Articles
Maximizing Reach
The saying, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” is undeniably true—especially in local government. Partnerships are often what make or break new legislation,
Launching A Holiday Light Show
After nearly two years of planning, NOVA Parks in Virginia opened the Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in 2012. As one of NOVA Parks’ premier
For Sparkling Results
We hear a lot about all types of facilities transferring from the use of traditional cleaning products to those that are “green”-certified. And along with selecting these environmentally
Keeping The Bones Of A Building Healthy
Operating a multimillion-dollar facility might seem like an overwhelming task, and the truth is, it can be. But Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) in Carmel, Ind., is here to help make that
Focusing On The Entire Season
When you hear the phrase “youth sports,” what is the first image that comes to mind? Maybe it’s a bunch of kids in uniforms running up and down a soccer field. Or maybe it is parents and
Farewell, Cleveland Metroparks
In May of 1984, I was a typical, overanxious young man who had been out of college for a year and had yet to find “long-term employment.” I had worked hard in school. I had good grades
The Quest For Physical Fitness
In the not-so-distant past, a visit to one of the many sites owned and managed by municipal parks and recreation departments would have been considered “going to the playground.”
An Uphill Battle
In 2006, the housing bubble burst, and few places in the country were hit harder than California’s Central Valley. Grand visions of verdant communities vanished in the blink of an
Infrastructure Integration
Do you think of parks and recreation facilities as critical infrastructure? There is no denying the nation’s sports and recreation facilities are valuable, and they already provide us with a lot. For
Shoring Up
In the fall of 2013, the Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) Outdoor Recreation unit in N.C. became responsible for Durham Lakes—two bodies of water in northern Durham County: Lake
Slip-Resistant Thinking
In the last few years, I have frequently had uncomfortable conversations about performance and job status with individuals who had previously been thought of as stellar employees.
Crossing Paths With Critters
“Wildlife” used to be a term associated with plains, prairies, and forests, but these days the great outdoors and critters who live there have inched their way into cities, or in many cases,
Same Game, New Guidelines
The Brazilian athlete Pelé popularized a nickname for soccer: “the beautiful game.” As a landscape architect and life-long soccer player, these two worlds came together in 2016
Raising Disability Awareness
As children gather on Saturday mornings in the Donny C. Thiry Memorial gymnasium in the town of Hamburg, N.Y., Senior Community Center, they greet their friends with bursts of
A “Re-Creation Of Recreation”
At a time when our nation has seen deep divides over race, a small city in North Carolina has worked to bring its community together despite all of the odds. Although Lexington city
Late Bloomers Make Good Students
As the oldest center in the city, the Las Palmas Community Center in McAllen, Texas, has long been a recreation destination for local and visiting elderly persons. With such a rich history in
Flora, Fauna, Friend, and Foe
When I first became a parks and rec director in a town of about 35,000 in Georgia, I had little experience caring for municipal ponds and lakes; however, as fate would have it, there were
More Fun, Less Funding
Public agencies that develop and maintain parks and trails are under constant pressure to spend money wisely. Most industry professionals understand that dollars spent on parks and
Not Just For Kids
The summer camp industry is a valuable source for inspiring, activating, and energizing community spaces for people of all ages. Public parks are taking note by utilizing amenities
Tending To Trees
Parks and trees seem to be inseparable. We can shade ourselves from the hot summer sun beneath a centuries-old Cottonwood tree, listen to wind whisper through a Ponderosa Pine’s