Creating a Space for Women in Parks and Recreation — Episode 085

Women’s History Month starts next month, and we thought it
would be a good time to tackle a topic that has been on our
episode wish list for a while now — women in parks and
recreation. Parks and recreation, like many professions, was once
a male-dominated industry. Now, however, those figures seem like
they may be shifting. When thinking about who to bring on the
podcast to talk about women in the field of parks and recreation,
there seemed to be an obvious choice.


Today we are welcoming three park and recreation
professionals who wanted to create a community for women in the
field to come together and share their ideas, struggles and
triumphs — something that has become even more important
throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining us are Lakita Watson,
NRPA board member and executive director of the Richland County
Recreation Commission (South Carolina); Katy Keller, Recreation
Program Coordinator for Indian Trail Parks and Recreation (North
Carolina); and Melanie White, Business Development and Retention
Manager at Town of Leesburg (Virginia).


Tune in to the full episode below as we discuss their experiences
as well as the inspiration behind the Facebook
group they created, which now has more than 8,000
members — made up entirely of women in parks and recreation — as
well as:


Why they feel it’s important for women to have their own
space to collaborate on ideas related to our field.

Some of the ways they are sharing the “mental load” of
invisible work that women take on in their personal and
professional lives.

What their experiences have been working through a pandemic
and what challenges have been unique to women.

What advice they would give young women in the field of parks
and recreation.

Some of their favorite stories and ideas that have come from
the Women in Parks and Recreation Facebook group, and more!