July 2023
Volume 21 | Issue 12
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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
With routine maintenance, inspections, and upgrades, water park operating systems can last at least 20 years before major renovations are needed. While maintenance can keep guests safe and happy, a carefully planned, end-of-season closure for a park is just as important to the success of opening one the next season.
Life jacket, life preserver, life vest, personal flotation device (PFD)—no matter what you call it—the life jacket has a long and varied history. According to Christopher Brooks, in Designed for Life: Life Jackets through the Ages, the earliest example of a life jacket or floatation device can be found on marble carvings from 870 B.C., depicting Assyrian soldiers swimming while holding onto inflated animal hides.
In the summer before I began middle school, I officially became an elder at the local pool that was within walking distance from my house. I probably consumed a dozen or more frozen Snickers as bribes by lifeguards who wanted to leave the pool on days too cold to remain open.
Designs that appear simple and resolved are often the result of a painstakingly detailed process. While a park shelter at Luuwit View Park in Portland, Ore., appears to be a simple collection of triangular shapes, there is a complexity behind the presentation.
One of only a few public parks along the shores of Crystal Lake, Louise Levingston Cove is a linear, half-acre public park located in a residential neighborhood. Crystal Lake, and Levingston Cove in particular, is a place of nostalgia, where people learned to fish as kids, launched kayaks, or simply enjoyed some alone time, taking in spectacular views.
Spanning 20 acres, featuring 20 thrilling attractions, and serving as the largest waterpark project in the western U.S. in the past decade, Wild Rivers in Irvine, Calif., is a years-in-the-making community destination. The previous Wild Rivers location closed in 2011, and the new facility has been reimagined with state-of-the-art features, including a water coaster with virtual-reality capabilities.
This headline recently appeared in North Carolina: “NC senators propose eliminating participation trophies for youth sports.”
I walked out the hotel door and into the attached water park. We were in Phoenix for a volleyball tournament in June. Temperatures were averaging over 100 degrees and coming from the central mountains of Idaho (where we had yet to break 75 degrees), the sun felt like a furnace on full blast.
A collection of news items, product announcements and event notices designed to keep you on the cutting edge.
Industry events you won’t want to miss. Check out what’s coming up.
Product Review
Whether you are an avid camper, hiker, or just someone who loves to explore the great outdoors, SABRE Frontiersman Bear Spray is a must-have for added peace of mind on your next adventure. The 9.2 oz spray combines maximum stopping power with a superior range of 35-feet, meaning you can deploy it from a safer distance to deter an aggressive bear. It travels up to 15 feet farther than other bear sprays to put more distance between you and the attacking bear.
https://www.sabrered.com/bear
Yanmar Compact Equipment introduces the 103.5-horsepower, 3,600-pound ROC TL100VS compact track loader — the first machine in its new compact track loader line. Designed specifically for the construction, utility, and rental industries and featuring a Yanmar engine, it offers reliability, productivity, and intuitive features for enhanced efficiency and ease-of-use for new operators.
www.YanmarCE.com
Capable of mulching overgrowth, underbrush and small trees, the FMX28 attachment offers a versatile solution for clearing property lines, pasture land, real estate lots, ditches, trails, fence rows, invasive species, and more. Paired with 3.5- to 8-ton excavators, the compact package makes it easy to access traditionally difficult-to-reach places with precision. It allows for surgical precision in vegetation management, enabling the removal of a single tree in a group or even specific branches that need to be trimmed back from obstructions—an ability traditional skid-steer mounted mulching heads can’t offer.
www.fecon.com
The VT-100 compact track loader is a vertical lift machine that excels in loading and grading applications in landscaping and construction. It comes equipped with a 103.5-horsepower Tier 4 Final Yanmar diesel engine and standard 40 gpm high flow. It features a 3,500-pound rated operating capacity,10,286-pound tipping load, and ASV’s patented Posi-Track rubber track suspension.
www.asvi.com
Features a 300-watt motor and requires no pedaling, making it easy to transport and use. It also comes with an adjustable seat height to provide maximum comfort. It is available in five different colors.
www.himiwaybike.com
Kids of all ages and abilities will love the dynamic, challenging and inclusive play opportunities provided by Forma's clean, angular design and sensory-rich mix of materials. Options include slides, climbers, balance beams, sensory walls, spinners, bouncers, swings, and more. Forma brings a contemporary vibe to any play environment and can be combined with any Landscape Structures playground equipment.
www.playlsi.com/forma
This two-component, waterborne finish is specifically formulated for professional use on high-traffic wood sport floors. It is protects sport floors against scratches and scuffs while providing a high-gloss finish that maintains its beauty for years. It also offers a sustainable solution for sport facilities with low VOCs and GREENGUARD Certification for indoor air quality. The product is also approved by the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association.
https://www.bona.com
With a UV-protected sensor for motion-activated spray, Doggie Demand means the fountain supplies fresh drinking water as dogs walk up to the fountain. They come in a variety of playful colors and are built using high-quality powder-coated stainless steel, making them rust-resistant in all climates. Options include a Pet Hose Bib attachment, a Motion Activated Bottle Filler, or both!
www.CoolDogWaterFountains.com
Buyer’s Guide
Marketspace Spotlight
Coming Up
August 2023
Special Needs
• ADA
• Adaptive Sports
• Accessibility
• Senior Centers
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It goes without saying that safety, maintenance, and saving money are important at park facilities. But think about how these three concepts connect for a water park to thrive.