Articles
The Great Debate
Participation awards—they’re the second-most talked about, dissected, and debated topic in youth sports these days, right behind parent behavior! But it’s actually a more complex subject than it seems at first glance.
Daisy Dash--A game to get you moving
Superior Recreational Products has been hard at work to bring you the latest and most innovative playground equipment in the industry. Here’s an exclusive look into one of their newest products that will
Private Capital For A Public Vision
A once-underused city park located along Boston’s Columbus Avenue Corridor in the South End and Lower Roxbury neighborhoods, the new William E. Carter Playground represents more than the typical
Crowdfunding
In an era of tight budgets for parks and recreation departments, one region of the country is turning to crowdfunding to pay for improvements that enhance access to the outdoors.
The Push For Propane
Parks and recreation facilities are facing new challenges as public budgets shrink and changing climates add unpredictable elements to operations, maintenance, and planning activities. On top of these, private
Making Mistakes And Minor Blunders
“Volunteer to coach? OK, I said ‘yes’ but now what? I played a little sport myself, but never coached before. What exactly am I supposed to do? What if I make a mistake? Could I be sued?” These thoughts and others
Follow My Lead
Ten days after graduating college, I started my career supervising the recreation division of a new parks and recreation department in a small town. I learned every aspect of running a department—knowledge
All In A Day’s Work
“Work – Thank God for the might of it, the ardor, the urge, the delight of it. Work that springs from the heart’s desire. Setting the soul and the brain on fire. Oh, what is so good as the heat of it. And what is so
Considering Synthetic Turf
Having quality athletic fields is not only appealing to fans, but important for player safety. While there are many factors to consider when planning a new athletic field or stadium, one in particular is whether natural
Inclusivity
It goes without saying that professionals involved with parks and recreation—perhaps with the exception of Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson—want everyone to enjoy the activities and experiences offered in
It’s In The Genes
I received a very unexpected phone call to my home in North Carolina in June of 1999—the type of phone call you never want to receive. My brother-in-law—who I had known and cherished since a young boy—
The Big Picture In Pool Chemistry
Have you ever added a particular chemical to a pool and wondered why it didn’t have the effect you expected? You calculated carefully, weighed the amount with the pump room scale, and spread it carefully
Super Sportsmanship
The first thing the National Alliance for Youth Sports administrators do when meeting with other administrators is to discuss all the positive expectations that parents have when signing their children up.