National Trails Day Draws Volunteers
from the Burlington Free Press
They were little details the inexperienced hiker might have missed, but they proved to be among the most important. A leafy sprig poked from the ground near a well-worn path. A narrow, dry culvert that might carry a small rivulet of water after a rainstorm was choked with brown leaves, remnants of last fall. A trail divided into twin braids snaking on either side of a tree. A team of two dozen volunteers at Niquette Bay State Park in Colchester, Vt., descended to tackle these problems and other similar encumbrances. Parallel teams tackled projects elsewhere across Vermont as hiking season gets going. More

Fitness Arcade Punches up New-age Workouts
from The Beacon News
When the Wii became a national phenomenon as a way to promote strenuous indoor exercise, there were plenty of skeptics. The Fox Valley, Ill., Park District is taking the Wii craze one step further. Last week, the district unveiled its E-Fit Interactive Fitness Room at the Eola Community Center in Aurora, Ill., where the energy level is expected to be so high that guests will be bouncing off the walls -- literally. More

Volunteers Keep Washington City in Full Bloom Despite City Budget Cuts
from The Herald
The recession has hit the city of Monroe, Wash., hard and the city's Parks and Recreation Department took one of the biggest hits. In this tough economic time, Debbie Ashley can understand why the city would cut its flower budget. Still, blooms bring something special to downtown. That's why the Monroe woman and a dozen other Monroe Garden Club members spent most of a recent morning filling planters along Main Street with flowers they helped buy. More

'60s,'70s Brought Dawn of Parks and Open Space in Colorado City
from the Durango Herald
As the 1960s ended and the 1970s began, Durango, Colo., looked to open space and parks as a way to preserve the community's "quality of life." Despite having had parks since 1880, pressure was building for more land and more open space. Durangoans were showing definite signs of being more outdoors- and recreation-oriented than the average urban dweller. More

Arizona City Puts New Emphasis on Kids' Fitness
from The Arizona Republic
Sometimes small steps can go a long way toward helping kids lead a healthier lifestyle. That's the idea behind a new initiative from the Chandler, Ariz., Parks and Recreation called Chandler Combats Childhood Obesity. The city has partnered with other local entities such as the Boys and Girls Club, Chandler Unified School District and the Chandler Regional Medical Center to draw attention to things parents can do to help their children lead a healthier lifestyle. More

Nature Nurturing
from the Suburban Journals
Educators and conservationists across the nation have become aware of most children's lack of exposure to nature. They call it Nature Deficit Disorder. The term was coined by Richard Louv in his book "Last Child in the Woods." Many have noticed children becoming more tentative about nature for the last several years. Experts have also witnessed the documented increase in childhood obesity, attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity. More

'Pickin' in the Park' Strikes Chord with Ohio Musicians
from the Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Banjos and guitars are tuned and familiar chords are strung as bluegrass and country musicians file into Alley Park in Lancaster, Ohio, for a bimonthly jam session. "Pickin' in the Park" is a free, open forum for musicians to gather and play together. It celebrates its first anniversary this month. More

Web Site Connects Canadian Families with Physical Activities
from the Northumberland News
Northumberland, Ontario, Canada, families can now connect with affordable physical activity opportunities with a click of a computer mouse. Residents are encouraged to visit www.joininnorthumberland.ca, an innovative new website designed to make it easier for local residents to participate in physical activity around the area. More

Convicts Get Community Service over Jail Time
from Seacoast Online
New Hampshire is giving convicts a chance to avoid jail time by performing hours of physical labor at its state parks, including Hampton Beach. Rockingham County, N.H., Attorney Jim Reams announced last week the launch of the Rockingham Accountability Program (RAP), which will allow nonviolent offenders to be court-ordered to serve a community service sentence working for the Division of Parks and Recreation, rather than going to jail. More

Government Studies Playground Safety
from The Associated Press via News Channel 10
Concerns raised by Connecticut are playing a role in the federal government’s decision to study whether the use of synthetic turf for playgrounds is harmful. Connecticut asked the Environmental Protection Agency to study the matter shortly after the EPA’s Denver regional office raised the issue of using ground-up tires. More

Kids Aid Park Design in Texas City
from The Hutto News
As part of the input process for designing the park, Hutto, Texas, Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hemker and design firm BWM Group spoke with homeowners from Lakeside Estates, the Park Advisory Board and Hutto City Council. But members of the council were most thrilled by a project involving 19 kids from nearby Ray Elementary, third and fourth graders, who live in homes neighboring the land that will become Hutto Lake Park. More