Articles
Unconventional Recreation For An Underserved Population
Most communities tend to do a good job in addressing the leisure interests of elderly residents who are still active and independent. However, when citizens move into supported-living facilities,
A Tale of Three Projects
Nature centers are special places with unique purposes. These centers exist to connect people with the natural environment and to bring to life stories of the animals, plants, and insects that make the area their homes.
A “Concert”ed Effort
The city of Waukesha, Wis., sits along the Fox River in Waukesha County, located approximately 20 miles west of Lake Michigan, and approximately 160 miles east of the Mississippi River at Dubuque,
Cycling for a Cause
This summer, the STIHL Tour des Trees celebrates its silver anniversary—25 years of challenging participants to hop on their bikes for a weeklong, 500-plus-mile, cycling event in support of trees, environmental conservation, and sustaining urban green spaces.
Bella Of The Block Party
With the arrival of each new season in the city of Chaska, Minn., there are opportunities to gather with neighbors and make community connections!
A Honking Good Time
The kids were lined up along the outside of the partition, faces pressed against smooth glass and eyes wide with amazement.
Scrambling For Golden Tickets
Most municipal parks and recreation departments around the country host an annual Easter egg hunt for the children.
Day-Camp Diligence
Many parks and recreation professionals have a love-hate relationship with day camps. We love them because they give us a chance to provide children with safe, fun, and memorable experiences that will last a lifetime.
When A Community Strikes Oil
What was once a quiet community in the rolling hills of Western North Dakota, Williston saw its population boom after striking oil in 2008, transforming from a town of 12,500 to a city of more than 40,000 permanent and transient residents.
With A Little Luck
What does it take to roll out the green carpet to more than 100,000 guests? Much more than the “luck of the Irish.”
Pedaling Toward Progress
Roanoke, Va., is the Mountain Biking Capital of the East, and rightfully so. The city has over 60 miles of natural-surface trails in five parks, and that doesn’t include the mileage in nearby county parks, state parks, or national forests.
A Cheesy Idea
Mac ‘n cheese is the ultimate comfort food. In August 2011, members of the parks and rec department sat in the lunch room and discussed what each of us liked most about the food.
Getting To Know Each Other
It was a question worth asking, and this student wasn’t holding back. He was chatting with Corporal Randy Green, a Maryland-National Capital Park Police officer since 2006, and the question seemed most important.
Under One Roof
Battling the hazards of slippery ice and snow, town of Hamburg, N.Y., workers last February unpacked moving trucks filled with desks, office supplies, and furniture.
Jamming In Beaver Dam
In 2013, I stood in the new downtown park in Beaver Dam, Ky., with Commissioner Kevin Davis, surveying its progress.
Finding Fitness Flexibility After 50
In a few short years, the number of group fitness classes held at the Elsie Stuhr Center in Beaverton, Ore, has doubled. It all began in 2005 after implementing the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) by Roberta Rikli and C. Jessie Jones in order to establish a baseline for interested participants.
The View From The Top
When considering the financial aspects of an aerial park or challenge course on a property, it is imperative to be very clear on which type of attraction you will be operating. While the two may appear to be similar, the way in which they operate and generate revenue is different, and may not always be clear to prospective customers.
Throw Away The Old Playbook
Few recreation professionals would claim youth programming is an easy component of their job.