizens. These activities are the high skill and high risk experience-oriented activities that bring the participants closer to the natural realms that support the activity A few names have been given to the activities that describe them as the old country activities, the pioneer oriented activities or the ecology activities. A majority of them have been per-
( Continued on page 2)

TRENDS (Continued from page 1)
formed in Europe for centuries. An environmental consultant from Hungary who works for Georgia State University stated that such activities as kayaking, mountain climbing, backpacking, youth hosteling, and other related activities are just in baby shoes in America. If you think about it, where do the champions in kayaking, mountain climbing, etc., come from? Europe, of course! Out of this high risk - high skill movement in recreation activities we can expect an increase in demand for: l Remote camping in the wild, primitive and wilderness areas. 2. Kayaking, rafting and canoeing on the swift whitewater and flatwater rivers and streams. 3. Hiking and backpacking the wild areas as well as in the urban areas. 4. Mountain climbing and rappelling in the more rugged sections of our parks and forests. 5. Bicycling and youth hosteling across country and state. 6. Skydiving and scuba diving which will appeal to many, as will snow skiing.
What will Georgia be experiencing in recreation during this period? There is no question that metroAtlanta will be the area from which the majority of the people who recreate will come. The Census Bureau places the Atlanta population by the year 2000 at approximately 2.5 million with the entire state totalling around 6 million. In addition to the population, there are several other factors that will make Atlanta very important in the recreation scene. I Atlanta will, within the next few years, have two iJiternationat airports bringing people from all over the world to Atlanta. This flavoring of international visitors will add to the participation in the high risk
high skill activities. 2. Atlanta will be the host for a very marked increase in conventions and general meetings. 3. Atlanta will continue to grow in the business, industrial, and trade segments causing the metro-area to not only have a bigger population, but a more diverse population.
The Outdoor Recreation Planning Unit of the Recreation Planning Section monitors all existing and potential trends so as to be better prepared to plan for the future. Forecasting is at most satisfactory, and there is no guarantee that tomorrow's rate of change will be as rapid as that which we are now experiencing. We can only assume that it will be. Each change will create new events, and totally new recreation patterns will come into being. We can't afford to be loyal to one trend but accept the responsibility to provide sound recreation opportunities under all conditions.
2

TENNIS WORKSHOP TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER
The Southern Lawn Tennis Association will cosponsor the USLTA/Scholastic Workshop, October 24-25, at the Radisson Inn in Atlanta. The workshop will be an intensive two-day Teacher Training Workshop for professionals, coaches, instructors and recreation leaders. For more information contact: Coordinator, Peter Howell, Atlanta Athletic Club, Country Club Drive, Duluth, Georgia 30136.
BARRON RESIGNS POST
John Barron has announced his resignation as Director of the Marietta Parks and Recreation Department to accept a similar position in Winter Haven, Florida. Barron has been with the Marietta Department seven years, the past five as Director.
Barron, originally from Pensacola, is returning to his home state of Florida.
OPERATION INDEPENDENCE FOR ELDERLY
The National Recreation and Park Association became a member of National Voluntary Organizations for Independent Living for the Aging (NVOILA} in 1974.
NVOILA received a grant from the Administration program entitled "Operation Independence"
"Operation Independence" is a unique program which relates the resources of the national voluntary organizations which are members of NVOILA to the initiation and expansions of community in-home and supportive services which will help more fragile vulnerable elderly persons who live in their own homes or other places of residence. It does so in partnership with planning and service functions being initiated under public auspices through Title III and VII of the 1973 Comprehensive Services Amendments of the Older Americans Act.
Any Recreation and Park agency desiring information on initiating such services should contact:
Constance R. McAdam NRPA Representative to NVOILA Recreation Division Chief, Arlington Co. 300 N. Park Drive Arlington, Va. 22203 (703) 558-2412

(Editors Note. The following article is taken from the March, 1975, issue of Georgia County Government Magazine.)
19 COUNTIES INSURE OFFICIALS FOR "WRONGFUL ACTS"
A special new field of insurance recently reviewed by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia is now protecting the officials and employees of 19 Georgia counties. This is Public Official Liability Insurance, and it insures a public official or employee for losses arising out of what are te~ed "wrongful acts"
During the past several years there has been a strong tendency for the nation's courts to allow lawsuits which subject a public official's private assets to liability This can happen even in cases where a subordinate employee committed a wrongful act.
Generally defined as "misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance", wrongful acts in this sense refer to errors in judgment by a public official, employee or subordinate acting under the official's authority Most often it has come to involve cases of alleged job discrimination or negligence that results in someone's loss or injury
It has only lately become legal for a government entity to purchase such insurance coverage for its officials and employees.
ACCG researched the field for about eight months before a plan was refined in such a way as to give county governments the protection they need at a practical rate. The association has endorsed a public official liability program offered by Haas & Dodd Insurance, Inc. of Atlanta.
Within the first 60 days after this insurance became available, 19 counties contracted for it. They had options for the degree of coverage and their costs were compiled after individual consultations with the insurer.
Literature on the insurance is available through the association at the following address:
Association County Commissioners of Georgia Suite 1124, Carnegie Building Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Telephone: (404) 522-5022

BICENTENNIAL PROGRAM IDEAS
"Like It Was"/The Bicentennial Game Book - Crafts, Skills, and Pastimes of the Colonial Era by Adah Parker Strobell is now available through the National Recreation and Park Association's Playground Program Series. This game book tells what the children of the colonial era did for fun, what games they played, what songs they sang, and what everyday life was like in the latter half of the eighteenth century.
For an easy-to~use, readable, how-to game and party manual~ chock full of songs, dances, games, crafts, recipes from our past, Indian lore, special events and odds and ends for five-through-13-yearolds (and adult "kids" too!) write to Publication Sales, National Recreation and Park Association, 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, Virginia, 22209. The Bicentennial Game Book is $9.95 in cloth and $6.95 in paper per copy
RECENT PERSONNEL ACTION
Promotions: Macon-Bibb County Recreation Dept.. Willie Glover to Athletic Facility Supervisor
New Appointments: Fulton County Parks & Recreation Dept.. Tom Bednar - Assistant Community Center Director Susan Blackburn Recreation Leader Larry Jennings Asst. Community Center Director Pat Jones Recreation Leader Randy Kirkland Community Center Director Cherie Sanders Recreation Leader Stewart Taylor~ Community Center Director
Macon-Bibb County Recreation Dept. Annie Palmer Therapeutic Specialist Amos Mack - Supervisor of Maintenance
Athens Recreation & Parks Dept. William Hassell - Superintendent of Parks
Roswell Parks & Recreation Dept.. Ben Southard Parks Supervisor Mike Jackson Maintenance
Valdosta Parks & Recreation Dept. Diane Lawton - Director of Senior Citizens
DeKalb County Parks & Recreation Dept.. Elyse Lawson - Asst. Director of Callanwolde
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FY '76 L & WCF GRANT ALLOCATIONS ANNOUNCED

The Land and Water Conservation Fund grant

allocations for FY '76 have just been announced. A

total of $2.275 million was allotted to 62 agencies

throughout Georgia. These projects were selected from 258 initial applicants requesting $17.3 million.

Allocations were made to the following agencies:

Agency

AJnount

Catoosa County Recreation Dept. City of Trion

$ 30,000. 20,000.

City of Rome City of Bremen

25,000. 12,000.

Floyd County Board ofComm.

25,000.

City of Cartersville City of Fort Oglethorpe

80,000. 34,000.

City of Jasper

45 ,000.

Chatsworth-Murray County Parks

& Recreation Department Dalton Recreation Department Hall County Parks & Recreation Dept.

40,000. 120,000.
52,000.

Union County Commission

35,000.

Toccoa-Stephens County Recreation Department

25,000.

Cumming Recreation Department

35,000.

City of Atlanta

175,000.

DeKalb County Cobb County Gwinnett County

130,000. 55,000. 25,000.

Clayton County

35,000.

City of Decatur City of Marietta

75,000. 90,000.

Barrow County Recreation Commission
Clarke County Commission City of Madison Heard County Commission

45,000. 45,000. 20,000. 15,000.

Troup County Commission

10,000.

Coweta County Recreation Dept. Bowden Park & Recreation Board Henry County Recreation & Parks

20,000. 10,000.

Department

18,000.

Barnesville-Lamar County

Recreation Commission City of Thomaston Eatonton-Putnam County

25,000. 30,000.

Recreation Department Hancock County Board of

35,000.

Commissioners

15,000.

Burke County Board of

Commissioners

45,000.

4

Agency City of Millen City of Swainsboro Bibb County Board of
Commissioners City of Macon Dooly County City of Cordele City of Americus City of Dublin Department of
Parks & Recreation Soperton-Treutlen County
Recreation Commission City of Statesboro Glennville Recreation Dept. City of Reidsville City ofOdum City of Savannah Chatham County Commission Glynn County City of Port Wentworth Mcintosh County Council of Columbus City of Pine Mountain City of Camilla City of Cairo City of Albany Adel-Cook County Recreation
Department City of Fitzgerald Alma-Bacon County Community
Development Agency City of Douglas

AJnount 40,000. 25,000.
50,000. 70,000. 25,000. 30,000. 40,000.
20,000.
15,000. 25,000. 20,000. 15,000.
5,000. 100,000. 35,000.
5,000. 10,000. 15,000. 24,000. 7,000. 23,000. 20,000. 50,000.
40,000. 40,000.
15,000. 15,000.

GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION RECREATION SECTION
The Recreation Section of the Georgia Muncipal Association held its annual meeting in Savannah on June 24. The Section's meeting is held each year in conjunction with the GMA Convention.
Luke Rushton, Chairman of the Towns County Recreation Commission and former Mayor of Young Harris, Georgia, served as guest speaker Mr Rushton discussed the topic, "Leisure Services - A New Frontier"
Members of the Recreation Section elected new officers for 1975-76. Mr. David R. Christian, Director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Valdosta, was elected President and Mr Bill Johnson, Director of Recreation and Parks for the city of Roswell was elected Secretary-Treasurer

CERTIFIC.ATION (Continued from page 1) There are three categories in which one might be-
come certified Recreation Administrator, Recreation Supervisor, and Recreation Leader The Administrator category refers to the executive head or assistant to the executive head administering the recreation department. The Supervisor would be responsible for the planning, organizing and supervising of a part of the total recreation program. The Leader would be responsible for implementing recreation activities.
The following are the necessary steps to become certified
Request information and application forms from .
Mrs. Shirley Lucero Georgia Board of Recreation Examiners 166 Pryor Street, S. W Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Telephone: (404) 656-6406
2. The Board of Recreation Examiners office will mail application forms to the applicant.
3. The applicant should fill out the necessary forms and mail them along with a $10.00 (application fee) check to the Board of Recreation Examiners office. Applications must be received by the Examiners at least 45 days prior to the examination.
4. The Board will determine the eligibility of the applicant and will notify him of the examination date (first Mondays in April and October) and location. If the applicant does not qualify, his check will be returned.
5 The applicant should arrive at the examination room at least 15 minutes prior to the official starting time. He must pay an additional $10.00 (examination fee) before taking the examination.
6. Approximately 30 days after the examination, the Board will notify the applicant of his certification status. Persons who pass the examination will receive an official certificate. Individuals who fail the examination may repeat the test at the next date.
7 The Board will bill the professional every two years for certification renewal. Certification renewal charges for a two-year period are $10.00 for administrators, $8.00 for supervisors, and $6.00 for leaders.

ATLANTA CHOOSES MASTROIANNI TO DIRECT PARKS & RECREATION
Theodore Mastroianni was recently appointed Director of the Atlant a Burea u of Parks and Recreation , succeeding Jack C. Delius, who resigned several months ago for health reasons. The 36-year-old Mastroianni served as Deputy Commissioner of Parks for the New York City Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration from 1970-74. He was Assistant to Mayor John Lindsay and active in Lindsay's political campaigns.
The Recreation Planning Section recently held an Intern Day at the State Capitol to explain its functions to college Recreation majors from throughout Georgia. Wayne Escoe, shown above, coordinated the program.
BURDICK CITED IN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND NOTEWORTHY AMERICANS
Susan Burdick, Director of Georgia Special Olympics, has just been selected by the American Biographical Institute, Subsidiary of Historical Preservations of America, to be cited in the 1975-76 Bicentennial Memorial Edition of Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans. Her biography will appear in this historical edition which represents America's heritage in the years 1975-76 . 200 years after the establishment of our nation.
Persons selected for this publication are citizens whose background, service, and past achievements are worthy of note by other citizens. Burdick was nominated by Special Olympics, Inc., a division of the Joseph P Kennedy, Jr., Foundation, for her work in directing Special Olympics programs in Georgia and the Southeast Region.
5

COMMUNITIES DEDICATE FACILITIES
Calhoun The new Calhoun-Gordon County Community
Center and 42 acre recreation park, valued at over S900,000, were recently dedicated in Calhoun. The Park contains four lighted baseball fields and a concession stand, picnic pavilions, picnic areas with tables and grills, tennis courts, and two playground areas.
The community center building adjoins a new olympic-size swimming pool with a bathhouse. There are two large parking lots nearby
Billy Bearden is Director of the Calhoun-Gordon County Recreation Department, which will operate these facilities.
Hapeville The City of Hapeville has dedicated 12-acre Master
Park , a $100,000 development, $55,000 being from BOR. The area is highlighted by a uniquely designed pavilion, restroom facilities, nature trails, shelters, a play area, lighting system, parking area, and other developments. Jac Roth is Director of the Hapeville Recreation Department.
Blue Ridge The City of Blue Ridge in Fannin County has com-
pleted and dedicated a S100,000 development, which includes a swimming pool, bathhouse and ball field. BOR funds of $47,000 were used in the project.
Dalton The Dalton Recreation Department recently
dedicated Lakeshore Park, a $424,450 development with the following facilities: four tennis courts, one midget field, 440 yard all-weather track, concession stand, playground equipment, three fishing ponds, three parking lots, three field houses, and underground irrigation systems. Congressman Phil Landrum was the keynote speaker at the dedication. George Chambliss is Director of the recreation department.
Roswell A ceremony, with 150 people in attendance, was
held in Roswell recently to dedicate a new swimming pool complex, including a 50 m~ter by 25 yard pool and 40' x 40' diving well. The $475,000 project was funded for $50,000 from the local share of Georgia Heritage Trust. Bill Johnson, Director of the Roswell Recreation Department, reports that in June an average of 900 people per day used the pool, including swim teams and instruction classes.
6

GEORGIANS COMPETE IN INTERNATIONAL MEET
The International Special Olympics at Central Michigan University will host approximately 3500 mentally retarded citizens from all over the world. Seventy-eight from Georgia will leave Atlanta August 6 for four days of competition and fun. Accompanying the team will be 26 chaperones, Susan Burdick, State Director; Mrs. Rosalyn Carter, Honorary Chairwoman, Dr John Cantwell, Physician , Mr Bob Busby, Photographer; and Mr Paul Ervin, Executive Committee.
Georgia participants will compete in track and field, swimming, bowling, wheelchair, and floor hockey
CBS will provide coverage including a live broadcast on August 10.
Georgia participants will be representing all parts of the state. All have competed in local, district, and state meets.

DATES TO REMEMBER

August 7-11
1 0

Special Olympics International Games Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan CBS Live TV Coverage of Special Olympic International Games

September

10

GRPS Board of Trustees Meeting

October 19-24

NRPA National Congress Dallas, Texas

Published Bi-Monthly by Department of Natural Resources Office of Planning and Research
Recreation Planning Section 270 Washington Street Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Telephone: (404) 656-2790

No. Copies 2,500

Approx. Cost $346.50