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Whether they’re in planning, maintenance, or public relations, City and Parks officials face innumerable day-to-day tasks. Like the skatepark advocate, their time is valuable and should be used efficiently and respectfully. There are many things advocates can do to make these encounters as productive as possible.
Learn The Language
Ideas and concepts should be phrased in ways that allow the audience, whether it’s one person or 100, to easily grasp the meaning. Resourceful advocates might check out any number of magazines or Web sites to get a feel for the concepts and language the audience may be receptive to (try your own city’s Web site, for example). However, be sincere and conduct business as plainly as possible. Don’t overdo it or attempt to impress anyone with flowery language. Consider what it would be like to have a bureaucrat trying to speak “skater.” Some good sources of urban planning and park design language are magazines like Dwell, Metropolis, American Society of Landscape Architects, and National Recreation and Park Association.
Know Your Purpose
Throughout the skatepark process an advocate will attend many different meetings, each with its own rhythm and objectives. In most of these meetings it won’t be relevant to talk about skatepark design theory, for example. Advocates will want to deliver the information to the meeting attendees that they will be interested in. Stay on topic.
Walk Out With A Plan
Before the end of any meeting, quickly outline what will occur before the next meeting and when that next meeting will be. Remember, sitting down with a person or group is the absolute best way to keep them invested in the new skatepark, so plan the next meeting with a group. Tell them when the group will be back and what will have been accomplished by that time. They’ll come to expect success or commitment from the skatepark group and will become increasingly supportive.
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