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Let The Cameras Roll
“Organizations need to think outside of their traditional audiences if they want to continue to grow and have an impact,” says Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF). Videos are one effective way to reach and engage with new and diverse audiences.
The Wonder Of Winning
A paintbrush. A cooperative game. A bike-skills playground. A collection of musical instruments. At first blush, it may seem as though these items have nothing in common. But the winners of the inaugural Great Fall Giveaway agree the prizes are sparking creativity and confidence in the kids who are enjoying them.
More Than Water Shutoffs
At first blush, winterization doesn’t seem as cumbersome as other fall-maintenance tasks like leaf removal. Park visitors, too, may not think much of it beyond the inconvenience of a few closed restrooms.
The Success Of Ninja Gyms
Ninja gyms are exploding in popularity across the country, driven largely by the fanfare around NBC’s American Ninja Warrior reality-competition series. But this extreme sport provides much more than weekly entertainment or an occasional adrenaline rush.
Waterpark Safety Depends On Logistics, Training, And Maintenance
Waterpark safety is often positioned as the responsibility of a particular group—families must take precautions to look after their children, lifeguards must oversee a certain pool or feature, and so on. But first and foremost, safety is actually a joint effort between parkgoers and staff members, or rather, a tacit agreement that guests affirm simply by showing up.
Campground Popularity Reaches New Heights
As with other outdoor activities, camping’s peak months tend to fall when the weather is warm, school is out, and free time is plentiful. However, recent years have given rise to a new pattern—full capacity year-round.
Biederman Redevelopment Ventures plan new park programming
The Park @ 320 will host events outside of 320 South Canal Street, home of the new BMO Tower
Attract National Events
Nationally recognized events can be a boon to cities large and small. Socially, they bring people together from far-flung locales and all walks of life.
From Parking Lot To Playground
In 1974, the little big town of Spokane, Wash., changed forever when the city cleaned up a blighted 100-acre area of downtown and used it to host the Expo '74 World's Fair. Then, in 1978—four short years after President Richard Nixon declared Expo '74 “officially open to all the citizens of the world,”—President Jimmy Carter dedicated the former fairgrounds as Spokane's new Riverfront Park.
Not Enough Lifeguards
Throughout the last two years, many industries have struggled to recruit, hire, and retain workers. Aquatic departments haven’t been immune to these challenges, but unlike other employers, they faced a labor shortage before the pandemic.
Managing Routine Maintenance
Among many reasons, park maintenance is important to ensure the safety of public facilities, protect investments in public lands, and position parks as a source of pride for local communities. But parks departments often have to juggle preventative work with other concerns, including emergencies, staffing shortages, and the addition of new parks or other construction projects.
Transforming pools and splash pads
Attracting patrons with simple renovations that provide big thrills
Creating Budget-Friendly Sustainability Plans
Sustainability has become an urgent issue in the nation’s parks departments, as officials manage wildfire-altered landscapes, rising sea levels, and threatened species, among several other issues.
Ready To Act On Climate Change?
Like you, the Urbana Park District in Illinois holds that all people have the right to a healthy and viable environment. Together, working for and with local communities, we can create a more positive future for everyone by choosing clean energy, using resources efficiently, and preparing for climate risks.
When Residents Reject Youth-Sports Fields
Youth-sports fields generally offer positive benefits for communities. Most notably, they encourage children’s participation in team sports, where they can establish healthy habits, hone their skills, and fortify social bonds.
Great Fall Giveaway Winners Announced
Parks & Rec Business and Camp Business magazines are proud to announce the winners of the inaugural Great Fall Giveaway!
Athens Of The South
In 2022, Nashville's Parthenon will celebrate its 125th anniversary. It is a blink of an eye compared to the age of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece.
Hitting The Slopes
Parks and recreation departments have the option of offering trips and tours to guests. For the purpose of this article, the focus is on planning a group day trip to a local resort for beginner skiers and snowboarders.
One Year In: Counting A Million Visitors In Los Angeles Parks
In Los Angeles, parks have long been places of solace and escape for residents of the notoriously dense city. During the summer of 2020, the Los Angeles Department of