Equity, accessibility, and variety attract teens to aquatic pipeline

By Jefferey Spivey

Though no two parks and recreation departments are the same, many seem to be stumped by the same problem – creating aquatic programming for teens.

This demographic is especially vulnerable to peer pressure, with friends and trends dictating how they spend their time. Today’s teens are also digital natives, with large portions of their lives centered around being online, be it gaming, social media, or other modes of media consumption. Hanging out at the local pool pales in comparison to what’s happening in their feeds.

Energized staff, maintenance, and planning are essential for strong operations

By Brian Hill and Sophia Young 

With proper preparation, the outdoor pool season will start out strong, but keeping up the momentum month after month can become a challenge. Lifeguard staff may begin to experience burnout, the water chemical balance can change, reducing its effectiveness, and unplanned maintenance issues may arise. Before Fourth of July fireworks signal that it’s midsummer, facility managers must be proactive and mentally prepared. Make plans now to perform a midsummer evaluation on pool operations, and be ready to adjust accordingly to end the season on a high note.

How aquatic group-exercise classes enhance lifelong health

By Haley Ragan

Health is the most important aspect in life. An individual’s health allows one to experience life freely and make the most of it. Holistic wellness considers multidimensional aspects of wellness. It encourages people to think about physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual aspects. Some people find their stride to health through yoga, running, or cardio fitness, while others dive into the pool of fitness in their own way.

Investing in campers builds a bridge to create leaders 

By Katie Ridinger

The Counselors in Training (CIT) program—a camp-leadership initiative for 7th and 8th graders that began in summer 2023—was the beginning of a program that will last for years. Younger campers began asking where the CITs were every day and expressing their dream to someday be one themselves. Teenagers were using their phones to look up games and other ideas for specific age groups. A group of older campers, who could be trusted to sit at a table all on their own, began bringing fresh ideas, and new energy. Seeing how the CITs took the leap to lead is evidence there is a bright future at Discovery Day Camp in Valparaiso, Ind. 

Sparing parks and open spaces from the worst of the damage caused by wildfires

By Cassie Olgren

Monument, Colo., is a small, historic town sitting in the shadow of the eastern-most edge of the Rocky Mountains. Locals refer to this area as the Front Range. Living along the Front Range affords residents spectacular views and sunsets, proximity to countless outdoor amenities, and an easy commute between Colorado’s two largest cities, Denver and Colorado Springs. This area can be quite appealing to a jaded urban-dweller, and thus has seen an explosion of growth in the last decade. But there is a reality that many new residents are not prepared for—wildfire. A large percentage of the residents of the Front Range live in a zone called the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). These towns and residences are situated among forested and natural areas.

Wayfinding signage project cleans up safety and navigation concerns

By Colleen McCarty

Signage in Saw Wee Kee Park once consisted of an inaccurate map on a kiosk in the parking lot, and painted stripes on trees along the 11 miles of mountain-biking trails. This not only made the trails difficult to navigate, but local authorities expressed concerns if there was an emergency in the 134-acre park. 

Striking just the right balance makes for happy visitors and habitats

By Jane Peterson

Parks and recreation is all about balance. While there is a desire to provide guests with access to an abundance of recreational opportunities, Michigan’s Oakland County Parks staff members also recognize it’s important to care for the land to which the public entrusts them, making natural-resources efforts a top priority.

“We’ve had many discussions internally about how we can meet the current recreation needs without compromising the integrity of the land for future generations,” Chief of Natural Resources and Sustainability Sarah Cook-Maylen says. “Preserving land and open space quickly emerged as a top priority, but so did providing places for people to gather together, enjoy nature, and just be in fresh air outdoors.”

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is a destination for conservation education

By Patrick Thibaudeau

The need for transformation is more urgent than ever. The threat is no longer invisible; we can feel it and see it. Record temperatures and weather events are killing many people and sickening others, damaging property, crops, and treasured, abundant natural resources. Unless we change, we will have more drought, rain bombs, fires, smoky skies, displaced people, and more damage to cherished natural places, not to mention homes, businesses, parks, community recreation centers, and sports facilities. 

Although a powerful conservation tool, maintenance and funding limit widespread installation

By Jefferey Spivey

For more than a decade, green roofs have taken hold in various North American cities, with some serving a purely ecological purpose, while others have grown into major tourist attractions. Despite this track record, many park departments are simply testing them out in lieu of larger plans. Take, for instance, the garden roof in Seattle’s Ross Playground. 

“The roof project was essentially a trial, an experiment that the Seattle Public Utilities wanted to run with Seattle Parks,” says Redi Karameto, Senior Architect for Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Planning and Capital Development Branch. 

By Josh Campbell 

Imagine a holiday weekend at a park bustling with visitors when you hear what sounds like fireworks. After all, it's summer and fireworks complaints have been non-stop for a week. But these fireworks are different; they are not the usual bottle rockets or lady fingers.

Something must have gone wrong because people are running from the area with panicked expressions; some are falling to the ground and not attempting to get up. As your body begins to feel the effects of an adrenalin rush, your brain realizes these are not fireworks and puts survival instincts to work. Fight or flight is on full display in your mind, like a casino sign flashing “danger, danger, danger.” You quickly identify the source of the chaos. Standing at the edge of the sidewalk leading to the shower house, armed with a rifle and firing directly at your vehicle, an individual has decided to get even for all his failures. The noise created by the impact of the bullets into your truck is deafening.