Articles
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
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.
Everyone Deserves A Day At The Beach
There’s something magical about living at the beach. The United States features more than 90,000 miles of coastline, and Oregon features 1,410 of those miles. For me and many of the residents who find coastal
Ammonia And Nitrates--How They Affect Pool Water Chemistry
Ammonia is a colorless strongly alkaline gas with a very familiar pungent odor. The first complex molecule discovered in space in the galactic dust clouds of the Milky Way. It also makes up the rings of the planet
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
Protecting Swimmers From Accidental Chlorine Gas Exposures
A Thousand Oaks, California swim school was the setting of the recent accidental exposure of 19 people to a surge of chlorine gas into the pool area. Likely generated during an equipment
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.
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
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
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,
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
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