Family Time Redux
Editor's note: For more information and tips regarding the family fitness concept, refer to Dr. Gibson's article in the October 2005 issue of Parks & Rec Business magazine. The reasons for family
View ArticleEveryone Can Play!
Physical disabilities affect how the body moves. The most common physical disabilities found in children and young adults include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord
View ArticleStory Time
Regardless of how large or small your budget is you should never miss an opportunity to get your story out. First, you must never lose sight of who your most important customers are.The most
View ArticleSpace Preserver
The Southgate Farm Acquisition project was a once in a lifetime undertaking that, when realized, met the needs of the city, its various partnering organizations, and the local community. Since its
View ArticleSmartParks
When Jim starts his workday at 6:00 a.m., he turns on his computer, and starts the SmartParks program. He scans the list of new and open work requests. He prioritizes and assigns work orders to
View ArticleCoach the Coach
In the world of youth sports, good coaches can be hard to come by. Many leagues believe they lack the knowledge and means necessary to attract and retain good coaches, but that doesn't have to be the
View ArticleHook a Kid on Golf
When it comes to youth sports, the big three (baseball, football, and soccer) dominate the landscape. The National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS) is working hard to add golf to this elite
View ArticleAudible Cues
Goalball and Beep Baseball are popular competitive sports for those who are blind or visually impaired. There are local, state, national and international leagues associated with both games. There is
View ArticleRecreation: Tell The Story
Wanted: Recreation Leaders "For the extraordinary individual who wants more than a job, this is a unique career. A way of life that will challenge the deepest resources of your intelligence,
View ArticleThe Basics Of Trip Leadership
I like to think of myself as a long distance hiker. Sure, I enjoy taking day hikes, especially as there’s usually a hot shower and a great meal waiting at the end. But, perhaps the core of my hiking/b
View ArticleCanopy Tours
It was probably only a matter of time before some intrepid kid (or kid wannabe) figured out how to combine all of the best elements of childhood -- tree houses, zip lines and the pure freedom and
View ArticleA Diabetes Primer
Diabetes is a chronic disease diagnosed in over 20.8 million U.S. children and adults. Those diagnosed with diabetes have high blood glucose levels (blood sugar) and they’re bodies are either unable t
View ArticleTee for Two (or More)
Golf’s a great sport. Lush green tees, fairways and greens inviting you to drive the ball, putt like a champ and, maybe, win some money. And, even if you spend all your time in the woods or sand, you’
View Article…And Then There Were None
Why is it the cycle of attendance at a fitness center varies so much throughout the year? In January, everyone makes a New Year’s resolution to lose weight and really get it together. In February, the
View ArticleCommunity Improvement
Creating and ensuring top-notch youth sports programs in your community is an important part of maintaining a successful parks and recreation department. Done correctly, youth sports unite the
View ArticleTreks and the City
Editor’s Note: Our intrepid international reporter is back – giving us a look at the way London and Amsterdam treat their cyclists. Like their counterparts here in the U.S., trails are always in deman
View ArticleFrom Dream to Reality
Editor’s Note: Fred Engh is the founder of the National Alliance For Youth Sports. This is the first of his monthly youth sports columns written exclusively for Parks & Rec Business. Enjoy!I’ll ne
View ArticleDodge Ball
Talk about old school. Is Dodge Ball really back? Was it ever gone? If the impressive registration numbers for MCCS Okinawa’s Dodge Ball tournaments are any indication, the answer is Dodge Ball is as
View ArticleIce in the Sky -- Sidebar
Building A New Ice Rink ... By The NumbersTraining Center20,000 square feetLarge weight room and fitness roomExtensive training areaMedical facilitiesSpacious locker roomLounge areasTheater-style
View ArticleBlow Up Your Treadmill…Pick Up A Dumbbell
Diet and cardio are, unfortunately, not the answers to a lean, hard body. To burn fat and keep it off, you really need to incorporate resistance/weight training into your routine. The simple act of
View ArticleJust Not Cricket!
Bill Bryson wrote my favorite quote about cricket: “It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavors look interesting. That. was merely an unintended side
View ArticleElite Youth Soccer Problems In England
The English Premier League is a remarkable success story. By the late 1980s, English soccer lay in the doldrums--stadiums were crumbling, attendances were down, and the success of other European
View ArticleCycle Burn
“Feel the burn!” We’ve all heard that one … and felt it too. And, although the term “cycle burn” might sound a little scary, it’s one of the hottest classes at MCCS Okinawa’s fitness centers.More comm
View ArticleFrom Alarming To Charming!
In the not-too-distant past, the daily family dinner served the dual purpose of feeding and connecting with the family. It was also an important teaching moment -- the time and place where moms and
View ArticleProgramming For Tweens
Way, way back when I started working at Bellingham, Washington Parks and Recreation, (OK it was in 1979) youth programs fell into three age groups: Preschool activities were geared for 3-5 year olds,
View ArticleLet’s Hit the Beach!
Just because you don’t have a pool or access to a lake doesn’t mean you can’t offer fun, creative, healthy aquatics programming. Here are 12 ideas sure to please even the most discerning customer:Summ
View ArticleWomen Should “Divot A Try”
My first golf experience didn’t reveal an undiscovered raw talent just waiting for a bit of polish on the way to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Instead, I ripped up chunk after
View ArticleActive Living
The meteoric rise in rates of overweight and obesity among Americans in the past two decades is largely due to sedentary activities. In fact, only 45 percent of Americans get the recommended minimum
View ArticleHigh Energy + Calculated Risk = Action Sports
“High energy,” “risk,” “adrenalin rush”--all words pop culture uses to describe the burgeoning category of action sports. In fact, two of the fastest growing sports, skateboarding (showing an impressi
View ArticleSample Youth Sports Facility Agreement
YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION FACILITY AGREEMENTbetween ____________________________________________________(Association Name)and The City of Peachtree City, Recreation Department BACKGROUND: The City of
View ArticleWorking With Volunteer Groups
Perhaps one of the most challenging tasks that a recreation professional will face is working harmoniously with volunteer youth sports or special interest associations. It’s not an easy task, but ther
View ArticleOver The Transom
The most recent Parks and Rec Business just landed on my desk, with the “Publisher’s Note” from Rodney addressing continuous improvement. That is a subject that really resonates with me, and I owe him
View ArticleLacrosse
If you are in search of a fresh idea for your recreation center, this is definitely it. Known as the oldest sport in North America, lacrosse is popular among men and women of all ages. According to
View ArticleGolf Games
The word “golf” is derived from the medieval Dutch language, where the word “kolf,” or “kolve,” simply meant “club.” It was passed to the Scots, whose dialect translated it into “glove,” “gowl” or “g
View ArticlePut The Fun In Fundraising!
Step back in time, picture the dandelion-covered field next to the old school, and remember all the dodgeball games that were played. On the surface it was just a game; however, scores were settled
View ArticleAmerica On The Move
After-school programs that only offer video games, the use of portable game stations and other sedentary activities are growing at an alarming rate because parents want to see their children happy,
View ArticleRoll Out The Mats
As a mother of two young boys, I am always looking for a fun and exciting experience for my kids. They have so much energy, and I am constantly in search of the best way to get their creative juices
View ArticleGiving Back By Going Forward
It’s Wednesday and my children are excited to go to school. Yes, they like school, but they are particularly interested in Wednesday’s recreational activity--Mile Masters. It’s a unique track and fiel
View ArticleEqual Opportunity Participation
Listen in on an adult conversation, and it won’t be long until you hear someone say, “I wish I had more time with my family. We’re all going our separate ways, and it seems like we never do anything t
View ArticleResearching Rehabilitation
Purchasing exercise equipment can be the most challenging of all the tasks faced in starting or expanding fitness programs. The right piece can help boost offerings to a new level; the wrong
View ArticleNavigating Recreational Software
So you’re ready to take the plunge -- or at least you think you are. Recreation software comes in many forms and packages, from programs that can organize a softball league as well as an entire depart
View ArticleProfessionally Speaking
You probably don’t need government statistics to tell you there is a surge in the fitness industry. Just look at the people coming to your facility. Do you see more Baby Boomers, determined to fight t
View ArticleCelebrate National Kid’s Craft Day March 14
Your parks and recreation department celebrates the Fourth of July and Valentine's Day, so why not celebrate National Kid's Craft Day? This is a great chance for kids and adults to enjoy gluing,
View ArticleSpring Spruce-Up
Although there is snow on the ground, and an ice storm predicted tonight, that does not mean that it is time to postpone spring maintenance issues. Even in places like balmy San Diego, maintenance is
View ArticleCrash Course In Crafting
canstockphoto8951738Martha Stewart began her billionaire's climb to fame and fortune by cooking and making crafts. Millions of loyal fans follow her suggestions for arts and crafts projects. Why not
View ArticleClass Introduces “A New Way”
According to recent National Center for Health statistics, 17.1 percent of children and adolescents 2 to 19 years of age (over 12.5 million) are overweight, and 32.2 percent of adults (over 66
View ArticleA Heart-Warming Program
They lace up athletic shoes, remove jackets (or put them on, according to the weather), stretch a bit and set off walking. They tell jokes and catch up on each others’ lives. Forty minutes later, they
View ArticleTrendsetters
With over 50,000 women attending outdoor workshops, phrases like “mother-daughter weekends” and “word-of-mouth marketing” take on a new meaning.Reaching Outdoor Women Facilities across the United Stat
View ArticleA Field House With A View
The Waukegan Park District in Illinois wanted to go beyond space and programming requirements, beyond parking needs and storm water detention demands to include more subtle design mandates for its
View ArticleSlippin’ And Slidin’
In 1999, when Jeff Jacobson was first elected mayor of North Pole, Alaska, he and his staff put together a wish list of projects. High on that list was a water slide for Wescott Pool. Today, that
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