MARCH 2010

Before it is opened for fun and play, a playground must go through a careful planning process—one that ensures accessibility and safety for the children.

With obesity and its accompanying health problems continuing to challenge the American public, recreation, sports and fitness facilities are looking for ways to team up with others in their communities to help address the situation.

It's one thing to be on Facebook and Twitter. It's something else entirely to be using social media well. If you're ready to get on board, read on and we'll show you how a few state park organizations are getting it right.

Spring is in the air, and that means baseball season. To ensure your fields are ready for the increased traffic, you need to pay close attention to your field maintenance practices.

In the gym it's easy to share germs. Ensure your facility is as clean as possible by implementing a careful cleaning strategy.

It seems as though many facility managers can't stop feeling envious of pools with slides and other bells and whistles. But there are ways to make your rectangle work for you that don't involve expensive upgrades.

As budgets shrink, you may be looking to save money in your aquatic operations. Updated, greener technology might be just the solution you're looking for.

With its wide range of recreation, sports and fitness opportunities, the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho offers an example that planners can turn to as they design community centers for the future.

When Tacoma, Wash., needed a solution for its aging pools, it turned to splash play as an ideal way to offer a little fun in the water, without the maintenance headaches.

The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill., offers visitors a chance to interact with nature and view tree species from all over the world. And now it offers something else: a new surface made from recycled beer bottles.