A young duckling emerges from the shallow, cool waters of his birth lake and creeps warily through the tall, damp cattails. The sun's rays begin to dry the previous night's dew. He shakes the last dro

Years ago, swimmers of all ages flocked to public pools to take a refreshing break from the summer heat. Frolicking in the water and swimming a few laps satisfied a craving for fun, provided a

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Superintendent Jayne Miller closed her eyes and took a deep breath amid a buzz of last-minute preparations on a sweltering, mid-summer afternoon.

One of the ironies of our technologically connected world is that people have great difficulty communicating with each other face-to-face. Managers who have to approach situations with political

Those who read this column regularly know that many of my theories and conclusions are derived from the notion that things should be kept simple. Everything can be divided into simpler, more

Erin Niemeyer hit the youth-sports jackpot when she was growing up. Sport after sport and season after season, she was lucky enough to play for coaches who instilled life-defining values that

There’s a very popular televangelist out there who also writes “self-help” books. I think he has published more than 20. Twenty books to tell you how to live and what you should be thinking? Should anyone really

Growing up, baseball was my sport. I loved everything about the game. And looking back, I have so many wonderful memories involving practices, games, and the friendships I forged with both teammates and

What do some parents see when they think about a lifeguard? A kid sitting in a big chair working on a tan? Someone trying to boss swimmers around just to prevent them from having fun? And then there are the

As parks and recreation professionals, we want administrators, elected officials, and stakeholders to agree that the department is an essential service. Farmington, N.M., realizes the value of the profession as it

Leadership often means directing and offering support while staying out of the way. Like a driver of draft horses, workplace leaders need to know how to get the best out of their team. This has been

One of the most difficult tasks expected of management is the end-of-the-year evaluation. Do you say too much? Do you say too little? Do you inadvertently offend the employee with a casual remark

As the world’s population grows, more emphasis is being placed on “sustainability” in every aspect of life, from the types of fuel we use to the food we eat; parks and recreation

San Antonio City Forester Michael Nentwich concedes not everyone thought the 2010 massive campaign to plant 9,000 trees in San Antonio parks was a great idea, given the ongoing challenge of South

Having trouble deciding what to do with that underutilized piece of park land that doesn't fit into any specific programming niche and no money to alter the site? Why not consider a disc-golf course?

Scotland is known as the birthplace of golf because it is believed the sport was first played there in 1774. However, the game was not introduced to North America until the late 19th century. In

High-school students have a variety of options for after-school activitiesСsome more constructive than others. So how do you connect with teenagers and engage them in the healthy, positive, and produc

What happens when you take children with physical and emotional handicaps to a swimming pool? They often become confident and socialized and more able in other areas of their lives. At least that is what

Group swim-lesson participants are becoming increasingly more diverse—in ability, language, learning type, age, etc. It is becoming the norm rather than the exception of yesteryear. Using the strategies that

My motto for aquatics has always been, “Proactive—not reactive.” Although the phrase applies to every facet of the industry, it unequivocally applies to maintenance. Being proactive means being well ahead of

We have all heard the popular term “going green.” In making a commitment to reduce global warming, pollution, loss of animal habitats, and other environmental concerns, many organizations, government

Visitors to Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens in Rockford, Ill., have been seeing plenty of green—not on the ground—but on the roof. Construction of a 4,300-square-foot green-roof garden at the conservatory

With the identity crisis they face, multi-sport fields could spend the entire playing season on a therapist's couch. At the very least, they could wind up in a sports-medicine clinic from over-use

The fds Sport Series Dethatcher comes in 3 sizes and is capable of being towed by tractor or All Terrain Quad for light or heavy maintenance on Arenas or Race Tracks. Check the video out for more details.

Multiple factors should be considered when installing playing fields for parks and sports complexes, and chief among them is whether to install synthetic or natural turf. Each type has

Communal spaces unite communities. Athletic surfaces are not solely dedicated fields: In open and flat areas, spontaneous games pop up among friends, families, and sports teams. Facility

A weed is most commonly defined as “a plant out of place.” It can more formally be defined as a plant that interferes with the welfare of humans or livestock or is otherwise objectionable. In

In recent years, most parks and recreation agencies have had to deal with the economic realities of reduced revenue and higher personnel costs. On the recreation side, program fees

Soil salinity refers to the concentration of total dissolved salts in the soil. The dissolved salts release cations (positive charge) and anions (negative charge) to water.

How can parks departments, school districts and others who manage recreational facilities balance the conflicting needs of their many user groups (players, parents, athletic directors,

Although high summer temperatures just ended, anytime is a good time to make sure your irrigation system is running at its peak potential. An irrigation audit ensures you are not

As municipalities consider switching from legacy lighting to energy-efficient and controllable state-of-the-art LED sports lighting, it’s important that they begin with a clean slate. 

Vancouver, Canada – WhiteWater, the world’s leading water park manufacturer, is proud to announce that the company has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 2019. Canada’s

South of Salt Lake City is the city of Sandy, Utah—home of Big Bear Park. With beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains, it's the perfect place to relax with family and friends. With the new custom playground it's also

WASHINGTON – The Propane Education & Research Council recently launched a new look for its website to better showcase all the things propane can do, including how propane

BUFFALO GROVE, IL. – Turface Athletics, a leader in sports field construction and maintenance, is pleased to announce that one of the company’s sports field market development managers, Chris Ball, has

Charles Edwin Kaufman III passed away at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center on March 25, 2019 after a long battle with an autoimmune disease. He is

Vancouver, Canada, – WhiteWater is thrilled to welcome Phil Edgell as President of Vantage, the company’s pioneering guest engagement platform designed to elevate venue operations and visitor experiences.

Colorado Springs, Colo.—Registration for the 16th Annual World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) is now open. The WAHC will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia at the Williamsburg Lodge on October 16–18,

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill.,--Turface Athletics, a leader in sports field construction and maintenance, has announced the launch of its robust support team, the Turface Grounds Crew. It includes dedicated

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – STIHL Inc., U.S. affiliate of the global STIHL group, announced the production of its 75 millionth powerhead at the company’s headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va.

BOULDER, Colo., – Today, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) announced that Amy Horton will join the OIA executive team as senior director of sustainable business innovation. Amy is

Skater owned and operated, American Ramp Company builds over 200 skateparks annually throughout the world and is the only firm that offers 4 distinct product lines. Quality, selection and credibility distinguish ARC as the clear leader in the industry.

Play Moves Us in a big way and is inherent in our culture here at Burke. We are constantly studying play, evolving our products and pushing ourselves to be better - all to bring a higher level of play to the communities we serve.

At the Public Restroom Company, We're Known Throughout The Nation For Building Better Places to Go.

WhiteWater was born in 1980 with one clear purpose, to create places where families unite and make joyful lasting memories.