Park Access Network - Sustainability Plans In Action

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Parks and recreation create stronger, more resilient communities that can adapt to and better recover from environmental, social and economic challenges. However, significant racial and socioeconomic disparities affect access to parks, including the number of quality parks, proximity of parks and connection to safe, inclusive, culturally-relevant parks and programs. Moreover, Black, Indigenous and people of color and low-income communities receive fewer resources and support to prepare for, respond to and recover from the impacts of climate change. Join us September 27, 2023 at 2:00PM EST as we hear from Brian Koehler, Director of the Maintenance Institute and Tim Pritchard, Sustainability Manager of Five Rivers MetroParks!

Objectives:

Discuss opportunities to implement sustainability goals
Highlight potential stakeholder groups to engage before putting plans into action
Define important factors impacting implementation
Define metrics for evaluating project success

Brian "BK" Koehler

Director of the Maintenance Institute

Brian "BK" Koehler has been the director of The Maintenance Institute since early 2020. BK holds degrees in Business Administration (BS), Parks and Recreation Administration (BS), and Experiential Education (MS). He is an experienced facilitator and event professional with an extensive background in team building, ropes course/climbing tower construction, and outdoor adventure leadership.

Before joining The Maintenance Institute, BK was based in Hong Kong for nearly a decade as an experiential educator, event producer, and entrepreneur. Upon his stateside return, BK stepped into operations and facility management of the Student Union and Recreation Center at Central Washington University.

BK is a native Pennsylvanian, but claims "global citizenship." He is motivated by a thirst for experience, and driven by a desire to engage leaders that impact society. He believes in the power of positive energy, an innovative mindset, and servant leadership. In his free time, BK enjoys gardening and playing disc golf.

Tim Pritchard

Sustainability Manager of Five Rivers MetroParks

Five Rivers MetroParks

Tim Pritchard is the Sustainability Manager for Five Rivers MetroParks in Montgomery County, Ohio. He works to lead implementation of the agency's Sustainability Plan and Climate Change Mitigation Strategy as well as overseeing waste management policy and protocol, facility efficiency improvements, agency-wide composting efforts, and utility and GHG tracking and reporting. Tim studied Environmental Biology at Ohio University, trained as an Interpretive Naturalist with Arc of Appalachia Nature Preserve System, and grew up in the service industry. He is the vice chair of the City of Dayton Environmental Advisory Board, a board member for the Greater Dayton Conservation Fund, sits on the board of directors for Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council, and represents citizen interests on the Montgomery County Environmental Services Solid Waste Management Planning Committee and Financial Advisory Committee. Tim is an avid gardener, enjoys hiking and biking, and is a community advocate for home-scale ecological restoration.

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