Cindy Bagley, CPRP

Community Through Controversy

It was 3:55pm and my Apple Watch said I had taken 15,000 steps that day so far. If you’re reading this, chances are you already know that holidays hit a little differently when you work in Parks and Recreation. While most people are off celebrating, we’re usually the ones working behind the scenes to help make that celebration possible.

For me, it was our 4th Annual RP Jubilee, held from Noon to 4pm on the 4th of July. The Jubilee is truly an event that has something for everyone—a concert space for those who want to plop down their chair and enjoy professional sounds from a regional band; a professional cornhole company allowing attendees to compete with one another across 8 cornhole sets; a massive fun zone with over 10 inflatables; a 10-foot LED screen where up to 8 people at a time can play Mario Kart together; a covered area with traditional recreation games such as giant Jenga, Legos, and recreation cornhole; and a fenced toddler/preschool play area for our youngest guests who are too small for the giant inflatables. There’s a food court with 10 vendors, a sensory room in the Community Center, and a community cooking contest where attendees vote for their favorite baked good or dip.

This year’s event was huge with record-breaking attendance. But we don’t count success by how many people show up. We look at how many people stay. And from the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd spread across the entire 14-acre property, most of whom stayed until the last song ended, I’d say we hit the mark.

But I’m not telling you this to brag about the numbers. I’m sharing it because of what hit me while I stood on stage at 3:55pm, saying my final farewell and sending people off to finish their celebrations.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure if people would feel like celebrating this year. I wondered if some might just skip it.

Clearly, they didn’t.

And here’s why that moment stuck with me: as I looked out at the crowd of people dancing, smiling, asking for one more song, I took the mic and asked them to pause for just a second. And I said, “Take a look around you. This is what community looks like. It doesn’t matter who you are, who you love, or what you believe in. Today, we celebrate each other. We celebrate our community.”

I felt so proud of our profession in that moment, not that I don’t always, but this was special.That’s the heart of what we do. That’s why parks and community events matter. Because for a few hours, none of that other stuff … politics, religion, identity … none of it was at the center. Just neighbors. Just people who live in the same place and found joy in being together. That’s what makes a community unique. And we have the incredible responsibility of reminding our communities that when we come together for a common purpose, we are much more alike than we are different.

Quality of life isn’t just about amenities or programs. It’s about belonging. Feeling safe. Knowing you’re part of something bigger. We get to create those spaces. And in a world that sometimes feels divided, there’s nothing more powerful, or more needed, than that.

Thank you for the work you do. Keep showing up. Keep creating those moments. Keep making lives better and building connected communities.