Park Stories

Using synthetic turf to minimize dark days and maximize facility usage By Haley Darling It’s no secret that northern climates impose challenges to practice and game time for outdoor sports like soccer, football, and baseball. While southern states enjoy the outdoors, their northern neighbors endure drastic conditions, from blizzards and ice to rain, winds, and floods—often cutting several weeks fr...

A betrayal of trust destroys credibility By Ron Ciancutti  I do some consulting work regarding the completion and structure of bid documents and contracts. Unlike my previous career in government work, these private-sector clients can make decisions based on emotion and preference. In the public work, agencies were obliged to research bids to determine if the lowest bidder was really of the best o...

Senior programming evolves to meet modern needs By Jefferey Spivey Some longstanding senior programs endure regardless of trends. “There’s still the staple bingo that seniors absolutely love,” says Mercy Santoro, Assistant Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. But that hasn’t stopped her department or other departments around the country from diversifying their...

Disability Dirt Days show participants what’s possible—regardless of physical ability By Kate Layton Hosted by Oakland County Parks (OCP) in Michigan, Disability Dirt Days pair volunteer, off-road vehicle (ORV) drivers with participants with disabilities for thrilling rides around Holly Oaks ORV Park. The park is situated on former and active gravel mines and offers a wide variety of extreme terra...

Tips and best practices for adaptive programming By Troy Houtman On a Saturday morning at Miracle Field in Wichita, Kan., one will find a group of special athletes participating in America’s pastime—baseball. While some use wheelchairs or walkers, others are blind or have intellectual disabilities—all are ready to have a swing of the bat, round the bases, and catch a ball.  Every child has the rig...

Wheelchair courses make fitness more attainable By Tammy Martinez In 1983, members of a local disability community helped bring a Wheelchair Accessible Heart Trail to John Prince Park, located in Lake Worth, Fla. In 2018—35 years after the original course was constructed—the community made renovations and additions to the now-called Wheel Course. Improvements included installing new equipment, wid...

Communication boards give children a voice at playgrounds By Carolyn Mondlock Water, food, air, and shelter are essential for survival. But to thrive instead of just surviving, a person needs more, such as sleep, clothing, and education. Perhaps beyond anything, the most significant need is to feel love and acceptance; this feeling is based on human touch and communication. But what if an individu...

Holly Springs, N.C. gives four-legged residents room to roam By LeeAnn Plumer For years many communities have offered places for people to run, play, and have fun, but now many agencies are hearing the call to provide safe, accessible dog parks, too. This shift is not a new trend, but continues to build. According to the American Pet Products Association, new pet ownership grew to 70 percent in 20...

To build the best inclusive playground for your community By Tim Roetman An accessible playspace has never been easier to build. With options from several playground manufacturers, the sky is the limit. But how does one get it right the first time as far as what a community wants and needs? Below is a look at how to identify a community’s needs, how to design a play space with the whole family in...

Creating an adaptive tennis program that encourages players of differing abilities to play together By Cameron Levis The daily mission of park and recreation professionals is to enhance the quality of life for residents through a variety of programs, services, and facilities. However, some professionals may not fully recognize their power to create true social change for a population that is often...

ADA is just the stepping stone By Mary Helen Sprecher More than three decades ago the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. At the time, it was groundbreaking, ushering in an era in which accessible restrooms, wheelchair ramps for public facilities, curb cuts, and other means of accommodation were mandated.

Sensory bags bridge communication gap between officers and community By Marika Carley On an overcast, late April day, a young boy runs along Georgia Avenue—a busy thoroughfare in Montgomery County, Md.,—barely avoiding being hit by passing vehicles. The child is spotted by Sgt. Trevin Sherard, a Montgomery Parks Police officer, who happens to be driving past the scene. Sherard immediately springs...

Exploring solutions to curb violent behavior at sporting events By John Engh On a recent drive to work, I decided to write a column about the importance of coaches and administrators knowing about heat illness and how to help prevent it in youth sports. Living in South Florida, I always found the subject intriguing. 

Don’t let technology take over what humans can do better By Ron Ciancutti I recently saw a truck commercial where the driver took his hands off the wheel and began to play patty-cake by himself. As the music swelled with the beat, he sat back comfortably, presumably to await the oncoming 18-wheeler being driven by a guy who was probably busy trying to reset his cell phone clock. The advantage ther...

As a park-shelter design unfolds, it takes the shape of … triangles? By Jamin AAsum Designs that appear simple and resolved are often the result of a painstakingly detailed process. While a park shelter at Luuwit View Park in Portland, Ore., appears to be a simple collection of triangular shapes, there is a complexity behind the presentation.  The sculpture-like shelter is part of the new park cre...

Creative engineering solutions help bring this destination to life By Colby Nennig Spanning 20 acres, featuring 20 thrilling attractions, and serving as the largest waterpark project in the western U.S. in the past decade, Wild Rivers in Irvine, Calif., is a years-in-the-making community destination. The previous Wild Rivers location closed in 2011, and the new facility has been reimagined with st...

They’re not just for open water and boats By Tom Griffiths and Rachel Griffiths Life jacket, life preserver, life vest, personal flotation device (PFD)—no matter what you call it—the life jacket has a long and varied history. According to Christopher Brooks, in Designed for Life: Life Jackets through the Ages, the earliest example of a life jacket or floatation device can be found on marble carvin...

Ways to make maintenance effective at a water park   By Chris Biancofiore It goes without saying that safety, maintenance, and saving money are important at park facilities. But think about how these three concepts connect for a water park to thrive.  Good, consistent maintenance mitigates safety risks that are inherent in creating fun and thrills with water. In more than 20 years in the industry...

Participation trophy debate makes its way to NC senators   By John Engh  This headline recently appeared in North Carolina: “NC senators propose eliminating participation trophies for youth sports.”  I’m not even going to try to figure out how great life must be in North Carolina if this is something state legislators are focused on, but I am sure there must be more important issues! In brief, the...

Programming, planning, and projects are key ingredients in attracting user groups to swimming pools  By Lauren Ozburn  In the summer before I began middle school, I officially became an elder at the local pool that was within walking distance from my house. I probably consumed a dozen or more frozen Snickers as bribes by lifeguards who wanted to leave the pool on days too cold to remain open. My f...

Justifying closing a water park earlier than usual for major renovations By Carolyn Mondlock With routine maintenance, inspections, and upgrades, water park operating systems can last at least 20 years before major renovations are needed. While maintenance can keep guests safe and happy, a carefully planned, end-of-season closure for a park is just as important to the success of opening one the ne...

Why it’s better to live a real life By Ron Ciancutti  I have a cartoon me and a real me. Cartoon me has no history, no past. He never went to school, never had friends, was never married, and had no children. He smiles on cue and never loses sleep over stress or pressure. Sometimes I wish I could live like cartoon me—resistant to pain and difficulties. On the other hand, real me has had a good sha...

Achieving universal accessibility at Crystal Lake's shoreline park By Cassie Bethoney One of only a few public parks along the shores of Crystal Lake, Louise Levingston Cove is a linear, half-acre public park located in a residential neighborhood. Crystal Lake, and Levingston Cove in particular, is a place of nostalgia, where people learned to fish as kids, launched kayaks, or simply enjoyed...

Field Sports Park provides safe, supervised firing-range opportunities By Joanna Piedmont East of one of the busiest freeways in California, bright lights beckon southbound drivers coming from San Jose on Highway 101. Those who have wondered but never stopped to inquire may be surprised to learn they have just passed the only publicly-owned firing range in the Bay Area. 

Waterfront park improvements aim to create community gathering spaces By Brad Smith Casablanca Waterfront Park is a dynamic park that offers visitors a diverse range of experiences with spectacular views of Lake Ontario. The park is in the town of Grimsby, and the surrounding area is becoming an upscale, desired location. Over the past five years, the town has seen steady growth with the completio...