Photo Credit: Courtesy of Randy Gaddo
Editor’s Note: This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what’s going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and “wander around” the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions, and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues and ask the leaders among the readership to share their knowledge and experiences.
Imagine that you’ve just prepared a ball field for the big weekend playoff game, and it looks great—the infield dirt is smoothed to perfection, and home plate and the pitcher’s mound are manicured to regulation.
Then 2 hours before the game, the rain comes, a gully-washer that starts at the top end of the tournament complex and is propelled downhill, right for your perfect field. Destruction is imminent.
But, just as the water makes its final push, it is stopped by drainage deflection and guided into a trench-drain water trough that carries it harmlessly to either side of the field to be emptied into the woods.