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Invest in your legacy: Economics of conservation LandThink Share    
This two-part series investigates the economic potential for investing in the management of land, wildlife, biodiversity and water resources. Part 1 covers economic incentives from government programs for establishing conservation practices. Part Two addresses private sources of revenue that can be generated from establishing creative and multi-use land usage practices and programming. More
ADA swimming pool lift ruling under fire; implementation delayed Aquatics International Share
On the heels of a U.S. Department of Justice interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act restricting use of portable lifts, several industry organizations and manufacturers are banding together to challenge the decision. The issue revolves around a DOJ ruling stating that ADA Title III facilities — including hotels, motels, nonprofits, swim clubs and other such facilities — may use portable lifts that meet the 2010 standards only if a fixed lift is not "readily achievable." More 
Show me the money NRPA Now Share
When the current NRPA board terms began, the group agreed to focus on three main areas: economic models, conservation and grass-roots advocacy. The "economic models" issue has led to a developing virtual library to house best practices and models being used by parks departments throughout the country. Share your example with us! More
Playing Smart: New guide to help communities open school yards National Policy & Legal Analysis Network Share
How can you make it easier for your community to access local school facilities like gyms, fields, basketball courts and playgrounds? Try joint use agreements — written contracts spelling out terms that allow public agencies and nonprofits to share the costs and responsibilities. Download "Playing Smart," a nuts-and-bolts guide to opening school property to the public through well-crafted joint use agreements. More Park maintenance: A matter of personal responsibility Turf Share
Grounds professional Ken Hughes credits his self-motivated employees for keeping their Connecticut city's parks in first-rate condition — an important reason the citizens of Norwalk embrace their parks and outdoor public spaces. More Keep the focus on community trails during Great Outdoors Week American Trails Share
Help the Coalition for Recreational Trails build awareness of the importance of community trails — and shine a spotlight on your region's good work at the same time. Earn a Recreational Trails Program awards, but be sure to meet the March 31 awards application deadline. Winners will be chosen in seven categories related to community trails projects, and recipients will be celebrated during Great Outdoors Week in early June. More
Baby boomers fighting age with team, fitness sports The Associated Press via The Washington Post Share
The country's largest generation is running, walking, swimming and using exercise machines in hopes of changing the face of aging. Baby boomers — the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 — are working to counteract the effects of getting older. They sign up for swimming classes and will pay to play basketball or hockey at odd hours in facilities used by youth during the day. People tend to do the same activities as in their youth, said Bill Beckner, research manager for the Virginia-based National Recreation and Parks Association. That could mean new types of senior activity centers. More 'Let's Move Boise' launches free 'Grow a Row' program Idaho Statesman Share
In Idaho, one in six residents lives uncertain about where their next meal will come from. That number includes 95,150 children. While local food pantries are working hard to combat the trend, the availability of fresh produce continues to be an issue. A new program launched by Let's Move Boise and the Boise Urban Garden School is trying to make more fresh produce available by helping residents learn to garden and encourage them to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to local food pantries. More Beat the deadline for a NACPRO nomination: April 15 NACPRO Share
The April 15 deadline is approaching for the 2012 NACPRO Awards nominations, so don't forget to submit a nomination soon! These awards shine a spotlight on excellent, innovative work at the county, regional or special districts park level. Categories include park and recreation facilities, programs, planning and professional or volunteer service. The honors will be presented at the NACO Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, July 14-16. More
Host an Olympic Day in your community! National Recreation and Park Association Share
Olympic Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games and to inspire Americans of all ages to pursue their dreams and live a healthy lifestyle. NRPA and the United States Olympic Committee will provide guidance and resources to make your local Olympic Day event as easy as possible. Often a local Olympian or Paralympian will participate in your event to share a personal story and inspire those in attendance. It is especially exciting to participate in Olympic Day this year, as events will occur just before the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. Check out the NRPA website for more information and registration! More From free to organized play: Youth physical activity trends UANews Share
More and more, young people involved in organized sports are being driven to early professionalism. As a new course at the University of Arizona indicates, such a push is part of broader shifts that have major implications for children's fitness and health and will affect the ways youth identify with activity and athleticism, said assistant professor Lydia Bell. More High Line designer to help reshape Chicago's Navy Pier Chicago Tribune Share
The governing board of Chicago's Navy Pier has chosen a team led by the co-designer of New York's celebrated High Line to reshape the pier's public spaces. Anticipating the pier's centennial in four years, leaders want to address the public spaces of the 3,000-foot-long lakefront icon. Their aim: to remake the pier's carnival image, attract more visitors during the winter and boost attendance. The pier had 8.7 million visitors in 2010, down from 9 million in 2000. More
Study: Youth with access to urban trails twice as likely to be active MedPage Today Share
Providing the appropriate community infrastructure appears to encourage more exercise for youth in the inner city, researchers found. In a study of two Chattanooga neighborhoods, children and teens living in the one with an urban trail designed to encourage jogging and biking were twice as likely to participate in vigorous physical activity, according to Dr. Gregory Heath of the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. More Gearing up for summer: Sun safety messaging Parks & Rec Business Share
 How do you help spread the message of sun safety in your community? Perhaps try a fun and informative video, like this one from the folks at Arizona's City of Chandler Community Services Department
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Safe and secure: Balancing safety, fun on the playground Recreation Management Share
When children go to a playground, fun is the ultimate goal — especially with so much to choose from. Twisty slides, crawl-through tunnels, swings, monkey bars and more can keep children entertained for hours. But, ahead of having fun, safety still needs to be the No. 1 priority. More
Wheelchairs, mobility devices allowed on trails — with limits Jackson Township NJ News Share
Officials in Ocean County, N.J., have given the green light for powered mobility devices to be used in parks, public spaces and trails — but only for people with documented disabilities. The new parks and recreation rule also sets a 5 mph speed limit. More Young people as volunteers: How to engage, motivate youth Volunteering Qld Share
In 2010, Volunteering Qld produced the report "Youth Leading Youth," which provided an insider's perspective on practices used by volunteer organizations led by young people. The findings challenged a range of traditional practices in volunteer management and opened opportunities for organizations to enhance their capacity to engage young volunteers. More
Hosting a National Trails Day Event? Publicize it for maximum effect American Hiking Society Share
The American Hiking Society is connecting outdoor enthusiasts with the agencies throughout the U.S. that are joining in the 20th anniversary of National Trails Day, America's largest trail celebration. Ramp up the excitement about your local celebration by publicizing it in the National Trails Day online event finder. Let's get as many people outdoors as possible for National Trails Day on June 2! More Hotel discount for Special Park Districts Forum ends May 1 Three Rivers Park District Share
The Radisson Hotel Bloomington By Mall of America is offering a room rate discount for attendees of the 2012 Special Park Districts Forum, June 18-21. You must reserve a room before May 1 to get the discount! The event, held June 18-21, is hosted by Three Rivers Park District and offers in-depth discussion of current park management topics, hands-on learning and active networking. More |
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