Articles
Expanding Adapted Programs
The coordinators of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s (FCPA) Americans With Disabilities Act were seeking partners in 2013 for new, adapted programming ideas.
Recycled Water
Water is necessary for life. We live on a blue planet, but only 2.8 percent of the earth’s water is fresh water; the remainder is salt water.
Avoid The White Elephant
The “valley of ashes” in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was a real place, known in Fitzgerald’s time as the Corona Ash Dumps.
Something From Nothing
Nestled between the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River, Anne Arundel County in Maryland revolves around the water. From crabbing and fishing to sailing to AnnapolisСthe heart of the countyСthe community thrives on water.
The Modern Competition Pool
If you’ve seen one competition pool, have you seen them all? While many pools today seem identical, the face of competition pools in the United States is changing.
Answers To Tough Questions
Why does the swim team get the entire pool? Why is the synchronized swimming class always held first thing in the morning? Why do we need so many lanes for lap swimming when we have a world-class water polo team?
Outdoor Aquatic Facilities
People in parks and rec often hear the comment, “Pools never make money,” but is that accurate? The best answer is, “It depends.” As with any business situation, each pool’s location, demographics, features,
Designing The Competitive Pool
A competitive swimmer is a unique athlete. Endless hours of training and study of the mechanics of the sport, while being exposed to an environment that is basically foreign to normal day-to-day human activities, is his or her life.
Tranquil Trickle
Fountains can create an ambiance for any setting. Whether it's the sound of water falling from one tier to the next, or dancing and changing color to the sound of a melodic tune, fountains typically evoke feelings of joy and peace.
Develop A System For Success
At the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) in N.C., maintenance is an ongoing, full-time endeavor. With three bodies of water, a therapy pool, a competition pool, and a dive well, the GAC totals 1.5-million gallons of water in a 67,000 sf building.
Not Your Daddy's Locker Room
Growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s, I saw a locker room as a cavernous, uncomfortable, smelly public space whose functional design focused less on personal space and more on efficiently serving a large number of people.
A Splashing Success
Not many municipal services are guaranteed to put a smile on someone's face, but on any given summer afternoon at Alligator's Creek Aquatic Center in OХFallon, Mo., laughter and shrieks of fun can be heard long before one gets to the entrance gate.
The Town Pool Comes of Age
Municipalities nationwide are coming to the realization that simply providing a place for swim lessons and getting wet isn't what today's aquatic facilities are all about. Citizens are more savvy, connected, and busier than ever.
Enjoy A Peaceful Paddle
Chehalem Paddle Launch provides water recreationalists a place to rent a kayak, canoe, or paddle board, and enjoy a peaceful paddle on the Willamette River, in Dundee, Ore.
When A Community Treasure Crumbles
Parks and recreation departments often feel pressure from the community when facilities close for repairs or maintenance. For the city of Tampa, outcry was much stronger when a neighborhood pool was shut down in 2009 for being non-code compliant.
A Pit Stop For Paddlers
In 2009, the Minnesota DNR completed a master plan for the Ottertail River. Part of that study concluded that an 8-mile stretch of the river was not navigable into Fergus Falls because no canoe/kayak access existed above Central Dam.
Striking A Happy Chord
What once was an unsightly, utilitarian detention basin dividing two areas of a suburban community has now become a beautiful, ecologically healthy park that draws residents outdoors, fosters neighborliness, and inspires others in the region to visit
Pour Performance
By 2012 the waterfall was in poor condition, and water flow had diminished to a trickle. A major renovation would be required to restore the historic waterfall to its original flow and capacity.
Take Time To Train
In a lifeguard-certification course, participants learn the skills necessary to protect swimmers and provide emergency care when required. They learn a lot in a 25- or 30-hour course, but
Cleaning Restrooms
For most property managers, the number-one complaint from building users is the condition of restrooms. In a park and recreation center, the bathrooms also become the one area that takes the most time to clean and maintain.