City Business – September 16, 2010 – On Oct. 2, New Orleans voters have the chance to radically alter the city’s recreation system, one that has languished for close to a quarter century under poor leadership and inadequate resources that have been inequitably distributed.
We strongly encourage voters to approve an amendment to the city charter that will remove control of facilities and programming from the New Orleans Recreation Department and create a new 13-member commission to handle the duties and responsibilities of NORD.
Ever since discussions began two years ago about dissolving NORD in favor of a public-private partnership, inaccurate perceptions of what the future of recreation would be have lingered.
To clear the air, let’s detail what the charter change does not do:
It will not privatize recreation in New Orleans.
The “private” aspect of the commission applies to the involvement of the business sector in helping raise money for city recreation. All facilities and land will continue to be city-owned.
A private contractor will not come in to manage the recreation department on a for-profit basis. Some NORD programs, such as ballet and theater, have been administered through outside nonprofits, and those relationships will likely continue. But the new entity, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission, will ensure that such programs are offered equitably throughout the city.
The city’s recreation staff will not be laid off.
There are currently about 75 NORD employees who have civil service protection. Mayor Mitch Landrieu is expected to announce soon that they will be offered opportunities to work for the commission or assume a comparable role with the city.
The administration and City Council have informally agreed to double the recreation system’s budget next year if voters approve the charter amendment. NORD received a $5 million allocation this year, and the new system would probably have to double its work force — not cut back — once more funding is in place.
Financing for the new system won’t be placed on the backs of participants.
While taxpayer dollars are used to support city recreation, the new model isn’t a “pay-to-play” system where parents will be asked to pay substantial fees for their children to take part in sports or other programming.
The amendment sets up a separate fundraising-only foundation to add money to the city’s allocation. Foundation members will come from any segment of the community that wishes to raise money, and their meetings will be open to the public.
New stadiums, playground and facilities will not spring up overnight.
Unfortunately, the city’s current fiscal constraints and ongoing haggling with the Federal Emergency Management Agency means residents will have to be realistic in their immediate goals for the new recreation system. But what they can expect right away is equity in the availability of programs and quality of existing facilities.
Community groups and existing booster clubs will not be shut out of the process. To the contrary, the new recreation system will turn to successful working models and seek ways to implement them throughout other parts of the city. Planners behind the commission model envision a subcommittee structure that will open membership to community representatives, giving many neighborhoods their first legitimate voice in shaping recreation.
Along with voter support, we are calling on the business community to pledge its resources. While financial help is certainly needed, the investment of human resources is even more valuable. Businesses involvement can enhance neighborhood ownership of recreational facilities, as employees who see their company affiliated with a playground or ballpark are more likely to invest their time and talent there.
We’re not talking about selling naming rights; it’s more about getting businesses directly engaged with quality of life issues that will help them attract and retain employees.
The first step is voting for the charter change Oct. 2. The next is taking a hands-on approach that ensures permanent change is implemented.
