More than a decade after the Great Recession, the economy is strong, having grown for almost 10 years (one of the longest economic expansions in U.S. history), with unemployment rates at their lowest level in nearly 50 years.

Once upon a time, a swimming pool was a swimming pool, and most of them were quite a bit alike. But over the years, as new ways of interacting with the water have led to popular new programs and new expectations from the public, aquatic designers have adapted, creating unique and innovative new worlds of water fun.

Walking the dog this morning, and listening for the first strains of the Eastern Meadowlark, which arrived following a heavy (literally) snowfall on Sunday, I found myself thinking about the balance we strive to find in seeking our ideal state.

From sports parks featuring multiple ballfields to more passive recreation areas featuring picnicking spots and walking trails to destination playgrounds and beyond, designing and outfitting outdoor spaces can be a complex process.

My gardening eyes tend to be much too big for my gardening stomach. I'm learning to take smaller bites, but it's taken a while.

One of the 89.7 million dogs that live in U.S. households is currently curled up into a surprisingly tiny ball in a much-smaller-than-her-body bed in the corner, occasionally lifting her head when I make an out-loud comment as I read through our feature story on dog parks.

In our first summary report of Aquatic Trends, we surveyed nearly 1,000 aquatics professionals to find out more about the equipment and amenities found in their facilities, as well as programming, regulatory compliance, major challenges and issues, and much more.

Every year in June, we publish our annual State of the Industry Report, a collection of data we've been gathering for nearly 13 years and compiling to show you the latest trends and information on the recreation, sports and fitness facility industry. As part of that report, we always include a section on facilities that include aquatics.

As I sit down to write to you today, it is exactly three weeks into the new year. There is snow on the ground, and it's finally gotten properly cold. And the vast majority of resolutions are on the verge of failure.

In our first summary report of Aquatic Trends, we surveyed nearly 1,000 aquatics professionals to find out more about the equipment and amenities found in their facilities, as well as programming, regulatory compliance, major challenges and issues, and much more.