How to run a successful recreation facilities referendum  

By Emily Gebhardt

Recreation centers, public parks and trails, pools, and athletic facilities form the foundation of community wellness and engagement. Successful funding for park districts and projects requires a multifaceted approach. Community support and funding are critical; without that backing, a parks and recreation project is less likely to flourish.

https://www.prbplus.com/winning-the-vote/

By Dave Herpy

In today’s dynamic world of parks and recreation, effective leadership is more essential than ever. This field plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in our communities, yet the challenges facing our teams—staffing, burnout, and ever-evolving public needs—require intentional leadership grounded in purpose. Drawing from my book, Leading with Purpose: Achieving Your Highest Potential in Work and Life, this article explores how leaders in parks and recreation can lead with authenticity, clarity, and impact.

https://www.prbplus.com/leading-with-purpose-in-parks-recreation/

A unique outdoor program for adults

By Leah Carlson

For over 25 years, Wilderness Awareness School's Immersion program has transformed the lives of adults through an intense, nine-month, nature connection experience. Located on a 60-acre campus in the foothills of Washington State's Cascade Mountains, the program is a powerful model for how immersive, holistic outdoor education can inspire personal growth, foster community, and build tomorrow's environmental leaders. 

https://www.prbplus.com/the-power-of-immersion/

A critical way to increase ADA compliance

By VernaAnn Kotansky

Inclusive playgrounds give all children an opportunity to enjoy one of the most essential parts of childhood—play. Unfortunately, many accessible playgrounds focus only on physical accommodations like ramps and wheelchair-accessible swings. While these are vital, true accessibility must go further by also addressing communication differences. That’s where communication boards come in. These tools are a critical part of creating fully inclusive, ADA-compliant playground environments. 

Planning for and mitigating noise issues

By Brandon Kunkel

Whether you love pickleball for its energetic, fast pace or hate it for the constant rhythmic, popping noise of the plastic ball, its status as one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in the United States is undeniable. According to USA Pickleball, 4,000 new locations were added in 2024, contributing to a total of nearly 16,000 new courts nationwide.

Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center sets a new standard for sustainable sports design

By Sam Elsheikh

Nestled within a 63-acre campus adjacent to the Palm Coast Tennis Center, the City of Palm Coast’s new Southern Recreation Center in Florida is more than a sports complex. It’s a regional destination, an architectural statement, and a benchmark in environmentally conscious civic development. Designed by OLC and constructed by Gilbane Building Company, the project integrates community engagement, environmental stewardship, and recreational excellence into a LEED Gold-certified facility.

The entrepreneurial-planning approach 

By Howard Kozloff and Ben Donsky

Public parks are often caught between providing accessible amenities and programs for the community and finding ways to generate revenue for upkeep and maintenance. Today, many conservancies and a smaller number of municipal and county parks departments are moving toward a more business-minded approach, away from the traditional user-fee model. This shift represents a fundamental change in how park systems operate, focusing on creating diverse revenue streams that can advance broader community priorities while maintaining their core public mission. 

https://www.prbplus.com/revenue-development-for-public-parks/

How trails are essential to climate resilience

By Clement Lau

As climate change intensifies, communities around the globe face unprecedented environmental challenges, from rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns to the loss of biodiversity. In response, innovative approaches to enhance climate resilience are essential. Trails, typically seen as recreational amenities, can play a surprisingly critical role in building climate resilience. More than just pathways for walkers, hikers, cyclists, or equestrians, trails offer numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits that directly contribute to community preparedness and adaptation in the face of a changing climate.

https://www.prbplus.com/on-the-right-path/

Collaborating with local land trusts helps park departments and camps protect and connect properties for public use

By Brianne Sanchez

Across the country, partnerships with local land trusts facilitate projects with long-term environmental, economic, and social impacts. Expertise in land acquisition, fund development, environmental stewardship, and community engagement can catalyze solutions.

Preserving the history of your camp or park can be a vital channel to integrate alumni into your program’s future and attract future participants. Author Dan Shortridge, who wrote the book about his local camp’s history, will share nearly 20 free tools and resources to help your park or camp explore and share its stories from decades past.

Register and attend for FREE: www.prbplus.com

In this session,  Courtney Gallagher, EP Climbing will share how climbing boulders and wall systems support community engagement and wellness across different types of park projects. We will walk through design considerations, accessibility features, and the long-term value of climbing as part of modern recreation planning.

Register and attend for FREE at www.prbplus.com

Julie Knapp, Clinical Assistant Professor and Internship Coordinator at Indiana University-Bloomington, explores strategies for designing the ideal internship program.  The presentation will highlight effective intern recruitment, the importance of goals, structure, and expectations, articulating responsibilities, providing mentorship, and establishing evaluation processes for interns.

Register for free at www.prbplus.com

In this inspiring and practical session, Dave Herpy, Extension Organizational Development Coordinator for NC State Extension, will share actionable strategies for purpose-driven leadership in the parks and recreation field. Drawing from over two decades of real-world experience, he’ll equip participants with tools to build trust, engage teams, and create a resilient, positive organizational culture.

Register for ParkFest for FREE at www.prbplus.com

ParkFest 2025 -- taking place October 28-30 - is the parks and rec industry's best virtual event. Free education. Free CEUs. And, lots of fun. To register you or your team, visit www.prbplus.com

This episode cover our AI Track -- three AI Sessions from Jason Peters at GovTech Innovators and Samuel Lunt, Assistant Recreation Director in Southeast Michigan. 

• Intro to AI for Parks and Rec Pros
• Parks and Recreation Marketing with AI
• AI Security and Policy Considerations

Join us for FREE. You're going to love it. Enjoy this episode.

How the GEO Foundation makes the game of golf more sustainable

By Hal Phillips

Every time folks think they’ve wrapped their heads around the scope of transformation here at municipally owned Corica Park Golf Course (in Alameda, Calif.), there’s another spasm of revitalization and innovation—all of it sustainable, none of it a burden to taxpayers.

Why Spikeball belongs in every summer camp’s programming

By Andrew Luftgalss

Any leader who has spent time around a playground, beach, or park has likely seen a circle of kids gathered around a small, trampoline-like net. The players dive, laugh, and slap a small ball down with remarkable energy. The activity is Spikeball, and it’s more than a trendy game. It’s perfect for camps and recreation departments in search of fun games that blend fitness and social engagement.

Taking the lead with insurance for camps and campers

By Mark Ceslowitz

Operating a camp means creating memorable, often life-shaping experiences for kids. Underlying these opportunities for fun, adventure, and education, however, is a serious responsibility to protect families and owners alike.

How inclusive playgrounds are transforming communities

By Chad Kennedy

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one in four people lives with disabilities. Yet many playgrounds and recreational spaces fail to provide inclusive environments where everyone can connect, play, and thrive. 

How West Chicago Park District created an indoor jungle adventure

By Ashleigh Torbert

When the West Chicago Park District opened the ARC Center in 2014, the goal was simple yet ambitious: to bring all the city’s recreation services under one roof and to create a true community hub for residents of all ages.

How to launch an inclusive learn-to-ride bike camp

By Andrew Luftglass

For many people, learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage. It’s a skill that gives them freedom and opens up the world to exploration and independence. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), however, that milestone can often feel inaccessible. The All Abilities Bike Inclusive Learn-to-Ride Camp is changing that narrative, one confident stride at a time.

Trends for the community waterpark 

By Josh Martin

As the popularity of waterparks continues to rise, local governments and municipalities have sought ways to bring the waterpark experience to their local community aquatic facilities. Trends in more family-oriented attractions, theme park environments, or bigger and better parks in general have saturated the space. Community leaders must look at the investment needed for some of these waterpark trends to obtain a solid return and to stay relevant in a competitive landscape.

Envisioning enriching and dynamic water play sites

By Chelsea Hoffman and Max D'Aurizio

Water is inherently fascinating—children (and adults) are instinctively drawn to it. It’s a natural focal point for communal play. In the U.S., water-play spaces are often designed as splash pads or automatic spray systems. These installations let children run through jets of water, cool off on hot summer days, and enjoy bursts of excitement.

How splash pads can provide inclusive fun for all

By Ariel Mansholt

When the summer sun blazes, many families flock to splash pads to beat the heat. These play spaces can be a refreshing escape for children and caregivers of all ages—and they can be particularly effective in ensuring that kids of all abilities are included in the fun.

Winona Lake Limitless Park is a model for inclusive play 

By Jessica Dooms

Winona Lake Limitless Park is more than a playground—it’s a space where people of all ages and abilities can come together to play, connect, and enjoy the outdoors. Designed with inclusivity at its core, this universally accessible park embraces the beauty of its natural surroundings while fostering a sense of belonging for all. Located in Winona Lake, Ind., it has become a beacon of community engagement and innovative design, earning its reputation as a place “where fun has no limits.”

Glass trends that blend sophistication and structural integrity

By Mike Mendoza 

Glass is more than just a material—it's a statement of modern elegance and innovation. Commonly used to enhance the decorative appeal of a project, it also holds a structural integrity that makes it a smart choice for building design and construction, due to its versatility, durability, and contributions to sustainable building practices.