The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast

Playgrounds are one of the most popular features in our parks. They are an excellent place for kids to blow off some steam, socialize, and develop their strength and motor skills. In most areas, more children and families use playgrounds during the summer months. As the summer wears on, the increased usage often means a greater risk of damaged equipment or unsafe conditions.  Regular playground in...

Park surfacing is a key feature of a safe playground. We’ve come a long way from the sand and gravel playgrounds of future generations.  In the last episode, we discussed the various loose-fill materials used for playground surfaces. For some playgrounds, loose-fill materials make a suitable playground surface solution. However, this type of playground surfacing has some drawbacks, which may make...

Playgrounds are some of a parks and recreation agency’s most important assets. But they could also be some of the most dangerous. According to the National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI), over 79% of all playground accidents are from children falling onto improper or poorly maintained surfacing. In fact, surfacing is number 1 of the NPSI’s Dirty Dozen playground hazards.  Choosing and maintain...

Your turfgrass survived another summer. With a lot of hard work--and a little luck--it still looks pretty good. Great! It’s time to keep the momentum going because the end of summer will come soon enough. As we get closer to the cooler, shorter days, we're easing into a critical time for turfgrass health. It's an opportunity to provide the conditions to help lawns recover from summer and grow stro...

If you have trails and paths that joggers, cyclists, and moms with strollers all use, there’s a good chance they’re made of asphalt.  And it makes sense. Asphalt has plenty of benefits. It provides a smooth surface. The color allows for high-contrast markings helping manage pedestrian traffic. The flexibility of asphalt allows it to withstand freeze-thaw cycles and last longer. When properly insta...

As the weather gets nicer, more activities get held outdoors. Some of those activities may go on until well after dark. Many parks have lighting systems to accommodate those that prefer evening recreation.  But what impact are those lights having on the local area?  Light pollution is an often overlooked and misunderstood problem affecting our communities and ecosystems. Many parks agencies have l...

One type of playground gaining more popularity may be surprising. Some parks and municipalities go more “natural” with their playground features. After all, there are so many benefits of being in nature. As parks agencies, we have the opportunity and obligation to encourage those of all ages to reconnect with nature.  Natural playgrounds provide unique, stimulating play places for children to expl...

When you notice something strange happening to your turf, there’s a good chance that fungus is to blame. Fungal lawn diseases are common lawn issues--Some fungal more severe than others. Luckily there are ways to prevent and help your turf bounce back from fungal lawn diseases. It starts with understanding the often subtle differences among the diseases to help you know the most appropriate way to...

It may be just 10 or 15 minutes of your morning, but it could significantly impact how your team handles the rest of the day. Yes, team huddles can be effective--essential even. Leaders who take advantage of team huddles can align the team, focus on the day, and help build rapport with each other.  Are you ready to lead your maintenance team into the busy growing season? Then maybe it’s time to le...

It’s that time of year again. Baseball and softball leagues are squaring off on your baseball diamonds. Maintaining ballfields helps keep the players safe and the fields looking great. Your fields will probably take a beating throughout the summer. The best way to keep your fields maintained: scheduling ballfield preventative maintenance early…and often. Routine inspections and maintenance can hel...

We’re doing fine with paper work orders. Why bother with digital work orders?  As a maintenance manager, you’ll probably deal with this comment at some point. Everything is going more digital, paper records are becoming a thing of the past. So is it time to switch to a digital work order system? Every agency is different. The personnel, procedures, and data needed are more complicated than a one-s...

Increasing concerns about food sources have a lot of people considering growing their own food. Growing food in a garden provides fresh organic produce for a healthier lifestyle. There’s also a sense of satisfaction after harvesting your own fruits and vegetables.  Community gardens offer an excellent opportunity for both gardening enthusiasts and novice green thumbs to have a space to grow their...

Linear parks are growing in popularity in many urban areas. They offer a unique opportunity to transform old, unused infrastructure into spaces for recreation. These parks do more than breathe new life into unused land. Linear parks also offer the community several social, economic, and environmental benefits. In this episode of the Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast, we take a closer look at what...

Making the best use of your time when planting new trees or shrubs for your outdoor assets.  Investing a little extra time in the planning and preparation of a planting site helps to ensure your trees or shrubs establish and flourish for many years to come. In today’s episode of the Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast, we discuss the best practices for ensuring your trees and shrubs get planted in a...

You’ve probably heard…There was a pet owners boom during the pandemic.  Over 23 million households (about 19% total) bought a pet during the pandemic.  And many of those pets and their owners will be looking for something to do for the next ten years or so. Inflation and other economic issues are causing more people--including pet owners--to choose apartments or smaller residences. They often need...

When a park or facility has a maintenance issue, time matters. Minor issues often become big problems if they are not addressed promptly. Establishing a work order system is one of the best ways to identify and fix issues efficiently.  Work orders play a fundamental role in most maintenance departments. When the system operates well, maintenance managers and their teams stay organized, prioritize...

Few things are as satisfying as seeing lush, full lawns in your parks or athletic fields. It takes a lot of work to get them there. And just as much--if not more-- turf maintenance to get them through the growing season.  Taking care of your turf in early spring helps prepare it for the growing season. Strong, healthy lawns are more resilient to weather conditions, foot traffic, and recreational p...

Signs convey an important message and impression to those who see them. Depending on the type of sign, they could be a sizable investment. And, with any investment, you want to make sure you get the most out of it. Protecting that investment from the elements and vandalism ensures signs serve their purpose for as long as possible.  Sign maintenance may not be at the forefront of everyone’s mind, b...

Signs serve a vital purpose in our parks and facilities. In fact, park and facility signs may be one of the biggest amenities most people take for granted.  Visitors use them for direction, instruction, education, and even their own protection. Often, signs are the first thing that welcomes visitors and are present throughout the whole user experience. So you want to make sure your signs serve the...

Now that many conferences and trade shows are returning as in-person events, it’s a great time to brush up on the best practices to make the most of these networking opportunities.  Networking at a conference is an excellent opportunity to connect with potential mentors, support systems, and future employers.  For many, conversations initiated during unstructured times of conferences are just as i...

Playground technology has come a long way since most of us were kids. And playground trends have changed. Complete playground systems have replaced the days of the slide, swings, monkey bars, and teeter-totters. These playgrounds are safer, more interactive, and provide enjoyment for a diverse range of youth and young-at-heart. And there are so many design options these days! That’s right. You won...

Parks and recreation agencies have the responsibility to protect the safety of those using their parks and facilities. This responsibility includes identifying, addressing, and minimizing risk in areas and programming. Risk occurs when a hazard may cause personal injury, property or environmental damage, economic loss, or death. Hazards are conditions unknown or misunderstood by visitors that may...

Winter is tough on facility roofs, especially in the northern climates of the United States. A roofing issue can lead to a variety of problems affecting the operations of a facility.  But, as we’ve all witnessed, winter weather can strike just about any place in the country. The snow, wind, ice, and frigid temperatures can quickly turn a minor roofing issue into a big deal. In this episode of the...

Some great leaders are born that way. But, in reality, most aren’t.  In fact, it’s estimated only 10 percent of people are natural-born leaders. So how do the others develop effective leadership skills? They learn how to lead. They cultivate excellent leadership skills through trial and error and spend time in self-examination. These emerging leaders accept feedback and enlist the help of mentors....

The beginning of the year is when many people try to create (and stick to) healthier routines. According to IHRSA, gym membership usually spikes 4 percent points in January, accounting for 12% of all new annual memberships.  Another significant number to consider: about 50% of new gym members are lost by six months. There are several reasons people quit their gym memberships—some you can’t control...