Articles
Natatorium Design For Beginners
At their best, they create one of the most exciting atmospheres in sports; at their worst, they leave your eyes bloodshot, throat sore and clothes reeking of chemicals.
Waves Of The Future
From Roman baths to modern water parks, from plunge pools of the early 20th century to the spray grounds of the early 21st, water has played a major role in civilization for well over 2,000 years.
Is There A Future In The Past?
Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood in Long Beach, Calif., are 4.7 acres of Spanish, Mexican and American history, where families helped transform southern California from its ranching
Draw A Crowd
Parks and recreation projects add value to a community’s quality of life and make the area more attractive to new business and industry. Constructing top-notch, multi-purpose athletic facilities that can attract large tournaments also puts dollars back into the community in the form of full hotel rooms and restaurant seats.
Breaking The Silence
In fall 2006, the Parks and Recreation Department of DeKalb County, Ga., decided to build three community centers for residents, but there was just one problem--the department had not built a new
One Size Does Not Fit All
Today’s recreation centers are more than just spaces in which to work out. When designed with a focus on the facility’s users, they can foster and grow connections within the community. Through an inclusive
Everyone In
Just a few years ago, Ziegler Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, used to be a dangerous place. The pool was only open a few months a year. Adults hung out in the playground and drank alcohol. Drive-through drugv
Unveiling Additional Revenue
Providing shade can do more than bring relief to park visitors on a steamy summer afternoon -- it can bring in revenue. If done correctly, permanent shade structures -- such as pavilions and gazebos
A Living, Breathing Inspiration
Finding the ideal site to construct a “living building” was no easy task. In 2001, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) opened the Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, Md., to educate the public
Built To Last
It’s been 19 years since the installation of the Ecosystem Gallery at Chippewa Nature Center in Midland, Mich. According to the Executive Director, Dennis Pilaske, the exhibit has seen “all of the expected use and
A Place To Gather
Communities stake their reputation on the amenities they offer, to both visitors and residents. The more activity creating buzz around a community, the more desirable a place it is in which to live or visit. As a
Crowded Waters
Aquatic centers are facing increasing pressure to accommodate diverse programming, everything from baby aerobics to water yoga. Everyone wants a part of the pool. Too often, debates over the design can
SK8 Charleston
The skateboarding community of Charleston, S.C., had been advocating for a regional-sized skate park for decades. With few other skate parks available in the Lowcountry and new laws prohibiting skateboarding
For The Community, By The Community
In East Naples, Fla., options for summertime recreation were limited to indoor activities or suffering in the heat of the sun. While Collier County is a coastal community, not everyone in East Naples has access to the
Introducing Treehouse Village
Enticing people to go outside on a March morning with temperatures hovering around freezing is not unheard of at Metroparks Toledo in Ohio. Attracting nearly 2,500 people to traipse through a muddy
Knock It Down, Build It Again
The original maintenance yard facility, located in Rock Creek Regional Park in Derwood, Md., was built in the 1960s and served the park for decades. However, over time, the facility had deteriorated and needed
Infrastructure Integration
Do you think of parks and recreation facilities as critical infrastructure? There is no denying the nation’s sports and recreation facilities are valuable, and they already provide us with a lot. For
Neighborly Design
In November 2010, a fire destroyed a maintenance facility and garage belonging to the park district in Glenview, Ill. Built in 1909, the 14,000-square-foot building was operated by the park
Lifting The Fog
Natatorium—it’s not a word that rolls easily off the tongue. It rarely comes up in daily usage; people generally don’t say, “Hey, let’s go to the natatorium.” They just say, “Let’s go to the pool.”