Whether it's a parks and recreation community center, a YMCA or a college recreation center, multipurpose facilities have evolved in similar ways over the past decade. They all share a mission to build a community of wellness.

Indoor pools are increasingly designed with attention to the health of swimmers and staff. Here, we take a look at current musts in natatorium design, as well as taking a peak into what will be tomorrow's trends.

The best designed parks become destinations for people near and far. Here, we talk to landscape design professionals to find out how to build an engaging and aesthetically pleasing park.

When it comes to designing community aquatic parks, it's crucial to plan carefully to ensure the facility can be as close to self-sustaining as possible. Find out more about aquatic designers approach this challenge.

Nearly 8 million students currently participate in sports at the high school level, according to the NCAA, and they all need a place to play. This feature will examine some of the latest ideas in high school athletic facility design.

The community of Ferguson, Mo., may have endured a tumultuous past, but with a new Teen Center of Excellence built by the Boys & Girls Club, it’s got a new foundation to build a better future.

SMART design—which is sustainable, maintainable, adaptable, responsive and thoughtful—is the key to designing successful aquatic facilities.

In our second annual Aquatic Trends Report, we examine the results of an extensive survey of hundreds of aquatic professionals to uncover the latest trends in their facilities, covering everything from equipment and programming to budgets and challenges.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to exercise your doggo, you took him for a stroll around the block. Nowadays, park spaces dedicated to our canine companions are becoming the norm in many communities. Learn more about how to develop your own pet park, with an eye to equity.

Every once in a while, a sport suddenly surges in popularity, and facilities are left scrambling to figure out how to accommodate the demand. Learn more about how you can update your offerings to include pickleball.

If your sports field sees increasing demand and high traffic, you need to know the best strategies for keeping it in playing condition. Here, we talk to sports-field-savvy pros to learn the best practices for minimizing wear and tear.

To ensure you're attracting as many potential exercisers as possible to your facility, you need to stay on top of the latest fitness trends—and know which ones are likely to expire soon. Here we take a look at the latest trends in fitness programming.

A struggling YMCA turned its business around, and has found smart new sound solutions for reaching its members and supporters.

From outdoor fitness zones to obstacle courses, fitness trails and more, the options for promoting health in the great outdoors are extensive.

Inclusive playgrounds have come a long, long way in the past couple of decades. Here, we take a look at how to provide inclusion on the playground and beyond.

In August 2019, six people were injured after a lightning strike during a PGA Tour Championship, emphasizing the importance of being well prepared for bad weather during sporting and other events. Here, we discuss how to ensure public safety by planning for bad weather, and what to do when it hits.

As industrial uses for waterfronts have declined, they have been increasingly reclaimed for recreational use. In this feature, we'll take a look at how to effectively turn a waterfront into a recreation destination.

Locker rooms may not be the face of your facility, but they certainly make an impression. To make sure that's a good impression, add little luxuries, ensure security and keep it clean and well-maintained.

A park in Celina, Ohio, created a brand-new amphitheater and named it for a celebrated local philanthropist.

Learn more about how Babson College vastly expanded its fitness and recreation offerings.

Savvy aquatic facility managers know that in order to keep their pools running optimally, they need to stay on top of the latest technological advancements.

For millennials and even generation Z, things like eco-friendly workouts and socializing with others while staying fit are important.

In a perfect world, every neighborhood would have a park, but due to lack of space and budgetary challenges, this is simply not feasible. Pocket parks can present a viable alternative.

When you want to exceed expectations and create a playground with a huge "wow" factor, think outside the traditional post-and-platform structure, take heed of the words of experienced playground designers, and create a destination for play.

When you stroll through a park, you might not think much about the benches, picnic tables and receptacles you pass, but actually, a lot of thought can go into choosing those furnishings.

From ninja-inspired fitness to classic climbing and beyond, adventure is easy to find for those who want to test their limits. From climbing walls to skateparks, zip lines, ninja courses and beyond, there's plenty of ways to raise the bar.

The programs you offer will largely determine the best type of surface for your sports or fitness facility. Find out more about the ins and outs of indoor sports and fitness surfaces to ensure you make the best choice.

Regular maintenance is crucial to keeping your aquatic facility running at peak efficiency. Learn more about the steps you should take to keep your aquatics in prime condition.

From basic concession operations to food truck festivals, parks, sports and recreation facilities have come up with plenty of ways to attract patrons with tasty treats.

When the Fort Worth Zoo was looking for an amenity that would attract more visitors and keep them hanging around on hot days, it turned to a creative splash play area.

When the safety of your athletes is a top concern, it’s crucial to understand how the field beneath their feet can have an impact. Learn more about how innovations in synthetic turf can contribute to safety.

In order to achieve operational success at your aquatic facility, you need to start with the design, factoring in your audience and market, as well as how to create aesthetic appeal.

We talked to two pool manufacturer executives and a certified service technician to find out what pool operators should know about pumps, heaters, chlorination systems, secondary disinfection, efficiency, sustainability and safety of water and air.

Whether it's a community pool, a waterpark or a resort amenity, each aquatic facility has its own unique needs when it comes to safety. Find out more about how to improve safety at your facility.

Creating a bike-friendly park or community begins with infrastructure, and continues with providing a place for bikers of all ages to have some fun and get their wheels rolling.

Your budget, your ability to handle maintenance requirements and your aesthetic needs are all factors to consider when choosing the right surfacing for your playground.

Campus recreation facilities aim to improve wellness among students on campus, while providing a social hub and place to engage with the entire campus community.

When it came time to light up the ballfields and beyond at this sports complex in Vicksburg, Miss., efficient and effective solutions were close at hand.

Dog parks have become tremendously popular, and with good reason: They provide a great outlet for pooches, but are also social gathering places for their owners. Be sure to outfit your dog park to keep everyone happy—on two legs or four.

Challenge courses and ninja adventure courses at trampoline parks and other recreation venues come with some level of risk. Learn more about preventing injuries in these unique facilities.

How can we recapture playgrounds’ appeal and invest in equipment that meets children’s needs, and ultimately those of the greater community?

More than 1,300 professionals responded to our call for information about their facilities, budgets, construction plans, operations, programming, staffing and more. Plus, hundreds of readers responded to our COVID-19 Update Survey in early May to discuss the impact of the pandemic on their facilities. Here, we summarize the responses.

From indoor and outdoor pools to splash play areas, waterparks and beyond, aquatic facilities feature unique challenges and solutions. Here is an overview of trends in aquatic facilities.

Parks and recreation departments and districts are a cornerstone of the industry. Here we take a look at trends in parks and recreation organizations and facilities.

From the campus recreation center to the athletics department, there's a wide range of offerings in their realm of recreation, sports and fitness on college and university campuses. Here is an overview of trends in college and university recreation.

The recreation, sports and fitness programming and services offered by schools and school districts are wide-ranging, with some schools providing the only outlet for such activities in their communities. Here is an overview of trends in schools and school districts.

From neighborhood fitness clubs to medical fitness facilities, there's a lot of ways for people to focus on their wellness. Here is an overview of the trends in health, fitness and sports clubs.

These nonprofit facilities tend to provide a huge range of programs for people of all ages, from innovative aquatics and team sports to fitness, childcare and more. Here is an overview of trends in Ys and similar facilities.

When we asked readers to respond to our annual survey in January, salaries were well up, year-over-year, and in a May Update Survey, we found that the majority had seen no change, as of yet. Tune in here to find out more about recreation, sports and fitness careers in our Salary Survey.

Operating an aquatic facility efficiently has long been a challenge. We talked to experienced aquatics programmers to find out how the right programming mix can help.

Nonconventional structures are showing their effectiveness through the coronavirus pandemic, from flexible solutions easily adapted to healthcare, to buildings that let fresh air and sunshine in.

At this new center for hard-working football players, the rooftop at the Smith Football Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides a place to recreate, with mini golf and more.

If you want to get an event going—and keep improving over the long term—post-event evaluation will help you identify areas of success, and areas where you could do better.

We talked to industry leaders to find out their advice and examples of approaches to take when reopening facilities.

Welcome to our annual Problem-Solver Idea Book.

Packed with scores of ideas, this reference tool was designed to help you tackle your most persistent and universal challenges, covering all the big basic questions. Consider it an industry guidebook of sorts, chock full of straightforward problem-solving tips.

AQUATICS

Provide Fresh Air & Sunshine

Protect Guests From Unnecessary Risk in Aquatics

Modernize Your Pool

Sanitize & Protect Aquatic & Recreational Spaces

The Importance of Proper Pool Water Treatment

Safe Pool Operations & Social Distancing

Sanitization Solution to Product Shortages

Aquatics All Year Long

Build a Unique, Customized Splash Pad

The Solution for Clear, Clean Water

The Solution to Affordable Pool Renovation

Aquatic Play for All Ages & Abilities

MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Smart Strategies for Safe, Contactless Reopening

Streamline Your Purchasing Process

PARK & SITE FURNISHINGS

Expand Public Spaces

Create a Stand-Out Dog Park

Choose Eco-Friendly Materials

Find Flexible Seating Solutions

Collect Waste More Efficiently

Revitalize Your Park

Find Long-Lasting Grills

Furnish Your Site

PLAYGROUNDS

Boost Physical & Mental Health

A Playground Surface Maintenance Solution

RESTROOMS & LOCKER ROOMS

Find Efficient Restroom Solutions

Encourage Better Hand Hygiene

Keep Locker Rooms Clean & Dry

SHELTERS & SHADE

Customized Shelters Make a Statement

Enable Social Distancing at the Park

The Importance of Shade in Public Areas

SPORTS & FITNESS FACILITIES

Concrete Slab Moisture & Gym Floors

A Solution for More Profitable Turf Installations

LED Sports Lighting Retrofits Done Right

Plenty of waterparks managed to open to the public in 2020, and 2021 will bring even more visitors to enjoy the fun and excitement of slides, rides and more. Learn more about what's new in waterparks.

From wise design of splash pads and aquatic areas to "smart" management systems that keep the water safe and clean, water play is getting smarter and smarter.

In the wake of COVID-19, many waterparks have managed to reopen, with new practices and guidelines in place to protect patrons and staff from disease.

Parks and trails have provided an outdoor respite for many during the pandemic. Here, we'll talk about how shelters and shade help provide a home away from home, suitable for outdoor R&R.

There's no doubt that the technology we use to turn sporting events into a spectacle have come a long way. In this story, experts in setting the stage for sports discuss the latest in lighting, scoreboards and sound.

Some parks got a chance to use lockdowns to spruce things up, while others remained open and were busier than ever. Either way, grounds maintenance is an ongoing task. In this story, we'll talk about best practices in maintaining beautiful parks and sites.

Can busy city dog parks compost dog waste and prevent it from ending up in landfills? The answer is yes. Find out how!

The sport of pickleball has seen a huge surge in popularity over the past few years. Find out why this sport is so hot, and learn more about what it takes to bring courts to your facility.

Outdoor fitness areas have become increasingly popular over the past decade, and now that many folks are eschewing indoor exercise, these essential amenities will only become more popular.

A swimming pool can be so much more than a body of water to splash and play in. When you add essential accessories, you expand access, improve attendance and boost the fun factor.

A park or site without a restroom can't keep visitors around for very long, but finding the right spot and the right restroom to meet your needs can be complex. We take a look at restroom structure options, from vault restrooms to flush facilities, along with how to keep them clean and as inviting as possible.

Sports and fitness, family recreation and more all go into making sure our military members are well served as they serve us. Find out more about trends in military recreation.

Boston, known for its dense saturation of academic institutions and leading sports teams, possesses an ironic gap within its metro-suburban landscape—that of a professional-grade practice facility. Enter the sports ecosystem.

Incorporating inclusive design into splash play areas is natural, and essential to serve the needs of your community.

If your facility plays host to events of any kind, from summertime street fests to breakfasts with Santa Claus, then the pandemic has likely wreaked havoc on your current plans. Learn more about planning amidst these challenging times.

From more inclusion to greater adventure, playground manufacturers are innovating to improve the play experience for everyone.

Navigating youth sports in the middle of a pandemic requires careful attention to health measures and more. Learn about how some facilities have managed to bring kids back for a good sports experience.

Good water quality (and subsequently, good air quality) are the cornerstone of a healthy aquatic facility—and the health of swimmers and staff.

If your facility plays host to events of any kind, from summertime street fests to breakfasts with Santa Claus, then the pandemic has likely wreaked havoc on your current plans. Learn more about planning amidst these challenging times.

From more inclusion to greater adventure, playground manufacturers are innovating to improve the play experience for everyone.

Navigating youth sports in the middle of a pandemic requires careful attention to health measures and more. Learn about how some facilities have managed to bring kids back for a good sports experience.

Good water quality (and subsequently, good air quality) are the cornerstone of a healthy aquatic facility—and the health of swimmers and staff.