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. 

Sponsored by Shade 'n Net

Outdoor spaces serve as hubs for recreation, learning, and building community. However, ensuring these areas are safe for all visitors—especially children—requires thoughtful consideration of UV protection. Shade structures play a pivotal role in mitigating risks and enhancing outdoor enjoyment, but not all shade systems are created equal.

Aquatic Safety Efforts Pay Off

From properly handling dangerous pool chemicals to keeping an eye out for swimmers in danger, maintaining a safe aquatic facility is an intricate task. Here we talk to aquatic safety professionals about how to ensure your staff and visitors stay safe. 

Natural or Artificial, Sports Fields Require Careful Management

Modern sports fields often must handle higher use from a wider variety of athletes and programs. Whether that drives facility owners to select hard-wearing synthetic turf or ensure their grounds crew is up to the task of maintaining natural turf, there are many approaches to ensuring the fields are in good playing shape. 

The Top Trends in Fitness for 2025

While wearables and other technology have been dominating the top fitness trends lately, there are other trends that facility owners should be aware of to ensure they’re meeting the needs of their members. Here, we take a look at some of the newest trends in programming and equipment, with advice on how to attract and retain members.