The New Playground: Bye, Jungle Gym
from TIME Magazine
It's happened to every parent: you buy little Sammy the hottest new toy, and he's more excited to play with the box it came in and the Styrofoam peanuts. New York City–based architect David Rockwell has come up with some ingenious ways to amplify that familiar scene and, in the process, is bringing to the U.S. the most innovative playground design since child psychologists started fiddling with jungle gyms in the 1960s. More

Call to Rebuild Parks Evokes 1930s Program
from The Los Angeles Times via The Seattle Times
The first "emergency agency" established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which was established in 1933 and eventually put 3 million men to work in the national park system. Now, some in Congress and elsewhere are reaching back to embrace Roosevelt's Depression-era strategy by calling for a similar parks-restoration program to be included in President Obama's economic-stimulus plan. More

Revival of Arizona Park Aligns Past, Future
from The Arizona Republic
To the Valley's Native American community, the transformation of Papago Park in Phoenix is long overdue, its sacred heritage too often ignored, its archaeological treasures too little appreciated. The Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community hopes to revive respect for the park's history through an ambitious collaboration involving three Valley cities. Authorities in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale believe the plan could put Papago on par with New York's Central Park or San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. More

Overnight, a New Park Blooms From an Illegal Dump
from the Washington Post
Soweto, South Africa, boasts one of the world's largest urban forests. But the trees blanket the predominantly white northern suburbs, while the mostly black townships in the south -- long neglected under the former apartheid government -- resemble dust bowls. Luther Williamson, managing director of the city's parks, considers it his mission to undo that imbalance, and he has taken some inspiration from American reality television. More

Fungicides May Aid in Quicker Turf Growth, Healthier Grass
from USAgNet
Those in the turfgrass industry with little time during the summer to establish turf from seed may get a boost from fungicides, according to an Ohio State University Extension study. OSU Extension turfgrass specialists found that applying a granular fungicide at the time of seeding perennial ryegrass in late spring or early summer boosted seed germination, improved turf quality and increased speed of establishment by two weeks. The results may be beneficial for parks and recreation where there is only a short period of time in the summer to establish ground cover for fall activities. More

Volunteers in Michigan Trying to Start Community Garden
from the Traverse City Record-Eagle
Michelle Wallace envisions fields of greens. And berries. And squash. And corn. And all of it will be given away. Wallace heads up a Kalkaska, Mich., group organizing a community garden. VEGGO -- Volunteers Encouraging Garden Goods 4 Others -- already has the land and the plans. Now they need the gardeners. More

Volunteers Stepping Forward for New Martin County, Fla., Parks Program
from TC Palm
Several families and nonprofit groups have volunteered to care for facilities as part of the Martin County, Fla.’s, new Park Keepers program started in October to compensate for the loss of 13 employees who maintained the parks. The program eases maintenance on the parks for the county, and the department has a coordinator to help it grow. More

Senior Citizens Enjoy Wii Bit of Fun
from the Mountain Home News
Last Fall, the Mountain Home, Idaho, Parks and Recreation Department and the Mountain Home Public Library began the Wii Bit of Fun program for senior citizens to socialize while playing the Nintendo Wii game at the Mountain Home Senior Center. According to lead organizer and marketing coordinator for Parks and Recreation, Crystal Anderson, the program was created to provide senior citizens with a low-impact exercise activity. More

Bridging the Gap: Program Keeps Children Active, Learning When School Day Ends
from the Sun Journal
When the last bell rings, the Parker sisters never go straight home from school. But the place they go to is just as familiar, just as comfortable, and just as much a part of their routine as doing their homework. Khalia and Carmen Parker are longtime students of BEAR, an after-school program that is run by the New Bern, N.C., Parks and Recreation Department. The acronym stands for "believing in education, achievement and responsibility," and its aim is to fill those first after-school hours for children by providing a place for them to learn and play while their parents are still at work. More

Recreation Pioneer Named to the City of Pacifica, Calif., Sports Hall of Fame
from the Pacifica Tribune
Sheila Hyman has been an advocate for recreation and social services activities in the Pacifica, Calif., community for 50 years. On Feb. 28, she will be inducted into the City of Pacifica Sports Hall of Fame. More

Alabama City Begins Adopt-A-Park Program
from the Press-Register
From purchasing and installing a safety fence around the playground at Lott Park to picking up soda cans by the May Day boat ramp, Daphne, Ala., officials are asking residents and business owners to become caretakers and advocates for the city's 14 parks. The Daphne Parks and Recreation Department last week announced the launch of an "Adopt-A-Park" program, through which individuals and groups can share. More