I recently was given a copy of the newly released "America's Best Day Hikes: Spectacular Single-Day Hikes Across the States," by Derek Dillinger. The photography is beautiful, and the descriptions of the various hikes are compelling.

Thirteen years ago, when I first started at Recreation Management, the idea of rectangular pools being a thing of the past was already taking a firm hold in the minds of those who design, operate and own aquatic facilities.

"I look around me, and I realize we're all in this together. We're all doing it. It's about the kids. It's about the people. And it's about protecting and preserving the environment. These people are amazing." That's what the gentleman from Virginia said to me, as we enjoyed a quick bite at the edge of the Trade Show floor at the NRPA Conference yesterday. 

A few years ago, my mom suffered a knee injury that kept her from being mobile for some time. It was hard for her to get back on her feet, but she was motivated.

Twenty years ago, Recreation Management magazine was launched by Publisher Chris Belbin—"a new magazine for a new millennium," with a goal of helping you stay on top of the trends, technologies and products that help you hone your competitive edge and meet the demands and expectations of the people who visit your facilities.

When I was 15, my dad tried to introduce me to birdwatching at the Merwin Nature Preserve near Lexington, Ill. The hobby didn't take—I was too impatient to learn the nuances—but that location evolved into my original "home trail." From the time I could drive a car, I'd take almost any opportunity to make the trek out there and explore, alone or with friends.

Professionals who manage the day-to-day operations and programming at recreation, sports and fitness facilities come across a wide range of problems and challenges. Sometimes, the fix is simple and obvious, while other problems might leave you scratching your head.

Hard on the heels of our annual State of the Industry Report, we offer up our annual examination of careers, salaries and demographics of more than 1,400 professionals managing recreation, sports and fitness facilities and programs.

Every once in a while, when I'm sitting in my 105-year-old house, contemplating the next round of improvements to the landscape or the maple-tree-filled gutters or the much-needed, can-of-worms plumbing job, I imagine what it would be like to have a blank slate.

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.