Gentle Complaining
10 observations I’ve made during my time in parks and recreation
By Charles Hoffmann
I love my job. I wanted to be a recreation director since I was 13 years old. And I remind myself every day that it’s 1,000 times better than sitting in a cubicle somewhere. I love the opportunity to produce trips, leagues, classes, programs, and special events for others to enjoy. Like most parks and rec professionals, I would not change my job for any other in the world.
Photo: © Can Stock Photo / goir
I also recognize and appreciate that many people are unemployed or underemployed. They are willing to do anything they can to provide for their families, but currently opportunities simply are not available. Also, I understand that very few people get the joy or satisfaction I get at work on a regular basis.
That said, I do have a unique job that most of the outside world does not understand or does not appreciate. There are many things that can drive me crazy in this unique, amazing, and (occasionally) mind-numbing profession. So here is a list of 10 observations during my time working in parks and recreation.
1. I’m broke. Despite working way over the standard 40 hours/week and being extremely thrifty, I (like many parks and rec professionals) have little money to show for it. I see others—both inside my organization and outside—buying boats, moving into nice houses, and vacationing all over the globe.
It is clearly evident that parks and rec professionals are grossly underpaid. Our roles are very challenging, and we are responsible for a wide array of tasks. We carry endless amounts of stress in ensuring facilities are operating properly and programs are running smoothly. However, we are generally compensated less than our counterparts in other departments and in other industries. Overtime and bonuses are typically not an option. Raises and promotions are also few and far between. So many of us are captive to the “golden handcuffs” by having a job we love with little or no room for additional salary or change.
2. I can’t predict the weather. Most recreation professionals have never taken a class or studied the science of meteorology. Yet, we are frequently tasked with studying weather patterns to decide if events should occur or be postponed. Often hundreds, or possibly thousands, of attendees are affected by the ability (or lack thereof) to predict the weather. When the news channel’s meteorologist is wrong, he/she is safe in the confines of a studio. Not us. When we make an incorrect weather call, the audience is right in front of us, often telling us how dumb we are. There is nothing worse than an angry mob of residents yelling because we didn’t cancel the Halloween parade or movie night as they gather their belongings amid a downpour. Ski trips, sports activities, fireworks, festivals, and other events all hinge on our ability to make the correct weather call. Most of us have been incorrect in weather decisions and have paid the price. It’s a never-ending battle, and we are only as good as our last decision.
3. I don’t get to travel. Many of my friends and family who do not work in the field are able to travel the globe for their careers. I see pictures and hear stories of their working from exotic and desirable locations. They often brag about the three hours of work they did, followed by three days on the beach during their last “business trip.”
I do some traveling for work. I go to parks, the senior center, the police station, and (if I’m lucky) to the bank. It’s not nearly as exciting as my friends’ selfies from Paris and London.
4. There’s no opportunity for advancement. Working for corporate America is like working on a boat. One starts with a lousy job and if done well, one moves up. If that job is done well, there is a better job. It seems reasonable, but it’s often not the case. If one is the director in a one-person department, one will likely retire as the director of a one-person department. Whether a person is the greatest employee or outright terrible, that is the position. Many in the parks and rec world are managing with a small staff, and there aren’t many opportunities for promotion.
Even if an organization has a larger staff, transitions and changes are seldom. Rec professionals don’t “hop around” like they do in other industries. Often, professionals are tied to their pensions and their comfort levels. There is real value to staying in a good position for a long period of time. It’s not uncommon for professionals in the industry to stay in one organization or even in the same position for 20 to 30 years. While being loyal is certainly admirable, it doesn’t present many opportunities for other employees looking to grow professionally.
Wikipedia describes a dead-end job as “a job where there is little or no chance of career development and advancement into a higher-paid position.” It is likely that many of us have worked or currently are working in a position in which this is true. We simply do not have many opportunities to change our paths and explore something different.
5. I work nights and weekends. Many of us are required to be present for “normal business hours,” perhaps 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, our job involves serving a community, and the community does most of its activities in the evening and on weekends. Sports tend to occur in the evenings, and festivals and events are organized for the weekends. That means working long hours and going for days without time off. This makes life more than difficult to juggle and balance.
6. I work holidays. Most people outside the recreation bubble see holidays as an opportunity to relax and celebrate with family and friends. In our industry, we typically view these days through a completely different lens. For example, many folks view Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer and an opportunity to honor fallen members of the armed forces. It’s typically an enjoyable three days in which families gather and experience warm weather and the beginning of summer. For many in the field, however, those three days include final preparations for various holiday festivities. It might be organizing a sports tournament or instituting a parade, and thus those three days are quite different for us. Instead, that holiday becomes just one of many that we cannot enjoy.
7. I live and die by schedules. Like many of us, managing schedules is a big part of my day-to-day. Keeping many people organized and on schedule is an endless and meticulous responsibility. This may include dealing with games, fields, permits, picnic areas, community centers, pools, campgrounds, and more. Inevitably, I think about scheduling constantly. For this reason, many in parks and rec take vacations that include plenty of unscheduled, idle downtime.
8. I can’t enjoy a special event unless I have planned it. When I am away from work attending a pro sports game, festival, or concert, it’s difficult not to have my parks and rec eyes focused on the details. Instead of simply enjoying the activity, I have a habit of studying things like lines, bathrooms, emergency access, and communication. I find myself being analytical or even critical of how the event was set up and implemented. The ability to simply attend a function has become nearly impossible.
9. I can’t get away from my cell phone. The cell phone is one of the best and worst inventions in history. It’s truly amazing to have access to email, directions, weather, news, and contacts literally at my fingertips. It’s also a bit of a nightmare. It makes me accessible to anyone who needs me at any time. How often have you sat down to dinner at a nice restaurant and received a call that the lights didn’t turn on at the baseball complex? Or you discover a dozen missed calls and texts while on vacation because a lacrosse referee didn’t show up? I appreciate the opportunity to help people and solve problems; however, the cell phone has turned me into a 24/7 employee. If a problem needs fixing, residents are going to call. I’m so envious of others who leave work and do not have to worry about a thing until they return the next day.
10. I am at the mercy of elected officials. It’s noble that individuals selflessly give their time and energy to become elected officials to improve their community. While I applaud their dedication, my gripe is they change constantly, so the direction and focus of the department regularly goes through a gigantic shift. A new group of officials often brings about changes in personnel, facilities, spending, objectives, and policies. While their intentions are usually good, the constant changes present a revolving door of challenges.
I am truly fortunate to work in a field I love, and this list is merely some gentle complaining. I understand that all professions have their ups and downs, and for me the rewards greatly outweigh the negatives. And, of course, I wouldn’t change my job for anything. But a vacation from it would be nice.
Charles Hoffmann graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a Degree in Recreation and Leisure Services Management. He has over 20 years of experience in municipal and commercial recreation and currently serves as the Director of Recreation in Red Bank, N.J. He lives and writes on the N.J. coast and has published several articles with PRB in recent years. Reach him at choffmann@redbanknj.org.