Articles
Time To Re-Focus
On December 6, 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) Final Report as its 30x30 plan. The goal is to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030 to address climate change and protect biodiversity.
Grinding Out The Details
While there are many challenges in developing a public skatepark, a few common pitfalls can be easily avoided. Skating around these snares can help create the most popular recreation facility in town as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Perfect Harmony
There are times when two projects coincide and achieve a perfect outcome. A prime example was in 2020 when the Modesto ROTARY Club (MoRo) in California was preparing to celebrate its centennial year.
Playground Inspections
Thousands of children are injured on playgrounds across North America each year. The majority of injuries occur from falls.
We Bought A Golf Course
On February 2, 2021, the Pontiac City Council voted to purchase the Pontiac Elks Club property. In Illinois, golf unofficially begins in mid-March, weather-dependent, which gave us roughly two months to open the facility as a public golf course.
Learn How To Landscape Responsibly
In many parts of the country, fall and spring typically deliver lots of rain. The fate of all that rainwater depends on the surface where the rain happens to fall.
An Award-Winning Sustainability Initiative
Sustainability is a top priority for many of the nation’s parks, but passion doesn’t always translate to an impact. Park leaders are tasked with building and maintaining sustainability programs that deliver long-term results—even after initial enthusiasm wanes.
Protecting Parks From Climate Change
Climate change is transforming America’s parks. Warming temperatures increasingly affect plantings, wildlife, and even pest populations, requiring new maintenance regimes and management techniques.
If A Tree Could Talk
“You wouldn’t believe the things I have seen during the more than 200 years since I put down roots here on the north side of the rugged ridge that overlooks more than 58 acres of a beautiful remnant of the Eastern Cross Timbers.”
The “Yes” Garden
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center opened in 1995 (as the National Wildflower Research Center) on a 42-acre site on the southwestern outskirts of Austin, Texas. As the state’s arboretum and botanical garden, its mission is to study, protect, and promote native plants.
Nature As Art
How do people engage with nature? Are they so far removed from it in their daily lives that it has become impossible? Is a connection to nature something people inherently crave?
A Symbiotic Relationship
To make cities more resilient, park planners and designers need to look beyond the typical stormwater requirements when thinking about public spaces. How can parks solve larger, community-wide stormwater problems while still accommodating recreational needs?
With A Little Help
In late September 2020, a lunch conversation at a local pizza shop in Clayton, N.C., spurred the idea for the Friends of Johnston County Parks—a volunteer coalition advocating in support of parks, open space, the arts, and recreational opportunities.
A Place For Discovery
Haldimand County in Canada has a population of approximately 45,000, and is located on the north shore of Lake Erie, bordered by Norfolk County, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, Brant County, the city of Hamilton, and the region of Niagara.
Residential, Commercial Projects Win Awards
The winning projects that used Pine Hall Brick clay pavers were in the categories for both residential and permeable construction, along with the vintage category, which honors projects that were built years ago.
Beyond Basic
Over the past decade, parks and recreation departments have been creating playgrounds that extend beyond basic Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Playgrounds are expected to meet standards regarding ramps and surfacing, but now communities around the country have begun to build play environments that are truly inclusive for people of all ages and abilities.
Taking Flight
In the densely packed neighborhood of west Costa Mesa, Calif., an ambitious program to revitalize Lions Park had been underway for several years. In the shadow of the city’s new, multi-million-dollar library, there was a little-used play lot, nostalgically called Airplane Park.
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.
Rural Parks And Recreation
What are the unique needs of rural areas, and how do park and recreation departments best address them? Agencies like the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) have been seeking answers to these questions.
With A Little Help
In late September 2020, a lunch conversation at a local pizza shop in Clayton, N.C., spurred the idea for the Friends of Johnston County Parks—a volunteer coalition advocating in support of parks, open space, the arts, and recreational opportunities.