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.
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Show Your Playful Side and Receive a Free Activation Kit!
Join the nation in celebrating play! Communities across America are showcasing their parks by hosting KaBOOM! Play Days—free, fun-for-the-whole-family events that celebrate play from September 19 - 27th. Kick off your Play Day by using our free online planner and receive a free activation kit! Visit kaboom.org/playday to learn more.
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'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.
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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.
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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.
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NRPA’s Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Course
from NRPA
Over 200,000 injuries occur on playgrounds nationwide every year. NRPA’s Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Course is designed to train participants to identify hazards on play equipment and prepare participants for the CPSI Certification Exam. The CPSI course is designed for park and recreation staff, school districts, child care facilities, and anyone that is responsible for play equipment and concerned about making playgrounds safe and hazard free.
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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
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Product Showcase:
Miracle Recreation Equipment Co.
 For more than 82 years Miracle has satisfied customers needing commercial play systems and site amenities. Let one of our factory trained RECREATION EXPERTS help select the right playground equipment to satisfy your children and budget by completing our contact us page on our website. More info
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Product Showcase: DOGIPOT
 DOGIPOT introduces its OXO-BIODEGRADABLE Litter Pick Up Bags. These new and improved litter pick up bags are one of the most environmentally conscious pet waste bags on the market and designed to not only help rid parks, recreation areas, campgrounds and RV Parks of the unsightly, smelly, nuisance of dog waste, but also minimize the environmental impact of bagged dog waste. There are DOGIPOT imitators in the market, but nobody is able to match DOGIPOT’s experience, high quality, environmentally-conscious product line, world class customer service or value. Experience the DOGIPOT Advantage! More info
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Product Showcase: ParkPro
 ParkPro from Bockyn provides the most comprehensive parks and recreation software available. Combining powerful communication tools with an easy to use management software, ParkPro allows you to keep your community informed, allows In-house and Online Registration, Facility Rentals, Membership Management, League Management, Web Site Integration, POS and much more. More info
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