Developing Waterfront Recreation Destinations

Communities that have a waterfront, whether it’s a natural lake, river or oceanfront, or it’s a manmade feature like an old quarry, have the opportunity to create a recreation destination like no other. From riverwalks and whitewater parks to inflatable obstacle courses, marinas and docks, and beyond, the options are varied enough to make each park unique.

New Designs in Rec, Sports & Fitness Locker Rooms

No longer the dingy, sweaty spaces of yesteryear, modern-day locker rooms offer a comfortable and pleasing aesthetic, providing a place to store things, change, relax and get cleaned up before and after a dip in the pool, a group exercise class or a pickup game of basketball. 

Expand Beyond Swim Lessons to Swim Team Programs

When you want to expand your aquatic programming beyond the learn-to-swim and water safety basics, adding swim teams and water sports like water polo is a smart way to expand on what you already offer. Here, we take a look at some of the challenges and best practices in offering competitive opportunities at your pool.  

Planning for New & Redeveloped Park Spaces 

Creating new park spaces, and redeveloping older parks, requires attention to detail, and partnerships with savvy designers, community stakeholders and more.

Designing Play Spaces to Encourage Physical Activity

Playgrounds come in all shapes and sizes, and do a good job of getting kids moving. Adding features like climbing boulders, obstacle courses and even exercise equipment nearby can help ensure everyone has a chance to stretch their physical limits.

Site Furnishings Help Meet Many Needs

Furnishing a park isn’t simply a matter of picking out some benches and receptacles and plunking them down. Careful consideration of the park’s typical users and uses can help inform your choice for picnic areas, seating, entry points and more. 

Outdoor Aquatic Recreation: Balancing Innovation, Sustainability & Community Impact

Large-scale outdoor aquatic recreation sites are best planned in partnership with experienced engineering teams.

Kids Are the Future of Fitness: Are We Doing Enough to Get Them Onboard?

We all know the importance of getting kids moving and interested in keeping fit. How can we encourage young people to get involved in their own wellness?

Celebrating Natural Beauty

Promoting and advancing the state park systems of America, the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) celebrates the parks’ contributions.