News Release

News Release MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY Contact: Jessica Novak Office of Marketing and Communications	Parks & Recreation Degree at Lakeland Date Posted: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 Topic: Spend all your days in parks & recreation, new degree appeals to those with a love for the outdoors
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Lakeland Community College is offering the area's first two-year Parks and Recreation Management degree beginning this fall, pending final approval by the Ohio Board of Regents. The development of this program was a joint effort between area parks and recreation agencies. Organizations represented on Lakeland's advisory committee for the program are Cleveland Metroparks, Lake Metroparks, Geauga Park District, City of Mentor, City of Willoughby, and the City of Wickliffe. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of parks and recreation workers is projected to increase by 13 percent by 2016. Growth will be driven by anticipated turnover of staff due to baby boomers retiring. An increase in demand for recreation services will be fueled by retiring baby boomers with a high disposable income and will likely use such resources for health and fitness. Lakeland’s program will prepare students for entry-level management or management trainee positions in the parks and recreation field. The curriculum includes coursework in business, parks and recreation management, state and local government, political science, and an internship alongside professionals to provide hands-on experience. Parks and recreation workers are employed in a variety of settings such as city parks and recreation departments, federal and state agencies, metro parks, community centers, and fitness clubs. For more information, contact Assistant Professor Dan Curtin at 440-525-7131 or dcurtin@lakelandcc.edu. Lakeland Community College is a public institution of higher education nestled on over 400 wooded acres in Northeast Ohio. Founded in 1967 as the first college in Ohio established by a vote of the people, Lakeland offers career programs that prepare students for immediate employment, transfer programs that prepare students for successful transfer to four-year schools, classes and certificate programs to improve job skills, noncredit continuing education classes, and workforce development training.