Research: Park Investment Supports Economic Growth

Investment in parks supports economic growth in U.S. cities, according to a new comprehensive study from Trust for Public Land. In response to urban

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Parks More Likely Than Others to Add Staff in 2024

Respondents to the Industry Report survey from park districts and departments were slightly more likely than other respondents to indicate that they

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Historic D.C. Mini Golf Course Gets a Restoration

America’s oldest continuously operating miniature golf course and the only outdoor miniature golf course in Washington, D.C.—the East Potomac

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Mill Ridge Park Unites the Community

Just southeast of Nashville, Tenn., Mill Ridge Park is a 600-acre nature preserve located in Antioch. Designed to promote healthy living and build

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Kansas City Youth Need More, Better Sports Options for Mental Health

A report released today by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative showed the significant value of

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Celebrate Active Aging Week 2024

The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) proudly announces the commencement of Active Aging Week 2024, a global celebration taking place from

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New Report Calls for Land Conservation as Tool for Climate Change Mitigation

Trust for Public Land has released a new report highlighting how land conservation is a critical strategy that can help mitigate greenhouse gas

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KABOOM! Honored with President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Community Leadership Award

The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition has selected KABOOM! to receive a 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness &

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Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Issues Call for Standards Consensus Committee Participation

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, spa, and hot tub industry, is issuing a call for

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EP Climbing Launches Essential Walls

EP Climbing, a pioneer in innovative climbing structures, proudly announces the debut of Essential Walls, a groundbreaking solution designed to

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Cast Your Vote in the Bobcat Park and Rec Makeover Contest

Five finalists are vying to win the Bobcat Park and Rec Makeover Contest

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Ramuc Introduces PSL Nitrile Rubber Based Sealant

Ramuc® announced the launch of Ramuc PSL, a nitrile rubber caulking material specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of pool environments.

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RENOLIT SOLID PVC Decking Provides a Safer Solution

RENOLIT SOLID is a reinforced PVC membrane created for splash pads either for new construction or renovation.  Also ideal for aquatic facility

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Wellnify.ai and Outdoor-Fit Join Forces to Transform Parks and Schools

Wellnify.ai and Outdoor-Fit, two prominent Nova Scotian companies, announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership designed to enhance

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Yanmar Compact Equipment Introduces New Line of Branded Attachments for Compact Track Loaders

Yanmar Compact Equipment introduces a new line of branded

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Ignite Attachments Launches Angle Broom Attachment

Ignite Attachments, a breakthrough manufacturer of compact equipment attachments, adds to its growing

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Fitness Facilities More Likely to Report Participation Increase

Respondents to the Industry Report survey from health and fitness clubs were more likely than others to report that the number of people using their

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Fitness Participation Reaches New Highs Around the World

More people than ever embraced health and fitness across key regions of the globe in 2023, bringing participation to new highs. According to data

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Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources Office of Outdoor Recreation & ORR Launch Maryland Outdoor Equity Grant Fund

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Office of Outdoor Recreation announced a

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All 91 SFIA Single Sport Reports for 2024 Are Now Available

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its third and final

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ElevatEd Expands Nationwide

JCC Association of North America, Jewish Federations of North America, and the Union for Reform Judaism announced the expansion of ElevatEd, the

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Bobcat to Debut Several New Machines, Product Innovations

Bobcat Company, a global equipment, 

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Kubota Invests in 20 Hometown Nonprofits Across the Country, Awards $600,000 in Grants

Now in its fourth year, Kubota continues its commitment to hometowns across America with its Kubota Hometown Proud® grant program, awarding $600,000

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Foundations Introduces the Ascent Universal Changing Table

Imagine doing a diaper change on a public restroom floor, or in the trunk of your car. The harsh reality is that people with disabilities and their

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Southern Illinois University Transforms Athletic Venues With Watchfire Digital Displays

Southern Illinois University (SIU) selected

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Yanmar Compact Equipment TL80VS Midsize Compact Track Loader Offers Optimal Performance

Yanmar Compact Equipment launches the TL80VS compact track loader as part of its new line of compact track

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ASLA 2024 Award Winners Include Multiple Parks

Multiple park projects were among the winners of ASLA’s 2024 Professional Awards. The 39 Professional Award winners this year, selected from 465

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Shelters, Playgrounds, Restrooms Are Most Common Park Amenities

Park shelters, playgrounds and restroom structures were the most common amenities found among park respondents’ facilities, according to the 2024

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Take Shelter

In parks, on campuses, along streetscapes and in locations where sports and other gatherings take place, shelters and shade structures play major

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ICON

Keep Your Balance

Aquatic facilities’ air and water quality are crucial to keeping everyone in the building safe and extending the lifespan of the actual facility and

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AdobeStock

Inside-Out

Developers and manufacturers of modern fitness equipment, in concert with trail and park designers, have taken the essential elements of indoor

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Greenfields

From the Grounds Up

When the recent pandemic dictated social distancing and drastically limited indoor recreation opportunities, more people began utilizing outdoor

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Texas Christian University

Pickleball Courts Just Keep Popping Up

Pickleball enthusiasts are making some noise—in more ways than one.As the New York Post cleverly stated, “pickleball causes more of a racket than

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inPERSPECTIVE / ADVENTURE PLAY: Designing for Development & Fun

An adventure takes you to new places, reveals new ideas and provides a sense of awe, wonder and exploration. But it’s more than that for children.

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BCI Burke

inPRACTICE / HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM: Fordham Prep School in Bronx, N.Y.

Physical fitness and athletics are an essential part of the school day, encouraging a healthy lifestyle and cultivating academic excellence and

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HLW

Go Team!

The pandemic roiled facilities’ staffs all across the country. We watched the data here as staffing concerns overwhelmingly became the top issue

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From Sun Protection to Revenue Generation, Shelters & Shade Structures Meet Many Needs

In parks, on campuses, along streetscapes and in locations where sports and other gatherings take place, shelters and shade structures play major

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Dog Park Equipment

Playful PupsPlay for the whole family means including our playful pups! Play4Pups® is a fun obstacle course that keeps our beloved canines moving.

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Indoor & Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Circuit WorkoutThe HealthBeat Circuit™ Activated by FitLot® includes a thoughtful combination of fitness equipment for strength, cardio, balance and

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Recreation Management‘s Review of Products at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference

Draw a CrowdAdding a Wibit Sports Inflatable combination to your aquatic facility attracts crowds, and creates unique user

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Trade Show in Print

Pickleball EquipmentParknpool is now offering the most durable, long-lasting USA-made pickleball products in the industry. Our manufacturing partner

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inSERVICE: Advancing Women Coaches: WeCOACH

The percentage of women head coaches of NCAA Division-I women’s teams increased for the seventh year in a row, and for the 10th year in a row in the

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Kate Abdo Joins U.S. Soccer Foundation to Help Scale Impact in Under-Resourced Communities

The U.S. Soccer Foundation announced that CBS Sports’ Kate Abdo has joined the U.S. Soccer Foundation as an Ambassador. In her role, Abdo will help

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SHAPE America and BTS Spark Announce Partnership to Enhance Health and Physical Education Leadership

SHAPE America - Society of Health and Physical Educators and BTS Spark are pleased to announce a new partnership aimed at developing leadership

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Puente Hills Landfill Park Wins Global Impact Award from ASLA and IFLA

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) have announced the

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Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz Campaign Continues to Advance Pollinator Protection

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in partnership with The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, announced the sixth annual Parks for

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Bobcat Company Expands Product Lineup with Backhoe Loader

Bobcat Company, a global equipment, 

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Yanmar Compact Equipment TL75VS Midsize Compact Track Loader Brings Superior Productivity to At-Height Work

Yanmar Compact Equipment launches the TL75VS as part of its

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NRPA Joins Challenge to Train Youth Coaches

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has joined the Susan Crown Exchange’s (SCE) Million Coaches Challenge cohort, with the goal of

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Ys, Parks Most Likely to Host Youth Sports Programs

Respondents to the 2024 Industry Report survey from Ys and parks were the most likely to report that they currently host youth sports programs at

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Soccer Mini-Pitch Honoring W. Robert Reum Opens in Downers Grove

A new mini-pitch installed in honor of the late W. Robert Reum was officially unveiled at the Indian Boundary YMCA on Tuesday, August 20. Born and

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American Hiking Society Celebrates LWCF’s 60 Years of Conservation

On September 3, 1964, the most important and successful conservation program ever, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), was enacted into law

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Parks and Recreation Centers Community Representation

Eighty percent of U.S. adults agree it is important for local government officials to reflect the racial and/or ethnic makeup of the communities they

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SportsArt Campus Challenge Second Place Winner University of Michigan Awarded Sustainable Fitness Equipment Valued at $43,000

University of Michigan students have an exciting new sustainability effort in place in both the Intramural Sports Building and North Campus

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Littleton Golf and Tennis Receives 2024 USTA Outstanding Facility Award

The USTA honored Littleton Golf and Tennis as one of 41 winners in the USTA’s annual Outstanding Facility Awards program, which recognizes excellence

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KAI Completes Missouri’s First Adaptive Sports Complex

A groundbreaking Adaptive Sports Complex recently opened in South St. Louis County, Missouri thanks to a collaborative effort between the St. Louis

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Preventing Turf Wars

How to Provide for Pickleball Without Taking Away From Tennis After Tampa, Fla., started converting tennis courts for

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Setting Professional Boundaries

A Guide to Addressing Unwanted Advances While I was an exhibitor at a conference, a co-worker asked me a disturbing

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High School Sports Participation Breaks Record

High school sports participation hit an all-time record for the 2023-24 school year, reaching more than 8 million for the first time ever. The NFHS

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Education, Events, Youth Sports Are Most Common School Programs

More than nine out of 10 (92.3%) school respondents said they currently offer programming of some kind at their facilities, down from 97% in 2023 and

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5 Points to A Star: Five Ways to Tackle Top Concerns On Aquatic Managers’ Minds

If you’re an aquatic facility manager, budgetary concerns and staffing challenges are just the tip of the iceberg of tasks you juggle on a day-to-day

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Westlake

ORR Announces Recreation Economy Grants for 5 Rural Communities

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) is proud to award five rural communities – from New England and the mid-Atlantic to Appalachia and Alaska – with

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Orthopaedic Surgeons Review the ABCs of Back-to-School Injury Prevention

As the first bell of the school year rings, a new wave of excitement and independence washes over students. With this freedom comes increased risks.

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New Research Highlights Risks of Green Gentrification and Actionable Anti-Displacement Strategies

Trust for Public Land today released groundbreaking new research that synthesizes key risk factors associated with green gentrification. The report,

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National Parks Contributed Record High $55.6 Billion to U.S. Economy in 2023

The Department of the Interior’s National Park Service released a new report that finds visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2023

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Unique Dining Venue Featuring Mini Golf Opens in Glen Arbor, Michigan

River Club Glen Arbor (RCGA) with 400 feet of riverfront footage on Crystal Rivers in northern Michigan,

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California Sports Surfaces’ CoolTop Recognized for Sustainability Performance

California Sports Surfaces (CSS), a division of ICP Group, was recognized as an industry leader in sustainable surfaces by the 

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EP Climbing Celebrates Success at Paris 2024 Olympics

EP Climbing proudly played a significant role in the 2024 Paris Olympics, designing and building the climbing walls at the Le Bourget Climbing Venue

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Bobcat North Dakota Open Celebrates 60 Years of Professional and Local Golf

The 60th annual Bobcat North Dakota Open again brought

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Watchfire and NFHS Forge Partnership to Promote Sportsmanship and Support High School Athletes and Officials Nationwide

Watchfire, the official and exclusive scoreboard and videoboard manufacturer of the NFHS, supports the NFHS (National Federation of State High School

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ASV Launches the New Generation RT-65 Compact Track Loader

ASV, an industry-leading brand of all-purpose and all-season compact track loaders and skid steers, introduces the new

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SportsArt Campus Challenge Grand Prize Winner Cleveland State University Awarded Sustainable Fitness Equipment

Cleveland State University’s Campus Recreation Center has an exciting new sustainability effort in place and it is thanks to several of its

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Gerflor USA Mourns the Passing of Henry Vollant

It is with deep condolences that Gerflor USA announces the passing of Henry Vollant, distinguished leader whose visionary leadership and dedication

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Werk-Brau FHX66 Forestry Mulcher Transforms Standard Flow Skid Steers Into Land Clearing Machines

Werk-Brau introduces the FHX66 Defender Forestry Mulcher, a robust mulcher for standard flow skid steers and track loaders. Engineered to perform,

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Bringing the Gym Experience Outdoors

Developers and manufacturers of modern fitness equipment, in concert with trail and park designers, have taken the essential elements of indoor

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ActionFit by UltraSite

PHTA Supports New Water Safety Legislation

Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.) introduced H.R. 9298, a groundbreaking piece of legislation designed to enhance water safety

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Ys, Rec Centers Lead on Swim Lessons for All Ages

A majority of aquatic respondents to the Industry Report survey (79.9%) said they currently offer learn-to-swim programs for children. And nearly six

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Tucker Center Releases 12th Annual Report Card on Women in College Coaching

The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota released its annual Women in College Coaching Report Card

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ORR to Host First-Ever National Leadership Forum on Rural Development Through Outdoor Recreation

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), in collaboration with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship and the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor

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National League of Cities Awards 12 U.S. Cities Economic Mobility Funding

National League of Cities (NLC) selects 12 U.S. municipalities to participate in the second round of its

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SFIA Releases Single Sport Reports From the Fitness Category

The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its second of three

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KemperSports and City of Henderson Partner to Build The West Henderson Fieldhouse

KemperSports, a leader in sports, entertainment, and hospitality, has partnered with the City of Henderson, NV, to build and operate The West

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Gold Medal Introduces All-New Cotton Candy Bag Designs

Gold Medal Products Co., the leader in concession equipment and supplies, announced the launch of four fresh and innovative cotton candy bag designs

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Ignite Attachments Showcases Sickle Bar Mower for Compact Tractors

Ignite Attachments, a breakthrough manufacturer of compact equipment attachments, adds to its growing

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Landmark Aquatic Expands Presence in the West With Acquisition of Arizona-Based Commercial Pool Repair

Landmark Aquatic, the nation's leading provider of comprehensive commercial pool services, announced the strategic acquisition of Commercial Pool

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Transform Your Old Pool or Build Your New Pool Right

Whether you’re looking to transform your old pool, with its rough, cracked surface and leaky pipes, or you want to ensure your new pool is built to

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RenoSys

Local Park Projects Get $47 Million Boost

Nearly $47 million in funding through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program will go to the redevelopment or creation of 10 local

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Three-Quarters of Parks in 2024 Planning Construction

There was very little change from 2023 to 2024 in the number of park respondents who report that they have plans for construction over the next

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Accept the Challenge

Our annual Industry Report survey has shown for many years that the vast majority of professionals working in recreation, sports and fitness facility

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We’re All in This Together

According to climate experts, as the climate crisis accelerates, natural disasters will be more frequent and severe. In 2023, the U.S. experienced 28

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AdobeStock

Innovations in Recirculation Systems for Splash Pads

Problem:We’d love to install splash pads in several communities across our park system, but we want to ensure the water is treated and recirculated

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Add Play Value & Attract Visitors to Your Pool

Is your swimming pool losing visitors to more exciting options that offer more ways for patrons to play? If so, it’s time to think about how you

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Recreonics

Consistent, Cost-Effective Pool Sanitization

Problem: Swimming pools rely on sanitization systems—usually employing chlorine—to maintain clear and healthy water for swimming. But in recent

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Improve Air Quality at Your Pool

Indoor pools often suffer from issues with indoor air quality. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when you smell “

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Use Pool Acids to Restore Proper pH Range

Water balance is a crucial part of pool maintenance. Without it, your pool water could corrode metal, be so cloudy you can’t see through it, or, most

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Westlake

Keep Pool Water Clean & Clear

Maintaining proper water balance to ensure your pool’s water is clear and safe for swimming is an important job. Clear, properly treated pool water

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Replace Your Outdated Kiddie Pool

A lot of aging aquatic facilities might still be attracting plenty of guests to the pool, but are home to outdated kiddie pools. These smaller,

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Transform Your Old Pool or Build Your New Pool Right

Whether you’re looking to transform your old pool, with its rough, cracked surface and leaky pipes, or you want to ensure your new pool is built to

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RenoSys

Interior Department Provides $325 Million to Increase Access to the Outdoors

Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis announced the distribution of $325 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Stateside

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Clean & Maintain Pool Surfaces

Maintaining clean pool surfaces can help prevent any harm resulting from debris on the pool floor or floating on pool water, and also helps lessen

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Realistic Pool Pricing for City & Commercial Pools

By Lance Timmons and Jonathan NiesProblem:Pools constructed before the 1980s are now reaching the end of their functional lives, where

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Safety, Maintenance and Flexibility: Issues with Lane Line Anchors in Pools

Commercial swimming pools serve diverse needs, from competitive swimming to recreational use, requiring efficient and safe infrastructure. Lane line

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Daldorado

Extend the Life of Your Pool Cover

Pool covers are an important tool, reducing energy and resource loss from evaporation when pools are not in use. But proper care is required to

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Refurbish Your Splash Pad

Splash pads have been among the most commonly planned park additions for more than a decade. But for those whose splash pads are five years old or

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Durable, Watertight, Slip-Resistant Surfaces

Problem:The deck area surrounding our swimming pool has cracks and chips, and the paint is peeling. We need a new deck that will provide long-term

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Natare

Save Energy With A Pool Cover

Conserving energy—along with resources like pool chemicals—is an important mission for many aquatic facility directors, and it can also help reduce

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Provide Year-Round Indoor/Outdoor Space

One of the top challenges for parks, recreation, sports and aquatic programs is finding space, indoors and out. Outdoor spaces are challenged by the

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Provide a Restroom Solution for Varying Crowd Sizes

Well-maintained, safe, and comfortable restrooms are an important amenity within your park, providing comfort and convenience for park visitors, as

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CXT

Don’t Forget Shelter

As you are considering how best to lay out your park, don’t forget to prioritize one of the most essential elements of your park’s ability to create

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Eco-Friendly Design Tip for Park Restrooms

Designing and outfitting parks is a big undertaking, and it’s important to consider what will engage a diverse array of people, as well as ensuring

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Address Heat Islands in Schools & Parks

With global temperatures on the rise, more attention is being given to the dangerous effects of heat islands. Heat islands usually occur in urbanized

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Improve Online Access to Parks & Recreation Programming

Park and recreation departments are vital for bringing communities together. Community events, activities, classes, leagues and other engagement

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AdobeStock

Empower Staff, Engage Patrons With Mobile Tech

Smartphones enable everyone to do so much, wherever they want. Today, this is the expectation, and mobile technology is powering the next generation

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Stay on Top of Playground Trends

Well-designed playgrounds provide a host of benefits for people of all ages, from inspiring physical challenges and movement to sensory stimulation,

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Landscape Structures

Create a Customized Dog Park

For the past decade, dog parks have been among the most commonly planned additions for parks, and no wonder! As of 2022, 44.5% of U.S. households

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Help Your Park & Visitors Go Green

Many communities across the U.S. have adopted sustainability and conservation initiatives, aiming to reduce waste, mitigate the effects of climate

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Design Outdoor Spaces for Everyone

Playgrounds, recreation and outdoor fitness spaces help communities get outside, get moving and develop skills, relationships, resilience, and a

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BCI Burke

Make Your Site Stand Out With Customized Furnishings

Local parks improve the quality of life for the communities in which they are situated, providing a place to take a break, get some exercise or visit

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Maximize Play Value in Smaller Spaces

Rope play has the potential to transform play value in compact spaces. Unlike traditional post and platform structures, rope-based designs offer a

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Create Social Spaces With Site Amenities

Face-to-face social interaction has been on a downswing: From 2003 to 2022, socializing decreased among American adults by about 30%—35% for

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Belson

Encourage Unstructured Free Play

Play is a crucial part of development, contributing to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children, and providing an

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Stay on Top of Cleaning & Maintenance

Your cleaning and maintenance staff has a lot on their plates. Make sure they have the supplies needed to get the job done right.Q. How can we help

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Ensure Inclusive, Accessible Parks

Approximately one in four adults (25.7%) in the United States, or 61 million people, reports living with at least one disability, and some 12. l

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Kay Park

Personalize Pet-Friendly Areas

There are between 83.7 million and 88.8 million pet dogs in the U.S., the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates, with a full 44.6% of U.S

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Design an Effective Playground

Creating a playground that will keep kids engaged and eager to return requires careful consideration of a number of factors. Set a GoalThe first

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Save Time and Money on Waste Management

Managing the waste and recycling bins can be time-consuming and expensive—but it doesn’t have to be. With today’s technology and manufacturing

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Maintenance-Friendly, Accessible Playground Safety

Each year, U.S. hospital emergency rooms see more than 200,000 children with injuries associated with playgrounds, according to the U.S. Consumer

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Create a Sensory Trail

With inclusion front of mind for many park and recreation professionals these days, new strategies are arising for creating more diverse experiences

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Invest in Furnishings That Last

While the style and colors of your furnishings are important considerations as you plan and design new parks and refresh older sites, ensuring you

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Optimize Manpower Using Autonomous Technology

Staffing has been a major challenge for parks and recreation facilities over the past few years. Those challenges are compounded when work is

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