Planning for and mitigating noise issues

By Brandon Kunkel

Whether you love pickleball for its energetic, fast pace or hate it for the constant rhythmic, popping noise of the plastic ball, its status as one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in the United States is undeniable. According to USA Pickleball, 4,000 new locations were added in 2024, contributing to a total of nearly 16,000 new courts nationwide.

Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center sets a new standard for sustainable sports design

By Sam Elsheikh

Nestled within a 63-acre campus adjacent to the Palm Coast Tennis Center, the City of Palm Coast’s new Southern Recreation Center in Florida is more than a sports complex. It’s a regional destination, an architectural statement, and a benchmark in environmentally conscious civic development. Designed by OLC and constructed by Gilbane Building Company, the project integrates community engagement, environmental stewardship, and recreational excellence into a LEED Gold-certified facility.

The entrepreneurial-planning approach 

By Howard Kozloff and Ben Donsky

Public parks are often caught between providing accessible amenities and programs for the community and finding ways to generate revenue for upkeep and maintenance. Today, many conservancies and a smaller number of municipal and county parks departments are moving toward a more business-minded approach, away from the traditional user-fee model. This shift represents a fundamental change in how park systems operate, focusing on creating diverse revenue streams that can advance broader community priorities while maintaining their core public mission. 

https://www.prbplus.com/revenue-development-for-public-parks/

How trails are essential to climate resilience

By Clement Lau

As climate change intensifies, communities around the globe face unprecedented environmental challenges, from rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns to the loss of biodiversity. In response, innovative approaches to enhance climate resilience are essential. Trails, typically seen as recreational amenities, can play a surprisingly critical role in building climate resilience. More than just pathways for walkers, hikers, cyclists, or equestrians, trails offer numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits that directly contribute to community preparedness and adaptation in the face of a changing climate.

https://www.prbplus.com/on-the-right-path/

Collaborating with local land trusts helps park departments and camps protect and connect properties for public use

By Brianne Sanchez

Across the country, partnerships with local land trusts facilitate projects with long-term environmental, economic, and social impacts. Expertise in land acquisition, fund development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement can catalyze solutions.

Preserving the history of your camp or park can be a vital channel to integrate alumni into your program’s future and attract future participants. Author Dan Shortridge, who wrote the book about his local camp’s history, will share nearly 20 free tools and resources to help your park or camp explore and share its stories from decades past.

Register and attend for FREE: www.prbplus.com

In this session,  Courtney Gallagher, EP Climbing will share how climbing boulders and wall systems support community engagement and wellness across different types of park projects. We will walk through design considerations, accessibility features, and the long-term value of climbing as part of modern recreation planning.

Register and attend for FREE at www.prbplus.com

Julie Knapp, Clinical Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Bloomington, explores strategies for designing the ideal internship program.  The presentation will highlight effective intern recruitment, the importance of goals, structure, and expectations, articulating responsibilities, providing mentorship, and establishing evaluation processes for interns.

Register for free at www.prbplus.com

In this inspiring and practical session, Dave Herpy, Extension Organizational Development Coordinator for NC State Extension, will share actionable strategies for purpose-driven leadership in the parks and recreation field. Drawing from over two decades of real-world experience, he’ll equip participants with tools to build trust, engage teams, and create a resilient, positive organizational culture.

Register for ParkFest for FREE at www.prbplus.com

ParkFest 2025 -- taking place October 28-30 - is the parks and rec industry's best virtual event. Free education. Free CEUs. And, lots of fun. To register you or your team, visit www.prbplus.com

This episode cover our AI Track -- three AI Sessions from Jason Peters at GovTech Innovators and Samuel Lunt, Assistant Recreation Director in Southeast Michigan. 

• Intro to AI for Parks and Rec Pros
• Parks and Recreation Marketing with AI
• AI Security and Policy Considerations

Join us for FREE. You're going to love it. Enjoy this episode.