This-N-That
Field Notes
Ronnie Pascale has joined Brock International as Eastern Regional Vice President. Drawing upon his experience as a former coach and professional soccer player, he will work to educate coaches, athletic directors, landscape architects and park administrators about preventing concussions and other sports injuries from the ground up.
Superior Recreational Products (SRP) hired Jessica Kyriakos to the Sales and Marketing team as the Brand Manager for SRP's Site Amenities product line. She will be the liaison between SRP’s Partners and the factory to provide smooth transactions from quoting to delivery.
Kent Gregoire has been named CEO of Safeplay Systems , manufacturer of EcoPlay commercial playground equipment, and Steve Cornwell has been named President and COO. Robert Gredys, founder and former President of Safeplay Systems, has retired—though he will retain a seat on the board.
Curtis Industries, LLC appointed George A. Psyhojos as President and CEO. He has more than 30 years’ experience driving manufacturing and operational improvements across a broad range of industries where his leadership has resulted in improved operations, revenue growth and increased profitability.
Garry Becker has been appointed President of FabriTec Structures LLC . He joined the company in 2005 as Senior Vice President of Project and Proposal Management, and has been instrumental in developing the business in North America. He has more than 34 years of experience in the industry.
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Seresco Offers Indoor Pool Design Manual
Decatur, Ga.—Seresco USA Inc., a manufacturer of indoor air-quality equipment, offers the free Natatorium Design Manual to engineers, architects, HVAC contractors, and indoor pool operators. The 40-page, education manual is an essential guide for the reference library of any industry member involved in the design, construction, maintenance or the management of commercial and residential indoor pools. It is available for free download from www.serescodehumidifiers.com under the “resources” tab, or hard copies can be obtained from any Seresco North American manufacturer's representative listed on the website's “where to buy” tab.
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Online Play Research Database Nearly Complete
Harrisburg, Penn.—With support from The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), the National Institute for Play detailed its ongoing efforts to build an online database resource for scientific play research. The Encyclopedia of Play Science is nearly completed, and features 11 works on play and its benefits and effects, including the negative effects from lack of play during childhood. The resource, which resides on Scholarpedia.org, (search “Play Science,”) serves as the first known database of academic research about play, and offers the media and public free access to critical research about play.
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Grants Increase Recycling Efforts
Stamford, Conn.—Twenty-six local and county governments in 19 states will receive permanent recycling bins as part of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group /Keep America Beautiful Park Recycling Bin Grant program. In total, the grants will provide nearly 900 recycling bins for placement in a variety of park settings. For a full list of communities receiving grants, visit http://irecycleonthego.wordpress.com .
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Architect Rees Jones Receives Award
Lincoln, Neb.—Rees Jones received the Don A. Rossi Award given by the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA). Known as “The Open Doctor” for his many renovations of U.S. Open Championship courses, Jones has played a key role in redesigning several courses for major championships. The Rossi award is given by the GCBAA to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to golf and who have inspired others by example.
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John Deere Partners With The First Tee
San Antonio, Texas—John Deere is a national corporate partner of The First Tee, a non-profit youth organization that uses golf as a platform to teach life and leadership skills and provide character education programs for young people. In 2013, Deere announced a $1 million 5-year donation to the organization. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than nine million young people in all 50 United States and four international locations. For more information, visit www.JohnDeere.com.
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PlayCore Newsletter Promotes Play
PlayCore’s Play Insight newsletter provides communities with new research, upcoming education, and advancements in play. It also communicates by sharing community profiles, so others can see how a city or township has promoted play and recreation in their respective neighborhoods. Newsletters are released seasonally. Interested recipients may sign up at www.playcore.com/newsletter-signup.html .
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National Dog Park Association Launched
After struggling for almost four years to develop a member-based dog park in her rural area in Central Pennsylvania, Roseanne D. Conrad knew that starting the National Dog Park Association is something she is called upon to do. Conrad and her staff want to provide an organization to assist and support developers, administrators and managers of existing and developing off-lead dog parks in their missions to provide a safe, clean, exciting and healthy recreational park for canines and their human companions.
Conrad is no stranger to parks, recreation, and dogs. She currently serves as executive director of a sports and recreation park and as corresponding secretary of a newly developed 10-acre, off-lead member-based dog park. She is also in the planning stage of developing the first bike park in the same region.
Plans are underway to hold the first National Dog Park Management Conference in early 2015 and quarterly training sessions are being developed. For more information, call (814) 614-4423, or visit www.nationaldogparkassociation.net .
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Calendar
September
16-19 Colorado Parks & Recreation Association, Steamboat Springs, Colo.—Sheraton Steamboat Resort; www.cpra-web.org
23-26 Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference, Blaine, Minn.— National Sports Center; www.mnrpa.org
30-2 West Virginia Recreation and Parks Association Conference, Roanoke, WV—Stonewall Resort State Park; www.wvrpa.org
October
8-10 World Aquatic Health Conference, Portland, Ore.—DoubleTree by Hilton; www.nspf.org
14-16 National Recreation and Parks Association National Congress, Charlotte, N.C.
November
3-6 Georgia Recreation and Parks Association Conference, Jekyll Island, Ga. www.grpa.org