Indoor waterparks are no longer just mom-and-pop operations—they are often huge structures than can cost millions. But no matter what the facility size, there seems to be a constant stream of innovations for these crowd-pleasing facilities.

Some indoor waterparks now are being built of treated laminated timber framing because timber resists the corrosion experienced when steel is exposed by moisture and humidity in enclosed spaces. Wood laminated beams are also a renewable material in contrast to steel and concrete, which can deplete natural resources.

The choices can be endless when designing aquatic centers. But there are some helpful paths to navigate the options and make the best choices for your facility, whether you're starting from scratch, adding on or renovating a facility, great or small, indoors or out.

A good field is hard to find—unless you have the right design. We offer tips on how to select the best design for your fields, including cost-saving measures, layout strategies and a discussion on using natural and artificial turf.

Finding Mr./Ms. Right just got easier when it comes to matching the best architect and builder to your next construction project. Learn how checking references effectively, asking the right questions and going to the right sources will land you an architect or builder who can save you time, money and give you the results you're after.

Across the country, parks and recreation programs are sharing resources with other entities to get more bang for their collective bucks. We take a look as some of the better—and more fun-filled—initiatives.

Who says a small town can't think big? Not the residents of Sioux Center, Iowa. This northwestern Iowa town of 6,300 residents now boasts a recreation center with an indoor aquatic center and ice arena that can stand up to that of any affluent suburb.

Ten years after the initial feasibility study and concept, a long-awaited multicultural community recreation center opened in January in the small southwest Colorado community of Cortez. The 46,000-square-foot center was designed as the central component of Cortez's 100-acre "Parque de Vida," or "Park of Life."

You've decided to build a new playground. Or perhaps it's going to be "just a playground update," adding to existing equipment and bringing your play area up to CPSC and ASTM codes. In either case, you have a very big challenge ahead. Not only are there literally hundreds of choices in playground designs and color combinations, there's a wide variety of prices for what seems, at first, similar equipment.

In addition to toning muscles and losing weight, people are now exercising their minds and spirits as well. The result is that more people are incorporating yoga, tai chi and Pilates into their daily workouts—exercises that not only work the body but also the mind. They're building a total sense of wellness—physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Organized youth sports programs have the amazing ability to bring out the best in children—and the worst in parents.

While the majority of today's parents are a supportive and caring group, there's an ever-increasing number who continue to cause major disruptions across the youth sports landscape with their negative and immature behavior that often escalates into physical confrontations and violent outbreaks.

Regardless of the sport or the age of the participants, the simple fact is that much of the childish behavior we're seeing in youth sports programs these days isn't from the kids on the field but rather from the parents in the stands.

Find out how to adapt your facilities for a growing market of disabled consumers. The ADA made accessibility a requirement, but therapeutic recreation goes a big step further. We'll show you how, by creating and marketing adaptive sports programs, you can transform your facility from merely accessible to truly desirable and ultimately life-enhancing for people with special needs.

The world of the health club is not the place it was two, four or six years ago. While people will always need to exercise, how they want to do it changes, sometimes drastically. In order to survive, you've got to adapt to the occasionally fickle world of fitness, where today's must-have could be tomorrow's dust-collector. We talk to the experts in finding out what works and, perhaps more important, what doesn't.

It's no secret that scoreboards these days do a lot more than just keep score. Just stopping short of julienne fries, today's scoreboards boast a host of fancy features. Find out what equipment is right for your facility, whether it's ease of use, durability, or selecting the right bells and whistles.

With spring about to be sprung, everyone is thinking green. Turf managers, in general, are one of the most helpful and generous groups in the recreation industry. These professionals go out of their way to help each other achieve the perfect playing fields and lawns. They're always willing to lend advice on improving safety, beating tight budgets, enhancing aesthetics and enriching the environment.

Chicago's (in)famous old stadiums have been replaced one by one.

Comiskey Park gave way to U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago Stadium was razed to build the United Center. Only Wrigley Field, due to its legacy and fame, has withstood more or less intact. The other holdout, Soldier Field, home to the NFL's Chicago Bears, is a much different place now than it was when it opened in 1924.

For years, the camping registration office at Trap Pond State Park—Delaware's first state park—was, well, very minimal. In fact, you'd probably be exaggerating if you called it an office.

The 2,685-acre park offers 142 campsites on the pond's northern shore as well as two yurts and eight cabins, which translates into a busy recreational place during its March-to-November season. There are also plenty of daytime visitors, hikers and birdwatchers who come to explore the wetland forest.

What do kids, perfume, theft and cell-phone cameras have in common? Well, they are each at the center of four hot issues, all of which relate to locker rooms, that are proving to be some of the most contentious topics in the fitness industry today.

Selecting the right locker size and style for a particular facility involves a lot of good old-fashioned common sense. Here are five simple rules to keep in mind.

For everyone in the commercial play attractions industry, please note: It's high time to get out of the stuff business.

In their seminal 1999 book, The Experience Economy, marketing gurus B. Joseph Pine and James Gilmore point to theming as the most important element in creating what properties, customers and guests want from the commercial play industry.

Safely maintaining a public swimming pool or spa can be an overwhelming task for any pool operator or manager. Their attention must be split over many facets of the operation, including pool/spa/facility maintenance, budgeting costs, personnel training, accident prevention and water quality.

Third-Party NSF/ANSI Standard 50 Certification can ensure commercial pool and spa owners and operators their equipment is safe to use, is structurally sound and performs as claimed.

Without a doubt, a climbing wall is one of the most eye-catching pieces of equipment you can have. But its large size can make it an expensive attention-getter if it's not being used. We look at ways you can make your wall an integral part of your facility by increasing its usage through creative programs and technological advancements.

Aquatics facility managers must do everything in their power to minimize risk. We examine key areas to be aware of and what to implement, from first-level foundations of a risk management program to the biggest safety issues facing facilities today, including diving, drowning, electrocution and critical hazardous areas at a facility. Learn the steps you need to take or should be taking to reduce risk and maximize safe operation.

Turn your so-so food service into a winning combination of the most enticing menu items, innovative cooking and cooling equipment, safe handling procedures, and revenue-producing strategies.

"You can't always get what you want," goes the song. "But if you try sometimes, you might get what you need."

That's not the experience of the children in one of Richmond, Va.'s poorer neighborhoods, who recently got what they wanted and what they needed: an 8,675-square-foot recreation facility boasting classrooms, a game room, a performance space, a kitchen and an online computer lab, with lighted playground and basketball courts outside.

Many cities across the country are facing the challenges associated with adapting their parks and recreation systems to the demands of the 21st century. These can include getting more mileage out of older facilities, adapting existing parks to new sports and activities, and meeting public expectations for quality facilities in light of lean capital and operational budgets.

Find out how classes, events and competitions can boost spirit, participation and revenue at your facility.

Marketing a winning image in an absolute necessity in today's visually sophisticated marketplace. How important is cash flow, attendance or meeting sales goals? None are more important than your facility's brand identity. Your brand is your promise. You must develop it, nurture it, constantly feed it, and it will serve you well.

Our competition winners have been chosen! With the hopes of highlighting the best and most interesting projects the recreation industry has to offer, our 2004 innovative facility picks are unveiled in special detailed profiles. We are proud to showcase these facilities—new or recently renovated, from community centers and universities to health clubs and aquatic complexes, and everything in between—that are helping to set standards of excellence in the recreation community.

The key merit our judges have been constantly seeking is "innovative," hence the title of this competition. We are proud to be highlighting facilities that serve as excellent examples to our readers as well as generate good ideas for our readers' own facilities, which, of course, run the gamut in size and scope.

When it comes to restrooms and locker rooms, it never hurts to brush up on the bedrock basics—essential elements that never go out of style and keep patrons faithfully coming back. But knowing how to improve on those essentials with new technology, creative ideas and trend-savvy know-how can make for both happier patrons and even higher revenues.

If you're still on the fence about investing in a new aquatic center, these waterpark success stories could be the impetus you need to climb off the fence and develop one yourself.

Food service is often the most overlooked and under-profitable part of your facility. Find out the difference between price vs. value when it comes to outfitting your operation and what your food-service equipment really may be costing you.

Indoors and out, choosing your floors and sport surfaces can be daunting at the least, a dizzying array of products, manufacturers and systems, backed up by product information that requires an advanced physics degree to comprehend. Our special pullout section demystifies the product types and selection process. Find out how many top-notch facilities made their choices—and why. Learn the lingo, set yourself on the right decision-making path and discover the pitfalls to avoid.

The key to a successful ice rink is keeping it busy. We offer tips on how to design your facility—with both innovative architecture and attractive programming—to attract round-the-clock crowds.

Learn why more pool facilities are turning to bringing the great outdoors inside with enclosure systems. We investigate the ins and outs of enclosing your pool, including the latest techniques and the range of costs, both short and long term. Find out when and if enclosures work for your facility.

From October through May, Ocean City, Md., is a quiet seaside town of about 11,000 people. But come summer, it swells into a bustling tourist destination of nearly 350,000 per weekend, making it the second largest city in Maryland by population.

Now, after rebuilding and revitalization, its Boardwalk is a hub of warm-weather activity, attracting 8 million vacationers annually from every state and many countries around the world

What used to be a lone ball field in an economically depressed area of South Miami, Fla., is now the home of the new two-story, 23,000-square-foot South Miami Community Center.

Your facility can better serve its community and, at the same time, increase its profit margin by making the most of our society's expanding senior market. Many older adults need qualified exercise supervision along with motivational guidance in order to achieve lasting improvements in physical fitness. They are looking for that instructor or trainer, that facility, and that activity program that will empower them to reach their goals. To capture your share of business from this exploding demographic sector, you need to make sure that your facility sends a very clear and consistent message: "Seniors Welcome Here!"

The popularity of miniature golf has steadily increased over the past decade with millions of families visiting courses every year. While the basic concept of miniature golf remains unchanged since its introduction in the early 1920s, the courses have evolved into unique and interesting variations of the original courses.

One of the challenges facing the fitness industry is to develop products that will sustain over the long run and avoid the stigma of being labeled a fad.

Nearly all locker rooms have similar types of challenges. Water and moisture threaten to "unhinge" many locker rooms, and vandalism is always a problem. More locker space and less maintenance are items on most facility managers' wish lists.

Replacing old lockers is a great way to give facilities an updated appearance, while solving many traditional locker problems and helping to reduce maintenance time and costs.

Creating a successful playground with the newest design trends along with key safety and accessibility considerations can be a snap when you do your homework.

Spicing up your aquatic center is easier—and cheaper—than you think. A dash of creativity and pinch of clever marketing can turn your pool into a facility that makes both money and memories. We offer tips on how to turn your pool into a four-star facility.

Security is the last thing people want to think about when they're at your facility. Will their belongings still be there when they return? Will their kids be safe? Is the parking lot well lit at night? We take a look at some innovative ideas and make recommendations for how you can keep your club and your clients safe and sound.

They say this is the information age, a golden era of unprecedented ability to streamline and automate. When it comes to running a recreation center or health club, it's certainly true. Technology can make it easier to do everything from billing to membership tracking to facility-usage analysis and more. At health clubs, users can keep track of their workouts at each individual station. We look at facilities that have made good use of technology and how you can replicate their success.

This summer, the Chicago Park District busily planted rye and alfalfa on the grounds of Chicago's old U.S. Steel South Works facility as part of an innovative project to turn the former slag site into a park. Officials expect the plantings to sprout by mid-September, a foreshadowing of the park to come.

But this project isn't just another greening project for Chicago: It's part of an innovative Mud-to-Parks project in which 105,000 tons of sediment were dredged from Peoria Lake, loaded onto 79 barges and shipped 163 miles up the Illinois River to Chicago's old South Side steel mill, formerly a slag-covered site devoid of life. There, it was unloaded and spread atop the slag, covering 17 acres to a depth of two to three feet. Eventually, the plantings and the rich, fertile sediment will begin to turn into a green space on the Lake Michigan shore.

Summertime, and the living is…hot, especially in Miami. A mere 1,500 miles from the equator, Miami's summer temperatures average in the 80s (by comparison, average summer temperatures in New York City are in the mid-70s), with plenty of July days topping out in the upper 90s. On top of that, humidity is sky-high and even a rainstorm isn't good for much besides more steam.

In other words, it's an ideal climate for hissing cockroaches, Cuban crocodiles and Vietnamese potbellied pigs, to name just a few of the animals on display at the "cageless" Miami-Dade Metrozoo.

Find out how the zoo keeps its human visitors cool despite the sultry climate.

If you've ever been caught on a golf course or in an open field with a thunderstorm rolling in, then you know what it's like to scramble for someplace to take cover.

Luckily for players tackling the links at the Harmony Golf Preserve in Harmony, Fla., there are some new shelters that offer a refuge from the electrifying elements.

Aquatic facilities play an important role in offering people a fun venue in which to exercise. The need for more facilities that appeal to a broad population is important to fight the major medical maladies of our day. The more we make exercise (and good diet) attractive, the more people will exercise; fewer people will have long-term medical problems. Well-operated, exceptional facilities are what our country needs. We can make it happen right here at our local pool.

Whether the facility is public or private, embracing the planning phase will provide a smooth transition into design and budgeting and, in the end, provide a better return on investment. Initial planning should cover a wide range of topics including programming, review of existing facilities/equipment, maintenance and budget. Researching these areas will lead to a clear path for choosing the right products and design for your needs.

No matter how large or small your youth program facility might be, motivating the kids involved and keeping them coming back is paramount. Building a philosophy that kids can bond with will set a strong foundation in which to begin. Be willing to re-create or modify your program to meet the needs of the kids and to keep safety first.

From minimalist kiosks to magnificent pavilions, there is a wide array of structural elements to choose from in today's market. New materials and innovative designs with greater flexibility and durability make for show-stopping results to enhance your facility's outdoor spaces. Some structures are just made for the shade—find out what's new and what's right for you.

Lighting the big areas in your facility—fields, natatorium, gyms—never seems like an easy task.

And when it's done poorly, it tends to be really poor, and everyone suffers. So how do you create even lighting, without glares or hotspots in big areas without overdoing it? We take a look at ways your facility can become a beacon in a poorly lit world.

Pro sports teams may demand football- or baseball-specific arenas, but if you're running a recreational facility, you can't afford to cater to only a certain sport or set of activities. For better or worse, people these days want it all. We examine some multipurpose facilities that have branched out without burning out.

Whatever your facility, obviously visitors do not wish to go home unhappy or injured. Certainly, the goal is zero claims, but in this litigious society, many industries would welcome a lower loss ratio. Unfortunately, people still file trivial lawsuits. Whether you have one claim or hundreds, there are common procedures that can reduce claims and improve safety. Clearly, you need to make your facility as safe as possible by planning, training, conducting frequent inspections and following solid incident-response procedures.

It's true Wisconsin is known for its dairy cows rather than its balmy beaches.

But with its impressive expanse of Lake Michigan real estate on its eastern shores, the Badger State's claim to some prime beach property is not really so far-fetched. One new development is the Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sheboygan, which just opened for business this summer. This $54 million, 16.75-acre family destination resort with Grand Victorian character and jam-packed with nautical theming offers 183 guest suites (some as huge as 2,000-plus square feet); four restaurants; a spa; a 29,605-square-foot conference center and more than 1,400 feet of that all-important Lake Michigan beachfront property.

This Y's initially moderate membership skyrocketed after the 1998 addition of an indoor pool facility. Providing the first year-round pool in the Ashland community, this addition also permitted Ashland YMCA to shift equipment and make room for expansions in all of the facility's functions. However, there was so much growth that a final expansion was needed almost immediately. Adding a combined 36,000 square feet, at a cost of $3.2 million, the two expansions faced some interesting obstacles.

Even though Chicago's spectacular Millennium Park wasn't completed in time to host the city's millennium festivities, its recent opening this past summer is cause for belated celebration. Located on Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets in downtown Chicago, the people-friendly, 24.5-acre park features such amenities as an outdoor music pavilion, a music and dance theatre, a perennial garden, a public fountain, an ice rink, eight acres of green space, an underground parking garage, and a $3.1 million bicycle station.

The diagnosis was simple: The village of Buffalo Grove, Ill., had an acute case of aquatic envy, with all the classic symptoms. Neighboring suburbs were building state-of-the-art aquatic centers left and right, leaving the Buffalo Grove Park District in the proverbial hot summer dust. What's worse, the village had no budget to build a likewise dazzling aquatic center of its own.

But instead of going off the deep end, Buffalo Grove decided to tread in a slightly different direction when it came to creating a new facility—an aquatic playground.

You need look no further than your own business to observe the effects an aging population is having on the demographic makeup of your facility. This silver tsunami is changing the face of the industry.

With this particular market, you are either in or out—there is no middle ground. If you intend to be counted among those who are in, you will need to attend to seven key elements.

It's never too early to think about next year's outdoor (or indoor) pool maintenance. If it's concrete, plaster, fiberglass or already painted—a fresh coat of paint can make that pool, slide or concrete pool deck look like new.

Over the past few years the idea of creating playgrounds for kids of all abilities has become mainstream with many playground planners going far beyond basic accessibility guidelines to create playgrounds that are truly inclusive. But there is another trend afoot—the integration of nature into the play environment—and it, too, may have a dramatic impact on the way kids play and how active they are in their day-to-day lives.

Your facility is the sum of its parts and that includes the sports equipment that fills your fields and gyms. With a sport-by-sport guide and handy profiles of recent installations, this special pullout insert will help guide you through the process of choosing everything needed to outfit your facility, from bleachers to basketball systems and soccer balls to safety bases.

Improving your facility's curb appeal or enhancing facility grounds with a well-designed landscape is an investment that if done wisely, can reap great dividends for the environment, your patron's well-being and even your revenues. Learn how the use of current landscape design ideas, well-chosen plant materials, proper installation and maintenance can ensure that your facility's grounds can be economical, low-maintenance and around for years to come.

In the fitness industry, what's hip seems like it changes before it really catches on. Depending on where you live, what's hot could be ahead of the curve or "so last year" for other places. We take a look at what's going on at some of the country's most forward-thinking health clubs so you know what's on the fitness horizon.

When neighbors of a new $8 million high school in West Des Moines, Iowa, challenged the school's architectural team to prove that nighttime lighting of the school's dual soccer/football field would not spill into the surrounding area, the designers and engineers had their work cut out for them. It would mean actually setting up lights after dark to test light distribution on the field and light cutoff in the neighborhood. If the test wasn't successful, Valley High School, one of the largest high schools in the state, wouldn't be able to play any night games.

Most park districts and recreation facilities face spring and summer seasons packed with the games and practices of various baseball and softball programs. Thus it's essential that playing facilities be in proper condition for use. No matter the level of your sports turf maintenance program, the aim is to identify and correct hazardous conditions that may exist at your facilities. The goal is to reduce the frequency and possible severity of player injury and to eliminate unnecessary accidents through proper field inspection and maintenance.

After years of constructing athletic and play courts—from tennis, basketball, volleyball to multipurpose and multiplay areas and inline hockey rinks—the park and recreation industry is now faced with courts that are cracked and deteriorating. Why are these courts cracking, how are they deteriorating and what solutions are available to solve these problems?

In recent years, many communities with traditional pools have had very few alternatives for enhancement to their facilities. They must either look for funds to replace or renovate the facility or permanently close it. Thanks to a continuing trend in aquatic recreation, there is another alternative that costs less to construct, is flexible enough to be used as a stand-alone facility or enhancement of an existing facility, and takes less time and money to maintain: the splash play area.