Playgrounds are Safer but Still Can be Dangerous
from USA Today
Playgrounds have come a long way from the asphalt jungle gyms of the 1960s and '70s. Monkey bars and hot metal slides have virtually disappeared. They've been replaced by colorful plastic castles with guardrails, ramps and rounded edges. And instead of blacktop and concrete, many new playgrounds are covered with soft wood mulch or springy rubber chips made from recycled tires. Yet in spite of these improvements, many playgrounds still fall short on safety, experts say. More

House Passes Resolution Recognizing July as 'National Park and Recreation Month'
from PR Web
Just in the nick of time and before their August recess, the House this week passed by voice vote, H. RES. 288 recognizing the importance of park and recreation programs and facilities and expressing support for the designation of the month of July as "National Park and Recreation Month." Rep. John Barrow of Georgia said, "Park and recreation facilities aid in combating obesity and chronic disease epidemics; connect children with nature; provide opportunities for increased physical activities; and enhance the quality of life for injured military service members and those with physical disabilities through therapeutic recreation." More

NRPA Publishes First Benchmark of Parks and Recreation Agencies Since 1992
from PR Web via Yahoo!
Did you ever wonder how your local parks and recreation program compares with those in other cities and states? As the voice of the U.S. parks and recreation community, the National Recreation & Park Association benchmarked 3,100 agencies around the country. While the results make for good reading, the NRPA more importantly expects its 2009 “Operating Ratio Report” to guide community leaders and legislators in their efforts to better understand the importance of parks and recreation in the health and well being of all Americans. More

Maintenance Staff
from Athletic Business
Buildings, you can close. Parks, trails and other open outdoor recreation spaces and facilities, you generally can't. That discrepancy is the root of a host of problems that sprout up when parks and recreation employees are forced to take mandatory, unpaid time off work. More

Compilation of Minnesota City’s Park Histories Now Online
from the Fort Mill Times
You can now go on the Internet to get answers to just about any question you may have about the history of Minneapolis, Minn., parks. The Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board has posted on its Web site an overview of the histories of its park properties. More

Groups Step Up to Meet Park Needs
from the Battle Creek Enquirer
Next weekend a new disc golf course is expected to open in Battle Creek, Mich.'s, Irving Park. And later this month, Claude Evans Park is set to get a complete makeover of its basketball courts. Neither project is the result of a lucky allocation from the cash-strapped city budget. Instead, both got going because of community-level fundraising that could serve as a model for how residents can play a larger role in getting the parks they want. More

How Supplementing Spraygrounds for Pools Impacts a Budget
from Parks & Rec Business
As finances become tighter and legislation on pool regulations become tougher, parks and recreation departments are faced with finding new ways to use aquatics as summer entertainment, while keeping budgets in line. Some are turning to spraygrounds as a solution. More

Get Kids Off Couch and Moving
from The Daily News Journal
As summer vacation comes to a close and children head back to school, fitting in time for physical activities becomes a little harder. However, movement is imperative for children and it helps combat obesity and should be fit into the daily routine, just like homework. "The important thing to remember is children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day," said Chad Hill, wellness/fitness coordinator with Murfreesboro, Tenn., Parks and Recreation. More

To Keep Customers Coming in Tough Times, Cities are Offering Serious Deals on Recreation
from the Pioneer Press via TwinCities.com
It's a good time to take those yoga classes or tee up without having to fork over a lot of green. To compete with private health clubs and golf courses, many cities are finding creative ways to get cash-strapped customers through the doors at their publicly owned facilities. Cities are doing everything from giving special discounts to dropping rates at their fitness centers, playgrounds and golf courses in an effort to remain affordable and to keep their own finances in the black. More

Traveling Playground Crew Proving to be Popular with Kids
from the Dayton Daily News
Earlier this summer, Miamisburg, Ohio, and the Dayton Power & Light Foundation teamed up to bring to a free traveling playground crew program to the community. Since mid-June, city parks and recreation staff have been hitting local parks and leading children in large and small group games, arts and craft activities and in giant games. “We recognize and appreciate the tough decisions families are required to make, given the current economic climate,” said Debbie McLaughlin, parks and recreation director. “Yet, we do not want to deprive children of the life-affecting benefits that play offers. Economic climates can change, but missed opportunities can have a lasting impact.” More

The National Parks: America's Best Idea
from The News Tribune
Your summer visit to Yellowstone or Yosemite - or even to San Antonio Missions or Ellis Island - may not feel like the culmination of a historic struggle, or exercising your democratic rights. But "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," a 12-hour documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns, might change all that. More

Minnesota Ice Arena Goes Green with Geothermal Upgrade
from the Pioneer Press via TwinCities.com
The Woodbury, Minn., ice arena makeover is just what officials want out of an energy-saving project: green, clean and mostly unseen. The $2.4-million upgrade to the will slash energy consumption by about half. The centerpiece of the project is a well-field of geothermal pipes below the east parking lot, to a depth of 250 feet. Bob Klatt, parks and recreation director, expects the project to save the city $235,000 a year. More