APRIL 2006

Whether you are planning a park from scratch or just sprucing up your grounds, there are plenty of key considerations when it comes to site components. From value to vandal-resistance, learn from our handy guide.

Like any recreational offering, continually building interest in climbing walls and challenge courses is, well, a challenge. Find out how to keep your facility on the cutting edge.

Improving safety is a constant battle for aquatic facilities. Dangers lurk from drowning, electrocution, entrapment, RWIs and other risks. We offer some strategies for keeping up your vigilance.

If you were to take a poll among parents at any youth sports game across the country to determine how many of them thought their children's coach had undergone a background check, the majority of parents would probably assume that they did. In reality, there's a good chance they would be wrong.

Today's consumers are looking for healthier, higher quality options when making their food choices. The desire for fresh, low-fat foods has driven the fresh sandwich category for the last several years, and this trend does not appear to be slowing.

Pools can be a huge money pit unless the proper system and expert maintenance team is in place. One approach that ensures professional monitoring and maintenance while adhering to a budget is Total Water Management (TWM).

The Madison Area YMCA in Madison, N.J., hosts Teen Scene every Friday evening for more than 100 sixth, seventh and eighth graders. A key component of the four-hour evening is sports. Planners created a new game, YMCA Gladiator, to provide a high-energy activity that takes not only athleticism but detailed strategy to win. The successful result lies somewhere among pulled ribbons, flying dodgeballs and an ever-changing maze that has kids lining up to play.

Instead of having to meet at a local restaurant to socialize, senior citizens in Cicero, Ill., now have a state-of-the-art senior center to congregate. Though it took some hard work: The 50-year-old building that is home to the 4,640-square-foot center was formerly a hardware store.