May 2023

Written By Guest User

Volume 21 | Issue 10

Design

There’s no limit to inspiration for parks—master plans, public input, a picturesque body of a water as a backdrop—the elements that make up a good gathering place are as varied as the people that visit them. Whether a pocket park, a skatepark, or an inclusive playground—it’s the work that goes into the design before anyone sets foot on a park or playground that makes all the difference. So cheers to the residents, the architects, and the park employees who take the time to dream big and put their visions into motion. The neighborhood kids, dogs, parents, grandparents, caretakers, babysitters, and everyone else who takes advantage of these spaces thank you.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Parks & Rec Business is written by parks and recreation directors and staff. If you’re in the industry, PRB is an amazing resource that’s full of real-world experience that you can use to solve problems, create new opportunities, and keep your community healthy and happy.

 
 
 
 
 

This Month’s Articles

Featured
Playgrounds And Parks Become Ground Zero For STEM Education
Jefferey Spivey
Playgrounds And Parks Become Ground Zero For STEM Education
Jefferey Spivey

There’s a lot to take in at Triumph Park. Spread over 66 acres in Waukee, Iowa, the community park and sports complex boasts 12 softball and baseball fields, three miles of trails, an accessible fishing pier, and an inclusive playground with dozens of play structures.

Jefferey Spivey
Stone Soup
Cheri Ruane
Stone Soup
Cheri Ruane

“Stone Soup” is a European folk story in which hungry strangers, carrying nothing but a cooking pot filled with water and a stone arrive in a town and convince each of the townspeople to share a small amount of their food to make a meal that everyone enjoys. It is a lesson on the value of sharing and the potential synergy borne of collaboration.

Cheri Ruane
Time To Re-Focus
Clement Lau
Time To Re-Focus
Clement Lau

On December 6, 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) Final Report as its 30x30 plan. The goal is to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030 to address climate change and protect biodiversity.

Clement Lau
Grinding Out The Details
Alec Beck
Grinding Out The Details
Alec Beck

While there are many challenges in developing a public skatepark, a few common pitfalls can be easily avoided. Skating around these snares can help create the most popular recreation facility in town as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Alec Beck
Perfect Harmony
Sue Murray
Perfect Harmony
Sue Murray

There are times when two projects coincide and achieve a perfect outcome. A prime example was in 2020 when the Modesto ROTARY Club (MoRo) in California was preparing to celebrate its centennial year.

Sue Murray
Park District Softball
Gerry Healey, Brock Atwell, and Sue Omanson
Park District Softball
Gerry Healey, Brock Atwell, and Sue Omanson

Given the right parameters, softball is a team sport that can be played and enjoyed for a lifetime. Located in the Chicago area, the Naperville Park District has found that offering adults ages 19 to 90+ the opportunity to play the sport they love on a schedule that works for them is a winning combination.

Gerry Healey, Brock Atwell, and Sue Omanson
Playground Inspections
Alan Kavanaugh
Playground Inspections
Alan Kavanaugh

Thousands of children are injured on playgrounds across North America each year. The majority of injuries occur from falls.

Alan Kavanaugh
Dynamic Storytelling
Silvana Clark
Dynamic Storytelling
Silvana Clark

At a parks and recreation conference, I watched a speaker begin his presentation by saying, “Soooooo, I want to tell you a story.” He then went on to relate how his daughter had all the latest toys, games, and age-appropriate video games.

Silvana Clark
Attacking Adversity
John Engh
Attacking Adversity
John Engh

One of the great exercises that the National Alliance for Youth Sports offers in its Academy for Youth Sports Administrators is to make a list of all the reasons that sports are great for kids. We’ve done this with groups hundreds of times through the years, and the lists are nearly identical.

John Engh
Yes, You Do
Ron Ciancutti
Yes, You Do
Ron Ciancutti

Now in its eleventh season, The NFL Today television show precedes the weekly Sunday 1 p.m. football game with five men who exchange predictions, status reports, and game scores. Most of the hosts are former football players and coaches, and their knowledge gives viewers an inside track on issues that matter to the game.

Ron Ciancutti
Lazy Days
Rodney Auth
Lazy Days
Rodney Auth

The wind gently stirred the branches of the huge elm tree in our rural Wisconsin backyard. My brothers and I sat on the lower branches, eating Popsicles and looking up at the snippets of sky we could see through the leaves and branches above.

Rodney Auth
Calendar
Guest User
Calendar
Guest User

Industry events you won’t want to miss. Check out what’s coming up.

Guest User
This-N-That
Guest User
This-N-That
Guest User

A collection of news items, product announcements and event notices designed to keep you on the cutting edge.

Guest User
 
 
 
 

Product Review

Product Reviews
Mecalac AS750 Swing Loader
Mecalac AS750 Swing Loader

At just over 11,000 pounds, with a bucket capacity of 0.98 yd3, the AS750 provides heightened lifting and loading capacity. The parallel, or P-bucket, offers precision during material handling operations, especially with the pallet forks or load hook. It is designed with a spacious cab and two doors to give the operator optimal visibility for a safer jobsite.

www.mecalac.com

Z Turf Equipment Redesigned Z-Spray Stand-On Spreader Sprayers
Z Turf Equipment Redesigned Z-Spray Stand-On Spreader Sprayers

A low center of gravity design places the operator between the drive wheels, with the heaviest components placed low and centrally within the corrosion-resistant stainless-steel frame. The new design keeps machine balance and dynamics consistent, regardless of how much material is in the hopper and tanks. The new design also enables Z Turf Equipment to include a heavy-duty air filter on the engines of Mid and Max models.

www.ZTurfEquipment.com

PRO SERIES Boric Acid
PRO SERIES Boric Acid

This water enhancer buffers and helps keep pool water balanced, providing crystal clear, soft feeling swimming pool water. Helps brominating, chlorinating or biguanide programs to work more efficiently. Designed for once-a-year use and topping off as needed, simply add 15 pounds of ProSeries Boric Acid into 10,000 gallons of water. Test borate levels twice a year (or more often if water is lost) and maintain a borate residual between 30 and 35 ppm to see amazing benefits all season. Available in 40-pound buckets.

(800) 753-1233

www.proseriespool.com

Renolit ALKORPLAN RELIEF
Renolit ALKORPLAN RELIEF

This multi-purpose, slip-resistant membrane has a category C slip resistance rating with a transformative texture that gives pools the look and feel of gunite yet is soft on toes and eliminates the maintenance headaches of gunite. Available in six different colors—from white and sand to blue and grey—to match any architectural design. 70-mil thick reinforced membrane for new pools or renovation.

www.renolit.com/pool

Stain Drop Stain Removal Verification Test Kit
Stain Drop Stain Removal Verification Test Kit

Allows pool professionals and pool owners to verify the correct treatment needed for a particular pool stain without the guesswork. Each kit contains three packets of three powerful stain removers plus six dosing pouches (for wall or deep-water stains). Complete with detailed instructional booklet.

www.poolstaindrop.com

Water Odyssey Fun Forms Aqua Slides
Water Odyssey Fun Forms Aqua Slides

New and improved Fun Forms Aqua Slides now have more than 40 different, brightly themed, hand-detailed designs that make great additions to any aquatic play setting. They can even be custom designed to fit a space and theme, Suitable for spray parks and all types of pools including zero entry/beach entry. Sizes for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12 years. Ideal for fast and easy retrofit. Add more play value to your aquatic facility and create a centerpiece for interactive play. ASTM compliant.

(512) 392-1155

https://waterodyssey.com/products/aqua-slides/

Curb Roller Manufacturing Curb Tools
Curb Roller Manufacturing Curb Tools

Curb Roller Manufacturing, a provider of shaped concrete roller screeds, offers curb tools that pair seamlessly with the company’s Curb Roller CM4000 stock drum profiles. The lightweight, versatile curb tools come in both walking and hand styles. The Curb Roller is a single-operator machine for shaping curb and gutter that, with its stock drum profiles, applies to multiple curb styles.

www.curbroller.com

Toro Groundsmaster e3200
Toro Groundsmaster e3200

Toro’s out-front rotary mower, the Groundsmaster 3200 two-wheel drive unit, is available as a battery-powered option. It comes standard with 11 HyperCell batteries, but can be configured with up to 17 HyperCell batteries. It comes with Toro’s InfoCenter display with battery charge status, hours, alerts, customizable settings and more. It features the same 60-inch side or rear discharge mowing deck options built with steel for ultimate durability, and impact bumpers. 

www.toro.com

 
 
 

Buyer’s Guide

 

Marketspace Spotlight

 

Coming Up

June 2023

Outdoors

For Your Information:

  • Accessibility & Water Safety

  • Fitness & Water Attractions

  • Amenities

For Your Inspiration:

  • Day Camps

  • Campgrounds

  • Water Activities

 
 

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