CPRE Policy Development and Legislative Advocacy

Question 1

A parks executive is preparing to testify before the city council in support of a parks bond measure. Which approach is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Lead with community impact stories backed by relevant data aligned to council priorities

Answer

Effective legislative testimony combines human-interest stories illustrating community impact with supporting data, framed around the council's known priorities such as economic development, public health, and equity. Data alone or personal opinion alone is far less persuasive than combining both.

Question 2

When developing a new parks ordinance, which stakeholder group should generally be engaged FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Internal department staff and legal counsel

Answer

Before any external engagement, the parks executive should consult internal staff who will implement the policy and legal counsel to ensure the ordinance is operationally sound and legally valid. External stakeholder engagement follows internal alignment.

Question 3

In the context of parks legislative advocacy, 'position papers' are best described as:

Accepted Answer

Formal written statements outlining the agency's official stance on a specific policy issue

Answer

Position papers are formal documents that articulate an organization's official stance on a specific policy issue, providing supporting rationale and evidence. Parks executives use them to clearly communicate the agency's position to legislators and other policymakers.

Question 4

A state legislature is considering significant cuts to parks funding. What is the most effective long-term advocacy strategy for a parks executive?

Accepted Answer

Build ongoing relationships with legislators before funding is ever threatened

Answer

Proactive relationship-building with legislators — through regular briefings, invitations to park events, and personal connections established over time — is far more effective than reactive responses during a funding crisis. Legislators who already know and trust the parks director are much more likely to defend parks budgets.

Question 5

In public policy development, what is 'stakeholder mapping'?

Accepted Answer

The process of identifying key decision-makers and understanding their interests before advancing a parks initiative

Answer

Stakeholder mapping identifies who the key decision-makers and influencers are, what their interests and priorities are, and how much influence each holds over the policy outcome. This guides the sequence and approach of engagement during the policy development process.

CPRE - Certified Park and Recreation Executive Practice Test

CPRE - Certified Park and Recreation Executive Practice Test

CPRE Policy Development and Legislative Advocacy