January 2022

Written By Guest User

Volume 20 | Issue 6

Youth-Sports Fields

The fields and facilities where you host programs are the backdrop for success. They don’t have to be professional-sports caliber to be important or well-maintained; a little care and attention goes a long way.

Enjoy!

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Parks & Rec Business is written by parks and recreation directors and staff. If you’re in the industry, PRB is an amazing resource that’s full of real-world experience that you can use to solve problems, create new opportunities, and keep your community healthy and happy.

 
 

This Month’s Articles

Featured
When Residents Reject Youth-Sports Fields
Jefferey Spivey
When Residents Reject Youth-Sports Fields
Jefferey Spivey

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.

Jefferey Spivey
Think Outside A Box Full of Water
Greg Schmidt
Think Outside A Box Full of Water
Greg Schmidt

For those who have a competition pool and wonder what else you can do other than have swim meets—this article is intended to help you literally think outside your box full of water.

Greg Schmidt
Show, Don’t Tell
Danielle Mauter
Show, Don’t Tell
Danielle Mauter

Parks systems play critical roles in generating significant economic, health, and environmental benefits that enhance the quality of life in communities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parks staff members know this, but they often struggle with the best ways to prove it to partners, grantors, and local tax payers; communities often don’t think of parks as economic drivers.

Danielle Mauter
A Contribution To The Community
Mike Wekesser and Randy Lieberg
A Contribution To The Community
Mike Wekesser and Randy Lieberg

Colorado College has just unveiled its first on-campus hockey arena and sporting-event venue, Ed Robson Arena. The 135,000-square-foot project marks the first time the hockey team will be able to play games on campus since the program’s founding in 1938.

Mike Wekesser and Randy Lieberg
Youth-Sports Administration 101: Preventative Field Maintenance
Jason Schaitz
Youth-Sports Administration 101: Preventative Field Maintenance
Jason Schaitz

Whether you own and operate sports facilities or have a user-group agreement, you still have the responsibility to ensure those facilities are safe and last the test of time. Maintaining them properly is the key.

Jason Schaitz
Interior Inspection
Alan Kavanaugh
Interior Inspection
Alan Kavanaugh

The inspection procedures and recommended frequencies are usually based on national and state codes, regulations and standards, preventative maintenance, and best loss-prevention practices.

Alan Kavanaugh
A Legacy Reborn
Liz Morrell and W. Lee Jones
A Legacy Reborn
Liz Morrell and W. Lee Jones

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation reopened the iconic American Legion Memorial Stadium (ALMS) with a small ceremony on July 7, 2021. The $40.5-million stadium—located in Charlotte, North Carolina’s center city, on a 9.80-acre site adjacent to the main campus of Central Piedmont Community College—was built during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program of the New Deal.

Liz Morrell and W. Lee Jones
Intersectional Efforts
Antonio Williams
Intersectional Efforts
Antonio Williams

When people have access to the outdoors, they thrive. From improving mental health to increasing physical activity, the outdoors has much to offer anyone privileged to live close to a park or an open space.

Antonio Williams
Valuing Volunteers
John Engh
Valuing Volunteers
John Engh

With the exception of 2020, which wiped out youth sports, one of my favorite moments each year is reviewing the final applications from the NAYS volunteer coach- and parent-of-the-year nominations. Applications come in from around the world from member organizations on almost every U.S. military installation that organizes youth sports.

John Engh
Gathering Trophies
Ron Ciancutti
Gathering Trophies
Ron Ciancutti

“The overriding problem with our world in general is that we are, in large part, managed by incompetents. Most of these are men who have spent their lives seeking power rather than themselves.

Ron Ciancutti
 
 
 
 

Publisher’s Note

Little Moments

Snow was gently falling as we pulled into the deserted trailhead parking lot. It was the first significant snow of the season and my daughters, and the dog were eager to get out and play in it.

We jumped out of the truck, stepped into our ski boots, and attached our skins to our skis. As we fumbled with the start of ski tour stuff that would become routine in a few weeks, the dog ran around half crazed—sniffing all the new smells and chasing squirrels who had the temerity to squeak at him from their perch up high.

Eventually, we were strapped into our skis, backpacks straps snug against our shoulders. We glided across the snow-covered lot, scooted up and over a snow pile left by the plow and entered the thick pine tree forest. At first, we simply breathed, enjoying the amazing quiet you can only find in a deserted forest. We wound around dead falls, through gullies, and slowly worked our way up the slope we wanted to ski. As we got used to the effort, the girls started telling me about their day and their hopes for the coming winter season. They laughed as the dog hopped through snow over his head to check out a tree, then worked his way back to us to see if we were doing all right. When he tired, he simply walked along on our skin track sometimes riding on the backs of the girls’ skis—much to their delight.

Eventually, we made it to the top. We sat down in the snow, ripped the skins off our skis and transitioned to downhill mode. Before taking off, we talked about how to do it safely—keeping an eye out for barely submerged logs and choking brush that could catch their skis and injure them for the season.

Slowly, one by one, we skied the little slope—weaving between trees, trying to piece together wide-open meadows full of soft powder. It was a blast.

We worked our way back to the truck, dumped our gear in the bed, and jumped in for the ride home. I pulled a few candy bars out of my pocket and passed them around. We drove home slowly, savoring the moment and the chocolate. As we pulled into the garage, the girls turned to me and said simply, “Thanks, Dad. That was fun.”

They headed inside and I began to unpack. As I moved the gear from truck bed to ski racks, I smiled at how something so simple as walk in the woods with two of my daughters could bring so much joy. As always, I was thankful for these little moments that, when pieced together, make up a month, then a year and eventually, a life.

As we start this new year, my hope is you are heading into 12 months of wonderful, peaceful, happy little moments with the people you care about and the folks who care about you. And, I hope, this issue offers you a pleasant little moment to start you off right.

So, grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate or whatever you love, find a comfy chair, and take a few moments to enjoy what we’ve created for you. As always, I like how it turned out. I hope you do, too.

Have a Happy New Year!

Rodney J. Auth
Publisher

 
 
 
 

This-N-That

Featured
Ripken Baseball Announces Expansion In 2022

Baltimore, Md.—Ripken Baseball will embark on their first multi-city tour through their newly added Ripken Select Tournaments. For the first time in more than 20 years, these tournaments will be accessible to baseball teams in multiple markets outside of their own Ripken Baseball facilities. 

The Ripken Select Tournaments were first introduced in 2021 at a single location in Round Rock, Texas, through a 60+ team event in partnership with Ryan Sanders Sports & Entertainment. Based on demand, the tournaments will expand next summer to Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and include an additional stop in Texas.

The summer tour will feature five stops from June to July, with each stop having one dedicated week-long event. Although each destination will provide its own unique local market experience and family entertainment options, every tournament will provide a consistent Big-League Experience featuring professional facilities, a tournament appearance by a former Major Leaguer, opening ceremonies and skills competitions, and player announcements and walk-up music to make every at-bat unforgettable.

To learn more, visit www.ripkenbaseball.com.  

Yanmar Unveils New Brand Tagline

Yanmar Compact Equipment has revealed its new brand tagline: “Together We Build.” 

The launch of this new tagline is the culmination of extensive global research and consultation with staff, dealer partners and customers. It also represents an important strategic step in Yanmar CE’s transformation journey.

While the words may be a new expression, the thinking behind them is fundamental to Yanmar CE and its customers. The essential values which underpin the brand present a modern company that listens to customers, builds trust with partners, is highly competent and takes a hands-on approach to business, but above all, can inspire and enable customers to reach their ultimate goals.

For more details, visit https://www.yanmar.com/us/products/construction.

STIHL Names New CFO, Chairman

Virginia Beach, Va.—Ingrid Jägering is the new Chief Financial Officer and Information Technology Officer at STIHL AG. She is the successor to Karl Angler, who at 66 left the company at the end of 2022 when his contract expired. She was unanimously appointed by the Supervisory Board to the Board of Management for 3 years.

The Supervisory Board also unanimously appointed Michael Traub as Chairman of the Executive Board. His position becomes effective February 1, 2022. He succeeds Dr. Bertram Kandziora, who is retiring shortly before his 66th birthday when his contract expires.

Proven Treatment For Spotted Lanternfly

Arborjet Inc., a provider in plant health care, has developed a treatment solution to help mitigate the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF). According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture this invasive pest “could be the most destructive species in 150 years.” Native to Asia, the brightly colored plant hopper was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Established populations are now found in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, and the pest has been identified in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont, with bordering states now on high alert.

The Spotted Lanternfly nymphs will feed on a wide range of over 100 different plant species, including grape, hops, grasses and fruit trees, while adults prefer to feed on trees, particularly Tree of Heaven, walnut, maple, birch, and others, posing a serious threat to agriculture and tourism. The pest sucks the sap from plants and trees and produces a sticky residue called honeydew, which promotes sooty mold growth. People moving infested materials have aided its rapid spread. Adults lay 1-inch-long egg masses in the fall on nearly anything from tree trunks and rocks to vehicles and firewood. With no native predator, the Spotted Lanternfly population has flourished.

For more information, visit https://arborjet.com/.

United Turf Alliance Appoints New CEO

United Turf Alliance (UTA) announced the appointment of Nicholas Strain as its new Chief Executive Officer. Strain replaces George Furrer, who is now the General Manager of Valley Green, Inc.

Strain has nearly 15 years of experience in the industry, including distributor and manufacturer sales positions along with leadership of the Turf and Ornamental division for Control Solutions, Inc. Most recently, he served as the Vice President of Business Development at Primera. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

WhiteWater Announces Key Hires

Vancouver, Canada—WhiteWater announces two new key hires in business development.  

Industry veteran Frank Good is assuming the position of Vice President, Business Development at Vantage, WhiteWater’s technology unit. His experience providing digital solutions to parks matches the objectives at Vantage, an advanced software platform accelerating the digital transformation of the leisure industry. He has dedicated 10 years of his career helping clients succeed through technology.

Attractions veteran Domingo Vergoossen is taking the role of Vice President, Global Business Development in WhiteWater’s Water Rides division. His experience in water ride design and projects spans over 15 years. He began as a designer at Vekoma Amusement Rides and then was charged with establishing Vekoma’s first China manufacturing facility in Guangdong province in 2004.

Matrix Fitness Announces Integration With Myzone

Cottage Grove, Wis.— Matrix Fitness, a commercial fitness brand, announced a multi-phase integration partnership with Myzone, a wearable technology solution in the fitness industry. The first phase of the partnership integrates Myzone heart rate devices with Matrix Touch and Touch XL consoles and the new Virtual Training Cycle. 

The new partnership enables Myzone users who pair their device the ability to view and track their color zone, heart rate, percentage of their maximum heart rate (MHR), Myzone Effort Points (MEPs) and calories burned in the user feedback panel on the consoles. Workout data is then displayed after a workout and saved directly to the Myzone app for workout tracking and MEPs accumulation.

For more information, visit http://www.myzone.org.

The Advantages Of Natural Lighting

As the need to implement natural light becomes more apparent, businesses can turn to fabric structures to innovate and cut down on operational expenses. Among the benefits, they can: 

·       Cut utility costs.

·       Offer environmental sustainability.

·       Improve worker safety and morale.

·       Produce a more natural-feeling indoor space.

For businesses looking to reduce costs and boost productivity in their operations, natural lighting offers an inexpensive solution. ClearSpan’s fabric structures provide well-lit, comfortable spaces for any industry, allowing businesses to invest in their workers, sustainability, and future success. For more information, visit https://www.clearspan.com/news/the-advantages-of-natural-lighting-in-fabric-structures/.

 
 
 
 

Calendar

Featured
January 2022

11-13 Northern New England Recreation & Park Conference, North Conway, NH—Red Jacket Mountain View Resort; www.northernnewenglands.com/

17-20 Sports Turf Managers Association Conference and Exhibition, Savannah, Ga.—Savannah Convention Center; www.stma.org

27-29 Illinois Park and Recreation Association Soaring to New Heights Annual Conference, Chicago, Ill.—Hyatt Regency Chicago, www.il-pra.org

February 2022

6-9 Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Conference, Sandusky, Ohio—Kalahari Convention Center; opra@opraonline.org

8-10 Southeast Pool & Spa Show, Nashville, Tenn.—Music City Center; (630) 308-1363 

9-12 Association of Aquatic Professionals Annual Conference & Exhibit, St. Pete Beach, Fla.—Tradewinds Island Grand Resort and Convention Center; www.aquaticpros.org

11-13 American Sports Builders Association Winter Meeting, Sonoma, Calif.—Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa; https://sportsbuilders.org/

March 2022

1-4 Missouri Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference and Expo, Springfield, Mo.—University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center; www.mopark.org

8-10 New England Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show, Providence, R.I.—Rhode Island Convention Center; (401) 848-0004, www.turfshow.com

8-10 California Park & Recreation Society Conference & Expo, Sacramento, Calif.—Sacramento Convention Center; (916) 665-2777, or http://www.cprs.org/p/cm/ld/fid=760

9-10 American Sports Builders Association Regional Meeting, Hollywood, Fl.; https://sportsbuilders.org/

21-24 Iowa Parks & Recreation Association Spring Conference, Dubuque, Iowa; www.iowaparksandrecreation.org

April 2022

5-7 Maryland Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference, Ocean City, Md.—Princess Royal Hotel; www.mrpanet.org

May 2022

2-5 National Outdoor Recreation Conference, Knoxville, Tenn.—https://recpro.memberclicks.net/2018-national-outdoor-recreation-conference

 

Field Notes

Featured

Colliers Engineering & Design, a national multi-discipline engineering design firm, has entered into an agreement to partner with Bergmann, of Rochester, N.Y. Bergmann is an award-winning architectural and engineering firm that offers full-service building, planning and design capabilities. The addition promises to create a dynamic and positive environment, positioning both entities to better serve their clients with more comprehensive services and continue growth opportunities within the A/E industry.

SiteOne Landscape Supply proudly announces an alliance with Aspire Software, expanding its business-management software solutions offering to its customer base. Named one of Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies in 2021 by Financial Times, Aspire is trusted by more than 51,000 users across the green industry to manage nearly $4 billion in revenue.

 
 
 
 

Buyer’s Guide

 

Product Review

Product Reviews
Zamboni Lithium-ion Electric Ice Resurfacers
Zamboni Lithium-ion Electric Ice Resurfacers

With zero battery maintenance, faster, more efficient charging and increased performance, lithium-ion batteries are the future of the industry. Like a modern cell phone, a quick charge between uses can top off the battery, maintaining sufficient resurfacing power for around-the-clock power.

zamboni.com

Yanmar Stowable Utility Hook
Yanmar Stowable Utility Hook

The Stowable Utility Hook provides a factory-designed lifting point for Yanmar compact excavators without the need to use an attachment. The new option reduces the risk of damage to the machine, buckets, or other attachments resulting from attempts to lift heavy objects with a strap or chain connected to areas not intended to be lifting points. Ideal for lifting heavy objects, the hook improves equipment longevity and overall safety by providing a dedicated, engineered lifting point built into the machine linkage.

yanmar.com/us/products/construction

SiteOne’s LESCO Pro-Aer 30 and Pro-Aer 36 Aerators
SiteOne’s LESCO Pro-Aer 30 and Pro-Aer 36 Aerators

These commercial stand-on aerators, available with or without a seed box, feature a chain-free design to eliminate the cost and hassle of expensive breakdowns. Powered by a Vanguard V-twin engine, the LESCO renovation units are supported by a 3-year commercial limited warranty. The integrated seed box model eliminates the need for post-aeration seed application to complete projects in one easy pass, reducing the need to return and reapply seed.

https://www.siteone.com/

Ecore FlexTurf Monster
Ecore FlexTurf Monster

Featuring a customizable turf surface layer, FlexTurf Monster creates the ultimate safe and ergonomic training surface for indoor or outdoor use. It incorporates a polyethylene turf surface layer that is field-united to a 10 or 15mm VCR ShockPad for superior impact absorption.

https://www.ecoreathletic.com/

ECHO eFORCE 56V Battery System
ECHO eFORCE 56V Battery System

This line up of 10 new units spans the range of users from high-end homeowners up to professional landscapers and arborists. It includes chainsaws, string trimmers, a 21-inch self-propelled 3-in-1 lawn mower, 550 CFM handheld blower, 22-inch hedge clipper, 17-inch brush cutter, two Pro Attachment Series trimmers, two batteries, and two chargers.

www.ECHO-USA.com

Codelocks KL1000 G3 Keyless Access
Codelocks KL1000 G3 Keyless Access

The KL1000 G3 provides immediate, convenient keypad access without the need for cards and keys, meeting the needs for less person-to-person contact, including administration by facilities management. The new KitLock, enhanced with a key override function, allows key holders to access the locker in the event of a forgotten code or emergency, increasing flexibility for managers, staff members, and guests. With two finishes—silver chrome and black chrome—this modern lock showcases a slimmer, more subtle aesthetic.

https://www.codelocks.us/g3-inc

 
 
 
 

Marketspace Spotlight

 

Classifieds

 

Coming Up

February 2022

Green Issue

  • Ponds, Lakes, Waterfronts & Beaches

  • Day Camps

  • Forestry, Trails & Pavilions

  • Sustainable Facilities

 
 

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