Making Fields And Facilities More Welcoming For Colorblind Athletes

By Mary Helen Sprecher

Sometimes, not everything is black and white. There are plenty of shades of gray between.

And in sports, that can cause a problem. Colorblindness (also known as color vision deficiency and CVD) among youth athletes is not uncommon; in fact, according to UK-based organization Colour Blind Awareness (CBA), approximately one in 12 males and one in 200 females are colorblind. In the U.S., 13 million people have the condition.

Bold, new approaches to accessibility on the Oregon coast

By Melissa Hart

Oregon-based hiker and accessibility activist Jodie St. Clair headed for Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband and two young sons, looking forward to a day of tide pooling. Instead, she had to stand at the edge of the beach and watch as her family headed down a trail and clambered over beached logs and giant piles of driftwood.

In youth sports, self-improvement is the ultimate goal

By John Engh

One reason I love writing this column is it reminds me to step back, reminisce, and write about the youth sports experience. Sometimes, I highlight a subject that youth sports administrators deal with daily, and I explore best practices. But, other times, I show appreciation for sports participation, uncovering the true value that makes athletics an integral part of the culture and reinforcing the importance of administrators’ roles within sports organizations. With the 2024 Olympics approaching, it’s a great time to explore the latter approach, with a specific focus on the value of participation. 

How Cincinnati Parks drives some of the best social media engagement in parks & rec

By Jefferey Spivey

In March 2024, consulting firm Next Practice Partners announced that Cincinnati Parks (Ohio) had the third-best social media engagement in the U.S. parks and recreation sector. This may come as no surprise to @cincyparks’ followers.

How public-private partnerships have fueled Dix Park’s transformation

By Hannah Allison

Public-private partnerships are often key to making vibrant and successful community spaces. Take fast-evolving Dorothea Dix Park, for example. The 308-acre site blends historic architecture, rich landscapes, and big plans. Located in the urban heart of Raleigh, N.C., Dix Park presents an array of opportunities and challenges. Leading the park’s development efforts is an exemplary public-private partnership between Dix Park Conservancy and the City of Raleigh. 

The importance of branding for parks and recreation professionals

By Sophia Young

When something goes wrong, such as a programming-related schedule mix-up or an altercation between park patrons, it affects an organization’s reputation and overall brand. Strong brands are more resilient than weak brands, especially when something is amiss, which is why agency leaders must be mindful of their department’s standing.

A closer look at Hubbard Public Library’s Sensory Garden

By Cynthia Hirtzel

Sensory gardens are precisely what the name indicates—gardens or spaces created to stimulate and invigorate the senses. Any garden can engage at least one of the senses, but a sensory garden is an immersive outdoor space designed to utilize, delight, and inspire all five, enhancing visitors’ health and well-being. Considering the senses frequently overlap or work in concert, gardens like these, which don’t prioritize one sense over another, can produce meaningful experiences.

Morgan’s Camp is a year-round program for safe, inclusive outdoor recreation

By Sam Segura

Morgan’s Camp, an Ultra-Accessible recreational oasis, provides year-round summer camp experiences for people of all abilities. The camp reflects Morgan's overarching commitment to breaking down barriers and offering meaningful recreation​​. Occupying 102 acres northeast of San Antonio, Texas, Morgan’s Camp’s features cater to a wide range of needs and epitomizes the core mission of parent company Morgan’s Wonderland—to improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages and abilities through initiatives that produce fully-inclusive, Ultra-Accessible™ experiences.

When it comes to locker-room accessibility, ADA compliance is just the start

By Jefferey Spivey

In recent years, locker-room designs have evolved to enable better accessibility. But that wasn’t always the case.

“Over the last 30-plus years, it’s become pretty code-descriptive on what we have to provide in a facility,” says Tom Betti, Sports Studio Director at JLG Architects. Technically speaking, a firm could satisfy the minimum requirements and label a project ADA-compliant. When it comes to accessibility, however, the goal is much bigger than executing a to-do list.

Food service requires healthy, nutritious menus prepped in clean, safe environments

By Jason Schaitz

Food service at camp can be essential or nonessential depending on the type of program. Whether the service is already offered or being considered, some factors should be kept in mind