Jefferey Spivey 6/5/23 Jefferey Spivey 6/5/23

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.

Ann Christoph 6/5/23 Ann Christoph 6/5/23

Grow food, friendships, and opportunities

Community gardens are increasingly appreciated as urban amenities, where social isolation—both from standardized-housing tract design and from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions—can be relieved. For example, the community of Rancho Mission Viejo in southeast Orange County, Calif., advertises “Get closer to nature and neighbors with all the elements to grow and thrive.”

Frances Owen 6/5/23 Frances Owen 6/5/23

Whiting Forest provides a memorable experience that fosters inter-generational interaction

Now in its 11th year, the Great Iowa River Race begins within Iowa City (at a river access managed by the city) and ends 9.25 miles downstream on the Iowa River at Hills Access Campground, a property managed by Johnson County Conservation. Canoers, kayakers, and paddle boarders are welcome to compete in the event, which is divided into recreational and competitive heats.

Joanna Piedmont 6/5/23 Joanna Piedmont 6/5/23

Field Sports Park provides safe, supervised firing-range opportunities

East of one of the busiest freeways in California, bright lights beckon southbound drivers coming from San Jose on Highway 101. Those who have wondered but never stopped to inquire may be surprised to learn they have just passed the only publicly-owned firing range in the Bay Area.

Brad Smith 6/3/23 Brad Smith 6/3/23

Waterfront park improvements aim to create community gathering spaces

Casablanca Waterfront Park is a dynamic park that offers visitors a diverse range of experiences with spectacular views of Lake Ontario. The park is in the town of Grimsby, and the surrounding area is becoming an upscale, desired location.

Jo An M. Zimmermann and Stacey Bender 6/3/23 Jo An M. Zimmermann and Stacey Bender 6/3/23

More than a fancy word, use it to improve results in swim lessons

Aquaticity is a term historically used in biology and refers to the capacity of an organism to function or be comfortable in an aquatic environment (Vaveri et al., 2016). By focusing on skills such as breath-hold capacity, buoyancy, propulsion, and physical conditioning (endurance and strength), participants can develop a higher level of comfort in the water (aquaticity improves).

Margaret Collett 6/3/23 Margaret Collett 6/3/23

Inspiring residents to explore parks creates a buzz that began with a simple walk through the storage room

In the summer of 2020, parks and recreation departments across the country were looking for ways to engage community members safely since the COVID-19 pandemic brought most traditional programming to a halt. In Appleton, Wis., the parks and recreation team took on a “2020 Summer Reimagined” theme and set to work on brainstorming safe, community-engagement programs.

John Engh 6/3/23 John Engh 6/3/23

Hold coaches to the same standards for safety and uniformity

There is a feature on the National Alliance for Youth Sports website (www.nays.org) available for parents to report a coach who is behaving badly. The feature is called, you guessed it, “Report a Coach.”

Ron Ciancutti 6/3/23 Ron Ciancutti 6/3/23

Spend time getting tangled up in each other’s business

I don’t know many families that still collectively sit down to dinner anymore. In fact, I’ve seen a lot of modern homes with a “breakfast bar” but not many with actual kitchen tables.