NRPA Advocacy & Policy Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal legislation established the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support park acquisition and development?
- National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
- Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (Correct answer)
- Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Act of 1958
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
Correct answer: Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965
The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 created LWCF, which provides matching grants to states and localities for outdoor recreation land acquisition and facility development.
Question 2: When advocating for park funding at a city council meeting, a parks professional should PRIMARILY emphasize which type of evidence?
- Anecdotal stories from park visitors only
- Data linking parks to public health, economic, and social outcomes (Correct answer)
- Comparisons to neighboring cities' park budgets
- Historical accounts of the park system's founding
Correct answer: Data linking parks to public health, economic, and social outcomes
Data-driven evidence connecting parks to measurable public health, economic, and social benefits is most persuasive to policymakers making budget decisions.
Question 3: The NRPA 'Three Pillars' framework used in advocacy communications covers conservation, health & wellness, and which third pillar?
- Economic development
- Social equity (Correct answer)
- Environmental education
- Youth programming
Correct answer: Social equity
NRPA's Three Pillars of advocacy are conservation, health & wellness, and social equity, reflecting the comprehensive community value of parks.
Question 4: A park agency wants to influence state legislation on trail funding. Which approach best demonstrates effective coalition building?
- Sending a single letter from the parks director to legislators
- Partnering with health departments, tourism bureaus, and business groups to present a unified case (Correct answer)
- Waiting for the bill's committee hearing before engaging
- Focusing outreach only on legislators who already support parks
Correct answer: Partnering with health departments, tourism bureaus, and business groups to present a unified case
Building coalitions with diverse partners amplifies advocacy impact by demonstrating broad community support and connecting parks to multiple policy interests.
Question 5: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), park agencies are required to ensure that newly constructed or altered park facilities meet which standard?
- At least 25% of facilities are accessible
- All elements within the facility are fully accessible
- Accessible routes are provided to primary activity areas (Correct answer)
- Accessibility is required only for facilities receiving federal funding
Correct answer: Accessible routes are provided to primary activity areas
ADA Standards for Accessible Design require accessible routes to primary activity areas and accessible elements throughout new or altered facilities.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a park agency's legislative 'leave-behind' document during a lobbying visit?
- To provide a full budget breakdown for the agency
- To give legislators a concise summary of key asks and supporting data they can reference after the meeting (Correct answer)
- To list the names of constituents who use the parks
- To outline the agency's complete strategic plan
Correct answer: To give legislators a concise summary of key asks and supporting data they can reference after the meeting
A leave-behind is a brief, compelling one- or two-page document that reinforces the meeting's key points and policy requests for legislators and their staff to consult later.
Question 7: Which NRPA advocacy tool provides data on park access, acreage, and staffing benchmarks that agencies can use to make the case for investment?
- NRPA Park Metrics
- NRPA Agency Performance Review
- PRORAGIS (Correct answer)
- Park Score Index
Correct answer: PRORAGIS
PRORAGIS (Park and Recreation Agency Resource Information System) is NRPA's national database providing benchmarking data on park acreage, staffing, and programming to support advocacy efforts.
NRPA Advocacy & Policy Development 2
Which federal legislation established the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support park acquisition and development?