Editor's Desk - June 2015

Bright, Getting Brighter

For the past several years, as I've put together the State of the Industry Report, I've been fascinated to watch the trends unfold. After the economic downturn's fairly dramatic impact—particularly on government spending—it's been especially interesting to watch as different segments of the market have begun to recover in different ways. From the ups and downs experienced by privately run facilities to the difficulties faced by publicly run organizations dealing with increasing restrictions on use of public dollars, things are constantly changing, and those who work in this industry are continually finding new ways to adjust and move forward.

I don't think there's any doubt that we're operating in a "new normal," especially with regard to projects and programs that are funded via taxpayer dollars. But at the same time, there's definite evidence of recovery, and at this point, things seem to be getting back to… perhaps not business as usual, but almost.

This year's State of the Industry Report paints an increasingly bright picture. Things have gotten better. It's not perfect—nothing ever is—but budgets have largely recovered, and as respondents report on the future, their outlook is generally even brighter than the present.

Next year will be the 10th anniversary of our annual report, and we're already thinking about ways to make it special. In light of that, I'd like to put the question to you: What else would you like to know? Is there something you'd like to see covered here that we're not already touching on? Let us know what else you'd like to see by writing to me at emily@recmanagement.com. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

In the meantime, turn the page, and start digging in. You'll find a vast amount of information here that can help you understand how you fit, and how your facility and organization fit, into the landscape of managed recreation, sports and fitness facilities.

Cheers!

Emily Tipping
Editorial Director,
Recreation Management
emily@recmanagement.com