Financially Struggling States Weigh Benefits and Risks of Drilling in Parks
from Wilkes-Barre Times Leader
State parks aren’t just for hiking, camping and other recreation anymore. Increasingly, these lands are being used for oil and gas drilling as budget-strapped states seek new sources of revenue. More

California Parks Raise Fees and Pay Price for State's Profligate Spending
from the Examiner
The cash-strapped State of California recently announced that starting Monday Aug. 17, 2009 it will be increasing parking and camping fees at the State’s 278 parks and recreation areas. In addition, 100 State Parks will have to be closed due to a $14.2 million reduction in the parks department’s annual budget. More

National Park Extremes: Oldest, Newest, Biggest, Smallest, and Other Most' Parks in the System
from the Merced Sun-Star
In August 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed an act creating the National Park Service. Since then, 391 destinations have been designated as national parks, monuments, seashores, battlefields and other recreational and cultural sites under the control of the National Park Service. Here we focus on the largest, smallest, oldest, newest and least- and most-visited of the system's 58 national parks. More

Trends in Play Design
from Recreation Management Magazine
Nearly a third of the children in this country are either overweight or obese, and a third will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lifetime," she said. "These are children. And in the African-American and Hispanic communities, those numbers climb even higher so that nearly half—OK? —half of the children in those communities are going to suffer that fate." Who was the play advocate who spoke these words? First Lady Michelle Obama, speaking at a community build of a playground at San Francisco's Bret Harte Elementary School to kick off a nationwide volunteer initiative. More

Park Losing Big Trees
from the Chicago Tribune
Yosemite National Park in California has fewer large trees than it did 70 years ago. Researchers believe climate change is behind the decline. More

Alexandria's City Park Deemed Top Recreation Attraction
from the Southtown Star
The city of Alexandria, La., should expand and enhance City Park, turning it into the main recreation attraction in the city. That was the message delivered by Chris Camp, president of Lose & Associates, the consulting firm hired by the city to study its parks and recreational programs. The City Park area has the advantage of being located near the Alexandria Zoo, which is the city's primary tourist attraction. City Park recently received the addition of a 3,150-square-foot splash pad, which has been a hit among visitors. More

A Tennessee County Commission to Consider Guns in Parks
from The Daily Times
The Blount County Commission on will consider opting out of a new law that would allow handguns in public places, including public parks. More

Customer Service: Developing Customer Service in Collegiate Recreation Facilities
from Recreation Management Magazine
In the business of collegiate recreation, student employees are an important product being marketed to the members. Their customer service skills are not only essential but are the lifeblood of the organization. For any organization to be successful, including collegiate recreation centers, the whole staff needs to understand and buy into the organization's philosophy. Staff must believe that customer service is an attitude and be ready to gain real-world experience during employment. More

City to Ask Park Agency for Bleachers
from the Republican-American
The Parks and Recreation Commission plans to ask the Torrington, Conn., City Council on Monday to formally request the independent Fuessenich Park Partnership turn over funds it raised through the city's baseball stadium to pay for new bleachers. More

On Grand Canyon Visit, Malia Obama Shows She's Done Her Homework
from The New York Times
Ever since their father became president, Malia and Sasha Obama have for the most part been seen but not heard. But during a family trip on Sunday to the Grand Canyon, the voice of Malia, 11, was crystal clear over the television microphones, as she demonstrated her acumen in geology to her very impressed mother and father. More

OU Elliptical Users Generate Energy for the Grid
from The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio University students who use the 20 elliptical machines at the recreational center are boosting more than their heart health. The Charles J. Ping Recreational Center at the Athens, Ohio, school is the 10th facility in the nation and the first in Ohio to purchase equipment that allows users to generate energy by exercising on the popular machines. More