How to evaluate (and justify) potential revenue streams

By Mark Nagel 

As one final project before I retired from the city of Elko New Market, Minn., I was asked to scan the nation for potential revenue sources for evaluation, and make recommendations to diversify our current revenue base for future park projects.  

All I know I learned from my horses

By Shannon Coates

I’ve never heard an effective leader say that leadership is easy—it’s not. In fact, it can be incredibly difficult at times. Not only does an individual in charge have to make sure the day-to-day needs of an organization are met, but he or she is also responsible for helping each person become the best contributor possible—all while continuing to learn and grow and manage the goals and objectives of the department.

Creating a program to show that every employee matters

By Annie Olson

No matter the size of a park agency, all of them struggle with resource needs. However, what some people often don’t recognize is that the most valuable resource of any organization is its employees. At the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), a 2015 assessment of employee satisfaction resulted in the formation of a dedicated staff team to boost employee morale. This was the beginning of an effort to create a culture of recognition and appreciation throughout the agency.

In 2024, effective park management will require balancing staff and visitors’ evolving needs

By Jefferey Spivey

Change management is crucial for leaders in any field. Whether it’s adopting innovative technology, navigating employee turnover, or launching new programs, successful leaders are often those who handle curveballs with ease and expertly guide their teams through unfamiliar territory. 

Conversations can lead to common-sense solutions

By Ron Ciancutti

Long before business meetings included projections and metrics, the people sitting around a table talked about how things were going. They asked about the families and inquired about the “work family”—the gang that worked together all day. In the park system where I worked, there were separate groups under the parks and rec umbrella, each taking care of different amenities, such as parks, golf courses, nature centers, and marinas. At the quarterly meetings, each park-management faction provided an update, and the banter was light and supportive. We often found we were experiencing similar problems and would discuss what worked for one of us and how it could be applied to fit another employee’s situation. 

Making the position part of the youth-sports lineup

By John Engh 

My memories of being a volunteer coach of my kids’ teams rarely involve anything to do with the sport I was coaching. Sure, I remember some of the conversations with players after a particularly fun game, certain kids making great plays, and those times when one of my lesser-skilled players rose to the occasion and did something in a game that he had struggled with throughout the season. But the most vivid memories stem from situations involving fear.

Horseshoe Bay Nature Park offers visitors an opportunity to explore the region’s natural heritage

By Sarah Yant

Visitors to Horseshoe Bay Nature Park are welcomed at the entrance by a cedar coyote fence bearing the park’s distinctive logo: a purple Texas thistle nestled in the curve of a horseshoe. It’s a fitting symbol for a place whose existence bridges the past and future and strengthens the ties between thriving ecosystems and thriving communities.

How a former golf course became the first veterans park in Geauga County, Ohio

By Sandy Ward

At the center of Geauga County, Ohio, along the main artery Route 44, lies a new park with more heart than most. Veterans Legacy Woods quickly gained recognition as the county’s 27th park and its first dedicated to U.S. veterans.

Retaining instructors is the key to a quality program

By Stephanie Chelar

The heart and soul of any fitness center is its group-exercise program. Nearly 40 percent of members will participate in these classes at some point, and the American College of Sports Medicine designated group fitness within the top-three trends of 2020 (Thompson, 2019). So, it makes sense that the makeup of a group-fitness team plays a crucial role in membership numbers and an even more significant role in membership retention. However, the challenge is in finding and retaining high-quality, committed, group-fitness instructors who keep the spirit alive. As a fitness-center manager or group-exercise supervisor, what can you do to cultivate a team that has the same mindset and goals as you and the facility? The key resides in the expectations, support, and culture you create. 

Understanding all components of a project budget

By Thomas Betti

Envisioning the possibilities of a new community center or sports facility is exciting, but when the costs of a project add up, the last thing anyone wants to see is a surprise. To bypass aggressive finger-pointing, the best advice is to avoid any comparison with similar facilities and to invest in information-gathering that will help determine the true cost of a project. In other words, let the architect be the educator, the hyper-focused guide who keeps everyone’s eyes on the community’s prize.