Articles
Fighting Odors With Ozone Technology
An unused industrial yard in Colorado recently found new life as (among other things) an organic-mulch storage site. The mulch was purchased by residents who could use it in gardens as a fertilizer
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.
Responding Vs. Reacting
In January 2008, Infection Control Today published the results of an online survey asking facility managers and members of the professional cleaning industry their thoughts on a common
Teaching Tennis
In Long Beach, Calif., tennis is called a Тlifestyle for a lifetime.У Thousands of tots, teens, adults and senior citizens play each year on the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (LBPRM) Departm
LEED The Charge
With all the talk about being Тgreen,У it can be confusing trying to figure out exactly what that word really means. A ТgreenУ secret-decoder ring will definitely come in handy when attempting to make
Dream Big, Then Return To Reality
For most public-sector agencies, building an aquatic center or multi-purpose facility with aquatic components is a rare undertaking. These centers are often some of the most popular and well-used by the community, but they are neither easy nor inexpensive to build and operate.
Are Your Tennis Courts Getting a Workout?
With more attention being given to the nationХs obesity epidemic, people are looking for unique workouts that donХt feel like exercise. Although there are plenty of entry-level tennis activities, most
Purchasing Vs. Procurement
Recreation administrators typically try to purchase all supplies ahead of the busy summer season to make sure they have enough goods and supplies when the crowds arrive. However, should administrators be “purchasing” these items?
Designing For Wildfires
Year after year, wildfires have become a more important factor in our lives, and this impacts how we think about building design. The industry has always prioritized safety and endurance, but the size of the fires has prompted me to make choices that can help prevent or mitigate damage.
A "Love-able" Home
For a moderately sized community with a limited municipal budget, finding funds for development, facility renovations and program expansion is a struggle--something that Salisbury Parks and
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
A Challenging But Abundant Resource
What can be done about a building resource growing abundantly in a region but is not being used? When creating the Cottonwood Canyon Experience Center, part of the Cottonwood Canyon State Park in Eastern Oregon, designers felt a need to ask this question.
Integrating Sustainable Thinking Into Conceptual Design
Located on a 160-acre site of forest, marsh, and restored prairie in St. Louis Park, Minn., the new Westwood Hills Nature Center, designed by HGA, includes indoor and outdoor spaces and programming for all ages and abilities.
Dripping With Good News
Often, when the topics of water conservation and general water issues arise, people usually focus on why and how we can conserve and protect this valuable resource. However, instead of discussing the
Endless Possibilities
The initial vision for Rustad Recreation Center began in 2011 as the West Fargo Park District in North Dakota became aware of the community’s rapid growth and the need for indoor recreational space.
Everyone Does Custodial Cleanup
First impressions are valuable assets to recreation facilities. Appearance and upkeep of buildings--both inside and out--matter! From the landscaping around the front drive to the drinking fountains
When Exercise Isn't Healthy
Kyle Frey, a 21-year-old junior from Drexel University in Philadelphia, was one of his school's star wrestlers when something startling happened. One day, Frey, who worked out with his team almost
Know Before You Gotta Go
Park and recreation facilities, anxious to get their centers open and operating—safely—may be interested in an article published in The Washington Post in May 2020.
Save Energy. Save Money. Save The Future.
Approximately one million tons of carbon dioxide are produced each year from energy consumed by Fairfax County, Va., government facilities, and among county agencies, the Park Authority manages the
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