Articles
Prevailing In Spite Of Nature
Located in the city of Gulf Shores on the coast of Alabama, Gulf State Park consists of 6,150 acres of pristine parkland. Nowhere else in the United States can one find fresh water (Lake Shelby) so
Synthetic Turf
The global demand for synthetic turf continues to grow by 15 percent or more annually. It is easy to understand why. The playing surface enabled the Barrow Whalers to become the first Arctic high
Complex Planning
The City of Grand Junction, Colo., has a football complex that serves almost every user group in the mid-sized town. The facility is a model in maximizing the use of the central park location. Stoker
Super Shades Save The Day
While EarthХs yellow sun turned Kal-El into Superman, those same rays can sometimes have devastating effects on us regular human beings here on Earth, including heat stroke or exhaustion, sun damage a
Teaching Sports Skills
Have you ever coached one of those motor-gifted athletes who can pull off a perfect left-hand layup or synchronize a dolphin kick, or send a golf ball into orbit on just the first or second try? In
The Proverbial Mile
It seemed easy. Spend four days and nights manning the home front, so my wife could enjoy a much-needed vacation.Like most of the situations I get myself into, the enormity of my commitment didnХt hit
SlippinХ And SlidinХ
In 1999, when Jeff Jacobson was first elected mayor of North Pole, Alaska, he and his staff put together a wish list of projects. High on that list was a water slide for Wescott Pool. Today, that
The Right Stuff Part 1
In the famous movie The Right Stuff, the astronauts eventually chosen to rocket into space not only demonstrate the normal toughness associated with the challenges of military service, but also
A Field House With A View
The Waukegan Park District in Illinois wanted to go beyond space and programming requirements, beyond parking needs and storm water detention demands to include more subtle design mandates for its
A Dynamic Duo
Can you imagine Laurel without Hardy? Abbott without Costello? How about Johnny Carson but no Ed McMahon? Of course not. One without the other just doesnХt cut it.So--stick with my comparison here fo
Legally Responsible
The primary duty of aquatic facility staff is to ensure the health and safety of swimmers. Sadly, accidents will happen. I have been personally involved in several legal issues concerning pool
ТGrade AУ Lifeguard
ТAs a lifeguard you have six hours of boredom [interrupted] by 30 seconds of terror,У says Mike Howard, operations director for Coney IslandPark in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Sunlite Pool at Coney Island r
Guerilla Influence
EditorХs Note: This column, Leadership By Wandering Around, is based on the premise that, in order to find out whatХs going on in the field, a parks and recreation leader has to leave his or her desk
Stray From The Pack
ТI was just thinking that of all the trails in this life there is one that matters most. It is the trail of a true human being. I think you are on this trail and it is good to see.У--Kicking Bird to L