Articles
Showing The Colors
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
On The Surface
It is likely that many of us learned to play basketball and tennis on asphalt, with that sensation of feet baking in our shoes. With the inception of the first asphalt-paved road in 1868, and the
To Protect And Preserve
Five thousand years of history were discovered in Miami, Fla., when archaeologists unearthed a Native American site once occupied by the Tequesta Indians in 3,000 BC. The Miami-Dade Park and
Defending Against Disaster
Each year, more than 200,000 children nationwide are hurt seriously enough on playgrounds to require emergency treatment or hospital admittance, according to the Virginia Department of Health. As
Vista View
In the last few years, we have faced new environmental concerns in a world made aware of the need for Тgreen living,У Тgreen buildingУ and other environmentally conscious initiatives. The city of Chan
Walk Or Ride?
Compared to traditional floor-mopping methods, automatic scrubbers provide a more efficient and effective way to clean floors in park and recreational settings. Fully automatic floor scrubbers are
Joining Forces
According to statistics from DesertUSA.com, residents of Yuma, Ariz., enjoy the sunniest year-round location in the United States, with an annual average of 4,133 hours of sunshine. The town is
Appealing To The Masses
In 2007, plans began for the new YMCA of the BrandywineValley, located in West Chester, Penn. One of the goals for the new property development was to create an iconic water play structure that would
Providing Equity For Parks And Recreation Facilities
Cities and counties throughout the United States are struggling with calculating and maintaining Levels of Service (LOS) for parks and recreation facilities. Populations are increasing, land is
Boundless Opportunities
The folks in Grand Forks, N.D., have discovered dreams really do come true when production is driven by a persistent teen and a committed community.Ali Karpenko was determined to make her dream come
Ditch Goes To The Dogs
Instead of having an ugly drainage basin collecting water from the new highway, which was proposed by the Arizona Department of Transportation, community planners in Gilbert, Ariz., decided to make
Playgound Fencing Specification Has Teeth
First published by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) nine years ago, a little-known and ill-respected national safety standard addressed playground fencing--the “Standard Safety Per
Choose Your Moment
“If I had to choose one moment To live within my heart, It would be that tender moment Recalling how we started. Darling, it would be when you smiled at me, That way, that Sunday, that summer.” --N
Pitching In
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
Growing With The Numbers
The Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley’s Compadre branch in Chandler, Ariz., completed a quarter-century journey in August, and began a new chapter in the fall. After occupying the same facility
Enter The Entrepreneur
Among the many definitions of an “entrepreneur,” two words--business and risk—often are found. Traditionally, an entrepreneur was a gutsy visionary who gambled everything in the hope of a big payoff.
Weathering Winter
Staff reduction, inclement weather and a decrease in visitor traffic make the winter season a challenging, but ideal, time for park maintenance. Across the country, parks and recreation departments
Major League Maintenance
The city of Goodyear, Ariz., hit a homerun in 2009 with the addition of the Goodyear Park and Recreation Complex. The new facility is the spring training home for two Major League Baseball teams, the
Strike An (Optic) Nerve
From the beginning, the intent of this column has been to help managers think about and explain agency issues from a ТvisualУ perspective. In the spirit of empowerment, this monthХs column follows the