Vermont State Parks Expect Benchmark Year
from WCAX-TV
The economic crisis has forced some states to cut back on parks and recreation programs. But with the summer season ready to begin with the Memorial Day holiday, Vermont is putting out a different message. Unlike some other states, Vermont has not cut back on parks and recreation. In fact, the legislature and governor pumped in $5.6 million for capital improvements at state parks. More

Use of Michigan Trails by Cyclists, Joggers and Walkers Grows
from the Jackson Citizen Patriot
Before 1999, the woods at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson, Mich., were mostly for deer and other woodland creatures and the occasional mountain biker and jogger. But not anymore. Now among the trees and portions of the Grand River are about 11 miles of trails maintained by volunteers who use the trail and members of the Cascades Cycling Club. More

'Pennies for a Playground' Fundraiser Begins in Connecticut City
from The News-Times
Students in New Milford, Conn., are being encouraged to recycle plastic water bottles and loose change to build a new Creative Playground on the site of the town's original one adjacent to John Pettibone School. The Parks ad Recreation Department and the New Milford Recreation Association are spearheading the townwide effort to raise $50,000 before Labor Day to build the new playground. More

Des Moines, Iowa, Parks Could Get Safer Playground Surfaces
from the Des Moines Register
Approximately 30 Des Moines, Iowa, parks could receive upgrades through a national playground safety initiative. Des Moines officials have reached an agreement with the National Safe Surfacing Initiative to donate rubber tiles and other materials to improve playground surface safety. Each resurfacing project will cost between $60,000 and $70,000 for a total of about $2 million. More

Students to Learn Skills, Spruce up City
from the Springfield News-Sun
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 initial Workforce Reinvestment Act stimulus allocations, Springfield, Ill.’s, Opportunities Industrialization Center has received just over $624,000 to use for a summer jobs program that will offer opportunities to students ages 14 to 24 who meet certain criteria. To be eligible, students must be at 100 percent of the federal poverty level and have significant barriers to success. Those barriers include things such as truancy, learning disabilities, foster care participation, homelessness, pregnancy, teen parent status, and deficiencies in basic literacy skills. More

In the Rough: Golf Execs Want Congress to Know of Troubles
from the Winston Salem Journal
In today's economy, golf is in the rough. And with a bad lie. Once-haughty country clubs are offering specials. Courses have closed or cut back on maintenance. The world's top golf ball manufacturer has seen demand for souvenir balls stamped with company logos drop off. And so officials in the golf industry have joined the nation's bankers, automakers, and insurance companies in marching to Washington in search of understanding. They're not asking for a bailout, but they do want greater appreciation of their industry's importance. More

Pools Spend Thousands on Drain Safety to Comply with Federal Regulations
from the Lawrence Journal-World
Forget about splish splash. The dominant sound at swimming pools across the nation this summer may be “ka-ching.” Pools are spending thousands of dollars to comply with federal safety regulations, and some municipal leaders believe the regulations may cause them to delay the opening of their city pool past Memorial Day. More

Starting Out Small
from Recreation Management
Facing not-uncommon budget constraints, public park and recreation leaders might wish to consider a phased approach to creating an aquatics facility that offers some amenities sooner, with more offerings to come online later, as resources permit. More

An 'Inspiring' Love of Trees
from the Leelauna News
Glen Noonan has fond memories of the drive from his family’s Kasson Township, Mich, farm to Traverse City, Mich., when he as a child. What impressed him the most were trees along the road. Today, Noonan and his family have set aside $5,000 to start up a county-wide tree replacement program. With the help of the county Parks and Recreation Commission, of which he is a member, the Leelanau Conservation District and the county’s maintenance staff, he saw his wish for new trees come true earlier this month. More

California City has 'Grrreat' Hopes for Ball Park
from the Press-Telegram
Catalina Island, Calif., residents hope Tony the Tiger can make a trampled public field "grrreat" again. Joe Machado Memorial Ballpark in Avalon has qualified as one of 100 finalists nationwide for a Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Plant-A-Seed grant. The cereal maker's program aims to improve parks as local governments reduce spending. More

Connecticut Group Takes More Active Role in Protecting Open Space
from The Ridgefield Press
The Land Conservatory of Ridgefield, Conn., has begun a new and active stewardship program aimed at protecting its properties. In addition to posting parcels with conservancy signs indicating their borders, the conservancy sent out more than 250 letters announcing a new “Good Neighbor Program” aimed at “preserving and protecting” the natural state of its lands and preventing encroachments. More

Archery Programs Hit Target of Family-friendly Fun
from the Montgomery Advertiser
Through an unprecedented allegiance among the Archery Trade Association, municipal parks and recreation programs and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, the Cullman , Ala., community archery program began in 2007 with the goal of archery becoming as mainstream as soccer, baseball and softball. The program doubled in size recently, and the program is just in its infancy. More