Articles
Renovation Vs. New Construction
Continued facility maintenance and upkeep are an essential part of an effective operations strategy, but inevitably, a department will need to choose between renovating existing facilities or building new ones; which option is better depends on a variety of factors.
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.
A Lesson In History
St. Louis County Parks is in the process of moving and reconstructing a significant building to the Historic Village at Faust Park. This year marks the 129th anniversary of Missouri’s oldest-surviving, one-room schoolhouse.
Where The Metals Meet
The 24-acre Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex at Rancho Cienega Park fills an important need in South Los Angeles, providing quality public-recreation and fitness amenities for a population of approximately 100,000 people. The complex, which opened in June 2022, is a tribute to the former First Lady and President, who held his first Los Angeles-area campaign rally in the park.
We Bought A Golf Course
On February 2, 2021, the Pontiac City Council voted to purchase the Pontiac Elks Club property. In Illinois, golf unofficially begins in mid-March, weather-dependent, which gave us roughly two months to open the facility as a public golf course.
Learn How To Landscape Responsibly
In many parts of the country, fall and spring typically deliver lots of rain. The fate of all that rainwater depends on the surface where the rain happens to fall.
Appreciative Inquiry
Research across industries suggests that negativity often leads to negative outcomes, and costs money in the long term. In an effort to improve operational efficiencies, perhaps traditional problem-solving approaches may not be the best method.
Part Of The Team
One of my most vivid memories of being a volunteer coach came on the last day of coaching my daughter’s 5- and 6-year-old soccer team years ago. I had never played soccer, but the team needed coaches, and I was really interested in applying some of the things I had learned in working almost 10 years for an organization dedicated to improving the volunteer youth-sports coaching experience.
Lighten Up
While wandering through a gift shop recently, I came upon a shelf full of mugs and miniature trophies. Each was emblazoned with a bold line that read, “World’s Greatest Dad.”
Foggy Mornings
Steam rose slowly from the lake as I ambled to the office. As I passed our lakefront park, I watched the parks grounds crew mowing the wet grass, edging the sidewalks, and blowing the debris into piles to be loaded to the back of their truck.
This-N-That
A collection of news items, product announcements and event notices designed to keep you on the cutting edge.
