Park Stories

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 fo...

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 cultur...

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 P...

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 de...

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 C...

Trends for the community waterpark  By Josh Martin As the popularity of waterpark s 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...

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...

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.

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 susta...

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...

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 g...

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 A...

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...

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...

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,...

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...