Articles

Soaring To New Heights
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Soaring To New Heights

Years ago, swimmers of all ages flocked to public pools to take a refreshing break from the summer heat. Frolicking in the water and swimming a few laps satisfied a craving for fun, provided a

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Minneapolis Goes All-Natural
Aquatics Guest User Aquatics Guest User

Minneapolis Goes All-Natural

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Superintendent Jayne Miller closed her eyes and took a deep breath amid a buzz of last-minute preparations on a sweltering, mid-summer afternoon.

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Great Clients Make Great Projects
Aquatics Guest User Aquatics Guest User

Great Clients Make Great Projects

Marina Park—located on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, Calif.—officially opened in December 2016 after more than 10 years in the planning, design, and construction process. The park site and the story

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Double-Duty Pools
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Double-Duty Pools

A recreational professional at a pool can prevent a drowning by teaching a young child to swim, provide the gift of mobility to a grandmother, introduce a toddler to water, build the self-esteem of a

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Waterfront Hazards
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Waterfront Hazards

It seems like every day the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other governmental agencies are passing a new regulation prohibiting yet another activity on waterfront property.

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Planning The Perfect Waterpark
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Planning The Perfect Waterpark

Rather than traditional flat-water rectangular pools, stimulating waterparks are becoming the norm for today’s recreational aquatic experience. Once the decision has been made to build a mini, medium, or

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Hey, Lifeguard, Look At Me!
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Hey, Lifeguard, Look At Me!

This past June, I paused to observe an energetic 5-year-old who was getting a lifeguard’s attention by yelling, “Hey, lifeguard, look at me!” As an aquatic manager, I’ve heard those five

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Swimming-Pool Swap
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Swimming-Pool Swap

Many people try to improve their physical fitness by lifting weights or performing different cardiovascular exercises. However, those who continue to do the same routines

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Planning Paradise
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Planning Paradise

It has been named the best beach in the United States and is arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.

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Sink Or Swim
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Sink Or Swim

What does a new administration of an agency do when it inherits poorly maintained facilities? That was exactly the position I found myself in when I accepted the position as recreation director in Thibodaux, La.

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Raising The Bar
Aquatics Guest User Aquatics Guest User

Raising The Bar

In the world of aquatics, you are only as good as your team of lifeguards. Aquatic facilities across the nation have struggled to recruit lifeguards, and the city of Round Rock, Texas, was

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River"front" Yard
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

River"front" Yard

A Cincinnati Parks Master Plan called for a new riverfront park that would extend the chain of existing waterfront parks and reconnect the downtown area to the Ohio River.

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A Deep-Rooted Tradition
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

A Deep-Rooted Tradition

In 1988, there wasn’t much in the way of parks or recreation opportunities in Allen, Texas. Back then the city had no recreation centers and fewer than 600 acres of parks to serve a

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For Safety's Sake
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

For Safety's Sake

Ask any water-park operator about the park’s top priority, and hopefully he or she will say guest safety. Danger is inherent anytime millions of gallons of water are mixed with thousands

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Clean, Sanitize, Or Disinfect
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

Clean, Sanitize, Or Disinfect

As winter approaches, many parks and recreation centers have concerns about possible flu or virus outbreaks. For example, during the winter of 2012-2013, a serious flu outbreak occurred,

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The Winning Edge
Aquatics Bryan Buchko Aquatics Bryan Buchko

The Winning Edge

As awareness of the operational costs of pools has deepened, helped along by years of rising utility costs, an increasing number of municipalities, YMCAs, and swim clubs have joined forces

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