May 2024

Setting Sail

“We giggled like kids when we got back to the dock. We had that much fun!” That’s how a longtime instructor described a recent ocean sailing class at Marina Park in the City of Newport Beach, Calif.

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Rec Facilities 6 min read

Appealing To A Wider Audience

Shalom Austin’s Dell Jewish Community Center merges heritage with modern design Community centers serve as vital hubs that unite residents, fostering a sense of

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Rec Facilities 6 min read

Running, Jumping, and Flipping

Parkour has been around for centuries and provides a full-body workout, which has led to the development of current fitness trails and military obstacle courses. Modern parkour consists of daredevils leaping between buildings, somersaulting off walls, and scaling tall buildings.

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Parks 6 min read

A Welcoming Space

Mill Ridge Park, now being heralded as a destination park for Middle Tennessee, did not open in August 2023 with a ribbon cutting. The long-awaited, highly anticipated opening of the city’s fifth high-acreage regional park began with the sound of hundreds of small bells ringing throughout the area.

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Parks 4 min read

Inclusivity And Accessibility

Why ADA playground equipment installations must incorporate both By Kasey Larson and Gina Wilch Playgrounds are an essential part of childhood development, providing opportunities for

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Parks 4 min read

Reactivating The Riverfront

Free fitness programming helps residents rediscover Jacksonville’s parks Riverfront Parks Conservancy (RPC), the nonprofit responsible for the activation of riverfront parks in downtown Jacksonville,

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Parks 3 min read

Embracing All Abilities

Temecula’s Adaptive Swim Program helps everyone become water-safe By Gwen Willcox The City of Temecula, in Southern Calif., created an Adaptive Aquatics Program for

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Programming 4 min read

Erasing Graffiti

How Fort Worth’s GAP initiative is protecting public and private spaces The City of Fort Worth Park & Recreation Department in Texas encompasses a

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Programming 5 min read

Supporting Our Volunteers

Clearly defined expectations can help recruit more youth coaches and staff Volunteer recruitment and retention have always been two of the most challenging responsibilities for

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Columns 3 min read

The Power of Small Business

Opportunity is just the first step toward success "Whenever you see a successful business, someone made a courageous decision." -Peter Drucker (Austrian-born American

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Columns 5 min read

Mind Over Mind

Two gurus passed away in 2022, leaving behind an international legacy of health and happiness. Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist, Thích Nhất Hạnh, and American medical doctor and cardiologist, Herbert Benson, both wrote and spoke prolifically on mindfulness and its many benefits.

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Camps 8 min read

Camp Administration 101: For The Good Of The Group

Camp can be intimidating for campers, especially those in younger age groups and first-timers. Icebreakers, teambuilding, and social emotional learning (SEL) activities are important to get campers acclimated.

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Camps 2 min read