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. 

Pocket parks can improve public life with minimal requirements

By Mitchell Fransen

Community parks are often celebrated as the epitome of urban park experiences, as evidenced in Google results, bustling vehicular traffic, and ambient sounds present. However, leaders tend to overlook the invaluable opportunity to forge community bonds through the intimate spaces of smaller parks. Not all citizens go to parks after a 9-5 shift in a minivan with their kids, ready for active recreation. Moreover, rethinking the impacts of smaller parks, pocket parks, plazas, and multi-destination greenways is paramount in delivering on the promise of excellent parklands for all citizens in urban regions and beyond.

A transformative journey for Santa Ana

By Timothy J. Pagano

In 2022, the City of Santa Ana, Calif. embarked on a transformative journey to bring its aquatic programming back in-house, marking a bold shift in its approach to community services. For over a decade, the program had been outsourced, but with the conclusion of the contractor agreement and evolving priorities of the city council, Santa Ana’s leaders saw an opportunity to take control of its aquatic future. This decision, driven by the need to address systemic inequities in water safety, has since reshaped the way residents engage with aquatic education and recreation.

CDC, NSF, and Westlake Water Solutions offer annual facility-maintenance tips

By Frank Schiffman

The COVID-19 pandemic, followed by inflationary cost increases, has made it more difficult for aquatic facility managers to maintain smooth operations. Staff shortages and budget tightening have also made general maintenance, water safety, and chemical management feel like herding cats.

How Makapo Aquatics centers inclusivity in watersports

By Grace Nyberg

“We just wanted people of all abilities to be able to get on the water together,” says RJ De Rama, Executive Director and co-founder of Makapo Aquatics Project. That simple idea sparked the beginning of the organization, which is dedicated to making outrigger paddling accessible to every individual. Founded in 2007 by two blind paddlers, Makapo began by creating opportunities for blind and low-vision athletes. Since then, the organization has grown to include individuals with a range of physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, paralysis, and amputations, among others.

Revolutionizing parks and recreation

By Jason Peters

Like many industries, parks and recreation departments are benefiting from using AI and data to optimize operations. Based on insights from industry leaders with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, there are some key takeaways that can help agencies of all sizes.

What it takes to maintain an ice-skating rink

By Hannah Seo

A beloved and longstanding staple of wintertime recreation, gliding around on knife-strapped boots is an annual must-do activity for families around the world. But while ice skating has been around for an exceptionally long time—scholars think it was developed in Scandinavia around 1000 BCE—manmade ice-skating rinks are a somewhat recent invention, created fewer than 150 years ago.