Roles and Responsibilities

Responsibilities of Commissioners and Board Members are to:

• Provide park and recreation services to your community.
• Make these services available to all residents regardless of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, and physical or mental limitation.

To effectively implement your role as a Commissioner, you should:

• Assess the Needs of your Community
  • Invite all residents to express their opinions so that you may be properly informed prior to making decisions.
  • Ascertain the conditions of the parks and recreation facilities in your community by tours and visits.
  • Be familiar with the hours of operation and programs offered at the recreation facilities.
  • Keep the commission or board aware of deficiencies, if any or noted.
  • Offer suggestions for improvements via the commission or board to staff if improvements are needed.
• Be Proactive
  • Park and recreation services will not be viewed as a needed service with high priority concerns until political decision makers are convinced that Park and Recreation resources are more than places to have fun and games.
  • The commission or Board Members persuasiveness and influence on the legislative process can enhance recreation’s place in the total milieu of provided services.
  • Commissioners and Board Members should support legislative efforts favorable to parks, recreation and conservation.

The Effective Commissioner or Board Member:

• Is involved and is proactive
• Listens to the needs of the Community
• Knows the locations and conditions of all the parks and facilities in the community
• Understands the benefits to the community of Parks and Recreation
• Devotes the time necessary to improve the parks, recreation facilities and programs in the community
• Works as a team with the staff and other commissioners or board members