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. 

Iowa nonprofit Can Play empowers communities for inclusive recreation

By Brianne Sanchez

“Tonight, we’re going to work on building strong muscles and fast feet!” Melissa Clarke-Wharff calls out to a group of pre-teens warming up for 45 minutes of fitness fun. 

Balancing the needs of workers, communities, and land 

By Clement Lau

As the world transitions from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable energy sources, the concept of a "just transition" has gained prominence as a framework for ensuring the shift is fair and equitable. At its core, just transition seeks to balance the needs of three critical areas: impacted workers, impacted communities, and impacted land.

Building a sustainable camp culture

By Danny Sudman

Imagine sustainability as a massive LEGO set—a collection of colorful bricks, each representing a resource that helps build a sustainable model. Unlike traditional LEGO sets with clear instructions, sustainability is an evolving process that varies from camp to camp due to differences in location, resources, and organizational priorities. Most of us are working with a mix of pieces—limited budgets, minimal buy-in, and limited knowledge about best practices for sustainability. But with creativity and determination, we can still create something meaningful.

A changing climate is bringing new animals to public spaces

By Karen Fischer

The end of summer 2024 brought several massive hurricanes to the East Coast, flooding homes, destroying power grids, and costing hundreds of billions in recovery dollars. But across the Southeast, beyond heavier rain, drought, and other changes in climate, there have been more instances in which animals like alligators are spotted outside their historical territories.

How to prevent carbon monoxide leaks in ice rinks

By Laura Wheatman Hill

Though ice skating provides joy, connection, and fitness in many communities, unexpected dangers lurk in rinks. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is an unfortunate possibility due to a few factors. Fortunately, however, prevention of potentially deadly accidents is possible without major facility upgrades, costs, or labor. 

For Jon Pallone, head baseball coach at Quakertown Community High School in Quakertown, Penn., the umpire shouting “Play ball!” to begin the team’s March 2024 home opener took on special meaning.

By Dan Hanson

A holistic approach to greenspace management

By Nathan Krois

In the midst of burgeoning urbanization and escalating environmental concerns, greenspaces within urban infrastructure have become more significant than ever. As cities expand and evolve, thoughtful consideration of greenspace management is imperative to foster sustainable development and enhance the quality of life for residents.

How cities can harness innovation to give residents equitable experiences

By William Healy

According to the CDC, up to one in four adults in the United States has some form of disability. Yet, when many public recreation facilities and activities were originally established, accessibility wasn’t under consideration.

Strategies to jump-start your next community-recreation master plan

By John Dzarnowski, Dan Nicholas and Daniel Atilano

In today's fast-paced world, accessible and well-designed recreational spaces have become increasingly vital.

A survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) found most people agree that local recreational facilities should offer a wide variety of services, such as healthy-living classes, programming for older adults, nature-based activities, arts and crafts opportunities, access to computers and the internet, and inclusive facilities for all abilities and needs.

With extreme temps becoming the norm, cities and builders find ways to adapt

By Karen Fischer

For the past few summers, new heat records were set almost daily, across the country. The phenomenon suggests no single region is more prone to excessive heat than another. Most municipalities in North America are guaranteed to experience an unprecedented heat wave at some point.

The hardest worker in parks and rec…except for you

By Mary Helen Sprecher

With the exception of parks and recreation staff, is there anything in the sector that works harder than the gym? After all, it might host everything from basketball to pickleball to volleyball to futsal—and a lot more.

With caution and care, change can lead to unexpected results

By Ron Ciancutti

The Board of Commissioners noticed a pattern. Of the many commodities and services our park system engaged (e.g., office supplies, aggregate stone, food for zoo animals, etc.), the same awardees were recommended year after year.

Defining and designing resilient recreation structures

By Tony Bouquot

The Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex (also known as the Obama Sports Complex) at Rancho Cienega Park is owned by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. It fills an important need in South Los Angeles by providing quality public recreation and fitness amenities for a population of approximately 100,000 people. The complex, completed in 2022, consists of two buildings––a 20,225-square-foot structure that houses an Olympic-size indoor pool and bathhouse, and a 16,232-square-foot gymnasium that accommodates two high school regulation basketball courts, a mezzanine walking track, a fitness annex, a multiuse community room, and staff offices.

The inclusive magic of Toms River’s Field of Dreams

By Nikki Kelly

The RWJBH Field of Dreams, in Toms River, N.J., is more than a playground—it’s a groundbreaking example of modern design, engineering, and community spirit. I recently toured the facility with co-founder Christian Kane and dedicated volunteer Sue Coan, witnessing the impact of this exceptional space firsthand.

Stepping up to help young athletes

By John Engh

Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being, yet it's often overlooked in youth sports, which can lead to devastating consequences. 

What is a playground’s role in connecting kids to nature?

By Hannah Seo

In 1930s Denmark, landscape architect Carl Theodor Sørensen had an epiphany. Playgrounds in urban settings, with their uniform, predictable structures, did nothing to inspire children’s imaginations. On the other hand, children in the countryside, provided with just tree branches, tires, and other loose-scrap material, could immerse themselves in creative play, inventing whole new worlds with natural resources. City kids didn’t have that opportunity.

Creating a camp business plan for long-term success

By Jason Schaitz

A formal business plan helps directors run a camp, serving as a guide through each stage of operation management. The plan provides the structure for camp operations and is also the roadmap for growth and goal achievement. Additionally, a business plan can help bring in funding, investments, and other partnerships.

Pioneering the future of inclusive recreation

By Adam Arndt

Moss Universal Park is a revolutionary, innovative project designed to create a universally inclusive recreational space. Scheduled to break ground in spring 2025 and open by fall in Wauwatosa, Wis., the park will set a new benchmark for accessibility and inclusivity in public spaces across the country.

Consider these sports to refresh your camp recreation lineup

By Mary Helen Sprecher

When campers are ready to return, directors and counselors are tasked with keeping them happy and occupied, but it’s also important to create camp programs that stand out. What is interesting enough to make kids share their experience with friends—who, in turn, will ask their parents if they can attend, too?

Inside the grand opening of the Jackson Recreation Center's new climbing gym

By Amberley Ransom

After a decade-long absence, indoor climbing has returned with the grand opening of the new climbing gym at the Teton County/Jackson Recreation Center. This eagerly awaited facility, which opened to the public in May 2024, has quickly become a vibrant hub for climbers of all levels and a beacon for the local community.