Articles
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.
Policing Parks
After a nearly two-decade hiatus, the Kansas City, Mo., Department of Parks and Recreation (KC Parks) is bringing park rangers back into the fold to assist with public safety and education.
For The Record
The city of Grapevine Parks and Recreation Department in Texas maintains 23 trails throughout the park system, including hard and soft surfaces. This provides residents of all ages attractive, safe, accessible, and low- or no-cost places to cycle, walk, hike, jog, or skate.
Youth Sports Administration 101: Complaints And Conflict Resolution
Those who manage a youth-sports program know there will be times when parents complain. Incidents also may occur at the fields and sports venues that may have to be dealt with on a game day. Regardless of the type of complaint or severity of an incident, it should be taken seriously.
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.
Programming Opportunities For ADHD Youth
An estimated 6.1-million American children between the ages of 2 and 17—9.4 percent—have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Want Big Results?
Wildly popular at the youth level, soccer and lacrosse are big tournament draws. One of the most successful formats—and one seeing tremendous growth—is small-sided play.
Youth Sports Administration 101: Volunteer Management
For most kids and parents, volunteers are “the face” of a sports league. Most programs cannot happen without them. Recruiting and retaining great volunteers will not only make a league better but also make your job as an administrator much easier.
Aging Gracefully
Participation by senior citizens at recreation centers across the country has significantly increased over time, and along with it the offerings that beckon them. One example of a successful program is the Georgia-based Macon-Bibb County Department of Parks and Recreation’s Elaine H. Lucas Senior Center.
Field Of Play
It’s easy to host. It’s affordable to maintain. There are plenty of potential players. And it’s hot and growing and can bring a younger demographic into your park.
Youth Sports Administration 101: Managing Staff Members And Referees
Each league has its own set-up and needs for staffing and referees. Some programs may be reliant on volunteers to supervise fields, keep score, and referee while other organizations are able to staff these positions.
Working With Water
Water-balloon wars were the outdoor equivalent of prime-time specials on the hottest days of my childhood. Armed with full balloons, my friends and I formed teams and wreaked havoc, resulting in unbridled joy and respite from the heat.
Returning What Once Was
One quarter—or 15-million acres—of Missouri was considered a prairie prior to European settlement. To narrow the focus even further, nearly 50,000 acres, or 17 percent, of St. Louis County was covered with tall-grass prairie during that same time period.
The Show Must Go On
As park and recreation professionals, we know capital construction rarely goes as planned; there are often delays and change orders that are out of our hands. The Wheaton Park District in Illinois finally met its ultimate challenge with the Memorial Park renovation project, originally set to open in June 2020.
Making Itself Known
However nostalgic, the grainy black and white photos of children frolicking in the spray of a fire hydrant on a sweltering summer day remind us that access to recreational water parks is not assured for many underprivileged and overlooked communities.
Time On The Water
Before patrons arrive at your facilities to enjoy the warm weather and spend time in a lake or other body of water, you can share certain skills with them on how to be safe. Here is some advice from an old pro in water safety on how to make the most of these activities.
Bridging What Divides Us
Memphis, Tenn., is a city starkly divided by race and income, with a high poverty rate and few public spaces to be shared by people of different backgrounds. In 2016, a group of public and nonprofit partners decided to intentionally design, manage, and operate public spaces that would welcome people of all races, incomes, and backgrounds.
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.
Cultural Connection
In a time of “cultural wars,” writing about Los Angeles’ relationship with its Chinatown is fraught with danger. Suffice it to say that Los Angeles Chinatown is a place that mirrors the experiences of an immigrant group targeted by systematic racial discrimination for over two centuries.
Quidditch And Ultimate
These are not your father’s sports. Or your mom’s, come to think of it, and they’d probably cause extreme confusion for plenty of other generations.