This-N-That
Recycled Plastic Lifeguard Chairs Make A Splash
Lexington, Va.--ParknPool donated three recycled plastic lifeguard chairs to the DIY Network’s design show “Indoors Out,” but it wasn’t for a pool redesign. The lifeguard chairs (complete with cup holders) made perfect seats for a family to be able to see over their 6-foot-high fence to watch their favorite baseball team play on a nearby field. Each lifeguard chair, manufactured from post-consumer and post-industrial milk containers (high-density polyethylene) keeps landfills from becoming even more overcrowded. These recycled plastic lifeguard chairs are a green addition for backyard seating or a public pool. For more information, call (877) 777-3700.
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USPTA Launches Tennis--For The Health Of It! Web Site
Houston, Texas--The United States Professional Tennis Association announces the launch of tennis-health.com, a Web site supporting the Tennis--for the health of it! initiative. This free, interactive Web site targets teaching professionals, tennis consumers, health-care professionals, and non-tennis playing consumers. Its goal is to communicate the tremendous health benefits of tennis and that tennis is fun, easy, exercise for people of all skill, age and fitness levels. The site also features information and background on the initiative, breakdown of how different markets, whether they are recreational tennis players, competitive tennis players, non-players, or parents looking for activities for children, can benefit from tennis. Consumers have the opportunity to search for tennis events, programs and teaching professionals in their area, while teaching professionals have the opportunity to promote their programs, events and facilities on the site. For more information, visit www.tennis-health.com.
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Pool Maintenance Assistance Extended To Homeowners
Colorado Springs, Colo.--The American Red Cross and National Swimming Pool Foundation announce the premiere of the online Home Pool Essentials: Maintenance and Safety course, which teaches pool care and water safety techniques to help home pool and hot tub owners. For an enrollment fee of $19.95, the course allows consumers to learn at their leisure at www.HomePoolEssentials.org.
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Halsey Taylor Recognized For Design Excellence
Oak Brook, Ill.--Halsey Taylor’s Marblyte Contour drinking fountain has been recognized in the 2009 Design Journal Award for Design Excellence (ADEX) competition as a platinum winner--the highest honor in its category. The awards—given for the design of furniture, fixtures and finishes--are judged by industry professionals representing a cross-section of key players in the design industry. The bi-level model is manufactured from Marblyte, a non-porous solid surface material known for its durability. Equipped with vandal-resistant bubblers and push buttons, the ADA-compliant fountain features bottom cover plates manufactured from galvanized steel. For more information, visit www.halseytaylor.com.
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Bobcat Papers Land In The Smithsonian
West Fargo, N.D.--The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History recently acquired 56 cubic feet of records from Bobcat Co. The donation includes corporate records relating to American manufacturing and marketing as well as business development. Housed in the museum’s Archives Center, the papers join the museum’s extensive collection of agricultural, industrial and business papers. A selection of these records is scheduled to be on view from Nov. 30 through Jan. 17, 2010. For more information, visit www.americanhistory.si.edu.
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Williams Companies Pay Tribute To Founder
Carol Stream, Ill.--Williams Architects and Williams Construction Management pay tribute to founder Michael T. Williams, who passed away May 28, 2009 at the age of 68. Williams held the position of chief executive officer of both companies prior to his death. Founded in 1994, Williams Architects has served many Chicago-area municipalities and religious organizations as well as more than 160 park districts, private clubs, YMCAs and recreation departments in Illinois and elsewhere in the nation. Williams was a member of three area park district foundation boards, as well as was a member of the National Recreation and Park Association Great Lakes Regional Council. He served for more than 20 years as president of the board of the Cosley Zoo Foundation, which, under his leadership raised nearly $4 million for the Wheaton Park District. In March 2009, Williams was inducted into the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association Foundation's Hall of Fame, in recognition of his commitment to creating accessible recreational opportunities for all. For additional information, visit www.williams-architects.com.
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Cowabunga Bay Makes A Splash With Beach Theme
Draper, Utah--Sitting on two acres, Cowabunga Bay neighborhood waterpark opened July 12. Included is WhiteWater West Industries' AquaPlay Giant RainFortress—a 15-level, 225-foot long structure with a 1960s California beach theme that includes a recreated 1967 Woody wagon with California plates topped with a long board as well as a surfing cow sporting sunglass and board-shorts. The company claims the Giant RainFortress is the world's largest play structure with over 300 interactive activities, including nine slides, bridges, climb nets, arch jets, water guns and pull ropes and two tipping buckets that intermittently fill and spill on guests below showering them with 1,200 gallons. For more information, visit www.whitewaterwest.com.
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Otterbine Launches New Web Site
Emmaus, Penn.--Otterbine Barebo, Inc. announces the launch of their newly designed Web site. Features include market specific sections, photo galleries and direct access to owner’s manuals, specification forms and feature installations in addition to expanded product listings and reference documentation. The new Web site has been designed to strengthen partnerships with distribution and service networks while offering clients improved customer service. Other additions include enhanced directory listings through the dealer locator feature, and the conversion to an electronic sales lead program. For more information, visit www.otterbine.com.
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SUPERthrive Originator Recipient of Lifetime Environmental Awareness Award
North Hollywood, Calif.--Dr. John A.A. Thomson, originator of SUPERthrive, received a Lifetime Environmental Awareness Award from Sustainable Environmental Education. Thomson’s best-known environmental contributions are his SUPERthrive product and its effects--reforestation; increased volume, grade and speed of crops as well as overcoming adverse growing conditions; providing mental and physical health helps; eliminating interior toxicity; reviving trees and other plants; normalizing and perfecting plants. SUPERthrive can be found at nurseries, garden centers and retail outlets nationwide. For more information, visit www.superthrive.com.
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Praise For Blame
Ron,
I just read your article, what a clear, refreshing perspective on responsibility (“Put The Blame On Me,” PRB April).
Thanks.
Margaret M. Brach
Director, Engineering & Design
PlayCore
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Sit-Com Doesn’t Sit Well
Randy,
I enjoyed your article, “Parks and Rec As A Sit-Com?” (PRB July) I was eager to see the product on TV, mostly out of distress for the damage control that we have encountered for the misrepresentation of the parks and recreation profession. I ended up watching the first three episodes, so in essence, I pretty much wasted away 90 minutes of my life. Being truly a “mockumentary,” In the three months since the first airing, I have heard absolutely nothing in my community about the show. Hopefully the national ratings indicate the same thing.
Jim Pryor
Director, Parks & Recreation
Brunswick County, N.C.
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Randy,
I think your article on the new show is right on--my impression is parks and recreation is far too important to a community to be made light of.
Thanks, I think your articles are wonderful.
Doug Joyce
Parks and Recreation Director
Joplin, Mo.
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Dear Randy,
Your article on “Parks and Rec As a Sit-Com?” couldn’t be more correct. I was so excited to hear that they had created a show about being a parks and recreation director. I am very new to the field and I thought this show might be something fun to watch. There was truly only one funny moment in one episode that made me laugh out loud. It was during the Easter Egg Hunt, and one of Leslie’s assistants was supposed to hide the eggs for the hunt. He didn’t, and the kids were looking around for all the eggs. I had just had our Township Easter Egg hunt, and it was over in about 30 seconds. It made me laugh, because I thought this might be a good way to make it last a little longer for next year!
Sincerely,
Kristal Narkiewicz
Director of Parks and Recreation
Dover Township, Penn.
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Dear Randy,
You hit it right on the mark! I was so excited about the new show because I, too, thought it would be very funny taking real life experiences from parks and recreational people. I sat down with a snack and told the rest of my family to come and watch. But I didn’t even finish the show that night. I was so disappointed and I don’t remember laughing at anything. I was asking myself what happened and thought it could have been so much better. I haven’t tried watching it again. Maybe I didn’t give it a chance, but when Amy Poehler started flinging “poop,” that did it for me—not funny.
I hope you hear from people and forward comments to the producers. Maybe they will consider re-writing what could be a cute and funny show (a little education for the general public would help too).
Sincerely,
Julie M. Sjogren, Chairman
Algoma Township Parks & Recreation
Rockford, Mich.
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Calendar
October
13-16 NRPA Congress & Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah; www.nrpa.com
14-16 British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association Aquatics Provincial Conference; for more information contact Heather Muter at hmuter@bcrpa.bc.ca; www.bcrpa.bc.ca
28-29 Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo, Vancouver, BC—Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre; www.cwre.ca
28-30 World Aquatic Health Conference; Atlanta, Ga.—Sheraton Atlanta Hotel; www.nspf.org
November
3-6 Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association Annual Conference, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.—Kalahari Resort & Convention Center; wpraweb.org