Articles
Embrace Adaptation
Larry French stood in the marina in Safety Harbor, Fla., eyeing kayaks on a trailer. The 67-year-old above-elbow amputee looked at his right arm, which ended just 4 inches below his shoulder, and
Deep Pockets Not Required
In group classes—such as water aerobics and deep-water toning—camaraderie is typically one of the characteristics participants appreciate. But the one aspect of the program that might be self-sustaining is
Knee Deep In Knowledge
A newspaper article about a classroom water-quality monitoring program inspired honors biology teacher Connie Gannon to literally send her Waterford Mott High School students “up a creek” in Waterford, Mich.
Searching For A Solution
A young duckling emerges from the shallow, cool waters of his birth lake and creeps warily through the tall, damp cattails. The sun's rays begin to dry the previous night's dew. He shakes the last dro
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