NYSRPS The Voice - Fall 2021

Voice

FALL/WINTER 2021

The

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF NEW YORK STATE RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY

Happy

Thanksgiving!

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL NEW YORK PARK AND RECREATION HEROES AND PARTNERS

2021 Downstate Conference Returns In-Person This Fall!

ALSO INSIDE:

Meet a New York Olympian, Kate Douglass

2022 Annual Conference Details

Park Hero Spotlight: Phil Smith

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New York State Recreation and Park Society, Inc. Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Dr., Suite 200 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 www.nysrps.org (518) 584-0321

MISSION The New York State Recreation & Park Society (NYSRPS) is the principal organization advancing the value of parks, recreation, and leisure services through professional development of its members and citizen engagement.

PURPOSE NYSRPS has served the leisure service industry for 81 years as an independent, nonprofit, public interest, professional membership association dedicated to the following: To function in such a manner as will further the interests of the leisure service movement, its professionals and leaders in voluntary, public, private, and commercial agencies.

To promote principles and standards for the improvement of leisure services and to encourage studies and research in professional relations.

To affiliate for our mutual benefit and cooperation on local, state, and national levels, and with those organizations in similar or related fields.

To educate the public in regard to the principles and goals of the leisure service industry.

To assist in the advancement of the leisure services, recreation and parks, and environmental conservation fields.

To study legislation pertaining to the leisure services and further that legislation which is in the public’s best interest.

To provide opportunities for professional growth of individuals employed in the leisure service industry.

To develop a public awareness of the necessity of recreation as a vital part of life.

To stimulate a widening interest in leisure services in local communities and statewide through conservation and development of leisure resources.

To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences are celebrated, thus driving the creation of innovative programs and services to meet the needs of our members, participants and employees.

To celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion of healthy people and healthy communities through a variety of programs and services.

NYSRPS will guarantee our success by uniting our members, while celebrating and encouraging our many differences among us.

We will strive to be the best stewards and spokesperson for our profession by ensuring we promote activities, initiatives and open spaces that unite and promote participation from those of all backgrounds and experiences. We will lead with an openness to change, when needed.

The Society is comprised of over 600 New York State Recreation and Park professionals spanning from Long Island to Niagara Falls, Lake Placid to New York City. Members have access to a wide range of programs and services to improve their skills as recreation providers. To best deliver upon our mission and purpose, the Society focuses on five core services: professional development, membership development, resource development, communications / PR, and public policy.

Executive Office Staff Executive Director: Lisa Morahan, ed@nysrps.org Membership/Admin. Services Coordinator: Linda Sylvain, pr@nysrps.org Bookeeper: Kim Brock, bookkeeper@nysrps.org Deadlines for articles, photos and advertising: Spring/Summer 2022 Deadline: February 20, 2022 Fall 2022 Deadline: September 1, 2022 All members of NYSRPS receive The Voice, reduced registration rates to the NYSRPS Annual Conference and One Day Seminars, as well as discounts on the Continuing Education Unit Program. NYSRPS areas of involvement and service include Legislation, Workshops and Seminars, Conferences, Membership Publications, and Continuing Education Units. The information and articles contained within this publication are for your consideration and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NYSRPS. NYSRPS reserves the right to approve all material in The Voice. All requests for articles, photos, and advertising should be made to the Membership Services Coordinator at 518.584.0321 or pr@nysrps.org.

In 2021, The Voice was printed three times per year. This is issue #3 of 2021.

Be seen and noticed! Advertise in The Voice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2021-22 NYSRPS Board of Directors / Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Regional Partners and Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Meet New Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 NYSRPS Call for Executive Board Nominees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 NYSRPS Member Spotlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 BPP Member Spotlight: Power Ad Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Town That Friendship Built . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Growing the Game in Hamburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Commercial Investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Park Hero Spotlight: Phil Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A VIP Visitor Visits Great Neck Park District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2021 Voice Photo Contest Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 2021 Downstate Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 2022 NYSRPS Annual Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 3 Reasons to Consider a Licensed Child Care Program . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Travel with NYSRPS and Collette Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A Guide to Playground Surfacing & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 NYSRPS Commercial Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29

ADVERTISER INDEX Alternative Earthcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bagspot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BBS Architects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Broyhill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Discount Playground Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Edmunds GovTech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Gyms for Dogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 iZone Imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Jamestown Advanced Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover Musco Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Parkitects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Pilot Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Power Ad Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 RenoSys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 US Playground Surfacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 USTA Eastern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Young Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

On the cover: Rainbow Falls Waterfall with Fall colors near Lake Placid, NY Photo by: heyengel, Deposit Photos

For advertising information, contact Todd Pernsteiner, Account Manager, at 952.841.1111 • todd@pernsteiner.com

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 1

President’s Letter

“Autumn the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.” Author unknown What a beautiful time of year and wonderful weather for all of us lucky enough to be in New York State. I love this time of year and the activities that come along with it. I hope this issue of the Voice finds all of you celebrating a successful summer with in-person programming that our communities have been craving. For many of us it meant instituting new practices to follow the latest regulations that were often updated and changed as needed, even mid program. We have all learned to make changes and make the best of our situations and our constituents were (for the most part) appreciative that we were able to do whatever was needed to bring them safe, fun, and worthwhile programs. May these lessons and successes carry over into your Fall and Winter Seasons as we forge ahead and see the beauty in change.

NYSRPS’s Executive Committee members were able to attend the NRPA Conference in Nashville in September. Just like many events it was a bit different due to Covid-19. No off sites and socials in Pods

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meant not as many options as in the past as well as some of the larger sessions being virtual for everyone. It was still a valuable experience, and everyone appreciated the time and effort put forth to bring an inperson conference with several layers of safety measures incorporated.

The exhibit hall was amazing as always with so many great companies represented. The networking is always an invaluable part of these conferences and I’m grateful to have been able to attend.

Thank you to all the parks and recreation professionals in New York State continuing to adjust and make changes when necessary to ensure great, accessible, safe parks and programs for the residents of New York State. Remember to take time for yourselves to rejuvenate, reflect, and appreciate the beauty.

Peggy Kenyon NYSRPS Board President

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2 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

From the Executive Director

Happy Fall NYSRPS Members!

As we approach Thanksgiving and the Holiday season, I am feeling so very thankful for all of you and all you have been through in the past year and a half. The ways you adapted and managed to offer your communities creative ways to engage and yes, still recreate was simply incredible. We learned a lot over this time, and perhaps most of all, learned how much we mean to one another!

We have some exciting events (in-person!) planned and hope to see you at the Downstate Conference, November 9th, and this coming April in beautiful Saratoga Springs. I am most excited about this event as it is right at the SPA State Park where the Society has the privilege of renting space in the Administrative Building. The experiential program the conference planning committee is lining up will be spectacular!

I had the pleasure of attending the NRPA Conference in Nashville and, as always, was impressed how such a large event is choreographed. With all the safety protocols in place, it was super to have our park professionals together again. The Council of State

Upcoming NYSRPS Events 2021 Downstate Conference Tarrytown, NY November 9, 2021

Executive Directors met for our annual meeting and I was selected to serve in the capacity of Chair of this illustrious group for 2021-2022.

The Council of State Executive Directors “CSED” has been meeting over 35 years and each year a different state is selected to lead as the Chair. I began this October and have a rather full agenda of some special projects I would like to accomplish with the Council this year. I am fortunate to have this opportunity and I certainly don’t want to squander the chance to make some positive advancements for the group, as well as our respective states.

Once again, thank you for the blessing of serving as your Executive Director of this wonderful family we call the New York State Recreation and Park Society!

I am most humbled to be in this position to serve such a dedicated, selfless group of true professionals. I wish you the best Thanksgiving and holiday season!

Lisa I. Morahan NYSRPS Executive Director

Concept to Completion

2022 NYSRPS Annual Conference Saratoga Springs, NY April 24-26, 2022 ‘Discover Canyon Country’ Group Travel Tour Arizona, Nevada, Utah October 4-11, 2022 Visit nysrps.org for complete details and to register.

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The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 3

2021-22 NYSRPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS / COMMITTEE CHAIRS

EXECUTIVE BOARD President Peggy Kenyon Town of Manlius 315-637-5188 pkenyon@townofmanlius.org 1 year term - Expires 2022 President-Elect Julie LaFave City of Syracuse 315-473-4330 JLaFave@syrgov.net 1 year term - Expires 2022 Immediate Past President Linanne Conroy Town of Perinton lconroy@perinton.org 1 year term - Expires 2022 Vice President of Programs & Services Tom Venniro Town of Parma 585-392-9030 tvenniro@parmany.org 2 year term - Expires 2022 Vice President of Professional Development Jason Marra Great Neck Parks District 516-487-7665 jmarra@greatneckparks.org 2 year term - Expires 2023 Treasurer John Hirliman City of Saratoga Springs 518-587-3550 john.hirliman@saratoga-springs.org 2 year term - Expires 2022 Secretary Kyle Derry Town of Ogden Parks and Recreation 585-617-6177 Recleader@ogdenny.com 2 year term - Expires 2023

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Region I Representative Jessica Dickinson Town of Pawling 845-855-1131 jldickinson@pawling.org 3 year term - Expires 2024 Region I Representative Bob Kaczmarek Village of Scarsdale 914-722-1160 rkaczmarek@scarsdale.com 3 year term - Expires 2023 Region II Representative Heather Maltby Town of Bethlehem 518-439-4955 x1603 hmaltby@townofbethlehem.org 3 year term - Expires 2024 Region II Representative Jack Davison Town of Onondaga 315-469-3464 jdavison@townofonondaga.com 3 Year Term - Expires 2022 Region III Representative Joseph Menter Grand Island 716-773-9680 jmenter@grand-island.ny.us 3 year term - Expires 2023 Region III Representative Nick Berlin Town of Perinton 585-223-5050 nberlin@perinton.org 3 year term - Expires 2022 Honorary Representative Yolanda Bostic Williams New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Regional Programs & Services Yolanda.BosticWilliams@parks.ny.gov

2021-2022 Preliminary Board Meeting Dates Board meetings are at 10 a.m. and are open to all to attend. We welcome guests and encourage participation. Please contact ed@nysrps.org for meeting specifics.

• December 14 (via Zoom) • February 8 (via Zoom) • April Annual Meeting (date tba) Saratoga Springs NYSRPS Conference & Expo Please refer to the “Members Only” section of the NYSRPS website under Membership for important Board documents and the latest approved minutes at nysrps.org.

4 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2022 Annual Conference Committee Alyssa Benway, Town of Malta Constitution and Bylaws Committee Gregg Goodman, Upstate Safe Play Elections Committee Jill Ramos, City of Saratoga Springs Executive Committee Peggy Kenyon, Town of Manlius Finance Committee John Hirliman, City of Saratoga Springs Membership Development Committee Rebecca LaFountain Nominations Committee Linanne Conroy Past Presidents Committee Linanne Conroy Professional Development Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius Professional Ethics & Grievance Committee Joanne Coast, Retired Public Awareness Committee Tom McGerty, Village of Garden City Public Policy Development Committee Eric Bacon, Town of Camillus Recognition and Awards Committee Charry Lawson, Town of Onondaga Resource Development Committee Ryan Rockefeller, Hilton-Parma NYSRPS Friends Foundation Bill Zimmerman, City of New Rochelle

NOW HIRING! NYSRPS is pleased to share employment opportunities now on the public side of the Society website (nysrps.org). Only members can post positions, but these may be viewed by all potential applicants looking for employment in the field of parks and recreation.

Do you have an opening and are a current member?

Please send your job posting, agency logo and job closing date to: Linda Sylvain at pr@nysrps.org.

REGIONAL PARTNER AND AFFILIATE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

NYSRPS REGIONS Region 1 – Hudson Valley, Long Island, Metro, and Westchester Region 2 – Central, Capital Region, Adirondack/Lake Champlain & North Country Region 3 – Genesee Valley & Niagara Frontier

REGIONAL PARTNERS

AFFILIATES

Central NY Recreation and Park Society (CNYRPS) President: Charlie Bisnett, Onondaga County, charliebisnett@ongov.net Past President: Eric Sopchak, Onondaga County President-Elect: Jack Davison, Town of Onondaga Secretary: Jake Brigham, (again!)

City of Binghamton Treasurer: Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius Member-at-Large: Deb Morrell, Town of Geddes Member-at-Large: Ryan Atkinson, Onondaga County Member-at-Large: Keith Caiello, Village of East Syracuse (new job!)

Member-at-Large: Linda Adams, Town of Cicero Member-at-Large: Jen Whiston, Town of Van Buren (new job!)

Long Island Leisure Services Association (LILSA)

Genesee Valley Recreation and Park Professionals (GVRPS) President: Ryan Rockefeller, Town of Parma, rrockefeller@parmany.org Past President: Tom Venniro, Town of Parma President-Elect: Kelly Bartell, Town of Ogden Secretary: Ellen Fridman, Town of Gates Treasurer: Stacie Paris, Town of Gates Member At Large: Kelly Attridge, Town of Perinton Member At Large: Kathleen Laskey, Town of Parma North Country Leisure Service Professionals (NCRLP) In development / no current executive board

President: Anthony Martino, amartino@northwell.edu Vice President: Tom McGerty, Village of Garden City Secretary: Dorothy Ferencik Treasurer: Manny Falzon, Great Necks Park District Board Member: Kate Schneider Niagara Frontier (NFRPS) President: Sara Lester, Gateway Longview, Longviewslester@gatewaylongview.org President-Elect: Nicole Ruberto, Town of Tonawanda Past President: Joseph Menter, Town of Grand Island Secretary: Kristin Welch, Town of Orchard Park Treasurer: Mary-Diana Pouli, Town of Amherst Member-at-Large: Josh Haeick, Village of Hamburg Member-at-Large: Mandy Lofft, City of Tonawanda Member-at-Large: Marty Denecke, Town of Hamburg Member-at-Large: Lauren Massett, Town of West Seneca

Affiliates and Regional Partners are encouraged to share news and events with NYSRPS. Please send submissions by the 15th of the month to pr@nysrps.org.

Metropolitan Recreation and Park Society (METRO) In development / no current executive board Capital Region Recreation and Park Society In development / no current executive board Westchester Recreation and Park Society (WRAPS) President: David Goldberg, Pound Ridge Recreation & Parks, dgoldberg@ townofpoundridge.com Vice-President: Sally Veltidi, Town of Eastchester Immediate Past-President: Brian Gray, Scarsdale Treasurer: Matt Trainor, Village of Pleasantville Secretary: Kim O’Brien, Town of Bedford Member at Large: Bob Kaczmarek, Scarsdale Member at Large: Bill Camarra, Eastchester Member at Large: Jen Guisti Member at Large: Beth Bricker, Westchester County Member at Large: Elizabeth Linsalato, Town of Mt. Pleasant Member at Large: Brittany Neider, New Castle

Hudson Valley Leisure Services Association (HVLSA) President: Jessica Dickinson, CPRP, Town of Pawling, jldickinson@pawling.org Vice President: Robyn Priano, Town of Pawling Secretary: Jeanne Scigliano, Town of Beekman Treasurer: Matt Veronesi, Town of New Windsor Member-at-Large: Nina Kallmeyer, Town of Carmel Member-at-Large: Courtney Carroll, CPRP, Town of LaGrange Member-at-Large: Jason Szeli, Town of Newburgh Member-at-Large: Sandy Washburn, Dutchess County

WORKING TOGETHER FOR NEW YORK COMMUNITIES

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 5

NYSRPS COMMITTEE CHAIRS

NYSRPS Welcomes New Committee Chairs Rebecca LaFountain Membership Development

Rebecca LaFountain

Ryan Rockefeller

NYSRPS is very pleased to welcome our new Membership Committee Chair, Rebecca Stoner-LaFountain. Since her official orientation September 7th Rebecca has been working hard in her new role as the Membership Committee Chair and will be hosting her first official committee meeting in November. As you might recall, Rebecca came to NYSRPS a few years back when she embarked on a semester-long PhD internship with the Society. She spent a lot of time on a new NYSRPS Student Internship Program, attended a few board meetings and met many of you at the NYSRPS Summit in Lake Placid. She even made the cover of our 2019 issue of The Voice!

Rebecca currently works seasonally (summer and winter) for the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department in Long Lake, NY in the Adirondack Park. This boosted her interest in connecting parks professionals in the North of New York State inside and outside of the ADK Park area and up towards the USA-Canada border. As there are less than a dozen active members affiliated with this area, it is a goal to boost

membership in this zone... and of course, in all regions.

We are thrilled to have such a passionate park professional leading this most important committee for the State Society!

Ryan RockefellerResource Development Ryan “The Rock” Rockefeller has recently stepped up to lead NYSRPS’s Resource Development Committee. With years of fundraising experience behind him, Ryan was a natural candidate for this position and he welcomed the challenge with open arms. Ryan is a natural salesperson and does not see fundraising as hard. He truly enjoys it and is not afraid to ask for money or donations. His vast experience soliciting sponsors for his local association, GVRPS, and incredible work serving on multiple conference committees for NYSRPS will position him wonderfully to take the reins and lead the way for the State to develop its financial and human resources in much bigger and better ways! Thank you Ryan for serving in this most needed way.

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800-203-3613 bagspot.com info@bagspot.com 6 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

NYSRPS BOARD NOMINATIONS

The New York State Recreation & Park Society’s Call for Executive Board Nominations Opens in December 2021 Would you like to represent your fellow park and recreation professionals in New York State to advance the value of leisure services? Prior Executive Board service is not required for most positions and full training is provided! If you are interested, stay tuned!

Nominations will open up in December, be sure to visit nysrps.org for information when it becomes available.

The following positions will be up for nomination:

President-Elect - 1 Year Term

Treasurer - 2 Year Term

VP Programs and Services - 2 Year Term

Region II Representative - 3 Year Term

Region III Representative - 3 Year Term

Criteria for Candidate Eligibility Candidates for positions in the NYSRPS Executive Board must meet the following eligibility requirements: • Employment within the region for which he/she is nominated.* • Dues-paying member of NYSRPS for at least one (1) year prior to election.

2019 Executive Board pictured (back row, left to right): Region I Representative, Tom Meyering, VP Programs and Services, Gregg Goodman, President Elect, Linanne Conroy, Region 2 Representative, Patrick McGinnis, Region 2 Representative, Jack Davison,and Region 3 Representative Nick Berlin. Front row: VP of Professional Development, Peggy Kenyon, NYSRPS Executive Board President, Charry Lawson, NYSRPS Past President, Debra Keville, NYSRPS Secretary, Julie LaFave, OPRHP Representative Mary Ann Corbisiero, and Treasurer, Nathan Nagle. Not pictured, Region 3 Representative Joseph Menter

Eligibility requirements specifically for the position of President Elect: • Service on a Board-approved Committee of NYSRPS not less than four (4) aggregate years OR • Served a minimum of one (1) year on the NYSRPS Executive Board.

Regions served by NYSRPS Executive Board Region Representatives: Region I: HudsonValley, Westchester, Metropolitan and Long Island Region II: Adirondack/Lake Champlain, Capital, Central and North Country Region III:GeneseeValley and Niagara Frontier The Nomination Process All nominees must provide the following upon nomination of the NYSRPS Executive Board: • Completed acceptance form (to be provided upon receipt of enclosed nomination form).

• A photo for use on the ‘Meet the Candidates’ promotions.

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 7

NYSRPS MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

Elaine Apfelbaum to Retire from Town of Clarkstown (2007-2008) Elaine volunteered to represent NY on NRPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Associations, and volunteered as President for her local association, HVLSA. In addition to her stellar parks and rec career, Elaine has also formed an event, called “Apples Poker Run.” The event takes place every year, and all the proceeds from this annual event are given to local charities.

Elaine’s career has been illustrious and marked with excellence and reflects her passion for people and the parks and recreation field. We thought we’d ask Elaine a few questions as she approaches retirement:

The NYSRPS congratulates Elaine Apfelbaum on her upcoming retirement! We are happy for Elaine, but it is bittersweet, as Elaine is a beloved and valuable member of the parks and recreation family. She has been serving as the Superintendent of Recreation and Parks for the Town of Clarkstown. She will be sincerely missed by all of us at NYSRPS, as well as all who have worked with her.

Elaine grew up in New City, NY. She was hired by the Town of Clarkstown Recreation and Parks Department in April, 1984, after working there part-time while attending Ithaca College, pursuing her degree in Recreation Management.

While working at the Town of Clarkstown, she was mentored by past Superintendents, Ed Ghiazza, Past President and Hall of Fame recipient from NYSRPS, and Chuck Connington member of the NYSRPS. Elaine received the Fran Wallach Good Gal Award (1991) and continued to serve years later as President for NYSRPS

1. What will you miss when you leave Clarkstown’s Recreation & Park Dept?

The friendships formed with my co-workers and professionals in Clarkstown and throughout New York State. Also, I will miss attending the conferences. I always looked forward to seeing other park and rec professionals who I didn’t see regularly due to proximity. The relationships I formed while at the conferences are cherished, ongoing and for a lifetime.

The conferences gave me an opportunity to exchange ideas, updates and experiences. The experiences were further enriched by visiting other departments, getting to know staff, and touring the facilities.

2. Everyone retires with some measure of personal satisfaction. What is yours?

This was not just a job. It was (and remains) a passion. I love(d) what I do. I love people and strive to enhance, assist, and positively impact them at every opportunity. I love life and enjoy having fun. My career has made it possible for me to do both.

3. You have had the unique opportunity to be friends with NY Yankee players. Do you have a favorite?

I have many favorites. Actually, I couldn’t even try to name just one. I can say that I regard Mariano Rivera as the best closer in the history of the game, and there’s been no one better…in my opinion.

It was a privilege to get to know many past NY Yankee players while I participated as a player at the NY Yankee Fantasy Camp held in Tampa, Florida. I am happy to call them my friends.

4. What is some advice you would give your successor?

Be flexible and creative; this provides a great opportunity to try new things and experiment with creative ideas and strategies. Be innovative and excited about the work.

5. What do you look forward to in your retirement?

Moving to my new home at Myrtle Beach, relaxation, golf, friends living in Myrtle Beach. being able to “Park and Recreate” and love doing it all.

Prior to my official retirement in late November.

I will be helping Clarkstown Rec and Park whenever needed, while in New York.

No doubt, opportunities are waiting for me in Myrtle Beach to take part in numerous recreation activities. I have already received requests and they are eagerly awaiting my arrival!

Elaine, we will miss you and wish you well as you embark on your next chapter.

Save the date!

2022 NYSRPS Conference APRIL April 24-26 24-26 Saratoga Springs, NY 2022 NYSRPS CONFERENCE Presenters wishing to submit session abstracts, see nysrps.org for details.

8 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

NYSRPS MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS

Bob Harris Retires from the Chemung County Youth Bureau NYSRPS is very pleased to congratulate Bob Harris on his retirement celebrated September 10, 2021. Starting out in the Town of Horseheads in 1991 and then moving over to Chemung County for his lasting 30 year career, Bob had been an incredible connector for so many locally, and across the state. His dedication to the field is evident by his vast resume of awards and certifications.

Bob was an integral part of the Society’s reopening recommendations to parks across the state, helping to draft “Safe to Play” in 2020.

Periodically Bob would reach out to provide NYSRPS with a name of a good park partner, and he was always quick to give advice or an encouraging word.

Bob’s noted achievements over his career included the successful merger/consolidation of the Chemung County Youth Bureau with the Chemung County Recreation Department.

#shapedbyplay

Upon assuming leadership in 1994, Bob increased/expanded the department budget from $350,000 to 1.6 million dollars through considerable advocacy and the cultivation of new community partnerships developing 5 NEW recreational/youth service programs for the County.

During his tenure with the Chemung County Youth Bureau the department received the following regional and state awards/ recognitions: 2000 NYSRPS Special Publication & Marketing Award “Brand- New Unbelievably Great Stuff” (a youth recreation & services guide) 2004 GVRPS Special Events Award “30th Birthday Celebration for the Chemung County Summer Cohesion Program”; 2005 NYSRPS Special Events Award “ 30th Birthday Celebration for the Chemung County Summer Cohesion Program”; 2014 GVRPS Flyers & Posters Award “ Zombie Dance Party”; 2015 NYSRPS Flyers & Poster Award “Zombie Dance Party”; 2016 GVRPS Special Event Award “Skating with Santa”; 2020 GVRPS Program of Merit Award “At Home With Summer Cohesion”; 2021 NYSRPS Program of Merit

Award “ At Home With Summer Cohesion”.

His admirable list of professional affiliations included the National Recreation & Parks Association, National Association of County & Recreation Officials, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, New York State Recreation & Parks Society, Genesee Valley District, N.Y.S. Recreation & Parks Society, Southern Region, N.Y.S. Association of Youth Bureaus, Southern Tier Regional Planning Board Human Services Committee, Past Vice President, New York State Association of Youth Bureaus, Past Co-chair, Chemung County Task Force on Children & Families.

As one can see Bob did not slow down with his approaching year of retirement; he continued to invest himself in his work and community until his last official day. Best wishes Bob on your contributions to our profession and the indelible mark you have left upon recreation in Chemung County. May this testimony of service serve as a living example of hard work, dedication, and passion for all park and recreation professionals to follow.

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The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 9

NYSRPS BPP Member Spotlight

Get to Know Power Ad Company NYSRPS is very pleased to welcome a new BPP member to our State Society, Power Ad Company.

Power Ad Company is a professional booster club / sports marketing company based in Franklin, Ohio. We have given over $46 million in cash and equipment nationwide in our 25 years of proven success. We specialize in providing scoreboards, scoring tables, wind screens, wall wraps and revenue, all for free through sponsors we acquire. Not only do our projects provide the equipment needed up front, but they also create long term revenue streams for parks, rec centers, and schools.

We begin by working with facilities and rec centers on the upgrades and projects they’d like to accomplish, then we design a project alongside them, and finally in 6-8 months after the project is launched, the facility will receive their new equipment! If fundraising is a priority over new equipment, we will design a project to maximize annual revenue generation.

Marty Denecke, Director of Youth, Recreation, and Senior Services for the Town of Hamburg, NY said this after we got them a new hockey scoreboard for free in October 2020: “Through sponsorships they have helped us secure new scoreboards at our Ice Arena and our Gymnasium. Our only cost in this process was installation of the scoreboards.

Power Ad did the selling of the ad space to pay for the units. Once the scoreboard is paid for, they begin to share the revenue stream that has been agreed to with the client.

It was a pleasure working with [them] and [their] company. I’m amazed at how well [their] team did in terms of securing ads, considering some of the work had to be completed during the pandemic. The unit has been delivered and installed and we are very pleased with the end result!” (basketball scoreboards arriving September 2021) Contact Kylene Pippin for more information on facility upgrades, fundraising campaigns, and more! She can be reached at 937-665-2249 or kylene@ poweradcompany.com.

Over 1,000 satisfied facilities, schools, rec centers, and more have trusted us and our proven program. We look forward to partnering with many more facilities in New York and nationwide!

Hamburg hockey scoreboard before Power Ad Company.

Power Ad Company is the nationwide leader in high school athletic fundraising, giving over $45 Million in free equipment and revenue to over 800 schools in our combined 56 years of success. We’ve given away thousands of traditional and digital / LED scoreboards, scoring tables and more to all 50 states and beyond.

Hamburg hockey scoreboard after Power Ad Company.

10 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

“THE TOWN THAT FRIENDSHIP BUILT!”

Makes Things Happen In this season of Thanksgiving I would like to take this opportunity to showcase Marty Denecke and his wonderful park agency, the Town of Hamburg Department of Youth, Recreation and Senior Services. Included in this issue of ‘The Voice’ are a couple of very successful programs Marty has implemented, Power Ads and Eastern USTA’s “Growing Tennis Together” Eastern Support Grant. I thought it would be nice to introduce you to the man behind the department making things happen for residents in Hamburg, NY. -Lisa Morahan. NYSRPS Executive Director

Meet Marty Denecke

Marty Denecke

I have been with the Town of Hamburg for 33 years. I began in 1988 as Sr. Recreation Supervisor. I was promoted to Assistant Director in 1995 and to Director in 2002. In 2010 my duties increased when I was put in charge of Hamburg’s Senior Services and Youth Bureau. As those department heads left service, our Town Board merged the 3 departments into one.

Prior to my appointment in Hamburg, I worked 10 years as the Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor at Hopevale, Inc., a residential center for children with emotional and behavioral issues. Our referrals came from various counties in NYS through family court and from the NYS Office of Child & Family Services (formerly the Division for Youth).

The Town of Hamburg Department of Youth, Recreation and Senior Services has 12 full time staff members. Generally, we have about 125 seasonal and part time individuals on staff throughout the year, although that jumps up to about 200 in the warm weather months. A separate department (Buildings & Grounds) handles our maintenance. We operate 6 major facilities including an 18-hole golf course, a regulation size ice arena (converts to Sport Court April - August), a State-of-the-Art senior center that also houses an adult day service, a fitness center, a waterfront beach on the shore of Lake Erie and a family rental cabin (for events). We also have thousands of acres of active and passive parkland, some of which is groomed and lined for a variety of youth and adult sports activity.

I have been a member of the Niagara Frontier Recreation & Parks Society since I began college in the mid 70’s...about 46 years. I have served many terms as a board member including 2 stints as NFRPS President, and 10 years service on the NYSRPS Executive Board.

The Town of Hamburg has a population of approximately 60,000 residents.

Our motto is “The Town that Friendship Built”. Hamburg is situated on the far western border of the state, on the shores of Lake Erie and we are just 10 miles south of downtown Buffalo. Kathy Courtney (now Governor Cathy Hochul) was 2 years behind me at Hamburg High School and worked very closely with my department while serving on the Hamburg Town Board.

Around Hamburg

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 11

Growing the Game in Hamburg

By Monica LaMura, USTA Eastern Director of Marketing and Communications

Every year, the Town of Hamburg offered tennis programming twice: for six weeks outdoors during the summer months, and then again at an indoor gym in winter.

But 2020 was a year like no other.

With many other youth sports on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamburg officials endeavored to extend their outdoor tennis operation into the fall, to both bridge the gap between seasonal programming for the first time as well as provide parents a safe physical activity for their kids.

York—to apply for a Growing Tennis Together Eastern Support Grant. Using money from the grant, Denecke was able to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and racquets, as well as bring in Eastern clinician and USTA National trainer Michelle Skelley to lead the instruction. Skelley has led Hamburg’s summer and winter clinics for many years. “The grant allowed us to do an outdoor program in the early fall,” Denecke says simply.

Of course, given the town’s geographic location just south of Buffalo in Western New York, they’d have to act fast before temperatures put their vision on ice. As Marty Denecke, Hamburg’s Head of Youth, Recreation and Senior Services, notes, “With our climate, anything scheduled later than October would likely not work out too well!”

That program was an unequivocal hit. Feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive— even after on one occasion, notes Denecke, chilly conditions sent moms and dads shivering back to their cars while kids gladly and excitedly toughed it out on the courts. “Michelle had so much fresh energy that she made it a huge success,” Denecke says. “Parents let her know how much they appreciated the opportunity for their children to continue with tennis beyond the summer.”

To make the plan a reality, Denecke collaborated with Joe Steger—USTA Eastern’s Tennis Service Representative for Western and Northern New

The fall program is just one example of how the town has worked over the last few years to grow access to the sport in the community. In

addition to the winter gym program, Denecke’s department recently partnered with the Hamburg Racquet Club to offer more advanced residents the opportunity to play during the colder months. Denecke hopes this relationship will continue; he estimates participation in Hamburg’s tennis offerings have grown 10-percent each year for the last five years, and he’s anxious to continue the trend.

“We are putting together a comprehensive program that ultimately will create opportunities for all of our participants to advance to the level they desire,” Denecke says. “For children in our programs, we would like to offer some form of tennis programming year-round that includes introductory skill development, advanced learning, in-house competition and travel or tournament opportunities. [And] although we are not far along with our adult programming, we are also very interested in rebooting those programs as part of our comprehensive package.”

For Denecke, investing in the sport is not just a boon for tennis fans in the community. It also benefits his entire organization.

“Success breeds success,” he says. “When leaders within our department see how the quality of the tennis programs have increased, they are motivated to do the same within their own areas of responsibility.”

And Denecke specifically cites Skelley, as well as USTA support, for boosting that quality.

“The USTA has been a consistent resource for our tennis programming,” he says. “Staff training, equipment grants and discounts, program grants, lesson plans and program formatting outlines make our jobs much easier.

Joe is in constant contact with us to make sure all of our tennis needs are covered. His dedicated efforts, attention to our program and nurturing oversight has paid great dividends!”

Want to learn more about what USTA Eastern can offer you? Contact USTA Eastern Tennis Service Representative Joe Steger at steger@ eastern.usta.com to learn more.

Kids learn to play in the Hamburg tennis program.

12 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

Commercial Investigations LLC and Craig Picca Seeking Proactive Truth in New York Background Checks Background screening or background checks are now normal in the parks and recreation industry.

But background checks are a broad category, what level of screening is needed? Is all the information I need to make an informed decision about a candidate included in the search I’m receiving? How do you know what to look for and if you are getting that information included in your search? Well, Craig and Commercial Investigations are here to help you with that.

Introducing Craig Picca, sales and business development lead with Commercial Investigations LLC. Craig has been involved in youth sports technology and volunteer background screening for 8 years and has seen organizations utilizing all sorts of methods for backgrounds. Spending almost a decade in youth sports I’ve heard almost everything from “we don’t background check because this is a small town”, “our local police run our checks’’, and “we do the bare minimum background”.

All of these are problematic and points to the

diversity of options available and some feeling that just doing something is enough.

I always ask what is more important, low cost or safe kids? The answer is always safe kids. In New York, getting a full due diligence search can be tricky. The low cost “national database” searches can miss up to 50% of criminal records and are not updated often enough or at all from some jurisdictions, county level searches will miss the majority of the misdemeanor records in New York State, as those are tried at the lower town/village/city courts. Lastly, the New York State Office of Courts Administration, while a good statewide search, is too expensive for most agencies to run on volunteers. It didn’t look like there was a good option in New York, until I found Commercial Investigations and their Cursory Indicator New York inquiry. Finally, a solution to the agencies in my home state’s needs.

a solution to the expensive NYS OCA search, Cursory Indicator New York, a proprietary database of criminal data that spans the state misdemeanors and felonies with a tremendous value over the NY OCA. Far too many agencies in New York are not meeting the guidelines for volunteer background screening that were setup by the NRPA . Those guidelines ask for a due diligence check that includes a state or county criminal record check depending on jurisdiction.

In New York a statewide check is necessary.

Please allow us to help with your background screening needs, schedule a call and we can review your current practices to see if your agency is meeting national standards and come up with a plan to get you there. The safety of those you serve is your number one responsibility, the cost of not ensuring that safety is too great to take lightly.

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The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 13

Park Hero Spotlight Phil Smith, Parks Foreman, Town of Parma, Hilton-Parma Parks & Recreation When we think of Park (and Rec) Heroes, we tend to spotlight our recreation staff as they are typically the ones on the frontline, interacting with the public. Meanwhile, our park employees are doing great things in the background such as making sure our fields are in pristine shape, prepping areas for events, or keeping our spaces clean and safe from hazards. These tasks alone make them true unsung heroes, but sometimes, you find a park employee that goes above and beyond on a daily basis. The Town of Parma has just that in their Park Foreman, Phil Smith.

Phil started with the Parks Department in April of 2019. What he has done since then is nothing short of remarkable and admirable. In addition to taking on new and added responsibilities to the position, Phil has made the Town of Parma’s park and recreation system infinitely better with his presence and contributions.

14 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

Here are just a few of Phil’s accomplishments over the past several years: • Reconstructed and revamped an eightbaseball field system which is now one of the most desirable locations in the area.

• Coordinated the COVID-19 safety supply and maintenance operations, training, and inventory for the entire Town (not just parks and rec).

• Supervised the installation and area restoration of the new state of the art and inclusive Adventure Towers Playground at Parma Town Park. His efforts and countless hours made it possible for the highly anticipated play structure to be ready for a grand opening under major time constraints.

These are all tangible examples of Phil’s value to the community, but it is the intangibles that truly set him apart. Phil’s passion and jovial

demeanor have created a fun and enjoyable working environment. Like a famous TV show with a different name, everybody loves Phil. It is not difficult to see why. He truly embraces the concept and culture that brings parks and recreation together, and all Town departments for that matter. In addition to putting in countless hours to get whatever job at hand done, Phil inserts himself into the recreation side of things. His family of six participates in most recreation offerings and when a coach is needed for youth sports, Coach Phil steps up.

During a major event, Phil puts on his HP Parks & Rec staff shirt and takes on responsibilities of both a park and recreation professional and is the last one to leave. Simply put, Phil cares about the product he is behind and the idea of being the best product around. For these reasons and so much more, Phil Smith is a true Park Hero.

A VIP Visitor Tokyo Olympic Bronze Medalist Visits Parkwood Pool Article and photos by Michele Siegel, Publicist, Great Neck Park District Nineteen-year-old NCAA champion, World Junior champion and now Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist, Kate Douglass, offered a question-and-answer presentation at Parkwood Family Aquatic Center on Monday, Aug. 16. Kate won the bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley, earning a spot on the podium with a personal best time of 2:09.04. The Great Neck Park District is fortunate to have had Kate’s coach, Jonah Montgomery instructing his team, Queens Aquatics, at the Parkwood Family Aquatic Center every weekday morning this summer. It was through that connection, that the Queens Aquatics swimmers were able to hear about Kate’s special life experiences as they relate to her sport. Bringing her bronze medal for everyone to examine, she answered questions, shared photo ops and signed autographs for the team members.

In Tokyo, Douglass’ swim helped bolster the medal count for American swimmers, highlighted by Katie Ledecky’s gold in the 1,500-meter freestyle final. “We all feed off each other’s successes,” Douglass said to reporters following the race about Team USA’s swimming squad. “It’s just showing that there’s a great future for U.S. swimming out there.”

Kate grew up in Pelham and began swimming when she was 8 yrs. old. At age 11, her training with Coach Montgomery started, along with his assistant coach, Kris Sweetman. Great Neck Park District’s Lt. Lifeguard Erick Zizic, opens up Parkwood Family Aquatic Center daily at 5:45 a.m. for the team. Dan Marsella, Great Neck Park District Aquatic Director, coordinates all of the programs and events at the pool.

Douglass, was a standout swimmer in Westchester for most of her teenage years, and now swims for the University of Virginia.

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 15

2021 NYSRPS VOICE PHOTO CONTEST RESULTS

Congratulations 2021 Voice Photo Con Best of Show

‘Hadley in the Mountains’ by Ryan Rockefeller

3rd Place

Honorable Mention

‘End of the Year Fireworks’ by Tom McGerty

‘What a Pretty Day!’ by Joann Robertson

16 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

‘Backyard Buddy Club’ by Nina Shawn Gainor

2021 NYSRPS VOICE PHOTO CONTEST RESULTS

ntest Winners!

2nd Place

‘Water Day at Cicero Day Camp’ by Linda Adams

‘Lagrange Summer Camp’ by Courtney Carroll

The 2021 NYSRPS Voice Photo Contest ran through the summer and early fall. Ryan Rockefeller was the “Best of Show” winner and will receive a 2022 NYSRPS Annual Conference registration.

Thank you to everyone who submitted such wonderful photos and congratulations to the winners!

‘Rotary 9/11 Service’

by Courtney Carroll

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 17

2021 DOWNSTATE CONFERENCE

Downstate Reunited!

Tuesday, November 9 The Downstate Conference Committee is very pleased to announce we will be REUNITED in person on Tuesday, November 9th at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel Conference Center (formerly the DoubleTree Marriott) in Tarrytown, NY. WRAPS is leading the charge this year, as Conference Program Chair, working collectively with NYSRPS, NYSTRA, HVLSA and METRO to offer a day of professional development, networking and camaraderie. This one-day educational event features top-notch speakers and a terrific exhibit hall featuring the latest products for parks and recreation. The Downstate Conference pulls in approximately 300 leisure service professionals, including students pursuing a career in municipal and therapeutic recreation.

For a full line-up of programs and presenters’ biographies visit nysrps.org / education/ Downstate Conference. The latest program information and real time notifications will be available there, via our conference app ‘Eventsential’.

The Downstate Committee is committed to safety as priority #1. Please note the following protocols that will be in place to ensure your health in best protected: • Pre-event notification regarding protocols to attendees • Temperature Check • COVID-19 Waivers • Hand sanitizers placed throughout event • Masks on when not seated • 3 ft social distancing • Exhibitors must wear masks all times at booth • Presenters more than 10 ft from audience do not need to wear masks At the time of this article submission, we are planning for an in-person event. Please understand we may be switching to a virtual format if the need arises. Be sure to watch out for all email communications and visit nysrps.org for the show’s status.

We look forward to seeing you!

NYSRPS & the Downstate Committee

DOWNSTATE CONFERENCE QUESTIONS? Please contact Lisa Morahan, NYSRPS Executive Director, at ed@nysrps.org.

DOWNSTATE CONFERENCE PRESENTED BY:

18 The Voice | Fall/Winter WINTER/SPRING 2021 2017 • nysrps.org • nysrps.org

Preliminary Program* 8:00 a.m........................ Registration & Continental Breakfast

(Sponsored by Discount Playground Supply) 8:45-10:55 a.m....................................................... Sessions 11:00-11:45am...................................... Exhibit Hall Exclusive 11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m............................................... Sessions 12:50-1:55 p.m................................ Exhibits, Lunch, & Raffles 2:00-4:10 p.m........................................................ Sessions *Subject to change

EXHIBITORS* Thanks to our following commercial sponsors for attending: • Alternative Earthcare • Playground Medic • American Red Cross • Site Specialists, Ltd. • Big Toys • Skyhawks Sports Academy • Camp Pennbrook • Sport-Tech Construction & Sport-Tech Acrylics Corp.

• CivicPlus/CivicRec • Super Soccer Stars/ • Club Getaway Amazing Athletes • CommunityPass • The Adventure Park at the • EDS Presentations Discovery Museum and Long • Funtime Amusements Island • KOMPAN • Toastmasters • Little Tikes Commercial • US Playground Surfacing Playgrounds • US Sports Institute • Miracle Recreation • USTA Eastern Equipment Company • Yodel • Musco Sports Lighting • Young Equipment • NYSID Solutions, Inc. *As of press time

HOTEL DETAILS Hotel rates are $146 (exclusive of taxes). Visit the Sleepy Hollow Hotel Conference Center website at sleepyhollowhotelny.com to reserve your hotel room; use SPECIAL CODE “NYSRPS” to receive the conference rate.

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The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 19

APRIL 24-26

2022 NYSRPS CONFERENCE

2022 NYSRPS Conference April 24-26 Saratoga Springs, NY

Conference Rates Full Conference Member.........................................$300 Full Conference Non-Member................................. $375

Call for Abstracts

Committee............................................................ $225

The 2022 Annual Conference Program Committee will be seeking session submissions from individuals with concentrated expertise and dynamic presentation skills in a variety of areas related to park, recreation and therapeutic recreation operations.

Spouse...................................................................$160

Abstract submissions are being accepted through November 30, 2021 on the NYSRPS Conference Presenters page at nysrps.org.

Tracks will include, but are not limited to: • Advocacy • Career Development • Customer Service • Health and Wellness • Planning, Design and Maintenance ` • Public Relations and Marketing

Retiree...................................................................$150 Presenter................................................................$125 Monday Only..........................................................$185 Sunday / Tuesday.....................................................$85

• Aquatics • Conservation • Equity and Inclusion • Leadership and Personnel Management • Programming • Revenue Development

20 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

Students Full Conference.......................................... $85 Hotel Rooms............................................. $142 per night

2022 NYSRPS Conference

Photo: Gail Stein Frozen Moments in and Around Saratoga

April 24-26 | Saratoga Springs, NY

Call for Exhibitors Get face-to-face time!

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their latest products, services and trends to hundreds of park, recreation and therapeutic recreation professionals in New York State.

GRAND BALLROOM BOOTHS The Grand Ballroom will feature exhibits skirting the perimeter of room, for optimal visibility during meals.

HALLWAY EXHIBITORS Hallway exhibitors enjoy 8’ x 8’ space with a covered table and access to conference attendees at a lower rate.

EXHIBITOR RATES Includes 6 ft. covered table and 2 chairs.

NYSRPS Member (Grand Ballroom)............ $800 NYSRPS Member (Hallway).........................$700 Non-Member (Grand Ballroom)..................$875

Preliminary Schedule At-a-Glance Sunday, April 24, 2022 Registration Opens......................................................1 p.m.

Sessions........................................................... 2 - 4:45 p.m.

Happy Hour Social....................................... 4:45 - 6:30 p.m.

Evening Social........................................................Time TBD

Monday, April 25, 2022 Healthy Initiative..........................................................6 a.m.

Breakfast with Exhibitors..............................................8 a.m.

Sessions........................................................8:30- 11:15 a.m.

Lunch.............................................................11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Keynote Presentation............................................. 12 - 1 p.m.

Sessions.............................................................1- 3:45 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Social.............................................. 4 - 5:30 p.m.

NYSRPS Awards........................................... 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Evening Social........................................................Time TBD

Non-Member (Hallway)..............................$775

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Non-Profit (Hallway spaces only).................$550

Healthy Initiative..........................................................6 a.m.

Breakfast with Exhibitors..............................................8 a.m.

Sessions....................................................... 8:30 - 11:15 a.m.

Exhibit Hall w/Lunch................................... 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Final Sessions / Roundtables................................1 - 2:15 p.m.

Receive a 20% discount for multiple booths. $75.00 additional charge for electricity. Decorator will handle all shipments to/from the conference center.

For exhibitor sign-up and decorator information, go to nysrps.org.

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 21

3 Reasons to Consider Turning Your Before and After School Programs into a NYS Licensed Child Care Program

By Thomas Venniro, CPRP, Director of Parks and Recreation, Town of Parma – Hilton-Parma Parks and Recreation

Certification, regulations, paperwork, inspections, time, cost, and… more paperwork! These may be a few reasons why you may have never considered offering a Licensed Child Care Program for the organization you serve. For years, many of us have resisted the thought and possibility of offering before and after school programs as recognized child care.

By classifying our programs as a single purpose ‘recreation’ program or limiting program hours of operation, we are exempt from doing so, and thus, exempt from all those scary words above.

I have been fortunate enough to oversee before and after school programs in the communities I have served since 2007. In my current role with the Town of Parma and Hilton-Parma Parks & Recreation Department, we started our program in the fall of 2017 operating as a single purpose ‘recreation’ program. At one point we were actually reported to OCFS (The Office of Children and Family Services) as a child care program operating without a license. An OCFS representative came to our site, inspected it,

and cited us for being a child care program operating without a license.

Ultimately, it was determined that we were running a before and after school recreation program and we never heard from the OCFS again, continuing to operate the program as it was for the next several years.

Fast forward to March of 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic we all know as COVID-19. Like all programs, service, and activities, schools temporarily shut down and with them, so did before and after school programs. Once school resumed, however, not all wrap around programs did the same. Many schools returned in a fully remote, in-person alternating day, or hybrid structure. This created an added need for out of school resources as parents and guardians entered back into their own workforce.

Due to NYS reopening guidelines, general ‘recreation’ programs were not permitted to operate until July of 2020, so even if we had the resources to host students while learning remotely or on days they were not to report to school, we were unable to. Licensed child care programs, on the other

while many of us spent the remainder of the school year standing on the sidelines, closed down, and furloughing staff, child care providers went back to work and many of our loyal customers found their services in this time of need.

22 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

hand, were seen as an essential service and permitted to reopen under certain guidelines. So, while many of us spent the remainder of the school year standing on the sidelines, closed down, and furloughing staff, child care providers went back to work and many of our loyal customers found their services in this time of need.

aid, mandated reporting, and medical administration (MAT). Kathleen also developed all required program policy and procedure which she now trains all program staff on. Kathleen was kind enough to provide the following testimonial regarding the process and what it has done for her and the program:

This was certainly a bitter pill to swallow. As Parks & Recreation professionals, we have always considered ourselves an essential service.

Unfortunately, New York State did not and we began to ask, what makes a child care program anymore essential then what we provide with our out of school time programming? After doing a little homework (pun intended), the Hilton-Parma Recreation Department decided to pursue the lengthy process of becoming a licensed child care program in November of 2020 and by March of 2021, we received official certification as a Licensed School Age Child Care Program.

“Although the application process to become an OCFS Licensed Child Care Program took time and effort, it was well worth it. Our program is stronger because of our certification. The rules and regulations to follow keep us organized and structured which benefit the staff, the children, and the families.

In the following passages, we will share why we went this route, and why you may want to considerate it too.

1

Increased Program Value and Attractiveness through Enhanced Programming Versatility

Despite what anyone says, our services provide value to those who utilize them. The difference between one program to the next is the amount of value. As a Licensed School Age Child Care Program, we are now able to offer program features that we were unable to as a single purpose ‘recreation’ program. The main two that come to mind are additional activities, such as homework time and assistance, and the ability to offer increased hours for the program. Prior to obtaining our certification, we were unable to assist with homework without being in violation of operating as a child care program without a permit. As you can imagine, this was an issue for us and for parents when children were learning virtually on days, they were not to report to school at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Adding further, there are often grants or credits provided to parents that cover child care enrollment fees. Most recently, the OCFS provided a child care grant to essential workers who have children in a licensed program. We have seen several families benefit from this and the OCFS sends checks to cover their enrollment fees directly to the Town. Do we advertise our program as licensed and share these stories? You bet! You may be thinking, all of this is great, but at what cost?

Believe it our not, the application process and permit are FREE. Yes, there is some time that goes into it, but the only tangible expenses you are likely to incur from going through the process are for any required staff trainings, which brings us to our next point.

2

The Process and Regulations Make You and Your Staff Better and Safer

Regulations and a process like this often scare people. They shouldn’t.

Prior to going through this process, we ran a really successful program that we were proud of. As the saying goes, we can always work to be better at what we do. Just ask Tom Brady (sorry, I had to). The application process makes you analyze and build on current procedures in addition to adding some that you may not implement. For example, after new staff onboarding and orientation, we rarely offered regular staff trainings unless something came up that required some. Through our certification, we are required to maintain a certain amount of annual training hours for each of the program staff. This forces us to educate program employees on relevant topics that we may not have otherwise chose to. Kathleen Laskey, our School Age Child Care Program Director, now holds certifications in emergency preparedness, media use/safety with children, advanced first

Numerous trainings throughout the year are required for the staff members to learn about emergency situations, new program ideas, health and safety, and more.

We have learned a lot throughout this process, and we are continuing to learn. A few examples of changes to our program include the addition of fire drills and inspections, logbooks, nutrition menus, and health care plans.”

3

You Are (Recognized as) an Essential Service

As I mentioned earlier, we all know that what we do is essential. That said, the stark reality is that not everyone sees it the same way. As an officially recognized child care provider, we are now positioned as an essential service and if we were ever to face a similar situation like we experienced during school shut-downs or pod-based scheduling, we will be ready to answer the call should we be permitted and able to serve our community.

All in all, we are very excited to see our program grow and explore potential funding opportunities that may come along with the designation. Most of us already go through a similar process at the County level with our summer camp programs anyway. For those of you interested in learning more, feel free to reach out to myself (tvenniro@ parmany.org) or Kathleen Laskey (klaskey@parmany.org). Additionally, the OCFS website provides so many helpful resources and their team was great at seeing us through this unknown process.

Additional information from the OCFS: The Office of Children and Family Services provides support for people and organizations interested in starting child day care programs in their communities. Before becoming licensed or registered, the applicant must show that the proposed child day care program meets requirements established to promote the health and safety of children in care.

To obtain an application for a child care program license or registration, you will take the Child Day Care Orientation. This orientation will help you decide if operating a child care program in New York State is right for you. It outlines requirements for opening a child care program, spaces where care can be provided, the ratios of children to adults, and resources for providers. Orientation includes important rules and regulations you need to know to run your business. You will also find information on how to best care for children in your program.

For all of this information and more resources, visit https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/become-a-provider.php

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 23

Travel with NYSRPS and Collette Tours October 4-11, 2022 NYSRPS is very happy to announce the first organized group travel opportunity for our members and their communities across NY! Travellers will have the chance to visit Canyon Country and the nation’s most beautiful National Parks including Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon and more, conveniently organized by New York State Recreation and Park Society and Collette Tours.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE Day 1: Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ Day 2: Yavapai East at South Rim Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Days 3 & 4: Lake Powell Resort, Page, AZ Days 5 & 6: Courtyard by Marriott St. George, St. George, UT Day 7: Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV On some dates alternate hotels may be used.

This package will offer all the chance to enjoy air, overnight accommodations, meals and tours at a discounted group travel price. NYSRPS earns a small portion of proceeds from each reservation so it is a win-win with no minimum number of participants required. NYSRPS member agencies wishing to promote this vacation through their program catalog are asked to contact nysrps for marketing material and webinar support. Park agencies will also receive a small return on packages booked by travellers within their communities.

More information on this opportunity is now available at nysrps.org or scan the QR code to download the brochure.

If you are a department wishing to share this opportunity to travel with your community, please contact NYSRPS fo the marketing toolkit for your program brochures.

24 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

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The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 25

Well-Grounded: A Guide to Playground Surfacing & Safety By: Joel Owen, VP of Sales, Discount Playground Supply

Selecting an effective playground surface is the first step in creating a safe and approachable playground.

Playground surfacing is a necessity because while it may not seem all that soft, it is effective for preventing serious injuries from falls that will inevitably occur. Playground surfacing can be split into two categories: loose-fill and unitary – let’s examine both.

Loose Fill Surfacing Loose-fill surfacing is often the more affordable choice, easier to install, and best for drainage. Perhaps the best feature of loose fill is it’s exceptional at absorbing impact and protecting children from serious injury after a fall. While loose fill surfacing makes installation easy, it’s also more demanding to maintain; material can be displaced and heavily used areas can look a bit barren. You’ll have to regularly rake material back into the playground and refill material to maintain its safety benefits. Loose fill options include: • Pea Gravel Pea gravel is inexpensive, easier to drain, and completely unappealing to insects. It’s also much nicer to look at but is one of the harder materials for children who use mobility devices to maneuver across. It’s recommended that pea gravel be used for playgrounds targeting older children, as it is a valid concern that smaller children will attempt to eat the gravel or get it stuck in orifices such as their noses. Pea gravel requires a lot of maintenance and supervision to ensure it’s at safe levels.

26 The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org

• Sand Sand is inexpensive and easy to install. It’s also a softer cushioning material than pea gravel and kids are less likely to eat sand. The major drawback of sand, however, is that it is very easy for objects to be buried and become a hidden hazard. Sand also has a tendency to stick to kids and is thus taken out of the playground. Like pea gravel, sand has to be regularly maintained, refilled, and isn’t very accessible or maneuverable for people in wheelchairs.

• Engineered Wood Fiber Engineered wood fiber, or EWF, is one of the more popular choices because it has proven to be the safest for playgrounds on a budget. EWF “knits” together to become more compact, therefore providing a smoother surface that makes it easier for kids using wheelchairs to maneuver on and provides greater impact absorption. This compact “knit” also means that the material will stay in place better than pea gravel or sand.

IWF will also need to be monitored frequently to ensure the surfacing levels are refilled as necessary.

Unitary Surfacing Unitary surfacing is bound elements formed into tiles or rolled products like turf. These surfaces are typically made up of nylon, synthetic material, or recycled rubber tires. As a result, unitary surfacing does not require a lot of maintenance. The downside, however, is that these surfaces are typically pricier, require professional installation, and get very hot during the summer. It’s always a good idea to ask your surfacing sales representative about test results or certification papers to ensure you’re getting a quality product before making the investment.

Unitary options include: • Pour-in-Place Rubber (PIP) Pour-in-place rubber (or PIP) is perhaps the most common form of unitary surfacing because of the variety of available colors and design options. The material consists of a wear layer of rubber particles and a top finish layer of granular particles that provides a smooth surface which is ideal for children in wheelchairs.

PIP is durable and fairly lowmaintenance while offering excellent shock resistance. PIP is a long-lasting material when proper maintenance is performed with a sealer/conditioner.

The downside mainly lies in the cost of materials and installation, as well as repairs or replacement.

• Rubber Tiles Interlocking rubber tiles are 2-foot by 2-foot rubber squares that are more expensive than loose fill options and require professional installation.

They are typically more cost-effective than PIP. Maintenance of rubber tiles includes frequent sweeping/cleaning to reduce dirt and grime build-up.

• Synthetic Turf For a more natural appearance but the same shock absorption as other surfacing materials, synthetic turf is an ideal compromise. Turf is wheelchair accessible while also being easy to maintain. A downside unique to the synthetic turf is that static electricity can build up within the material and might require an anti-static solution.

Playground Bordering The last part of this guide to the different types of playground surfaces will be the borders used to maintain and confine loose fill surfacing materials. Plastic and rubber playground borders are both effective for keeping surfacing materials within the playground area. Plastic borders are long-lasting and have no sharp edges, while rubber borders can absorb more impact should a child fall onto the border.

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Repair kits are designed so anyone with a limited knowledge of tools can easily repair damaged areas.

Pour-in-place rubber surfacing kits come in a variety of colors and make it simple to mend cracks, splits, and holes in playground surfacing or running tracks surfaces. Kits contain pre-measured amounts of binder (glue) and rubber, making playground surface repair a straightforward process.

For areas in and around the impact zone of a playground, the rubber safety surface is comprised of a base or impact layer, which acts like a shock absorber on a car, and a wear layer, which takes the punishment of the day-to-day surface traffic. As a note, the higher the fall zone, the thicker the base layer needs to be. The wear layer is typically 1/2” to 5/8” thick, no matter the thickness of the base layer.

We strongly recommend coating the entire playground with a surface conditioner soon after the repairs are completed and fully dried. Conditioner restores, preserves, and extends the surface life of poured-inplace rubber surfacing, splash pads, and running track surfaces; it also makes colors more vibrant.

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www.discountplaygroundsupply.com The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 27

2021 Commercial Members AQUATIC SUPPLIES & CONSTRUCTION RenoSys Corporation Aaron Darcy NYSRPS BPP 2825 East 55th Pl. Member Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-251-0207 W: renosys.com E: aarond@renosys.com

ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, PC John Longo NYSRPS 244 E Main St. BPP Member Patchogue, NY 11716 631-475-0349 W: bbsarch.com E: longo@bbsarch.com Suburban Consulting Engineers, Inc. (SCE) Joseph Perello 2430 Highway 34, Building A Wall, NJ 08736 732-282-1776 ext. 3301 W: suburbanconsulting.com E: jwood@suburbanconsulting.com

BACKGROUND SCREENING Commercial Investigations LLC Michelle Pyan 622 Loudon Road, Suite 201 Latham, NY 12110 W: commercialinvestigationsllc.com E: michellepyan@ commercialinvestigationsllc.com

BICYCLE TOURS Bicycle Tour Company Sal Lilienthal 9 Bridge Street, P.O. Box 381 Kent, CT 06757 W: BicycleTourCompany.com E: Explore@RevolutionaryBattles.com

CONSULTANTS Weston & Sampson Dan Biggs 1 Winners Circle Albany, NY 12205 W: westonandsampson.com E: biggsd@wseinc.com

Wright Risk Management Company, Inc. Jim Victor 8B Aspenwood Ballston Lake, NY 12019 518-410-3747 W: wrightinsurance.com E: jvictor@wrightinsurance.com

PAINTS & COATINGS

DIGITAL PASSES & TICKETING

Super Seal Sealcoating Co. Gregory Duffy P.O. Box 925 Penfield, NY 14526 585-248-5770 W: supersealco.com E: Duffygj@aol.com

Yodel Erik Wetzel 99 Powerhouse Rd, #207 Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 303-725-3801 W: yodelpass.com E: info@yodelpass.com

ENTERTAINMENT FunFlicks Timothy Bennett P.O. Box 685 Cortland, NY 13045 315-663-5005 W: funflicks.com E: timothy@funflicks.com

Franklin Paint Company Greg Chapin 259 Cottage St. Franklin, MA 02038 518-528-0303 W: franklinpaint.com E: lauretta@franklinpaint.com

PARK CONCESSIONS Ortega National Parks Frank Pikus 10815 W. 153rd Terr.

Overland Park, KS 66221 913-530-8360 W: www.ortegaparks.com E: fpikus@ortegaparks.com

PET WASTE PRODUCTS

Quassy Amusement Park Ron Gustafson P.O. Box 887 Middlebury, CT 06762 203-758-2913, ext 109 W: quassy.com E: ron@quassy.com

BagSpot Pet Waste Solutions Jeff & Ruth Springer 9648 Olive Blvd.#313 St. Louis, MO 63132 1-800-203-3613 W: bagspot.com E: info@bagspot.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING

PLAYGROUND DESIGN & INSTALLATION

Environmental Design & Research NYSRPS Andrew Britton BPP Member 217 Montgomery St. Suite 1000 Syracuse, NY 13202 315-471-0688 W: edrdpc.com E: abritton@edrdpc.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS Division 32 Matthew Alcide 723 W Park Ave. Long Beach, NY 11561 516-987-9050 W: div32.com E: matt@div32.com

Spring 20202021 • nysrps.org 28 The Voice | Fall/Winter • nysrps.org

Playsites + Surfaces, Inc. Mark DeKenipp 103 Brightside Ave Central Islip, NY 11722 631-392-0960 W: playsitesplus.com E: mdekenipp@playsitesplus.com

PLAYGROUND PRODUCTS Bears Playgrounds Marcey Bears 7625 E. Main Rd. Lima, NY 14485 585-624-5694 W: bearsplaygrounds.com E: info@bearsplaygrounds.com BigToys Playgrounds John LaRue 35 Oak Forest Dr. Little Compton, RI 02837 800-986-3716 W: jplarue.com E: info@jplarue.com

Denzak/Miracle Recreation Joseph Denzak Jr. NYSRPS P.O. Box 15517 BPP Member Syracuse, NY 13215 800-925-1545 W: miracle-recreation.com E: drecreat@twcny.rr.com Discount Playground Supply Carol Clark PO Box 278 Simpsonville, SC 29681 888-760-2499 ext 103 W: discountplaygroundsupply.com E: carol@discountplaygroundsupply.com FlagHouse Kathy Chichester 29 Beach Road Ossining, NY 10562 201-933-3882 W: flaghouse.com E: kathy.chichester@flaghouse.com Gametime Playground Equipment/MRC Doreen Sembler P.O. Box 106 Spring Lake, NJ 07762 732-458-1111 x5 W: mrcrec.com E: dsembler@mrcrec.com Parkitects, Inc./ NYSRPS BPP Site Specialists Member Steve Lauzun 138 Ludlowville Rd. Lansing, NY 14882 607-533-3517, ext 101 W: parktiects.com E: steve@playgroundinfo.com Yonglang Alexander Huang 3233 112th St, 2nd floor East Elmhurst, NY 11369 917-622-2393 W: ylplayequipment.com E: Alexander.huang272@gmail.com

PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS & APPAREL EDS Presentations Barbara Hassman 245 Silver St. Bridgeport, CT 06610 203-371-7224 W: edsideas.espwebsite.com E: edsideas@aol.com Pop Tops Company, Inc. Erica Huckins 10 Plymouth Dr. S. Easton, MA 02375 800-647-8677 W: poptopssportswear.com E: erica@poptopssportswear.com

PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTION

SKATEPARKS

Peggy Payne & Assoc. Inc Peggy Payne 146 Broadway Hawthorne, NY 10532 914-747-3237 W: playgroundmedic.com E: info@playgroundmedic.com

(Formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation)

Trevor Staples 503 Fountain St. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-223-9837 W: skatepark.org E: trevor@skatepark.org

PUBLISHING & DESIGN

SOFTWARE

Pernsteiner Creative Group Todd Pernsteiner 952-841-1111 W: pernsteiner.com E: todd@pernsteiner.com

RECREATIONAL GAMING GGLeagues Eric Bao 73 W Monroe St. 217 Chicago, IL 60607 832-788-8296 W: ggleagues.com E: erich@ggleagues.com

REMOTE CONTROL RACING Rock N Roll Racing, LLC Ed Cunningham 239 Gilead Rd. Andover, CT 06232 203-605-1369 W: rocknrollracing.net E: rocknrollracingllc@gmail.com

SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING iZone Imaging Lyndsay Blair 2526 Charter Oak Dr., Suite 100 Temple, TX 76502 888-464-9663 x150 W: izoneimaging.com E: info@izoneimaging.com

SITE AMENITIES/ FURNISHINGS Jamestown Advanced Products Julia Heitzenrater 2855 Girts Rd Jamestown, NY 14701 716-483-3406 W: jamestownadvanced.com E: jheitzenrater@jamestownadvanced.com R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. / Pilot Rock Justin Jorgensen P.O. Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012 712-225-5796 W: pilotrock.com E: jjorgensen@rjthomas.com

The Skatepark Project

CommunityPass Mia Kocci 141 Dayton Street, Suite 204 Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-689-2323 ext. 234 W: communitypass.net E: mkocci@capturepoint.com NYSRPS Edmunds GovTech BPP Melanie Rowan Member 661 Plank Rd. Clifton Park, NY 12065 518-371-6869 W: edmundsgovtech.com E: melanier@edmundsgovtech.com

MyRec.com Tracey Rivera-Cooper P.O. Box 302 Killington, VT 05751 802-465-9732 W: myrec.com E: tracey@myrec.com Rec Desk Software Justin Waz 300 Plaza Middlesex Middleton, CT 06457 W: recdesk.com E: justin.waz@recdesk.com RenoSys Corporation Jason Mart 2825 East 55th Place Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-251-0207 W: renosys.com E: jasonm@renosys.com

SPONSORSHIP ACQUISITION Power Ad Company NYSRPS BPP Kylene Pippin Member 259 Industrial Dr. Franklin, OH 45005 937-545-2728 W:poweradcompany.com E: kylene@poweradcompany.com

SPORTS LIGHTING

TENNIS

Musco Sports Lighting Nicholas Mauer NYSRPS BPP 100 1st Ave W Member Oskaloosa, IA 52577 845-628-4577 W: musco.com E: nick.mauer@musco.com

SURFACING

USTA Eastern NYSRPS BPP Joe Steger Member 70 West Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY 10604 914-282-4153 W: eastern.usta.com E: steger@eastern.usta.com

TREE & LAWN SYSTEMS

AstroTurf Corporation Eric Neubauer 6597 Joy Rd. East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-883-1514 W: astroturf.com E: eneubauer@astroturf.com SealMaster Albany Daniel Lang 30 Railroad Ave. Albany, NY 12205 518-928-5225 W: sealmaster.net E: dan.smalbany@gmail.com SealMaster WNY Gary Rosbrook 555 Ludwig Ave. Buffalo, NY 14227 585-441-4125 W: sealmaster.net E: gary@sealmasterwny.com Sport Tech Acrylic Corp.

Michael Edgerton 410 Rt. 22 Brewster, NY 10509 914-232-1640 W: sporttechacrylics.com E: medgerton@sporttechacrylics.com US Playground Surfacing Michael McGuffie 29 Thompson Hill Canton, CT 06019 860-309-9901 W: usplaygroundsurfacing.com E: mmcguffie@usplaygroundsurfacing.com

TECHNOLOGY Logical Net NYSRPS BPP Al Santoro Member 2345 Maxon Rd. Schenectady, NY 12308 518-292-4500 W: logical.net E: asantoro@logical.net

Alternative Earthcare Peter Solch 240 S. Fehr Way Bay Shore, NY 11706 631-499-4300 W: alternativeearthcare.com E: peter@alternativeearthcare.com

TURF SPECIALISTS Pioneer Athletics Evan Steele 39 Richardson St. Billerica, MA 01821 800-877-1500 W: pioneerathletics.com E: esteele@pioneerathletics.com

NYSRPS BPP & Commercial Memberships NYSRPS Business Preferred Partner (BPP) members and Basic Commercial members receive benefits that help them reach New York park and recreation professionals all year long: • Member discounts on advertising, exhibit booths, seminars, and more • Communications exposure • Access to online resources • Advocacy opportunities • Committee involvement For full membership details, rates, and to enroll, please visit www.nysrps.org.

The Voice | Fall/Winter 2021 • nysrps.org 29

New York State Recreation and Park Society, Inc. Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Dr., Suite 200 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

JAMESTOWN, NY