With caution and care, change can lead to unexpected results By Ron Ciancutti The Board of Commissioners noticed a pattern. Of the many commodities and services our park system engaged (e.g., office supplies, aggregate stone, food for zoo animals, etc.), the same awardees were recommended year after year.…

The inclusive magic of Toms River’s Field of Dreams By Nikki Kelly The RWJBH Field of Dreams, in Toms River, N.J., is more than a playground—it’s a groundbreaking example of modern design, engineering, and community spirit. I recently toured the facility with co-founder Christian Kane and dedicated volunteer Sue Coan, witnessing the impact of this …

Defining and designing resilient recreation structures By Tony Bouquot The Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex (also known as the Obama Sports Complex) at Rancho Cienega Park is owned by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. It fills an important need in South Los Angeles by providing quality public recreation and fitness…

With extreme temps becoming the norm, cities and builders find ways to adapt By Karen Fischer For the past few summers, new heat records were set almost daily, across the country. The phenomenon suggests no single region is more prone to excessive heat than another. Most municipalities in North America are guaranteed to experience an unprecedented …

The hardest worker in parks and rec…except for you By Mary Helen Sprecher With the exception of parks and recreation staff, is there anything in the sector that works harder than the gym? After all, it might host everything from basketball to pickleball to volleyball to futsal—and a lot more.By PRB+ Magazine

How Instantpadel paved the way for the racket club of America’s future By Christoffer Granfelt As the Founder of Instantpadel, core parts of my DNA include innovation, a progressive outlook, and an ability to consistently look two steps ahead. That’s why I co-founded my company alongside my business partner, Magnus Berglund, to bring a different ap…

What is a playground’s role in connecting kids to nature? By Hannah Seo In 1930s Denmark, landscape architect Carl Theodor Sørensen had an epiphany. Playgrounds in urban settings, with their uniform, predictable structures, did nothing to inspire children’s imaginations. On the other hand, children in the countryside, provided with just tree branch…

Consider these sports to refresh your camp recreation lineup By Mary Helen Sprecher When campers are ready to return, directors and counselors are tasked with keeping them happy and occupied, but it’s also important to create camp programs that stand out. What is interesting enough to make kids share their experience with friends—who, in turn, will…

Creating a camp business plan for long-term success By Jason Schaitz A formal business plan helps directors run a camp, serving as a guide through each stage of operation management. The plan provides the structure for camp operations and is also the roadmap for growth and goal achievement. Additionally, a business plan can help bring in funding, i…

Stepping up to help young athletes By John Engh Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being, yet it's often overlooked in youth sports, which can lead to devastating consequences.By PRB+ Magazine

Pioneering the future of inclusive recreation By Adam Arndt Moss Universal Park is a revolutionary, innovative project designed to create a universally inclusive recreational space. Scheduled to break ground in spring 2025 and open by fall in Wauwatosa, Wis., the park will set a new benchmark for accessibility and inclusivity in public spaces acros…

Inside the grand opening of the Jackson Recreation Center's new climbing gym By Amberley Ransom After a decade-long absence, indoor climbing has returned with the grand opening of the new climbing gym at the Teton County/Jackson Recreation Center. This eagerly awaited facility, which opened to the public in May 2024, has quickly become a vibrant hu…

Preparing buildings for the winter By Eric Spacek Though the coldest months haven’t yet arrived in many states, it’s important to prepare facilities for winter weather. When park leaders hear other organizations complaining about frozen pipes and expensive repairs this winter, they’ll be glad they were proactive.…

Oregon’s Spirit of Halloweentown capitalizes on the iconic 1998 movie By Melissa Hart Most of us celebrate Halloween on a single night. But in the small waterfront town of St. Helens, Ore.—27 miles north of Portland—strange and spooky festivities over six autumn weekends attract thousands of visitors. Witches perform spirited broom dances in gorgeo…

Tips, insights, and impact from Open Space Arts’ May Flower Show By I.E. Lucky Open Space Arts’ May Flower Show has become a highly anticipated event, drawing visitors from all corners of Prince William County, Va. to experience the vibrant display of floral arrangements, educational workshops, and community involvement. A staple on the gallery’s a…

Austin’s Mueller development integrates greenspace and a skate park to create a one-of-a-kind neighborhood amenity By Drew Carman and Amy Westermeyer Access to greenspace is a defining feature of the Mueller development, an award-winning urban village constructed on the site of a former municipal airport in Austin, Texas. This is entirely by design…

The future of aquatic-center design By Jody Sergi While swim meet and water polo athletes focus on agility, speed, and performance, they rarely pay attention to the pool in which they compete. After all, they know it will always be heated to a consistent 81 degrees, fully cleaned, and tested, allowing swimmers to race at their highest level.…

Transforming a crumbling monument into a community theatre By John Jackson First open to the public in 1899, Riverside Park was once the crown jewel of Indianapolis’ parks and boulevards system. Its modern footprint is 862 acres—22 more than New York’s Central Park. After more than a century, the time had come to reinvigorate Riverside.…

How waterblasting is changing the surface-preparation market By Jordan Koster Sandblasting and waterblasting both stem from naturally occurring processes. Both types of erosion existed long before humans harnessed the power of sand and water. It wasn’t until the 1870s that the preliminary sandblasting process was developed. Over the last century an…

Extending courtesy to those who need it most By Ron Ciancutti Doctors agreed that, after President Ronald Reagan survived a 1981 assassination attempt, his memory was diminished. (Years later, he was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.) As his term continued, his staff prepared remarks and speeches that were short and to the point. Though his nego…

A pioneering venture leads to Joya, a unique glow-in-the-dark playground By Michael Mashburn Significant decisions often gravitate toward the familiar, the status quo, or the absence of alternatives. Cities find themselves entrenched in convention due to resource limitations, potential community resistance, and the intricate web of politics. Pionee…

Tips to ensure camps are properly protected for every scenario By Tracy Schmeltzer As a camp manager or director, participating in timely training is important not only to keep skills relevant but also to stay informed about issues impacting the camp industry. One such issue is insurance. How much do directors know about their organization’s insura…

How to incorporate the new Olympic lacrosse format into park play By Mary Helen Sprecher Lacrosse is ready for its close-up. But that close-up won’t come until 2028, when lacrosse will be featured as a showcase sport at the Olympics in Los Angeles. However, that’s actually a good thing because that gives parks (and player camps) an opportunity to g…

Award-winning nature park’s holistic approach to building shade structures inspires other communities By Sarah Yant From wildlife-viewing blinds to pergolas, shade structures in parks are essential features that not only enhance the visitor experience but also foster environmental awareness and stewardship. Horseshoe Bay Nature Park—an 11-acre gree…

Getting kids to sample all sorts of sports By John Engh Growing up, I played just about every sport imaginable, and I’m glad I did. I loved baseball from the start and was lucky to play all through high school. Everything about the game fascinated me. Some of my most treasured childhood memories involve stepping onto the field every spring for anot…

Progress and opportunity along the 3,700-mile route of the Great American Rail-Trail By Kevin Belle When Powell County, Mont., purchased an 11-mile stretch of the former Milwaukee Road railroad corridor in 2017, officials weren’t yet aware it would become part of the nation’s first cross-country, multi-use trail. However, the county’s location alon…

Applying the principle of reconciliation By Christopher Thurber August 6, 1980, was my first day at overnight camp. The day began with homesick tears and almost ended in gloomy ones. My cabin had just lost a close tennis baseball game to a neighboring cabin. But sadness turned to confusion as my cabin leader and the returning boys on my team chante…

Coordinating successful youth sports game days By Jason Schaitz Game days are the reason kids, parents, and coaches participate in youth sports. Coordinators put all the work into planning, marketing, registration, player evaluations, team formation, orientation, coaches’ meetings, and scheduling. Then, it is finally time to play some games. Below …

Park model cabins provide camper and staff housing that’s flexible and sustainable By Gina Tabasso Many people have fond childhood memories of camping with their families and enjoying the outdoors, but the experience of camping has changed dramatically. Gone are the days of simply pitching tents or hauling around a pop-up camper behind the car and …

How to score parks & rec bonds in a challenging economy By Karen Fischer When it comes to the economy, 2024 has been a confounding year. There has often been positive news, but elevated interest rates have held steady, and the costs of everyday goods and services remain stubbornly high. Persistent inflation has forced many families to choose betwee…

The struggle to preserve paddle tennis amidst the rise of pickleball By Janine Parkinson In an era when trends come and go with the scroll of a finger, there's something comforting about tradition. It's the thread woven through the fabric of people’s lives, connecting to the past and pointing toward the future. Whether it's the crack of a bat on a …

Advice on maintaining a disc-golf course By Danielle Spence There are more than 14,000 disc-golf courses available worldwide, with over 1.2-million disc golfers, according to UDisc’s Disc Golf Growth Report. The West Chicago Park District, located 32 miles from downtown Chicago, maintains an 18-hole disc-golf course within Kress Creek Farms Park. W…

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 …

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 …

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.…

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 acr…

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,…

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, e…

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…

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 sp…

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-ba…

Partners help bring Burleson’s special-needs soccer clinic to fruition By London Pulfer Texas-based Burleson Parks and Recreation’s vision is to support a vibrant and healthy community by providing everyone with opportunities to learn, grow, and play. As talks began about coordinating the department’s first special-needs soccer clinic, leaders want…

Simple strategies to get the most from seasonal hires By Ron Ciancutti I worked in the parks and recreation field for almost 50 years before I retired, and I remember that when I told people what I did for a living, they always responded with, “Oh, that must be so nice.”By PRB+ Magazine

How Portland’s parks are engaging the entire community By Laura Wheatman Hill Portland, Ore., and the surrounding suburbs have great natural beauty. Trails, natural areas, and water sources abound for people seeking recreation and relaxation. However, the formal playgrounds and parks have also incorporated new designs and features in recent years. …

The fight for fair access to play By Kevin Paul J.T. Johnson sat dripping in his bathing suit, jailed on a hot June day in 1963 after the briefest of swims at the Monson Motor Lodge in balmy St. Augustine, Fla. Throughout the 1960s, ordinary people, outraged by the indignity of segregation, staged “wade-in” protests at swimming pools and beaches ac…

How camps can practice inclusivity for all youth By Hannah Howard How should leaders ensure that everyone who comes to a camp or recreation program feels supported, safe, and seen? Likely, most program directors are already trying to ensure safe spaces for all participants. But what else can they do to intentionally create affirming spaces for gend…

Steps to keep recreational facilities safe from carbon monoxide poisoning this summer By Eric Spacek Ah, the joys of summer camps and recreational activities—eager youngsters learning new sports, campers forming lifelong friendships…and dozens of children ending up in the emergency room because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Those hospital visits ar…

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 mindBy PRB+ Magazine

Three Fantastic In-Service Trainings By Christopher Thurber You’ve invested time and creativity into pre-season staff training, perhaps combining some pre-arrival video training modules from ExpertOnlineTraining.com with some creative on-site workshops and scenarios. Thanks to these efforts, the summer has hummed along, but now it’s midsummer. Are …

Leagues must prepare volunteers for worst-case scenarios By John Engh Recently, I came across a story that really hit home. The event happened on a local youth baseball field near our office. Most likely, however, it struck a chord because the story involved a 6-year-old boy playing baseball, and it brought me back to my baseball-coaching days.…