Articles
Changes Inside And Out
Change management is crucial for leaders in any field. Whether it’s adopting innovative technology, navigating employee turnover, or launching new programs, successful leaders are often those who handle curveballs with ease and expertly guide their teams through unfamiliar territory.
The Roadmap To Recognition
No matter the size of a park agency, all of them struggle with resource needs. However, what some people often don’t recognize is that the most valuable resource of any organization is its employees.
Focus On Function
Much about fitness has changed over the last few years, including the advent of virtual classes and the meteoric rise of pickleball. However, in gym facilities across the country, one of the more noticeable changes has little to do with exercise.
Uncovering History
When visitors buy a ticket to the Balboa Park Carousel in San Diego, their likely objective is a few minutes of traditional, family-friendly fun. But they’re actually experiencing part of the city’s history.
Big Leagues, Small Details
Throughout 2023, one of the biggest stories in major league baseball has involved new rules with the addition of a pitch timer, bigger bases, and limitations around defensive shifts. The changes are designed to shorten the average length of games and encourage more viewers to tune in.
Driving Over Boundaries And Climbing Obstacles
Hosted by Oakland County Parks (OCP) in Michigan, Disability Dirt Days pair volunteer, off-road vehicle (ORV) drivers with participants with disabilities for thrilling rides around Holly Oaks ORV Park. The park is situated on former and active gravel mines and offers a wide variety of extreme terrain for ORVs.
Soaking In Safety And Cost Savings
It goes without saying that safety, maintenance, and saving money are important at park facilities. But think about how these three concepts connect for a water park to thrive.
Finding balance between ATV use and nature conservation
ATV riding continues to be a popular American pastime—one that is often of tremendous value for many states.
Playgrounds And Parks Become Ground Zero For STEM Education
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.
When Recreational Water Illnesses Threaten Splash-Pad Fun
Splash pads are a hallmark of summertime family fun for communities across the country. Typically free to use and open to the public, they’re an accessible and affordable way to keep children entertained when school’s out.
Solving For Vandalism
Many park-maintenance duties are of the standard variety. Repair needs surface after inclement weather, trails degrade from prolonged, heavy use, historic sites require more care with age, and the list goes on.
An Award-Winning Sustainability Initiative
Sustainability is a top priority for many of the nation’s parks, but passion doesn’t always translate to an impact. Park leaders are tasked with building and maintaining sustainability programs that deliver long-term results—even after initial enthusiasm wanes.
Protecting Parks From Climate Change
Climate change is transforming America’s parks. Warming temperatures increasingly affect plantings, wildlife, and even pest populations, requiring new maintenance regimes and management techniques.
Programming Ideas For The Community, By The Community
When it comes to programming, most communities allow their parks department to set the tone, choosing a level of engagement based on what’s available. But, increasingly, residents aren’t waiting to see what’s on the calendar—they’re stepping in to develop the programs themselves.
Magic Chairlifts
The humble chair lift is magical. It’s a special place where strangers become friends, problems are solved, laughter is born and, in some cases—lifelong love affairs begin. No topic is forbidden on a chairlift and life’s problems just seem to fade away—at least for five to nine minutes, or however long it takes to get to the top.
Think Like A Custodian
When I first began architecture school, I was a naïve 20-something anticipating lectures revolving around the greatest minds in architecture—Louis Kahn, Le Corbusier, Mies Van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright. I walked to my first lecture, inspired and eager to learn the secrets of these legends.
Focus On Food
When spending time with others—friends, family, or people in one’s support networks—food is often a prerequisite. Whether at a holiday dinner, backyard barbecue, or picnic in the park, some of the most cherished memories are not only of those whom we saw or what we talked about, but also what was on our plates.
The Importance Of Low-Impact Hiking
The nation’s parks are attracting record numbers of visitors. Official National Park Service (NPS) numbers show that 73 parks had more than one-million recreation visits each in 2021, up from 60 parks the year prior.
Smashing Pumpkins In The Name Of Sustainability
Perhaps there’s no greater symbol of Halloween—and to a greater extent, the fall season—than pumpkins. Intricately carved or plain, stand-alone décor or part of a larger motif, pumpkin fever is hard to escape.