Youth Recreational Leagues Squeezed by Sponsorship Drop Off
from The Ledger
A paycheck can only go so far, and youth recreational leagues are seeing it firsthand. Several leagues have lost players to the economy, while a few have more players than before. But all are dealing with lack of sponsorships as local businesses cling tighter to their dollars, causing leagues to hold more fundraisers, to lower registration fees and to continue using equipment they would rather replace. More

Pataskala, Ohio, Parks Programs Garnering Community Support
from the Newark Advocate
Pataskala, Ohio’s, parks are surviving -- and some would say thriving. That is the case, although Pataskala City Council voted last year to cut the city's parks programs. Not long after the move, the all-volunteer Pataskala Parks and Recreation Advisory Board put together a plan to save the programs. The plan, which the council ultimately approved, included farming out the programs to various organizations. More

Senior Games Filled with Fun, Good Humor
from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Despite a little mud and slippery conditions, hundreds of 50-plus residents piled into Mammoth Park for the Westmoreland County, Pa., Senior games. An annual event since 1983, the games have grown in both size and participation. "We've added a lot since it first began," said Dan Carpenter, program coordinator for Westmoreland Parks and Recreation. "We started out with 10 games and we are now up to 33 games, and the participation has grown steadily every year. This year we have over 300 participating in the games." More

Yard Sale Goes Mobile
from SNP Online
Powell, Ohio, residents soon will have an opportunity to move unused items from the trunks in their attics to the trunks of their cars to sell. The city's Trunk to Treasure community garage sale is slated for May 16. This is the first time the city has held the event, which is being organized by its Parks and Recreation Department. More

Budget Crunch Hits State Parks Hard
from The News& Observer
Cash-strapped Americans looking for a cheap getaway at a state park or campground this summer are likely to find instead reduced hours, higher fees and closed beaches and pools. State parks and historic sites across the nation have had to cut back because of budgets squeezed by the economic downturn, said Philip McKnelly, executive director of the National Association of State Parks Directors. More

Ohio Swimming Pool Meets Federal Safety Requirements without Breaking the Bank
from PR Newswire via News Blaze
Though there is still confusion in some areas over how to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, a growing number of public pool operators are finding compliance is not as difficult - or expensive - as previously believed. More

Video: Denver Debuts Mile High Loop
from CBS4 Denver
The Mile High Loop is a brand new 5k trail that winds through City Park in Denver. Planning for this new pedestrian trail started in 2005. The Denver Parks and Recreation Department along with City Park Alliance raised money and got the trail built. "We wanted to provide other recreation opportunities for people in Denver and we wanted to do something that really celebrated the Mile High City," said Denver Parks and Recreation spokesperson, Jill McGranahan. More

Is Your Local Playground Safe?
from WTRF-TV
Playing on the swings is one of 6 year old Kayla Browning's favorite activities. "Cause you get to go up high, push your feet if you are older," Kayla said. "I believe that God gave us these children, and that we need to protect them as much as we can," said her mother, Dena Browning. But Dena believes parents need to balance protection with allowing kids to have fun. More

"Poo Free Parks" Goal of Denver Entrepreneur
from the Denver Post
Bill Airy got an idea for getting poo out of dog-friendly Denver's parks while he was walking his two Jack Russell terriers at Sloan's Lake in August. Poo Free Parks will install more than 200 new dispensers of biodegradable poop-pickup bags in as many as 25 Denver parks, including the city's six big dog parks. Airy plans to have local businesses pay to sponsor the dispensers, thereby aligning their name with a "green" development. More

Paddling Trails Increasing Outdoor Interest in Urban Areas
from the San Marcos Record
Outdoor recreation — hunting, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, etc. — faces a great test in the near future. As our population becomes increasingly urban, many city dwellers have little or no contact with, appreciation of, or desire to preserve nature. Without any knowledge or love for our outdoor heritage, it’s only a step to cutting funding for these activities. More

Healthier Living through Better Land Use
from The News Journal
Richard Killingworth, director of Nemours Health & Prevention Services, keeps a Frisbee in the corner of his office, for the general purpose of flinging it around with his staff during lunch breaks. At first glance, a plastic disc spinning through the air would not be thought of as an iconic representation for the agency's mission, but every time the Frisbee flies, it reminds Killingsworth and his staff that they are entrusted with keeping Nemours' 70-year-old goals alive: To help Delaware's children lead healthier lives, by preventing childhood obesity through healthy eating, physical activity and behavioral health. More