Owl Creek Landing Debuts “The Whorl”—Nation’s Longest Stainless-Steel Spiral Slide
Owl Creek Landing, an innovative outdoor attraction anchored by the nation’s first Nautilus Lookout Tower and “The Whorl,” the longest stainless-steel spiral slide in the United States, is now open! Tucked into 38 acres of pristine coastal forest behind the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s South Building in Virginia Beach, Va., this ADA-accessible haven invites visitors of all ages and abilities to immerse themselves in nature through panoramic views, treetop explorations, and an exhilarating slide descent.
The 80-foot-diameter, 65-foot-high Nautilus Lookout Tower—modeled after popular European designs and the first of its kind in the U.S.—allows guests to ascend into the trees via a gentle, seven-foot-wide spiral ramp or a pair of interior staircases. Educational stations identifying native trees and wildlife are displayed along the path, and an open-air observation deck at the summit provides 360-degree bird’s-eye views of the surrounding forest and waterways. With the addition of “The Whorl” spiral slide, visitors age 7 and older can opt for a thrilling twist down through the tower’s center for a unique descent.
Unlimited rides are included with standard admission, and participants use a specially-designed slide sack for safety and comfort. Also extending from the tower, a one-third-mile loop of suspended canopy walkway, the Treetop Trail, is elevated up to 40 feet above the ground and connects guests to a children’s Treehouse Village with four interactive treehouses suitable for ages 2 and up (children under 10 require adult supervision). On the ground, another scenic half-mile Forest Trail is dotted with educational signage, benches, picnic areas, and opportunities to soak in the natural environment. An “I Spy” Scavenger Hunt engages children and adults in exploring the Forest Trail further. The attraction is ADA-compliant, welcoming strollers, wheelchairs, and visitors from toddlers to seniors.
Owl Creek Landing is now open daily, rain or shine, with seasonal operating hours and special events published on the attraction’s website. Walk-ins are welcome, but timed advance reservations are recommended via www.OwlCreekLanding.com or by calling 757-330-0473. Group rates for 10 or more, season passes, and private event options are also offered.
Rec Accelerates Growth With Pro Athlete-Backed Series A To Power Local Recreation
Rec, the recreation technology company modernizing how America plays, announced it has raised an $11-million Series A led by Crosslink Capital. Athlete investors Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. and Kelvin Beachum, Jr. joined the round alongside Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman's Thirty Five Ventures (35V), Joe Montana’s Liquid 2 Ventures, and Marquee Ventures, a fund spun out of the ownership group of the Chicago Cubs.
Rec is tackling one of the country’s most overlooked sectors—the $1.9T U.S. recreation industry that still runs on outdated software that frustrates residents and burdens city staff. Too often, families miss out on affordable activities like youth soccer, swim lessons, or art classes, while cities are left with untapped revenue and lost opportunities to engage their communities.
Rec combines consumer-grade design with AI-powered “digital teammates” that handle refunds, weather reschedules, reporting, and translation, freeing staff to focus on their communities. Rec’s Instructor Network turns underutilized spaces into vibrant, revenue-generating assets. In San Francisco, Rec will generate over 15,000 lesson hours in 2025, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in new lesson revenue, all operated without any additional staff.
The funding will accelerate Rec’s expansion into new markets and deepen investment in AI-powered features that can transform recreation operations. Already partnering with more than 50 communities, Rec has helped towns like Torrance, Calif., increase access by moving over 65% of registrations to mobile, and increased revenue in cities like Lincoln, Calif., where facility revenue quadrupled after launching Rec.
Rec is expanding to major recreation networks across the country and currently hiring for multiple roles in engineering, product, sales, and marketing. For additional information or to learn how to partner with Rec, visit Rec.us.
Fleetio’s New Integration with John Deere Operations Center™ Reduces Asset Downtime, Bringing Efficiency To Front Lines Of Heavy Equipment Management
Fleetio, the leading fleet maintenance and optimization platform, announced an integration with John Deere Operations Center™, expanding its original equipment manufacturer (OEM) ecosystem and providing heavy equipment fleets with a simpler way to centralize data and stay ahead of maintenance. This integration goes beyond machines or maintenance schedules, giving the hard-working people who build roads, grow crops, and shape infrastructure the tools they need to keep the world moving efficiently, reliably, and safely.
By connecting John Deere’s telematics and equipment health data directly into Fleetio’s platform, teams can easily anticipate problems before they occur, reduce costly downtime, and keep projects on track. It’s an impactful step forward, not just in technology, but in how fleet professionals take care of the machines that take care of critical jobs.
Meeting A Critical Need with Smarter Tools: New Heavy Equipment Capabilities
98% of fleets today don’t operate on a fully scheduled service program, which means most fleets are reacting to breakdowns instead of preventing them. When machines break down, work stops, productivity drops, and costs go up.
This integration is part of a broader expansion of Fleetio’s heavy equipment capabilities to help close that gap. These capabilities include Service Program Templates, customizable Service Tasks, and advanced Geospatial Mapping, turning guesswork into insight, chaos into coordination, and downtime into uptime.
A Smarter System For Tougher Jobs
From remote job sites to busy construction zones, heavy equipment faces harsh conditions and merits timely care. This integration brings real-time data into one unified platform, letting teams:
- Automate maintenance planning: Limit unexpected downtime with automated service reminders based on daily engine hours.
- Access equipment alerts remotely: Real-time diagnostics, such as fault codes and sensor readings, flag safety and performance issues early, giving teams time to respond before small problems become major delays.
- Increase equipment utilization: Track location and usage across job sites to compare engine hours and ensure equipment is ready when needed.
Learn more about how fleets can extend asset life by bringing heavy equipment data and workflows into one system at www.fleetio.com.
Nicholas & Associates Breaks Ground on New Community Pavilion The Ridge In Sussex, Wis.
Nicholas & Associates and officials from the Village of Sussex held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday, Aug. 7, for The Ridge at Village Park, a new 10,100-square-foot freestanding pavilion with 14,500 square feet of covered outdoor space and an open-air stage area at Sussex Village Park in Sussex, Wis. The Ridge will also feature an indoor community room complete with a kitchen, as well as indoor and outdoor restrooms. Construction was slated to begin in mid-August and be completed in time for use next summer.
Designed by Kahler-Slater, Inc., The Ridge is a key element of a broader, village-wide effort to enhance community resources and serve as a vibrant gathering place.
“The old pavilion was an important part of our community for so many years, hosting events like Lions Daze, Spooky Sussex, Make-A-Wish, and family gatherings,” says Anthony LeDonne, president of the Village of Sussex. “But its time has come to an end, and the new Ridge will bring more modern amenities to the park. My hopes are to make events virtually rainproof by providing this new indoor-outdoor space, while keeping our small-town atmosphere. This one-of-a-kind building for Sussex will be able to host all the old events as well as new ones, including indoor weddings, corporate events, and more.”
The Ridge at Village Park is one of two projects Nicholas & Associates was awarded through a $7.8-million contract with the Village of Sussex for community improvements. Earlier this year, the firm started work on a new Sussex Parks Maintenance Facility.
"Nicholas & Associates is deeply committed to building and investing in the greater Milwaukee area, which is like our second home,” says Chris Coleman, president of The Nicholas Family of Companies, parent company of Nicholas & Associates. “Our work supports our neighbors, and we take great pride in delivering projects like The Ridge at Village Park that improve the quality of life for communities.”
Field Notes
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) announced the induction of Dr. Ettore “Ed” Fioroni into its Hall of Fame.
At International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 2025 Aquatic & Specialty Awards and 2024 Masters Induction Ceremony, Barry Goldwater, Jr. received the Judge G. Harold Martin Every Child a Swimmer Award, and Lisa Zarda, Executive Director of the United States Swim School Association, received the 2025 International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) Aquatic Award for Water Safety.
Sod Solutions, a leader in turfgrass development and innovation, is proud to announce the appointment of Mike Pope as its Chief Growth and Strategy Officer (CGSO).
Bax Engineering Company announced that Dan Bax, son of company founder Harold Bax, will assume both majority ownership and the role of President effective January 1, 2026.
The Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) announced that Executive Director Kristie Riester will step down following the fulfillment of her contract. Board President Kevin Post will serve as interim Executive Director.
Calendar
December
2-5 American Sports Builders Association Technical Meeting; San Antonio, Texas; https://sportsbuilders.org/page/technicalmeeting
5-7 ITA Coaches Convention, Tempe, Ariz.—ASU; https://wearecollegetennis.com/2025/04/07/save-the-date-2025-ita-coaches-convention-headed-to-arizona-state/
5-7 Coach Inclusion Summit, Orlando, Fla.—USTA National Campus; https://www.usta.com/en/home/coach-organize/coaches/career-development/usta-diverse-coaches-development-summit.html
January
13-15 The Northern New England Recreation & Parks Conference, Bartlett, N.H.—Grand Summit Hotel at Attitash; https://nnerpc.myrec.com/info/default.aspx
13-15 Mid America Pool & Spa Show, Indianapolis, Ind.—Lucas Oil Stadium; https://midampool.com
18-22 Sports Field Management Association Conference; Fort Worth, Texas—Fort Worth Convention Center; https://www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/conference/
21-23 Southeast Pool & Spa Show; Nashville, Tenn.—Music City Center; https://southeastshow.com
28 American Camp Association Micro Staffing Event, Virtual; https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/event/aca-staffing-summit
29-31 IAPD/IPRA Soaring To New Heights Conference, Chicago, Ill.—Hyatt Regency Chicago; https://www.ilparksconference.com
February
1-4 2026 OPRA Conference & Trade Show, Sandusky, Ohio—Kalahari Convention Center; https://www.opraonline.org/assnfe/ev.asp?ID=42
14-21 International Aquatics & Safety Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo.—The Broadmoor; https://site.pheedloop.com/event/AOAP2026/conferenceandexposition