Articles
The Name Game
In today’s world, it’s really amazing about all the little things we have to concern ourselves with as youth-sports professionals.
Lack Of Loos An Urgent Issue
Picture a beautiful September day with cool breezes that offer people a first break from the sweltering summer. Family X decides to have a cookout at the local picnic area.
Pioneering Immigrants
Carmine leaned on the railing as the cold, black waters of New York Harbor swirled around the boat. The Great Lady on Ellis Island stood with her torch blazing and welcoming words at her
Destined To Serve
It seems Jerome Krieger was destined for a career in parks and recreation. Growing up across the street from a recreation center in St. Paul, Minn., “[It] was my home away from home,” he
"Lead"ing The Discussion
Lately, you can't open a magazine or newspaper, let alone peruse the web, without finding articles about leaders who should have done a better job or managers who sho
Smartphones And Social Media
The proliferation of smartphones and social media has fundamentally changed the way we interact, work, record events, and share information. We can now stay connected almost any
Routing Runoff
Imagine that you’ve just prepared a ball field for the big weekend playoff game, and it looks great—the infield dirt is smoothed to perfection, and home plate and the pitcher’s mound are
Role Models For Rookies
Darryl HopkinsХ first experience playing youth football at age 7 turned out to be a life changer. “The best coach that I played for growing up was the first coach I ever had,” recal
External Mentorship
It's no secret that change is a staple in the parks and recreation profession. The current economic climate, the retirement of baby boomers, and the significa
The Anatomy Of A New Park
Traditional beginnings, beginnings of traditionsУ is how the design team began to describe the new park. Located only a block away from historic downtown Libert
Modern-Day Employment
As I progress in my career, I find certain ideas evolving around executive newcomers. Some of these findings are the result of ambitious youth and some from a revised financial mindset (circa 2008)
Freeze Frame
When to winterize? That is a question many parks and rec maintenance professionals ask almost daily as the fall breezes hint at the upcoming colder weather.
Marketing Matters
The growing number of park and recreation agencies with dedicated marketing departments bodes well for the industry because it is vital that agencies make their communities aware of
Battling A Bully
From the moment he was born, he was a gentle kid. He was the first child for his mom and dad, so he was extra coddled; he was pretty much the star of the show at every holiday and event—
Flora, Fauna, Friend, and Foe
When I first became a parks and rec director in a town of about 35,000 in Georgia, I had little experience caring for municipal ponds and lakes; however, as fate would have it, there were
Mercy Rules
If you want to get someone in a heated conversation these days, just bring up youth sports. It used to be that you weren’t supposed to talk about religion or politics in social settings, but I
Passionate Leader
Growing up in the 1960s, Jeff Berthney's days were filled with playing sportsСfrom all-day sessions with neighborhood pals to taking part in a variety of organized programs.ТAlthough my dad was in the
Truth Serum
The other day I overheard a mother-daughter exchange that really made me pause. The 5-year old was hanging on a grocery cart while she stood in line with her mother, and both were extremely bored.
A Debt Of Gratitude
My dad was handy. He did many favors for people because of his skills, and I rarely remember him refusing anyone. He wasn’t especially “trained” or anything, but he just had a logical mind when it came to appliances and mechanical things.
Public Restrooms
Editor's Note: This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what's going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her des