Park Stories

How to incorporate the new Olympic lacrosse format into park play By Mary Helen Sprecher Lacrosse is ready for its close-up. But that close-up won’t come until 2028, when lacrosse will be featured as a showcase sport at the Olympics in Los Angeles. However, that’s actually a good thing because that gives parks (and player camps) an opportunity to get up to speed on the new format: sixes lacrosse,...

Tips to ensure camps are properly protected for every scenario By Tracy Schmeltzer As a camp manager or director, participating in timely training is important not only to keep skills relevant but also to stay informed about issues impacting the camp industry. One such issue is insurance. How much do directors know about their organization’s insurance policy? What does it cover, and what role do c...

A pioneering venture leads to Joya, a unique glow-in-the-dark playground By Michael Mashburn Significant decisions often gravitate toward the familiar, the status quo, or the absence of alternatives. Cities find themselves entrenched in convention due to resource limitations, potential community resistance, and the intricate web of politics. Pioneering a new direction can indeed be a daunting ende...

Award-winning nature park’s holistic approach to building shade structures inspires other communities By Sarah Yant From wildlife-viewing blinds to pergolas, shade structures in parks are essential features that not only enhance the visitor experience but also foster environmental awareness and stewardship. Horseshoe Bay Nature Park—an 11-acre greenspace on rolling upland prairie located in a smal...

Extending courtesy to those who need it most By Ron Ciancutti Doctors agreed that, after President Ronald Reagan survived a 1981 assassination attempt, his memory was diminished. (Years later, he was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.) As his term continued, his staff prepared remarks and speeches that were short and to the point. Though his negotiation and leadership skills were still sharp, hi...

Progress and opportunity along the 3,700-mile route of the Great American Rail-Trail By Kevin Belle When Powell County, Mont., purchased an 11-mile stretch of the former Milwaukee Road railroad corridor in 2017, officials weren’t yet aware it would become part of the nation’s first cross-country, multi-use trail. However, the county’s location along the route has sparked big thinking and a vision...

Getting kids to sample all sorts of sports By John Engh Growing up, I played just about every sport imaginable, and I’m glad I did. I loved baseball from the start and was lucky to play all through high school. Everything about the game fascinated me. Some of my most treasured childhood memories involve stepping onto the field every spring for another season with my teammates.

Coordinating successful youth sports game days By Jason Schaitz Game days are the reason kids, parents, and coaches participate in youth sports. Coordinators put all the work into planning, marketing, registration, player evaluations, team formation, orientation, coaches’ meetings, and scheduling. Then, it is finally time to play some games. Below are some tips to help manage all the moving parts.

Applying the principle of reconciliation By Christopher Thurber August 6, 1980, was my first day at overnight camp. The day began with homesick tears and almost ended in gloomy ones. My cabin had just lost a close tennis baseball game to a neighboring cabin. But sadness turned to confusion as my cabin leader and the returning boys on my team chanted an enthusiastic cheer for the winning team. I ha...

How to score parks & rec bonds in a challenging economy By Karen Fischer When it comes to the economy, 2024 has been a confounding year. There has often been positive news, but elevated interest rates have held steady, and the costs of everyday goods and services remain stubbornly high. Persistent inflation has forced many families to choose between wants and needs, with many wants falling by...

Advice on maintaining a disc-golf course By Danielle Spence There are more than 14,000 disc-golf courses available worldwide, with over 1.2-million disc golfers, according to UDisc’s Disc Golf Growth Report. The West Chicago Park District, located 32 miles from downtown Chicago, maintains an 18-hole disc-golf course within Kress Creek Farms Park. With packs of mature oak trees, rolling hills, a ca...

The struggle to preserve paddle tennis amidst the rise of pickleball   By Janine Parkinson In an era when trends come and go with the scroll of a finger, there's something comforting about tradition. It's the thread woven through the fabric of people’s lives, connecting to the past and pointing toward the future. Whether it's the crack of a bat on a baseball diamond or the disciplin...

Park model cabins provide camper and staff housing that’s flexible and sustainable By Gina Tabasso Many people have fond childhood memories of camping with their families and enjoying the outdoors, but the experience of camping has changed dramatically. Gone are the days of simply pitching tents or hauling around a pop-up camper behind the car and using a shared bathhouse while cooking over a camp...

When it comes to locker-room accessibility, ADA compliance is just the start By Jefferey Spivey In recent years, locker-room designs have evolved to enable better accessibility. But that wasn’t always the case. “Over the last 30-plus years, it’s become pretty code-descriptive on what we have to provide in a facility,” says Tom Betti, Sports Studio Director at JLG Architects. Technically speaking,...

Morgan’s Camp is a year-round program for safe, inclusive outdoor recreation By Sam Segura Morgan’s Camp, an Ultra-Accessible recreational oasis, provides year-round summer camp experiences for people of all abilities. The camp reflects Morgan's overarching commitment to breaking down barriers and offering meaningful recreation​​. Occupying 102 acres northeast of San Antonio, Texas, Morgan’s...

A closer look at Hubbard Public Library’s Sensory Garden By Cynthia Hirtzel Sensory gardens are precisely what the name indicates—gardens or spaces created to stimulate and invigorate the senses. Any garden can engage at least one of the senses, but a sensory garden is an immersive outdoor space designed to utilize, delight, and inspire all five, enhancing visitors’ health and well-being. Consider...

The importance of branding for parks and recreation professionals By Sophia Young When something goes wrong, such as a programming-related schedule mix-up or an altercation between park patrons, it affects an organization’s reputation and overall brand. Strong brands are more resilient than weak brands, especially when something is amiss, which is why agency leaders must be mindful of their depart...

How public-private partnerships have fueled Dix Park’s transformation By Hannah Allison Public-private partnerships are often key to making vibrant and successful community spaces. Take fast-evolving Dorothea Dix Park, for example. The 308-acre site blends historic architecture, rich landscapes, and big plans. Located in the urban heart of Raleigh, N.C., Dix Park presents an array of opportunities...

How Cincinnati Parks drives some of the best social media engagement in parks & rec By Jefferey Spivey In March 2024, consulting firm Next Practice Partners announced that Cincinnati Parks (Ohio) had the third-best social media engagement in the U.S. parks and recreation sector. This may come as no surprise to @cincyparks’ followers.

In youth sports, self-improvement is the ultimate goal By John Engh One reason I love writing this column is it reminds me to step back, reminisce, and write about the youth sports experience . Sometimes, I highlight a subject that youth sports administrators deal with daily, and I explore best practices. But, other times, I show appreciation for sports participation, uncovering the true value tha...

Bold, new approaches to accessibility on the Oregon coast By Melissa Hart Oregon-based hiker and accessibility activist Jodie St. Clair headed for Ruby Beach on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband and two young sons, looking forward to a day of tide pooling. Instead, she had to stand at the edge of the beach and watch as her family headed down a trail and clambered over beached logs and giant p...

Making Fields And Facilities More Welcoming For Colorblind Athletes By Mary Helen Sprecher Sometimes, not everything is black and white. There are plenty of shades of gray between. And in sports, that can cause a problem. Colorblindness (also known as color vision deficiency and CVD) among youth athletes is not uncommon; in fact, according to UK-based organization Colour Blind Awareness (CBA), app...

How Portland’s parks are engaging the entire community By Laura Wheatman Hill Portland, Ore., and the surrounding suburbs have great natural beauty. Trails, natural areas, and water sources abound for people seeking recreation and relaxation. However, the formal playgrounds and parks have also incorporated new designs and features in recent years. New park projects and rebuilds of existing parks h...

Simple strategies to get the most from seasonal hires By Ron Ciancutti I worked in the parks and recreation field for almost 50 years before I retired, and I remember that when I told people what I did for a living, they always responded with, “Oh, that must be so nice.” 

Partners help bring Burleson’s special-needs soccer clinic to fruition By London Pulfer Texas-based Burleson Parks and Recreation’s vision is to support a vibrant and healthy community by providing everyone with opportunities to learn, grow, and play. As talks began about coordinating the department’s first special-needs soccer clinic, leaders wanted to remain true to this goal.