Voice
SPRING/SUMMER 2020
The
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF NEW YORK STATE RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY
A L SO I N S I D E :
New Ways to Engage During Covid-19
Finding Grants
Cheers to 25 Years! 2019 Downstate Conference Enjoyed by All
We build to ORDER to meet your CUSTOM needs! Available in 16 standard colors! C.
D.
B.
440 SM
with optional:
A. Pet Fountain B. Jug Filler C. Hand Wash D. Recessed Hose Bibb with Locking Cover
A.
See all available options online!
Most Dependable Fountains, Inc.™ Contact: Beachum Rec • 901-237-9265 robert@beachumrec.com
www.mostdependable.com
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
Our 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. NYSRPS has served the leisure service industry for 80 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. Executive Office Staff Executive Director: Lisa Morahan Financial Coordinator: Ann Marie Pendergast Member Services Coordinator: Linda Sylvain (Interim) Intern: Rebecca Stoner-LaFountain Deadlines for articles, photos and advertising: Fall/Winter 2020 Issue: July 15, 2020 2020 NYSRPS Commercial Buyer’s Guide: July 15, 2020 Spring/Summer 2021 Issue: January 15, 2021 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. The Voice is printed bi-annually. This is issue #1 of 2020.
Be seen and noticed! Advertise in The Voice. The Voice advertising sales, design and layout by: Pernsteiner Creative Group, Inc. Todd Pernsteiner, Account Manager 952.841.1111 info@pernsteiner.com www.pernsteiner.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2019-20 NYSRPS Board of Directors / Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Regional Partners and Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 NYSRPS Executive Slate / Honorary Board Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2019 Downstate Conference Wrap-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 New Ways to Engage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Webinars to Grow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 A Letter from USTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 NYSRPS Member Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-17 VISION 2020 - Celebrating NYSRPS’s 80th Anniversary . . . . . . . . 19-26 Could a Grant Help Support Your Programs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27-30 DocNetwork Covid-19 Tracking Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Managing the Procurement Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 History in Our Parks Task Force Created . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 NRPA Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Voice Media Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-43 NYSRPS Commercial Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39
ADVERTISER INDEX American Red Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 BagSpot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BBS Architects, Landscape Architects & Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 BSN Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Graphic Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Inclusive Recreation Resource Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 iZone Imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39-40 Jamestown Advanced Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover John Deere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 JP LaRue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Lothrop Associates LLP Architects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover MyRec.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Musco Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Nagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Parkitects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Pernsteiner Creative & Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Pilot Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 RenoSys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Rooney Tunes Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Upstate Safe Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 US Playground Surfacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 USTA Eastern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Vermont Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
DONATING TO NYSRPS HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER! 1. Shop on Amazon at: www.smile.amazon.com 2. Designate New York State Recreation and Park Society as your beneficiary A portion of online purchase proceeds automatically go to NYSRPS!
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 1
COVID-19…“Historic.” “Unprecedented.” “Apocalyptic.” The year 2020 began as any other year. News had been circulating that a virus was in China, and it was just that- news. Slowly as Italy replaced China in the headlines and our government began to close air travel the inevitable happened, February 29th, the first death of Coronavirus in the US was confirmed. The World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11th and life would never be the same. The world began to systematically enter into lockdown, running from this invisible enemy. In varying degrees each state in the US began to impose their own levels of quarantine. We all braced, each day waiting to see the bell curve rise like a growing tsunami. When would it crash and how many will die? Only then could we begin to judge its impact, try to understand its nature and think about a transition back into the world of the living. At this moment 60,057 deaths have been claimed due to COVID-19 - April 30, 2020. In the days, weeks and months ahead the nation and world will need to move forward. How exactly, will need a whole new magazine to unveil. For now, we remain in quarantine at home, extremely thankful for our health, our fellow neighbors and front line workers, hopeful much brighter days are ahead and our lives will re-open again one day at a time. Be safe NYSRPS!
President’s Letter As you read this, we are coming down the stretch heading into the end of my presidency. It hardly seems possible that the year is almost up. Even though we have spent the last couple of months dealing with the fall out of COVID-19 I felt I wanted to stick with my original article, highlighting the accomplishments of those who have worked hard to move NYSRPS forward throughout year. Our strategic plan is moving along nicely. Four out of the five core services have established committees and are meeting on a regular basis. Several of them are in the process of or have finished updating the information (guidelines, policies, etc..) on the Google Drive. Membership Development Committee One of the Membership Development committee goals is to be present at various organizations’ conferences throughout the year to promote NYSRPS. So far this year we have been at SUNY Cortland, Downstate and GVRPS conferences. The Regional Partner reimbursement rates have been adjusted to better serve our Regional Partners. We continue to update the By-laws and Policy and Procedures as we build our society for the future. Membership itself continues to grow as everyone including our Region Representatives make an effort to reach out to new agencies and individuals in their area. Resource Development Committe The Resource Development committee has been working on a few new projects including an offer of travel with Collette Travel. This will be rolled out this spring. A new Partnership Policy has been put into place and we are
looking to partner with other organizations such as NYSTRA, APHERD, PTNY, and DOH to further our interests as well as theirs. An intern working with the NYSRPS staff is putting the final touches on an internship program that will be implemented in the near future. The Executive Board voted to have a grant specialist look into grant procurement. Professional Development Committee The Professional Development committee has been very busy this year. We have run several successful CPSI & CPO classes. It was a very busy year on the CEU front as well. New procedure guidelines were put into place. We also received CEU approval through the American Trails for ASLA and APA participants who were going to attend our annual conference. The new therapeutic CEU process also went off without a hitch. The DOH offered one of our agencies/members a chance this year to take their certified on-line class for Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments. As always, the Downstate Conference was a huge success. Sadly, we had to cancel our Annual Conference in Westchester which was shaping up to be one of the best ever. Our sincere thanks go out to our friends in Westchester whose professional involvement has been put on hold as they deal with the epidemic in their area. They put many hours into planning the conference over the last 15 months and the cancellation has been a huge disappointment for one and all. Once WRAPS is back on their feet we hope to hold an annual conference in Westchester in the future.
2 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Communication/Public Awareness Committee Our busiest strategic planning committee is the Communication/Public Awareness committee. They have been hard at work updating the Google Drive, website, and Facebook page. If you haven’t checked them out recently, I suggest you give them a look. They have also been involved in the gathering of articles for the VOICE as well as the email newsletters that every member receives on a regular basis. Finance Committee Among the several committees that function outside the Strategic Plan is our finance committee. It has been more active this year than in previous years. The Executive Board has passed two policies submitted from the committee, the Refund Policy and the Financial Controls Policy. A third policy on reimbursements is in the works. On top of this work we have also brought the Friends Foundation into the fold as a committee and moved the funds into new accounts that will make transactions run smoothly. I hope you enjoy your Spring and Summer as the Executive Board and all our Committees continue to work for you the membership. As always if you have questions, want to volunteer or just want to know what is going on feel free to contact anyone on the board or in the office. Better yet just stop in during one of our meetings as you are always welcome.
Lawn & Garden Agriculture Construction Landscaping & Grounds Care Government
Dealers
Military Solutions
Parts
Golf & Sports Turf
Service
Forestry
Support State, Local & Cooperative Contracts Financing
Exactly what you want, for everything you need to do.
Tell us what you have to accomplish; we’ll point you toward the exact right equipment for getting it done. And thanks to contract purchasing, we’ll make sure you get the best price, with the least hassle. Your local dealer salesperson will help you navigate the whole process—including set-up, delivery, and training. It’s as easy as it sounds. Because sometimes, the right answer just clicks. JohnDeere.com/Local. 78361
2019-20 NYSRPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS / COMMITTEE CHAIRS EXECUTIVE BOARD President Charry Lawson Town of Onondaga Parks and Recreation Department 315-469-3464 charrylawson@gmail.com 1 year term - Expires 2020 President-Elect Linanne Conroy Town of Perinton lconroy@perinton.org 1 year term - Expires 2020 Immediate Past President Debra Keville, Retired OPRHP 518-506-6928 debrakeville623@gmail.com 1 year term - Expires 2020 Vice President of Programs & Services Gregg Goodman Upstate Safe Play Phone: (585) 752-1980 ggoodman474@gmail.com 2 year term - Expires 2020 Vice President of Professional Development Peggy Kenyon Town of Manlius 315-637-5188 pkenyon@townofmanlius.org 2 year term - Expires 2021 Treasurer Nathan Nagle Village of Horseheads Phone: 607-739-5691 nnagle@horsehead.org 2 year term - Expires 2020 Secretary Julie LaFave City of Syracuse Dept. of Parks and Recreation Phone: 315-473-4330 JLaFave@syrgov.net 2 year term - Expires 2021
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Region I Representative Jason Marra, Great Neck Parks District 65 Arrandale Avenue, Great Neck, NY 11024 Phone: 516-487-7665 jmarra@greatneckparks.org 3 year term - Expires 2020 Region I Representative Tom Meyering Town of Poughkeepsie Recreation Department Phone: 845-485-3628 tmeyering@townofpoughkeepsie-ny.gov 3 year term - Expires 2021 Region II Representative Patrick McGinnis City of Binghamton, Parks and Recreation Phone: (607) 772-7017 prmcginnis@cityofbinghamton.com 3 year term - Expires 2021 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 Recreation 716-773-9680 jmenter@grand-island.ny.us 3 year term - Expires 2020 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 Phone: 518-474-0414 Yolanda.BosticWilliams@parks.ny.gov
2019-2020 NYSRPS Executive Board Top row: Tom Meyering, Gregg Goodman, Linanne Conroy, Pat McGinnis, Joe Menter, Jack Davison, and Nick Berlin Front row: Peggy Kenyon, Charry Lawson, Debra Keville, Julie LaFave, Maryann Corbisiero and Nate Nagle
4 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Annual Conference Committee Bob Kaczmarek, Village of Scarsdale Matt Trainor, Town of North Castle Elections Committee Elliott Schwebel, BSN Sports Executive Committee Charry Lawson, Town of Onondaga Finance Committee Nathan Nagle, Village of Horseheads Friends Committee Bill Zimmerman, City of New Rochelle Membership Development Committee Gregg Goodman, Retired Nominations Committee Debra Keville, Retired Professional Ethics & Grievance Committee Luke Griff, City of Oneida Past Presidents Committee Debra Keville, Retired Professional Development Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius Public Awareness Committee Tom Venniro, Hilton-Parma Recreation Public Policy Development Committee Peter Finn, Retired Recognition and Awards Committee Jack Davison, Town of Onondaga Parks and Recreation Resource Development Committee Tom Meyering, Town of Poughkeepsie Recreation Department Strategic Planning Committee Charry Lawson, Town of Onondaga Parks and Recreation
Upcoming Board Meetings Board meetings are at 10 a.m. and are open to all to attend. We welcome guests and encourage participation. Please contact lisa@nysrps.org for meeting room specifics and location. NYSRPS Annual Meeting / Final 2019-2020 Executive Meeting May 21, 2020, 9 a.m. Virtual Meeting 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.
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 Central NY Recreation and Park Society (CNYRPS) President: Megan Ball, Town of DeWitt Recreation Department Past President: Leiko Benson, Onondaga County Parks President-Elect: Eric Sopchak, Onondaga County Parks Secretary: Jennifer Whiston, Town of Sullivan Parks & Recreation Treasurer: Charlie Bisnett, Onondaga County Parks Member at Large: Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius Recreation Member at Large: Jack Davison, Town of Onondaga Parks & Recreation Member at Large: Linda Adams, Town of Cicero Member at Large: Patrick McGinnis, City of Binghamton Parks & Recreation Member at Large: Debbie Dennis, Onondaga County Parks
Genesee Valley Recreation and Park Professionals (GVRPS) President: Anke Applebaum, Town of Hamlin Past-President: Nick Berlin, Town of Perinton President elect: Tom Venniro, Town of Parma Secretary: Sherry Farrell, Town of Parma Treasurer: Stacie Paris, Town of Gates Member at Large: Ryan Rockefeller, Town of Parma Member at Large: Megan Termine, Town of Chili North Country Leisure Service Professionals (NCRLP) President: Matt Curatolo, Ogdensburg Vice President: Mike McCabe, Massena Secretary: Tia Beaulieu, Ogdensburg
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.
AFFILIATES Long Island Leisure Services Association (LILSA) President: Anthony Martino Vice President: Tom McGerty Secretary: Meghan Sullivan Treasurer: Manny Falzon Board Member: William Brown Board Member: Kate Schneider Board Member: Vanessa Von Seggern Niagara Frontier (NFRPS) President: Joseph Menter, Town of Grand Island President-Elect: Sara Lester, Gateway Longview Past President: Ed Leak, Town of Orchard Park Secretary: Rose Flading, Town of Lancaster Treasurer: Lynn Kosuta, Town of Cheektowaga 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: Nicole Fields, Town of Tonawanda
WORKING TOGETHER FOR NEW YORK COMMUNITIES
Westchester Recreation and Park Society (WRAPS) President: Brian Gray, Village of Scarsdale Past-President: Matt Arone, Village of Sleepy Hollow Vice-President: David Goldberg, Town of Pound Ridge Treasurer: Sally Veltidi, Town of Eastchester Secretary: Kim O’Brien, Town of Bedford Member at Large: Kyle Peterson, Village of Braircliff Manor Member at Large: Beth Bricker, Westchester PRC Member at Large: Brittany Neider, Town of New Castle Member at Large: Robert Kaczmarek, Village of Scarsdale Member at Large: Bill Camarra, Town of Peekskill Hudson Valley Leisure Services Association (HVLSA) President: Chip Connington, Town of Clarkstown Vice President: Steve Olsen, Dutchess County Parks Secretary: Jessica Dickinson, Town of Union Vale Treasurer: Tom Quinlisk, Orange County Parks Member-at-Large: Matt Veronesi, Town of New Windsor Member-at-Large: Rob Petrillo, Town of Newburgh Member-at-Large: Jeanne Scigliano, Town of Beekman Metropolitan Recreation and Park Society (METRO) President: Jeremy Cash, St. Joseph’s College Treasurer: Michelle Bracco
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 5
NEW NYSRPS EXECUTIVE SLATE
2020/2021 Executive Board Slate Officially Announced The New York State Recreation and Park Society Executive Board is pleased to share the following Executive Board slate for 2020-2021 This uncontested roster will be officially voted upon at the NYSRPS Annual Meeting scheduled for May 21, 2020 The New York State Recreation and Park Society appreciates the following members willing to serve on the NYSRPS Executive Board. It is a terrific donation of time and effort to benefit fellow park and recreation professionals and advance the field of leisure services.
President-Elect, Peggy Kenyon, Town of Manlius Recreation
Treasurer, John Hirliman, City of Saratoga Springs Recreation Department
Region 1 Representative, Jason Marra, Great Neck Park District
Region 3 Representative, Joe Menter, Grand Island Recreation
HONORARY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
NYSRPS Executive Board Says Farewell to Mary Ann Corbisiero, Welcomes Yolanda Bostic Williams in 2020 In December of 2019, OPRHP Honorary Board Representative Mary Ann Corbisiero submitted her resignation as Honorary Representative for OPRHP on the NYSRPS Executive Board. Mary Ann did a wonderful job serving and acting as the liaison between NYSRPS and OPRHP. We are pleased to announce Yolanda Bostic Williams has been nominated to serve as Mary Ann’s replacement on behalf of OPRHP. We look forward to having Yolanda’s State Park perspective and talents on the Executive Board. Thank you Mary Ann, you will be missed. Thank you Yolanda for your service!
Meet Yolanda I am a native New Yorker from Peekskill, with “Almost Heaven” West Virginia roots who attended Niagara U graduating with a degree in Travel and Tourism. I worked in the hotel industry after college and then for the last 20 years with the NYS Assembly Program & Counsel in a variety of interesting program areas including most recently as the Principal Analyst for the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts & Sports Development. I was privileged to be offered the position at the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation (OPRHP)as Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Legislative and Community Affairs in September of 2019. I am responsible for creating and maintain relationships with community and governmental partners, assisting in various agency initiatives centered around diversity and inclusion and assisting with the development and
6 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
implementation of NY Park’s legislative agenda. I am excited to work for OPRHP to promote and expose its diverse communities, people statewide, and our national and global visitors to the extensive array of amazing, beautiful, and fun assets under its authority. In addition to loving the outdoors and spending time camping, hiking and touring, my additional hobbies are baking, going to the beach, listening to music, volunteering for two civic women’s organizations and at a local animal shelter, and spending time with friends and family. I feel privileged to represent Commissioner Kulleseid and serve as an ex-officio member of the NYSRPS Board as the Society’s mission aligns with several priorities with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. I am especially excited to contribute to efforts to increase communication and access to our assets and services, and to advance professional development that will help create a continuous pipeline of enthusiastic, diverse and skilled talent to carry forward the work of the amazing workforce we are privileged to have in place today.
25TH ANNIVERSAY
2019 DOWNSTATE CONFERENCE
THANK YOU! DOUBLETREE BY HILTON | TARRYTOWN, NY
2019 Exhibitors A special thank you to the following exhibitors who supported the event! • Barton & Loguidice • BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, PC • Club Getaway • CommunityPass • Edmunds GovTech • EDS Presentations • iZone Imaging • Just 4 Fun Entertainment Inc • Kompan
Cheers to 25 Years! Successful Downstate Conference Enjoyed By All On Tuesday November 12, 2019, “Cheers to 25 Years!” Annual Downstate Conference was celebrated at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY. More than 200 park, recreation and therapeutic recreation professionals and presenters, and 23 exhibitors, joined us for this milestone event. The Downstate Conference is a collaborative effort between the New York State Recreation and Park Society and its four affiliates: the New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association (NYSTRA), the Westchester Recreation and Parks Society (WRAPS), the Metropolitan Recreation and Parks Society (METRO) and the Hudson Valley Leisure Services Association (HVLSA). Attendees enjoyed 24 sessions and a lively exhibit hall during this one day of professional development and networking.
Save the date for the next Downstate Conference – November 10, 2020 at the Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY.
• METRO • Musco Sports Lighting • NCTRC • NYSRPS • NYSTRA • Partac / Beam Clay • Play-Well TEKnologies • Playground Medic • Powder Ridge Park/ Brownstone Park • Randolph Rose Collection • RecDesk • Site Specialists, Ltd. • Skyhawks Sports Academy • Sport-Tech Acrylics Corp • The American Camp Association, NY and NJ • Thunder Ridge Ski Area • Young Equipment Solutions
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 7
New Ways To Engage
We are pleased to introduce NYSRPS ENGAGE, a new virtual platform on nysrps.org which connects our members and NY communities during COVID-19 and beyond. Visit www.nysrps.org to find a virtual community that will help you engage with other members and find suggestions on how to engage your communities during the COVID-19 crisis and after. Encourage visitors from your website and Social Media to visit this page!
COMMUNITY ENGAGE! Tune into NYSRPS’s showcase of YouTube channels that promote healthy living activities and educational programs. We hope this feature will soon host some of New York’s finest instructors and community educators. We hope this one-stop-shop for great ideas and activities will be easy for all park departments across New York to share with their communities. Encourage visitors from your website and Social Media!
8 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
On a rotating basis, NYSRPS will feature chosen YouTube channels offering access to a great variety of programs. These channels will feature activities typically enjoyed at our recreation centers like fitness, nature education, hobby programs and more. We hope to turn these channels to local programs, and feature some of your local favorites. Do you know an instructor or educator who might be a perfect fit for our Community Engage page? Are you an instructor with your own YouTube Channel to share? Please email info@nysrps.org.
FACEBOOK CHALLENGE! In addition to the Community Engage page, a Facebook Challenge will be posted to correlate with one of the featured channels. After learning to birdwatch, post your best Bluebird photo, for example!
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS ENGAGE Log into your account and click on “PROFESSIONALS” on the home page to enjoy instant access to many virtual ways to be Engaged! Be sure to check regularly as topics will change. Need to learn something new? YouTube it, of course! NYSRPS will feature a couple of good-to-know channels bi-weekly to tune in and learn! ZOOM is incredible and likely by now, you have had your first crash course. Fear not! It is very easy and will be a terrific way to engage with your colleagues. Step inside the RESOURCE LIBRARY. Via Google Drive, easily access and share your own helpful resources and documents.
THE FORUM Subscribe to the Forum and chat with your recreation colleagues on a variety of topics, pose your own questions and concerns. CONNECTION IS KEY!
COMMERCIAL MEMBERS ENGAGE Engage with commercial professionals and one another in the Spotlight! (Members only). Commercial Members have the chance to share parks and recreation’s best products and services via this new online platform. Share your wares here! Contact info@nysrps.org for more information and to secure your spotlight today!
JOIN THE COMMERCIAL FORUM Subscribe to the Forum and chat with your fellow park and recreation commercial providers on a variety of topics and pose your own questions and concerns.
(203) 877-8787
www.graphicimage.net 561 Boston Post Road
Milford, CT 06460
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 9
Webinars to Grow
Webinars are a wonderful way to develop professionally from the comfort of your home and earn credit towards certifications.
proValens of Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University ProValens offers various types of courses on a range of topics to help meet the needs of aspiring and experienced parks and land management professionals and the agencies they serve. For course, certification and workshop information, visit proValens today!
NYSRPS has specifically identified three partners for delivering vital information via webinars. While COVID-19 forced the cancellation of our annual conference and live learning opportunities, it surely opened the door to this virtual system for engagement and continuing educational opportunities. The following organizations have partnered with NYSRPS so professionals may easily and affordably access the best online learning portals. American Trails, Eppley and the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center (IRRC) are ideal for individuals interested in directly registering for programs of interest. The Illinois Park and Recreation Association Skills Development Webinar Series is perfect for agencies to access a multitude of incredible webinars monthly for any number of employees in their department. It is a simple, and very economical, way for directors to ensure their staff is engaged and up to date with best practices. NYSRPS will provide an avenue for webinars, as well. A variety of topics including programs specific to therapeutic recreation will be hosted – stay tuned! Thank you for continuing your educational development. It is a wonderful time to learn the tricks of the trade and equip your recreational tool chest. All you gain will certainly help you to serve your communities and grow as a professional.
‘Skills Development Webinar Series’ Offered by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association Now available - IPRA’s Skills Development Webinar Series. Take advantage of an annual subscription to IPRA’s Skills Development Webinar Series, a 12 month program hosting CEU worthy webinars on a monthly baisis with access to recorded programs. A diverse selection of topics, most relevant to today’s park professional are available. NYSRPS members receive a 25% reduced rate for subscribing! Only $250 annually, you and your staff have complete access and a chance to earn CEUs. See the program brochure for more details and join today! Credit to use? Agencies that have credit with NYSRPS may register for the series, simply contact lisa@nysrps.org for more information.
10 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
proValens partners with a wide variety of professional organizations who also extend learning opportunities. Be sure to visit proValens for the wide range of avenues available to continue your professional development endeavors.
Coming Fall of 2020
NYSRPS Webinar Series Hosted by American Trails American Trails is a national, nonprofit organization working on behalf of all trail interests, including hiking, bicycling, mountain biking, horseback riding, water trails, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, trails, motorcycling, ATVs, snowmobiling and four-wheeling. American Trails advances the development of diverse, high quality trails and greenways for the benefit of people and communities. Through collaboration, education, and communication, they raises awareness of the value these trail systems offer. American Trails offers learning credits for their Advancing Trails Webinar Series, their biennial International Trails Symposium and Training Institute, as well as other trail-related conferences, workshops, and webinars. They are excited to partner with the New York State Recreation and Park Society to offer learning credits to attendees for all sessions and workshops that are 30 minutes or longer. NYSRPS is a CEU provider for CPRP, CPRE, and CTRS certifications. American Trails, an approved provider for the American Planning Association (APA) (Certification Maintenance (CM) credits) and also operates as a LA CES approved provider for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) offering PDH (Professional Development Hours). More details to come.
Headquartered at SUNY Cortland
Inclusion U from Inclusive Recreation Resource Center The Inclusive Recreation Resource Center provides training, called Inclusion U, to parks and recreation professionals, self-advocates, college students, tourism professionals, human services professionals, families, and anyone interested in increasing opportunities for inclusive recreation. Inclusion U teaches you how to be a Certified Inclusivity Assessor! Once you complete Inclusion U you are able to complete inclusivity assessments and submit the results to the IRRC to be included in an online recreation database. More information coming soon how YOU can become an Inclusion Recreation Ambassador.
HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES PLAY WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE
INCLUSION U ONLINE Inclusion U Online teaches you about inclusion and how to be a Certified Inclusivity Assessor (CIA)! As a CIA, you are able to complete inclusivity assessments and submit the results to the IRRC online recreation database. You can also enroll an unlimited number of people in the free Inclusion Ambassador Training. Inclusion U Online is 1 full CEU and preapproved by NCTRC.
INCLUSION AMBASSADOR TRAINING ONLINE The Inclusion Ambassador Training, a free three-hour online training, teaches staff how to include people of all abilities in recreation, parks, camps, and other
More NYSRPS Webinars to be Announced Soon! Stay tuned for more webinars hosted by yours truly, NYSRPS. Our roster of accomplished presenters is long, experienced in a wide array of topics. We are excited to connect these professionals with our base of park and recreation providers so you are engaged and able to maintain important certifications. Watch our online calendar at www.nysrps.org for updates and additional NYSRPS sponsored webinars.
programs. Staff earn badges throughout the fun training. The Inclusion Ambassador Training is .3 CEUs and preapproved by NCTRC.
ONLINE RECREATION DATABASE All recreation programs and facilities that are assessed using the Inclusivity Assessment Tool are entered into the online database that is searchable by Google map, activity, venue, and location. The database helps people with disabilities and their families and friends better plan their recreation.
INCLUSIVITY ASSESSMENT TOOL With the user-friendly Inclusivity Assessment Tool, you can assess physical accessibility and programmatic and administrative inclusion at recreation facilities and programs.
LEARN MORE AT WWW.INCLUSIVEREC.ORG
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 11
NYSRPS Member Briefs
Parkitects, Inc. Named Landscape Structures’ ‘2019 Rep of the Year’ Team acknowledged for best-in-class service, smart business growth and professionalism Landscape Structures Inc., a Delano, Minn.-based commercial playground equipment manufacturer, has named Parkitects, Inc. of Ithaca, N.Y., 2019 Rep Organization of the Year. The award was presented to the Parkitects team in early 2020 during Landscape Structures’ annual sales meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. “Parkitects was named 2019 Rep Organization of the Year because they bring value and best-in-class service to everyone with which they work,” said Pat Faust, president of Landscape Structures. “Parkitects has been an exceptional partner of Landscape Structures as well as the playground design industry as a whole, and we are proud to have their team bringing our playground, shade and splash pad solutions to New York.” Since 1996, Parkitects has partnered with clients to create hundreds of amazing play spaces for communities and families to gather. They are pioneers in inclusive play, fitness circuit play, and the community-built environment. Their dedication to design has made the recreation areas created beautiful as well as functional. Parkitects is one of more than 50 independent sales organizations representing Landscape Structures worldwide. They have been a distributor of Landscape Structures park and playground equipment for nearly 25 years and are now bringing SkyWays® shade structures and Aquatix® aqua playgrounds to communities in upstate New York.
Standing (left to right): Steve Lauzun, Diane Lauzun, Brian Bethke, Nathan Emery, Leore Kushner, Ben Frasier, Mike Fingeroth Seated (left to right): Lynn Mason, Sara Emery, Karen O’Connor
A Letter from the USTA Chairman USTA Eastern offers resources during Covid-19 crisis To the USTA Family: On April 16th USTA announced the second phase of its support for the tennis industry in the United States. Working with the industry, our goal is to start the process of ensuring that the foundation of our sport remains in place and is viable in the future. We will continue to analyze industry needs as we move forward during this crisis to determine what our next steps will be. Stay healthy and safe, and we all hope to see one another on the courts very soon. Patrick J. Galbraith Chairman of the Board and President United States Tennis Association 70 West Red Oak Lane, White Plains, NY 10604
USTA Eastern is compiling resources as we get through this difficult time together. Here are some useful pages to bookmark as well as hotline information for all tennis providers. USTA Eastern Webinar Calendar: www.usta.com/EasternCalendar USTA Eastern COVID-19 Updates: www.usta.com/EasternCovidUpdates FAQs: www.usta.com/EasternCovidFAQs Tennis Industry Resources: www.bit.ly/2VA7bBI National Support Hotline for Providers: 833-327-2386
12 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
COOPERATIVE PURCHASING CONTRACTOR
Steve Olsen Retires from Dutchess County
Your Sport Surface Specialist In his own words… I started my career as a Recreation Therapist for New York State at Creedmore Psychiatric Hospital on Long Island in July 1977, after graduating from Lehman College. After working there for three years, life threw me a curveball and I bought into a paint and hardware store in the Bronx (where I had worked part time during my college years) I owned the paint store until 2001 when I was lured back into the field as a Recreation Supervisor at the Town of Greenburgh where I stayed until 2006. After Greenburgh, I became the Park Director at the Village of East Hills on Long Island until 2007.
Full court renovation by Nagle Athletic Surfaces
In December of 2007, I became the Director of Parks for Dutchess County where I have been, until my impending retirement in late February 2020. I am looking forward to a relaxing retirement traveling with my wife Linda (37 years of married bliss!), playing golf, hiking, biking on various rail trails, and eventually relocating to the west coast of Florida (no more cold winters for me!). - Steve
Congratulations, Steve!
Agency and BPP Corporate members: Have news you would like to submit for a future issue of “The Voice”? Email information to Lisa Morahan, lisa@nysrps.org. We reserve the right to edit for length, content and grammar.
Track by Nagle Athletic Surfaces, Turf by AstroTurf
800-388-5713
TRACKS
nagleathletic.com
COURTS
FIELDS
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 13
NYSRPS Member Briefs
‘WRAP a Ribbon Around a Tree’ ‘We will get through this together’ was the message the Westchester Recreation and Parks Society sent first responders, essential workers, food service, and supply chain workers for their unselfishness, commitment, and dedication during the COVID-19 outbreak. The ‘Wrap a Ribbon Around the Tree’ encouraged all to display color coded ribbons of red to honor food service and supply chain workers, white for essential personnel, and blue to recognize first responders. Hats off to WRAPS for this beautiful (and colorful!) expression of gratitude.
Signs of the Times NYSRPS agencies have been working hard to keep their communities safe and informed through the COVID-19 crisis – from closed playgrounds, paths and restrooms, to online and at-home programming. Below are images captured around the state that show what members have been doing. What ways has your agency had to adapt its programming or facilities? We want to hear about them for the Fall/Winter issue of The Voice. Contact lisa@nysrps.org to share your story and/or images.
14 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
BagSpot 2-n-1 Dispenser Mounting Posts Trashcan Sign 50 Trashcan liners 500 One-Pull Bags 400 Roll Bags All Aluminum Hardware Instructions -----Available now in Black & Green
®
• i n fo@ ba gspot. com NYS R P S Pre mi e r B u s i n e s s Pa r t n e r w w w. b a g s p o t. com
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 15
NYSRPS Member Briefs
Garden City Recreation and Parks Department Launches a Virtual Recreation Center Like many departments around the state, Garden City Recreation and Parks wanted to continue to connect with our residents with a variety of activities during the quarantine. As a result, we are excited to release our Virtual Recreation Center, where residents would be able to find a variety of activities for all ages. Make homemade ice cream, create lunch doodles with Mo Willems, grow a garden from scraps, make paper bag puppets with the kids, quiz yourself with logic puzzles and riddles or spend the afternoon with Sid the Science Kid. Take virtual trips to national parks, watch operas from the Met or visit the Cincinnati Zoo via a live stream. Stay mentally active with card games, puzzles and printable Sudoku. Each week content to the page will be added. “Our Staff was so excited by the response to our virtual Easter Scavenger Hunt we had earlier in the month, that we decided to explore other possible online activities to keep our residents engaged and involved during this difficult time,” Paul Blake superintendent of Recreation and Parks said. “The Virtual Recreation Center will offer many similar programs and activities to the ones we do in person, but these can be accessed from the comfort and safety of your home. We invited all residents to let us know what they think of this new site, and please pass along any suggestions you may have regarding activities or content.” The Garden City Virtual Recreation Center is found at www.gardencityrecreation.org/virtual-recreation-center
16 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
NYSRPS Member Briefs
New Recreation Internship MATCH NYSRPS is pleased to share an exciting opportunity for leisure services and recreation management majors to find appropriate internships in the areas of focus they would like to serve across New York State. Students gain useful hands on knowledge and experience serving while agencies have the opportunity to mentor and develop future leaders in recreation. Internships prove to be a mutually beneficially and rewarding experience. Programs of concentration include: • Park Management • Outdoor Recreation • Program Management • Department Administration • Senior Citizen Services • And more Does your agency offer an internship program you would like shared? Please contact lisa@nysrps.org to be added to the upcoming list of participating departments.
From Their Point of View… A DEPARTMENT PERSPECTIVE “Internship programs in the Parks and Recreation field are invaluable; both for the intern and the host agency. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting interns from various collegiate institutions and in a number of capacities. Each and every one of those experiences has proved unique and beneficial. We look at the internship experience as an involved cross-mentorship, providing a real-life work setting that foster’s growth and education for the intern as well as our organization. It is our hope to better our organizational operations and efficiency while preparing the intern for the next step in their professional journey. A high rate of our very own interns have since secured full-time positions at various parks and recreation agencies and many of the full-time staff we have hired over the years have come from an effective internship program in the field. Just like other networking opportunities, we value and welcome interns whenever possible because in reality, we see the future leaders of our profession in them.” - Thomas Venniro, Hilton-Parma Parks and Recreation Director
AN INTERN’S PERSPECTIVE “Not only did my internship with Hilton-Parma Recreation help me obtain valuable work experience in the field, it allowed me to network and become more involved with other recreation professionals around the county. Given the foundation gained from this experience; networking and staying connected even after my internship led me to landing a full-time position with Hilton-Parma several years afterwards.”
Your one stop shop for ALL your
DJ's - Montages - Photography - Photo Booths - Green Screen - Video Dance Parties - Trivia - Game Show - T Shirts - Key Chains - Buttons Your One stop shop for ALL your Entertainment needs! Weddings - Sweet 16's - Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Corporate Functions Reunions - Communions - Birthday Parties Kids Parties - Any type of event! ESPECIALLY CAMPS!
- Kathleen Laskey, Hilton-Parma Parks and Recreation Assistant
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 17
Town of Mount Pleasant
Lothrop Associates LLP Architects Architecture | Interior Design | Planning White Plains, New York Rochester, New York Red Bank, New Jersey Hartford, Connecticut
Arthur J. Seckler III - Senior Associate c: 914-489-2477 d: 914-495-4292 www.lothropassociates.com
SUNY Stony Brook University
Town of Ossining
City of White Plains
Town of Mount Pleasant
Aquatic Planning and Filtration Design Pools | Water Features | Spas Sports Competition Indoor & Outdoor Roof-Top William R. Simmons, AIA - Aquatic Partner www.lothropassociates.com/project/pools
Exercise Therapy Wading Infinity Edge
We take a look back as New York State Recreation and Park Society celebrates 80 years.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 19
NYSRPS Celebrates 80th Anniversary
A Message from the 2020 Conference Organizing Committee Dear Colleagues & Friends, First and foremost it is our hope that this letter finds you and yours well while dealing with the new challenges of the world. It is amazing to see just how much the prism has so drastically changed in such a short period of time. Hopefully we will all get back to some form of normalcy very, very soon. By now everyone knows that, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the NYSRPS Vison 2020 Annual State Conference and Expo has been cancelled. As you can imagine, the tone of this letter was much different in its first version, as we were proud to detail everything that we had planned for all of our colleagues throughout our state and region. The original version boasted about the record number of sessions and vendors we had secured for the event. It detailed all of the amazing offsite trips locally as well as the special arrangements to bookend the
conference, such as a NYC tour to include the 9/11 Memorial and a Yankees game to make it a true destination trip. We were excited to entertain you during your down time with funfilled socials to round out the experience. In a nut shell, the entire conference committee was bursting with pride knowing that we had an epic experience planned for all who attended. Seventeen months of planning – yet 41 days short of the opportunity. Words cannot adequately express how disappointed we are that we could not all share the experience planned. Having to make the decision to first postpone and then cancel altogether was a very difficult concept to accept but, for many weeks being the epicenter of the New York outbreak, not a hard decision to make. Often we have heard that many of us fall into the “non-essential” category when budgets are discussed and salaries are negotiated.
Thank you!
2020 Conference Organizing Committee Front Row (left to right): Bill Camarra, Lauren Rosasco, Jamie Corradina, Lisa Morahan, Matt Trainor (co-chair), Bob Kaczmarek (co-chair), Lesley Popkin, Erin Mantz Middle Row (left to right): Veronica Roche, Brittany Neider, Beth Bricker (with the phone), Liz Linsalato, Sally Veltidi, Kelli Rizzi, Jen Fava, Kim O’Brien, Fran Croghan, Sia Tofano, Dan Walczewski, Wayne Bass Back Row (left to right): Kyle Peterson, Deanna Peterson, Mike Newman, Brian Gray, Matt Arone, Vicky Laoutaris, Todd Orlowski, Dave Goldberg
20 The Voice | Spring/Summer WINTER/SPRING2020 2017••nysrps.org nysrps.org
During normal times our services are viewed as secondary to many of the services that are considered crucial to the functioning and needs of the communities we serve. Now, in the face of this global silent enemy, many of us have been called into service to provide many essential services for our seniors and youth. The creativity of our professionals are needed to simply provide a diversion from the stresses of a 24/7 news cycle and new home learning pressures for student and parent alike. Please know that you all make us extremely proud. Very soon the Stay-At-Home mandates will be lifted and the gathering restrictions will be modified to allow our communities to step outside and take a deep breath. Knowing that nothing will be the same once this does occur, the most important thing now is focusing on what lies ahead for our community, country and profession. Our profession is designed to bring people together so we will need to reinvent who we are and what we do. Looking forward we must plan for the future while being firmly entrenched in the present utilizing the lessons learned from the past. There has never been a time where we need to use all of our resources available and lessons learned to mold and shape the future of our profession. We simply have to get to the other side of this nightmare. Having a sense of some unfinished business, please know that the WRAPS Nation is committed to welcoming you back to Westchester County and the downstate region. In the coming years we will once again rally together to host the amazing conference we had planned for you this year. Until then be well & stay safe! - The Vision 2020 Organizing Committee
NYSRPS ‘Vision 2020’ Partner Gifts NYSRPS would like to give a very special ‘Thank You!’ to the following commercial partners for their generous support of ‘Vision 2020’ gifting NYSRPS with registration monies paid for donation or Society credit.
Business Premier Partners NYSRPS would like to thank our Business Premier Partners (BPPs) who support the State Society not only as a conference sponsor, but year-round as well! • Bagspot • BBS, Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers • BSN • Edmunds Gov Tech • EDR • Graphic Image • Landscape Structures • Lothrop Associates • Musco Lighting • RenoSys • Site Specialists / Parkitects • USTA • Vermont Systems
2020 Gift Donors
4imprint Ben Thompson bthompson@4imprint.com 101 Commerce St. Oshkosh, WI 54901 920-236-7272 x8226 www.4imprint.com` When a product has your organization’s logo on it, you need certainty that it will be the perfect product, perfectly printed, and delivered on time. We’re 4imprint and we’ve been providing that promise to our clients for over thirty years. Discover the 40,000+ different ways we can provide certainty to your organization at www.4imprint.com.
American Red Cross Kimberly King kimberly.king4@redcross.org 8330 Craine Drive Manlius, NY 13753 516-273-4251 www.redcross.org We at the Red Cross care about you, your families, your communities and your organization. We are committed to keeping you safe and informed. All our latest information regarding Health and Safety and Aquatic training during these unprecedented times can be found on www. redcrosslearningcenter.org by clicking on COVID-19. You are not alone- Kim King kimberly.king4@redcross.org
BigToys Playgrounds John LaRue john@jplarue.com 35 Oak Forest Dr Little Compton, RI 02837 800-986-3716 www.jplarue.com Since 1991 we have been in the business of designing and building play areas for communities all across the New England States, as well as Upstate New York.
Inclusive Recreation Resource Center Lynn Anderson lynn.anderson@cortland.edu RPLS Dept., SUNY Cortland, Box 2000 Cortland, NY 13045 607-753-4941 www.inclusiverec.org Online training and technical assistance to promote and sustain inclusive recreation.
Landscape Structures Jill Moore jillmoore@playlsi.com 601 S. 7th St. Delano, MN 55328 704-787-3900 www.playlsi.com Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI), was founded in 1971 by Barbara and Steve King and is headquartered in Delano, Minn. LSI, Landscape Structures, the premier provider of innovative park and playground equipment, is committed to creating inspiring play experiences for children while honoring the environment. The company has designed, manufactured, and installed more than 75,000 playgrounds worldwide.
MyRec.com- Recreation Software Tracey Rivera-Cooper tracey@myrec.com PO Box 302 Kilington, VT 05751 802-465-9732 www.myrec.com MyRec.com offers a fully-featured, webbased, recreation management software that is both easy-to-use and growing to meet new needs as they arise. We support everything from basic program entry to complex activities with daily, weekly, or monthly online registrations and more.
Rooney Tunes Entertainment Joe Rooney rooneytunes.dj@verizon.net 914-216-1773 www.rooneytunesdjs.com Rooney Tunes has been in business for over 24 years and continue to love what we do. We offer DJ’s, Bands, Karaoke, Photography, Video Dance Parties, Game Show Mania, T-Shirts, Video Dance Parties and MANY other options. Feel free to email us or call for a no hassle price quote.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 21
NYSRPS ‘Vision 2020’ Partner Gifts 2020 Gift Donors US Playground Surfacing Upstate Safe Play Sport-Tech Acrylics Corp. Michael Edgerton medgerton@sporttechacrylics.com 410 Route 22 Brewster, NY 10509 914-232-1640 www.sporttechacrylics.com Sport-Tech Construction is the premier construction and maintenance firm in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey for any type of athletic field and sports court. We abide by the highest level of industry standards to build the best tennis courts, tracks and sports for you.
Gregg R. Goodman, CPRP, CPSI upstatesafeplay@gmail.com 1928 Penfield Rd. Penfield, NY 14526 585-752-1980 Upstate Safe Play (USP) conducts certified playground safety inspections and audits throughout Upstate New York, keeping new or existing playgrounds within the regulations of the industry by: Performing an Audit or Low Frequency Inspection of each site; Providing a full detailed report, including photographs identifying and classifying hazards; Making recommendations, if needed, for bringing the site into compliance adhering to: ASTM F148717, CPSC-10, ASTM F1292, and ASTM F1951. USP also offers youth sport coach certification trainings through the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS).
Save the date!
2021 NYSRPS Conference April 18-21 Saratoga Springs, NY
22 22 The The Voice Voice || Spring/Summer WINTER/SPRING2020 2017••nysrps.org nysrps.org
Michael McGuffie mmcguffie@usplaygroundsurfacing.com 29 Thompson Hill Canton, CT 06019 860-309-9901 www.usplaygroundsurfacing.com Accessible Rubber Playground Matting and IPEMA Certified Playground Safety Surfacing.
USTA Eastern Tennis Service Representative Manager steger@eastern.usta.com 3117 Cloverbank Road Hamburg, NY 14075 914-282-4153 www.usta.com Tennis is the sport of a lifetime, and it is a great activity for people of all ages. As such, it can enhance the menu of programs and services offered to your constituents. It is a great way to bring families and communities together to get healthy and have fun. It doesn’t cost much to offer a tennis program, and USTA Eastern is here to help make it affordable and
Wish NYSRPS a Happy 80th Anniversary! Shoot and send us a short video clip (up to 10 seconds) of you sharing what being a member of NYSRPS has meant to you. Include thoughts of COVID-19 and the profession going forward if you like. Please shoot it in landscape format. We will share clips on social media and the NYSRPS website. All submissions are due to Tom Venniro at tvenniro@ parmany.org by May 21, 2020.
Celebrating 80 Years of NYSRPS From the Executive Director For my Executive Director’s note, I want to share a letter written in 1990, in honor of the New York State Recreation and Park Society’s 50th Anniversary. It is a wonderful capture of the beginnings of our State Society and a great tribute to the individuals who understood the importance of standing together. This year’s NYSRPS Conference and Expo ‘Vision 2020’ was especially planned to honor our new milestone of 80 years, and we were looking forward to a pilgrimage back to White Plains, New York where it all began. COVID-19 kept this three day tradition from happening, but has underscored the importance of the State Society and the awesome responsibility we have to be the best support organization for park and recreation professionals in the State of New York. NYSRPS has endured through America’s greatest trials and I am certain once we are through this incredibly challenging historical time, we will be standing stronger together, more firmly rooted in the mission and ‘vision’ our forefounders conceived. - Lisa Morahan, NYSRPS Executive Director
The following letter was written for the 50th anniversary of NYSRPS…
The Early Beginnings of New York State Recreation & Park Society By Joseph P. Davidson, Commissioner City of White Plains, New York Department of Recreation & Parks
Since 1940 some 34 Presidents and their Executive Committees have guided the Society through its growing years to its acceptance today as the premier organization concerned with state and local recreation and park issues. Historically, we should briefly review the context in which this State Society emerged. During the first half of the 20th century public recreation flourished. Expenditures for recreation services increased about five-fold during this decade, recreation leadership doubled, and programs expanded beyond the standard sports and games. Communities collected huge sums for developing municipal recreation through bond issues and popular subscription.
The New York State Recreation & Park Society will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in the Spring of 1990. Close to five decades ago recreation professionals from several sections of the state met in White Plains at the John Ebersole Restaurant in the afternoon on June 8, 1940 to insure qualified leadership and promote recreational programs, facilities and services on the state and local levels. Professionals like Sidney G. Lutzin, William Leonard, James McCrudden, Peter Mayers, Walter Cammack, M. Esthyr Fitgerald, Fay Marvin, Vivian Wills, E. Dana Caulkins, and others provided the early leadership to our Society that has grown in strength and stature to become a strong, functioning professional organization. The leaders saw the need to improve services, coordinate levels of responsibility, set program and personnel standards, secure appropriate legislation, and upgrade salaries. This organization would become the primary force to meet the recreational needs of a demanding public.
However, the many advances made in recreation during the 20’s were challenged by the great depression of the 30’s. This catastrophe resulted in municipalities curtailing their expenses, limitingactivities, and cutting paid staff. The saving grace was the Works Progress Administration of 1935. It employed some 49,000 people in 1937 in the Recreation Division and supplemented the staff of many municipal programs. Of major importance were those in the construction and repair of recreation facilities and areas. Over $500 billion was expended on over 12,000 parks and recreation facilities. In New York State, both the American Association of Physical Education (AAHPER) and an organization of Social Group Workers made strong efforts to take leadership roles
NYSRPS Logos Through the Years
1971
1980
1987
Current The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 23
NYSRPS Celebrates 80th Anniversary in providing recreation services. They clearly saw the potential of this field and wanted to be directly identified with it. Municipal recreation leaders employed throughout New York State also saw the need to play the primary advocacy role in this movement. There was, at the time, a small cadre of professionals involved in the “Eastern Recreation Society” covering several Northeastern states and the Recreation workers of America had been organized in 1938 – the forerunner of the American Recreation Society. There were also attempts made by M. Esthyr Fitzgerald of Utica and Fay Marvin of Schenectady to form an upstate Recreation Executive Association to correspond with the Westchester County Recreation Executive Association. At the National Recreation Congress held in Boston in 1939, both Sid Lutzin, Recreation Director of Kingston, New York, and Peter Mayers, Director of Recreation for New Rochelle, New York, discussed the possibility of organizing a State Public Recreation Society to upgrade salaries and standards, to establish interactions among communities, cement communications and insure qualified leadership. Peter Mayers asked M. Esthyr Fitzgerald, who was then Director of Recreation & Parks for Utica, New York, to send out notices for the purpose of meeting in White Plains. Some eighteen members were present at a meeting that was chaired by Sidney G. Lutzin. Peter Mayers was elected President, James
McCrudden, Director of Recreation in Yonkers, was elected Vice President, William Leonard of Schenectady was elected Secretary and Sidney G. Lutzin was elected Treasurer; Thus began the formal structure of the New York State Public Recreation Society in the late Spring of 1940. In 1955 the Society would change its name to the New York State Recreation Society to be inclusive of all recreation workers in the state in one organization. There was also a strong need to strengthen our Society through agrowing lay involvement. Many leaders in the initial years played key roles. Sidney G. Lutzin served as SecretaryTreasurer and President over a 12-year period. His guidance and counsel were invaluable to the early success of the Society. Peter Mayers (1940-1945) served as President for the first six years and made many notable contributions. M. Esthyr Fitzgerald was a staunch member and active supporter of the Society until her retirement in 1961 as the Director of the Utica Parks and Recreation Commission. William Leonard (1946) and William F. Eddy, both of Schenectady, Helana Hoyt (1949-1950) of Syracuse, Myron “Min” Hendricks (1951-1952) of Niagara Falls, Dan Riordan of Glens Falls, Frederick F. Futterer of Albany, Walter Cammack of Mount Vernon, Doris Russell of Port Chester, E. Dana Caulkins and Vivian Wills of Westchester County all played key roles. The Presidency of Carl Waite, Director of Recreation in White Plains, during the years 1947 and 1948 were marked by significant organizational gains. Dr. Sal J. Presioso’s Presidential Address on April
24 24 The The Voice Voice || Spring/Summer WINTER/SPRING2020 2017••nysrps.org nysrps.org
30, 1954, at the Lincoln Hotel in Long Beach, Long Island was hailed by the members as one of the finest reports ever offered to the Society. He outlined 12 major accomplishments of his administration (1953-1954) and projected further essential needs which became the benchmarks to accomplish during the balance of the 50’s. And so, the Society was well on its way to coming a viable force on the New York State and National scenes. There was in these early days, 100% attendance at Executive Committee meetings. The first five annual New York State Conventions were planned by the National Recreation Association’s middle Atlantic field representative. The 1946 and all future conventions were coordinated by members of the State Society. In order to establish personnel standards and to register qualified personnel under the Presidency of Sidney G. Lutzin(1955-1956), the voluntary registration plan was created in 1955. We need to be grateful to these professionals who gave of their time, effort, and professional expertise to mold and strengthen this Society in the early years. They always placed “service above self.” And as we approach the 50th Anniversary, we should find an appropriate vehicle to honor those that are still with us, and those that have departed, in a memorial service. We who came later and reaped the benefit and rewards of their fine work salute the early professionals.
NYSRPS Past Presidents 1940-1946 Peter Mayers
1965-1966 Louis A. Pierro
1977-1978 Francis Tokar
1988-1989 William Simione
1999-2000 Robert Robare
2010-2011 Kevin Ocker
1946-1947 William Leonard
1966-1967 Arthur Bleau
1978-1979 Kenneth Batchelor
1989-1990 James Donahue
2000-2001 William Zimmermann
2011-2012 Jennifer Fava
1947-1949 Carl E. Waite
1967-1968 Vincent Fowler
1979-1980 Robert Gullie
1990-1991 Joseph Stout
2001-2002 Tom Kehoskie
2012-2013 Gregg Goodman
1949-1951 Helena J. Hoyt
1968-1969 Edward J. Dyroff
1980-1981 Salvatore A. DeSantis
1991-1992 John Silsby
2002-2003 Ann Smiley
2013-2014 Martin Denecke
1951-1953 Myron N. Hendricks
1969-1970 Donald Saltzman
1981-1982 Fran Wallach
1992-1993 Dan McBride
2003-2004 Richard Rose
2014-2015 Tom Venniro
1953-1955 Dr. Sal J. Prezioso
1970-1971 James E. Arles
1982-1983 Joseph Curtis
1993-1994 Butch Martin
2004-2005 Edean Casey
2015-2016 Paul Blake
1955-1957 Sidney Lutzin
1971-1972 Dr. William Theobald
1983-1984 Arthur Mittelstaedt, Jr
1994-1995 Bryon Bissonette
2005-2006 William Riddell
2016-2017 Jeffrey Myers
1957-1959 J. Glenn Hudson
1972-1973 William Lederer
1984-1985 John Silsby
1995-1996 Tom Kehoskie
2006-2007 Gerard Byrne
2017-2018 Eric Bacon
1959-1961 Matthew Dolan
1973-1974 Angela Palermo
1985-1986 Barbara Mazo
1996-1997 William Barber
2007-2008 Elaine Apfelbaum
2018-2019 Debra Keville
1961-1963 Ralph Damiano
1974-1975 Howard A. Oaks
1986-1987 Charles Tokarz
1997-1998 Paul Blake
2008-2009 Ray Gomes
2019-2020 Charry Lawson
1963-1964 William Foley
1975-1976 Edward Ghiazza
1987-1988 Michael Oropallo
1998-1999 Dan Wiles
2009-2010 Jeffrey Myers
Apfelbaum
Arles
Bacon
Barber
Batchelor
Blake
Bleau
Bryon
Byrne
Casey
Curtis
Damiano
Denecke
DeSantis
Dolan
Donahue
Dyroff
Foley
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 25
NYSRPS Past Presidents
Goodman
Gullie
Hudson
Kehoskie
Keville
Lawson
Lederer
Lutzin
Manzo
Martin
Mitlestaedt
Myers
Ocker
Orpallo
Pierro
Prezioso
Ray
Robare
Rose
Saltzman
Silsby
Stout
Theobald
Tokar
Tokarz
Venniro
Wallach
Wiles
Zimmerman
26 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Could a grant help support your existing and new programs? Compiled by Todd Pernsteiner, Pernsteiner Creative Group, Inc. and NRPA
With everything happening during the pandemic, communities across the country are coming up with unique ways to bring recreation, fitness, healthy living, and outdoor activities to residents. There’s one challenge…funding from in-person classes, camps, leagues and facility use has come to a grinding hault leaving many agencies to search for ways to fund current and future programming. This presents an immediate challenge – being creative when it comes to funding methods that will help keep your department ahead-of-the-game and engaged with your residents. A grant from a foundation or corporation might be the solution. We’ve compiled a list of potential grants that might apply to your programming and community outreach. While this is by no means a complete list, we hope this offers you some unique ideas of where you might find critical program dollars, and perhaps help you to brainstorm some new ways to operate through the shutdown.
GameTime Playground Funding Guide
GameTime helps communities bring play to more children and families. They have compiled a list of local, regional, national and global funding sources to help you find the funds you need. With more than 30 pages of sources, including contact details, websites and grant and deadline information, GameTime’s Playground Funding Guide is a valuable part of any fundraising toolkit. Get more information at www.gametime.com/ resources/playground-funding-guide
Pool Safely Grant Program
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) will award up to $2 million in two-year grants through its Pool Safely Grant Program. The goal is to assist jurisdictions in reducing deaths and injuries from drowning and drain entrapment incidents in pools and spas. The grant program is a part of CPSC’s campaign to make drowning and drain entrapment prevention a critical public safety priority. Applications are due June 9. Learn more at www.poolsafely.gov/grants-vgbfy20/
The Allstate Foundation
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation Grant Program
The Allstate Foundation provides grants to local Allstate insurance agency owners. They strive to empower owners to give back to their local communities and support the causes closest to their hearts. That’s why the invitationonly Helping Hands Grant program supports organizations they’re already passionate about. Those who volunteer four to sixteen hours with an organization can earn $500 or $1,000 to support the cause. Learn more at www.allstatefoundation.org/what-we-do. Tip: You may want to contact your local Allstate office to see if they know about the Helping Hands grant program and are open to assisting with one of your community programs.
New York Community Trust
A public charity, the New York Community Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to improving the lives of residents of NYC and its suburbs. They bring together individuals, families, foundations, and businesses to build a better community and support non-profits that make a difference. Learn more at www. nycommunitytrust.org
Municipal entities, local nonprofits, and public schools are eligible to apply to support the planting of fruitful trees and plants to alleviate hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the environment. Trees can be planted at community gardens, city parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, schools, and more. The Foundation provides trees and shrubs, equipment, onsite orchard design expertise and oversight, horticultural workshops, and aftercare training and manuals. Learn more at www.ftpf.org/apply
CAN’d Aid Crush It Grants
The CAN’d Aid Foundation accepts applications from communities, local organizations, and local government entities to help support recycling programs. The Foundation awards small grants to fund program expenses including signage and education, and also provides in-kind recycling tents, bins, and training on waste management. The typical award amount is $5,000. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Learn more and apply at www.candaid.org.
*NOTE: This list of grants and funding was compliled using information that was readily available online. NYSRPS, Pernsteiner Creative Group, and their partners and affiliates do not endorse nor guarantee availability any of the funding programs mentioned in this article.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 27
New York State Transportation Grant Program
The Connect-Kids-to-Parks Field Trip Grant Program (Connect Kids) is designed to connect students in New York State with nature and history. Each grant provides reimbursement of up to $40 per student ($80 for Special Ed students) for field trips to state and federal parks, forests, historic sites, fish hatcheries and other outdoor recreation areas. Learn more at www.parks. ny.gov/environment/connect-kids/grant-program
PlayCore Grant Funding Guide
Find out more about the latest grant opportunities to help you in funding your playground project. PlayCore has curated a comprehensive funding guide that identifies grant opportunities that begin at the local community level, all the way to cities, states, and internationally. Learn more at www.playandpark.com/funding/grantopportunities
State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship Grants
State Farm makes it their business to be like a good neighbor, helping to build safer, stronger and better educated communities across the United States. Through their company grants, they focus on three areas: safety, education, and community development. Strong neighborhoods are the foundation of a strong society. State Farm is committed to maintaining the vibrancy of communities by assisting programs conducted by municipal, county, state or federal government entities that align with the State Farm® charitable focuses - including neighborhood revitalization. Learn more at www.statefarm.com/about-us/ community-involvement.
Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program – Rural Communities
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides grants, low-interest direct loans, and/or combinations of the two to develop essential community facilities in rural areas, including public facilities, community support services, and local food systems such as community gardens and food hubs. Public entities, nonprofit organizations, and tribal entities in rural communities are eligible to apply. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services
Waste Management Charitable Giving
Waste Management offers charitable gifts to promote civic pride, economic development and revitalization. Waste Management primarily supports environmental initiatives, including promoting parklands and green spaces for people to enjoy and play, and environmental education initiatives targeted at middle and high school students. Eligible entities include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and public organizations. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Learn more and apply at www.wm.com/about/ community/charitable-giving
American Academy of Dermatology Association Shade Structure Grant Program The AAD Shade Structure Grant Program awards grants of up to $8,000 to public schools and non-profit organizations for installing permanent shade structures for outdoor locations that are not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools, or recreation spaces. In addition to the grant, the AAD also provides a permanent sign for display near the shade structure. Learn more at www.aad.org/member/career/volunteer/shade.
Baseball Tomorrow Fund/ Major League Baseball Field Maintenance Education Program
This program provides the opportunity for MLB groundskeepers to share tips and techniques with other professional sports turf managers, coaches, parents and volunteers who are involved in the maintenance of youth baseball and softball fields. In conjunction with the clinics, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund awards a $10,000 grant to a local organization selected by the participating Club. The grant funds are used for the purchase of field maintenance supplies, equipment or services. Learn more at www.mlb.com/baseball-tomorrowfund/how-to-apply
Lisa Libraries Grant Program
Nonprofit organizations that serve low-income or underserved areas are eligible to apply for in-kind donations from The Lisa Libraries. Lisa Libraries provides donations of free books for community facilities to host their own small libraries or operate programs were children can take the book home. While book donations are
free, The Lisa Libraries requests that recipients cover the shipping and handling costs, which are based on the destination and quantity of books. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Learn more and apply at www.lisalibraries.org/ need-books.
Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program
The National Park Service has announced the opening of the application process for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP), a nationally competitive grant program funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The ORLP offers grants specifically to help create and improve state and local parks and other outdoor recreation areas particularly in under-served communities. A total of $40 million of funding is available. Applications are due by July 10. Learn more and apply at www.cityparksalliance.org/funding/grantopportunities
United States Tennis Association Facility Services Program The United States Tennis Association (USTA) offers business development, advocacy, technical, and financial support to improve or construct tennis facilities across the country. In addition, each applicant will be appointed a project consultant from the USTA National staff who will deliver personalized support and service. Service applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more at www.usta.com, search for “grants” in the search box.
Keep America Beautiful’s Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund
Keep America Beautiful’s Community Restoration and Resiliency Fund benefits Keep America Beautiful Affiliates that serve communities directly affected by natural and environmental disasters. The fund provides immediate and long-term support for initial and ongoing cleanup efforts and helps rebuild vital public spaces: parks, greenways, community gateways, Main Street/ downtown areas, open spaces and more. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply.
According to a recent study, there is an estimated $360 billion available from funding sources for community play and recreation projects. 28 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Build it with Kaboom! Grants
Build it with KABOOM! pairs one of our dedicated funding partners with a community partner, that’s you, who then come together to plan and build a brand-new playground. Our community-built playgrounds generate a tangible, achievable win for your community, transforming your space into a great place to play for kids and families. Find more details at www.kaboom.org/grants.
National Recreation Foundation Grants
The National Recreation Foundation has made annual grants since its inception as a foundation in 1965. With a focus on youth development through recreation, grants generally are awarded through one of three grant programs: Trustee Grants, Special Grants and Impact Grants. Every year, each member of the Board of Trustees is invited to recommend a program he or she believes fulfills the mission of the National Recreation Foundation. Learn more at www. nationalrecreationfoundation.org/our-grants
Charles Hayden Foundation Grants
The Charles Hayden Foundation makes contributions to institutions that serve children and youth ages 3 to 18 from the metropolitan areas of New York. They oncentrate support on youth development and education programs that present evidence of program impact on young people and plans for making measurable progress toward well-defined goals in a specific time frame. Learn more at www.charleshaydenfoundation.org
Campbells Soup Foundation Grants
program, including those that may be COVID-19 related. Please include COVID-19 in the project title of any open grant applications that are related to the COVID-19 crisis. Entergy’s Open Grants Program focuses on improving communities as a whole. We look for giving opportunities in the areas of arts and culture, education and workforce development, poverty solutions and social services, healthy families, and community improvement. Learn more at www.entergy.com/ our_community/grant_guidelines
The Campbell Soup Foundation focuses its giving on three strategic areas: increasing access to healthy food; encouraging healthy living through nutrition education and physical activity; and nurturing Campbell neighborhoods by transforming the physical spaces where people live, learn, and play. Learn more at www. campbellsoupcompany.com/about-campbell
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center Quality of Life Grants
Walmart Foundation Grants
Together, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation generally provide more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind to support programs that align with their philanthropic priorities They work closely with grantees to address large scale environmental and social challenges in three priority areas: creating economic opportunity; enhancing sustainability in supply chains; and strengthening community. Learn more at www.walmart.org/how-we-give
As a pillar of the Paralysis Resource Center, the Quality of Life Grants Program, pioneered by the late Dana Reeve, impacts and empowers people living with paralysis, their families and caregivers by providing grants to nonprofit organizations whose projects and initiatives foster inclusion, involvement and community engagement, while promoting health and wellness for those affected by paralysis in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Learn more at www.christopherreeve.org/getsupport
Entergy’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
Good Sports Sports Equipment, Apparel and Footwear Donations
Grants from Entergy’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to nonprofit partners will be processed by invitation only. Unsolicited applications cannot be accepted. However, nonprofit organizations that meet Entergy’s eligibility criteria are welcome to submit an open grant application for any type of
Good Sports creates opportunities in sports and physical activity for kids through donations of brand new sports equipment, apparel, and footwear. Their goal is to help youth-serving programs: increase the total amount of youth participants; enhance the experience for all young people involved; and create new opportunities in physical activity for the kids they serve. Learn more at www.goodsports.org
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 29
Finding Independent Fundraising Research Resources By National Recreation and Park Association When looking for funding and grants, there are many resources available on the Internet. Below are just a few suggestions on where to start your research. 1. Foundation Center: Provides both training and research information on corporate and foundation grant programs. The grants database is a collection of thousands of grants. 2. Guidestar: An excellent source of IRS 990 forms for foundations and other nonprofit organizations. 3. Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Chronicle is a newspaper for nonprofit news publishing, fundraising trends, resources, and recent grants. 4. NRPA’s Crowdfunding Toolkit
6. Hoovers: Profiles millions of U.S. companies. It is a great source for employee contact information. 7. Fortune magazine: A resource for identifying companies by state and industry. 8. Leadership Directories 9. Google, Yahoo Finance, and other general search engines. 10. Newspapers and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, New York Times. Learn more about NRPA’s grant and fundraising resources at www.nrpa.org/our-work/GrantFundraising-Resources
5. Nonprofit Times: Nonprofit management newspaper.
Convenience Comes to Federal Grants
The Grants.gov program is an E-Government initiative operating under the governance of the Office of Management and Budget. The office delivers a system that provides a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. The Grants.gov system houses information on over 1,000 grant programs for federal grant-making agencies. You can now search and submit for grants on-the-go with the Grants.gov Mobile App. The initiative also has a Grants 101 program to learn more about the grant lifecycle as well as a getting started checklist. Learn more about the App and programs at www.grants.gov
#shapedbyplay
1 800 726 4833 www.playgroundinfo.com
B
30 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Need a creative
partner who really understands you? If you answered yes, put our experience to work for you. Like you, we’re socially distancing, but still fully-engaged and ready to help you with effective, fairly-priced design solutions. To make every penny (and second) count, you need a partner who can hit the ground running. That’s us!
Solutions for Every Budget & Need
• • • • •
Graphic design Flyers & posters Web graphics Presentations Signage & displays
• • • • •
Brochures & catalogs Social media Ad sales & sponsorships Printing & mailing Incentive products
“
Pernsteiner works closely with us to brand our marketing materials with creative designs that get noticed. They understand parks and recreaton and really listen to what we need. The ROI is worth every penny!
”
- Jason Marra, Superintendent, Great Neck Park District
Becoming an Age-Friendly k Brooklyn Par ns Report Recommendatio February 2019
Need design help fast? Contact Todd Pernsteiner
(952) 841-1111 todd@pernsteiner.com
www.pernsteiner.com
DocNetwork COVID-19 Tracking Solution DocNetwork allows businesses to pre-screen, screen, and report on COVID-19 exposures to decrease risk and maintain healthy business operations. Visit www.docnetwork.com or email sales@docnetwork.org for more information.
WE BALANCE THE
P R AC T I C A L IN SUPPORT OF THE
E X T R AO R D I N A R Y
ing
een COVID-19 Scr
. on for businesses rd (EHR) soluti ronic Health Reco to ensure the leading Elect re workplaces DocNetwork is oyers must prepa ues to grow, empl pandemic contin customers. and s As the COVID-19 oyee empl ase risk safety of their sures to decre expo the health and on t repor , screen, and can pre-screen k, businesses With DocNetwor ess operations. healthy busin and maintain onsite. e they arrive g employees befor Pre-Screenin re data about Profile, captu ng work etwork Health Using the DocN employees starti toms prior to exposures Screen nt ● Assess symp ing and customer environme oyee work empl hy of risk tions and a healt ● Decrease hy business opera Using the DocNetwork ● Maintain healt Health Log, check daily temperatures and documen arrival to the workplac t symptoms upon e. ● Reduce transmission among employees ● Ensure separation of symptomatic employe es from others ● Decrease the spread of COVID-19 and lower the impact on business operations
ork?
What is DocNetw
Reporting
For questions
Using the DocNetwork Reporting tools, evaluate real-time data and maintain critical business operatio preparedness for ns. ● Analyze employee exposures and trends ● Reduce the risk for sick employees and absentee ism ● Support enhance 00. d measures to reduce call 734.619.83 or rk.org transmis sion @docnetwo
contact sales
Enjoy...with thePilotOutdoors Rock Site Products Across our different product lines we offer hundreds of choices in style, size, features, materials and colors. Commercial quality products able to withstand years of use and exposure. Made in the USA since 1959.
RJ Thomas Mfg. Co., Inc. • Cherokee, Iowa • 800-762-5002 • customerservice@rjthomas.com • pilotrock.com
Benches • Picnic Tables • Trash Receptacles • Bear Resistant • Bike Racks • Custom Signs • Site Amenities • Charcoal Grills • Campfire Rings 32 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Managing the Procurement Process How to get what an agency needs…when it’s needed! Park and recreation agencies buy the strangest things sometimes. From age appropriate toys for afterschool childcare to refreshments and meal ingredients for special events, and from lifeguard attire to 15-foot-wide mowers, the construction of parks and buildings, and more, park and recreation professionals often find themselves in finance and purchasing departments explaining their business. As stewards of taxpayers’ dollars and providers of necessary community services, agency leaders often face extraordinary challenges procuring goods, services, and equipment in cost-effective and appropriate ways.
improving the efficiency of this process. Procurement, by functional definition, means obtaining products and services from organizations outside your own. Even within the centralized warehousing system that many public sector agencies utilize, the warehouse must be stocked utilizing the procurement process. Understanding procurement is one of the business acumen competencies park and recreation professionals need to succeed. (For more information and a complete list of park, recreation, and public land manager competencies, see the CPP Competency Framework.
Often, park and recreation professionals learn by experience, sometimes the hard way by making mistakes, or simply by spending lots of time with purchasing and financial personnel learning by doing, by explaining, by justifying, and maybe by whining a bit. And then, after you’ve worked hard to develop an understanding with one of the purchasing staff, they move on to other roles or organizations!
One way to master procurement for your park and recreation agency and to build your competency towards certification is to enroll in a relevant training course. While there are many ways to learn these skills, one alternative to college courses and the “school of hard knocks” is an online course. Indiana University’s Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands has an online course in procurement, the first in a group of courses called the Facility Management for Parks and Recreation Professionals: Project Management series. The course takes about an hour to
Making sure you are clear about how procurement works is a starting place for
complete and includes an option to receive CEU’s. Developed by knowledgeable, experienced professionals including Marc Stachowski, who has 20 years of experience in local government project management, the course focuses on best practices that help park, recreation, and public land professionals develop competencies related to: • Implementing proper roles and responsibilities as a member of a procurement selection team • Conducting ethical bid processes • Learning about and mastering the requirements of your agencies procurement policies The course takes about an hour to complete and includes an option to received CEU’s. The course description and registration links can be found online at www.bit.ly/ProcurementProcess. For more information, contact the Eppley Institute at eppley@indiana.edu or by phone at 812-855-3095.
Park and recreation agencies buy the strangest things sometimes. From age appropriate toys for afterschool childcare to refreshments and meal ingredients for special events, and from lifeguard attire to 15-foot-wide mowers, the construction of parks and buildings, and more, park and recreation professionals often find themselves in finance and purchasing departments explaining their business. The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 33
Stop the Spread of Germs Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
When in public, wear a cloth face covering over your nose and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
cdc.gov/coronavirus 316351-A April 7, 2020 9:58 AM
34 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
o
US Playground Surfacing ADA & Mass 521 CMR Compliant Unitary Rubber and EWF Playground Surfacing
Michael McGuffie
860-309-9901
mmcguffie@usplaygroundsurfacing.com ww.usplaygroundsurfacing.com
IT’S NEVER BEEN EASIER
TO FIND A PLACE TO PLAY CLOSE TO HOME!
Visit USTA.com/Eastern to learn more. Follow the action on social
USTA_EASTERN
USTA EASTERN
@USTAEASTERN
© 2020 USTA Eastern Incorporated. All rights reserved.
US Playground Surfacing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADA & Mass 521 CMR Compliant Unitary Rubber and EWF Playground Surfacing --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael McGuffie
860-309-9901
mmcguffie@usplaygroundsurfacing.com www.usplaygroundsurfacing.com
e as High
S Playground Surfacing
Design + Safety = Smiles 4 Columbia Cascade 4 BigToys 4 Climbinet 4 Elephant Play 4 Safety Surfacing 4 Fitness Equipment 4 Certified Inspections
Contact John for product information, catalogs, price lists and to schedule a free site visit.
John LaRue | john@jplarue.com
800-986-3716 • www.jplarue.com The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 35
History in Our Parks Task Force Created The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has convened the History in Our Parks task force to identify the unique needs and challenges of parks and recreation agencies that care for historic and cultural resources while operating within a system that is not geared towards heritage preservation. In doing this, the task force seeks to gather data on the number of parks and recreation agencies (municipal, county, and others) that care for historic and cultural resources (historic sites, collections, archaeological sites, cemeteries, landscapes, etc.), initiate an assessment of their needs and challenges, and explore how AASLH can help through networking, training, and collaborative efforts with other organizations, including the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). If your park agency cares for historic or cultural resources, please contact Kelby Rose at krose@elkhartcounty.com with a brief description of the types of assets under your stewardship. This initial inventory will help guide the direction of the task force. Learn more about AASLH at www.aaslh.org.
Name:Kimberly Kimberly King Name: King Email:Kimberly.king4@redcross.org Kimberly.king4@redcross.org Email: Phone:315-264-9427 Phone:315-264-9427 Store code: NYAQ030620 Storecoupon coupon code: NYAQ030620
Safety Training for Campus all youror and recreation Safety Training forall allyour your Campus orpark School Needs! Safety Training for School Needs!
needs!
Arestaff yourand faculty and students trained? your campus or school equipped with training Are your residents trained? Is yourIsfacility equipped with training supplies and AED’s? supplies and AED’s? The Red Cross has the products and services you need. The Red Cross has the products and services you need. Are your faculty and students trained? Is your campus or school equipped with training
supplies and AED’s? Red Cross has the and services yourespond need. to Responding to Emergencies (RTE) • First Aid/CPR/AED •skills Lifeguarding • CPR/AED • Lifeguarding • CPR/AED Give your students,The faculty and staff the tools andproducts needed to prepare for and real Basic Life Support (BLS, ALS, PALS) • First Aid Kids & Emergency Training Supplies • Lifesaving AED Programs emergencies. Give your students, faculty and staff the tools and skills needed to prepare for and respond to real
emergencies. Responding to Emergencies (RTE): A semester-long First Aid/CPR/AED course providingat an integrated teaching All up-to-date COVID-19 information can be found All courses• are updated with the approach that is customizable for your students needs. www.redcrosslearningcenter.org/s/american-red-cross-covid-19-guidance latest science! •
Responding to Emergencies (RTE): A semester-long First Aid/CPR/AED course providing an integrated teaching • First Aid/CPR/AED: OSHA-compliant courses needs. from the leader in First Aid training. Customizable courses adult, pediatric approach that is customizable for your students and infant First Aid/CPR/AED courses for any audience. Find out if you qualify for our $5 certificates (5X5 program)
36 The Voice | Spring/Summer • nysrps.org • First Aid/CPR/AED:2020 OSHA-compliant courses from the leader in First Aid training. Customizable courses adult, pediatric • Lifeguarding: The gold standard lifeguarding certification resulting in professional lifeguards who are trained to prevent and and infant First Aid/CPR/AED courses for any audience. Find out if you qualify for our $5 certificates (5X5 program) respond to aquatic emergencies.
NRPA Notes July is Park and Recreation Month NRPA is highlighting 31 professionals from across the country in July July is right around the corner, and that means it’s almost Park and Recreation Month! This year’s theme is “ We Are Parks and Recreation,” and NRPA is going to celebrate YOU. They want the world to see that park and recreation professionals are unsung heroes, making communities great places to live, work and play. NRPA will highlight 31 professionals, one each day in July on their social media pages and on the cover of the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine.
How Earning Your CPRP Helps You Step Up Your Professional Game If you’re a passionate go-getter like Lauren Eck, CPRP, you’re always looking for opportunities to improve, take on more responsibility and show that you’re committed to your career. The park and recreation field is always changing and it’s often a challenge to find the time to invest in your long-term goals. Eck shares why becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) was a personal and professional priority and how it was a career game-changer. Step up your own professional game by applying to become a CPRP at www.nrpa.org/ certification. For questions or further information on certification, please email us at certification@nrpa.org.
NRPA Certification Extensions Certified Park and Recreation Executives expiring on 9/1/2020
Aquatic Facility Operators expiring on 6/30/2020
Due to the current challenging circumstances, NRPA and the National Certification Board will extend Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) certification expiration date by six months upon request, from 9/1/2020, to 3/1/2021. Certified professionals who request an extension will maintain a new certification cycle beginning and ending in March. If you would like to extend your expiration date, please contact NRPA Certification Manager Molly Sullivan at msullivan@nrpa.org.
Due to the current challenging circumstances, NRPA and the National Certification Board will extend your Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification expiration date by six months upon request, from 6/30/2020, to 12/31/2020. Certified professionals who request an extension will maintain a new certification cycle beginning and ending in December. If you would like to extend your expiration date, please contact NRPA Aquatics Program Manager Elizabeth Gonzales at egonzales@ nrpa.org.
Certified Park and Recreation Professionals expiring on 9/1/2020 Due to the current challenging circumstances, NRPA and the National Certification Board will extend your Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification expiration date by six months upon request, from 9/1/2020, to 3/1/2021. Certified professionals who request an extension will maintain a new certification cycle beginning and ending in March. If you would like to extend your expiration date, please contact NRPA Certification Manager Molly Sullivan at msullivan@nrpa.org.
Extensions to individuals who have registered for the Computer-based examinations CPRP - Anyone who has an expiration date of 5/29/2020 or earlier will be provided a 90 day extension. CPSI - Anyone that had a current exam period as of 3/23/2020 has been provided a 90 day extension. Anyone purchasing the CPSI Computer-based examination through 5/29/2020 will have 180 days to complete the examination.
Certified Playground Safety Inspectors expiring between 4/1/2020 and 7/1/2020 Due to the current challenging circumstances, NRPA and the National Certification Board is extending all Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification expiration dates between 4/1/2020 and 7/1/2020 by 90 days.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 37
Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz By National Recreation and Park Association
Parks for Pollinators is a national campaign to raise awareness and community involvement in the pollinator crisis through local parks and recreation and likeminded organizations. NRPA and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation are challenging local parks to get involved and host a pollinator BioBlitz during September. Sign Up to Host a BioBlitz this September to Engage Your Community in Pollinator Awareness If your agency signs up to host an event during the month of September, they will also be entered to win a $1,000 prize and one of three Scotts Miracle-Gro prize packs to help with your pollinator habitats or programs! Visit NRPA’s website to sign up for the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz. By signing up you will: • Receive a toolkit explaining how to host and manage your events. • Receive a marketing toolkit with sample social media posts, email copy and a template press release. • Be joining us in our Parks for Pollinators Pledge.
Why Host an Event? Hosting a Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz event allows your community to see how many pollinators and pollinator-friendly plants they can find. You can even make a competition out of it to see who can find the most species. The results of all the local BioBlitz events will be incorporated into the national campaign to show how parks across the country are supporting pollinators in their local spaces.
What’s a BioBlitz? The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz is an event where community members work with park staff to create a snapshot of the variety of wildlife that can be found in local parks. To participate, community members will use an app to take pictures of plants, insects and animals to see what wildlife is present in the park on the day of the event and provide the park system with more information about local pollinators, which are essential to our ecosystem. In our first annual Parks for Pollinators Bioblitz in June 2019, more than 180 individuals pledged to help pollinators and learn how to host a BioBlitz. Events were organized from coast to coast, with 21 states represented and a total of 43 park and recreation agencies participating. These groups recorded more than 5,000 observations, documenting nearly 1,500 different species of both pollinators and pollinator-supporting plants. More than 500 people participated in the national BioBlitz to record these findings and 523 experts helped identify the findings. You can check out the results here — you can even see what pollinators were found near you!
38 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Your agency can use that data from the event to create an inventory of the species (pollinator and plants) found in your local parks. This can be a valuable tool to better manage your open spaces and help you create your future management plans. You can also engage a whole new group of volunteers and future park ambassadors! Read about the possibilities here. This is a great opportunity to engage your community members in a citizen science event while promoting pollinator awareness and education.
How Does it Work? The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz is hosted on iNaturalist. Park and recreation agencies who participate will create a local campaign under NRPA’s national Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz campaign. Instructions for how to do this are included in the BioBlitz toolkit you will receive after signing up. Learn more and sign up for the program at www.bit.ly/NRPAPollinators
PA I D E D I T O R I A L
5 Tips for Sourcing Outdoor Signage Durability and ease of maintenance play critical role in protecting your investment By Stephnie Coufal and Sheryl Teetz, iZone Imaging Finding a resource to produce quality, durable outdoor signage that is easy to order and maintain can be a challenge. You have to research your options, compare costs, understand the materials, guarantee the printing method can maintain the integrity of your design…the list goes on. Before you purchase your next outdoor signs, read these five tips to ensure you don’t face the same old headaches after you get your new signage installed.
Tip #2: Weigh durability vs cost (cheaper isn’t always better). Outdoor signs can get pricey, which is why it’s important you use a material that’s durable and won’t have to be replaced every couple of years due to fading, cracking, or harsh weather. You should also make sure your investment comes with a reliable warranty. At iZone, we back our signs with a 10-year warranty because you deserve a product that you can trust.
Tip #3: Make certain the material is easy to clean.
Tip #1: Make sure the material is weather-resistant. New York winters can be brutal. Whether your signs will be used at a community park, along a trail system, or part of a nature center or themed environment, they should be able to endure inclement weather and high visitor traffic. While aluminum, vinyl, and wood are all options, none of them are as durable as Custom High Pressure Laminate, or CHPL. Known as the superior solution for outdoor signage, CHPL is exceptionally versatile, impervious to moisture, and is fade, scratch, and graffiti-resistant.
When people love your space, your signage will naturally get dirty due to the rigors of public interaction – not to mention the adverse effects of inclement weather, pollution, and critter waste. Signs made from high-pressure laminate can be easily cleaned using soap and water. In the worst-case scenario, graffiti (paint, permanent marker, decals, etc.) can be removed using organic solvents. See cleaning tips on page 32.
Additionally, signage connects visitors to your environment and should provide longterm value through its vibrant visual impact. Signage can be the first impression a visitor or customer receives when encountering your brand. First impressions matter! When you purchase an outdoor sign, ensure the manufacturer can meet all of your artwork requirements. A benefit of using compact laminate panels is the ability to match colors and cut signs into any shape. Not to mention, CHPL comes in three finish options: matte, satin, or ice (a very finely stippled texture that minimizes smudges and fingerprints).
Tip #5: Ensure your signage can be easily installed. Your hard work and energy should be focused on designing valuable signage for your customers, not on figuring out how to install large, heavy, and awkward displays. When you purchase an outdoor sign, make sure the company offers affordable, easy-toinstall mounting solutions that will showcase your beautiful and informative designs.
Tip #4: Maintain the integrity of your brand & your message. Outdoor signs should reflect your organization’s brand and message for multiple reasons. Whether you’re designing warning and regulatory signs, path and trail markers, or interpretive signage, you must provide your visitors with clear and consise safety and direction.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 39
MAKE A VIBRANT IMPACT
Signs & Graphics Guaranteed to Last The key take-away for purchasing the perfect outdoor sign? Hands-down, high-pressure laminate is the best material for durable and attractive outdoor signage. CHPL products are made by layering high-res printed graphics and overlays with a core of phenolic resinimpregnated Kraft paper.
iZone Signs 4 Weather-resistant 4 Quick to produce
See why CHPL is the best choice for your project! Call 888-464-9663 to request your free sample kit!
4 10-year warranty 4 Easy to clean
A single panel of thermoset plastic, or CHPL, is a reliable solution for our customers, because it is weatherresistant and easy to install.
How do I begin? Find a vendor committed to helping you inspire, guide, and educate your visitors by creating high-quality signage that will keep your visitors coming back. Find someone with a proven track record and who can turn around products quickly. Lastly, be sure to ask about a warranty so you don’t have to keep replacing your outdoor signs. For more information about iZone Imaging and a free sample kit, contact Lyndsay Blair at Lblair@izoneimaging.com or 888-464-9663, or visit www.izoneimaging.com.
4 Maintain your brand integrity 4 Easy to install
Cleaning Your Outdoor CHPL Signs For regular cleaning, mild soap and water on a soft cloth will do. Rinse with clean water after washing. Minor graffiti (paint, crayon, felt tip markers, etc) can typically be removed with window cleaner, bleach, or organic solvents, such as Simple Green, Goof Off, or Graffiti Solutions. To maintain a fresh look, edges can be treated annually with a polymer auto wax or a liquid waterproofer sealant. This helps maintain the core color and protects the edge finish, but is not necessary for longevity or warranty purposes. Minor blemishes, nicks, rub marks, burns, and light scratches can be concealed using a polymer based surface treatment such as PlastX.
PEOPLE WITH COMMUNITIES SINCE 1999 CONNECTING
888-464-9663 • WWW.IZONEIMAGING.COM A Proud Commercial Member of NYSRPS
40 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
Proper care and maintenance of your CHPL graphic panels will ensure the highest quality appearance and function of the product over the expected life of the product.
Stop Monkeying Around with that Old Pool Call RenoSys 800.783.7005
We Fix Old Pools & Build New Ones Right.
TM
PVC Pool Shells
Gutters, Grating & Perimeter Solutions
The Superior
Interior
TM
©2013 ARS Inc.
Call for your FREE sample!
PVC Flooring
Aquatic Conversions
Stainless Pools & Spas
Keep your public pool open, watertight and attractive. RenoSys has a full complement of integrated products and systems designed to either renovate your pool or build a new one – the right way. Make your old pool look new again with The Superior Pool Interior from RenoSys. Unlike fiberglass, paints and epoxy coatings, RenoSys does not depend upon a mechanical bond with your old pool shell. This allows it to expand and contract with the freeze/thaw cycle making even existing cracks and cold joints completely watertight. Stop monkeying around with that old pool and give us a call today for a free, no obligation quotation. We’ll provide innovative ideas for solving your pool problems.
Elliot Schwebel
518-783-1632 eschwebel@bsnsports.com BSNSPORTS.com
800.783.7005 • www.RenoSys.com • info@renosys.com
Learn more at www.tlc4led.com ©2020 Musco Sports Lighting, LLC, ADNY20-2
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 41
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF NEW YORK STATE RECREATION & PARK SOCIETY
EC
a
te
SUMM
Th
APR 7-9
er
ap
IT 2019
LAKE
e uti
PLAC
RECREATIO N AND PAR
ID
c Recr eatio
K SOCIET
Y
s nA
2019 RE Highlig C Summit NYSR hts and PS Aw ards Help Yo Sports ur Stand Out
Gu Associailt by tion Orga Turf Canic re
A Park Comes and Rec Ki d Full Ci Get to know rcle NRPA’ s CEO Kri stin
INSIDE
”Receiving a copy of The Voice in my mailbox is always a pleasant surprise! Things to do are put on pause as I flip through the pages filled with informational material focused on parks, recreation, and leisure services. Thank you for providing professionals in our field this wonderful publication.”
K STATE
ty cie So
St
NYSRPS members can help you grow sales!
w Yo r k
New high-impact advertising opportunities!
This is an opportunity to market directly to the people who need your products, services, trainings/classes, and facilities.
FALL/W INTER 2019
NEW YOR
ate Recrea ork St tion wY &P Ne ar k
Ne
$300 4
Rates for every budget – as low as
Voice R Th e
OFFICIAL PUBLICAT ION OF
n
Commercial NYSRPS members receive up to 25% off advertising rates!
THE VOICE is a hyper-targeted magazine mailed to more than 650 members of NYSRPS. It features industryrelevant content which is read and kept as a point of reference. Issues include: trends, upcoming educational opportunities, and content about parks, recreation, facilities, athletics, natural resources, and events. It’s a valuable resource read by municipal, county, and state employees throughout the state of New York.
at i o
magazines printed per issue
ci
850 25%
Reach key New York park and rec decision makers!
so
MAGAZINE FAST FACTS:
– VIS IO
e Stratt on
N: 20 /20 AN NUAL CONF ER
ENCE
PROS
PECT
US
- Jason R. Kulik, Director of Parks and Recreation, Town of Henrietta
Multi-Departmental Reach PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS Park supervisors • Development managers Equipment buyers • Grounds keepers YOUTH & ADULT RECREATION Recreation directors and coordinators Athletics coordinators • Camp leaders Aquatics managers • Event planners Therapeutic recreation coordinators Trip organizers • Bus/van buyers
Advertising Deadlines & Editorial* Fall/Winter 2020 VOICE magazine Advertising deadline: July 15, 2020 | Mails: September 2020
Editorial topics: • 2020 Downstate Conference • Natural resources and nature centers • Sport and fitness facilities, rec and community centers • Group tours, promoting tourism, and partnering with CVBs; Mobile camps/recreation
2021 Commercial Buyer’s Guide Ad deadline: July 15, 2020 | Mails: September 2020
FACILITIES Facility managers • Rink/arena managers Aquatic/water park directors • Rental staff GOLF COURSES Course managers • League coordinators Facility rental staff • Event planners Golf instructors • Purchasing managers NATURE CENTERS Nature center managers • Exhibit curators Environmental educators & naturalists
Buyer’s Guide special sections/sponsored advertorial content opportunities: • Product Innovations – Aquatics, Athletics, Construction, Events, Facilities, Group Tours, Landscaping, Mobile Recreation, Parks, and Playgrounds
Spring/Summer 2021 VOICE magazine Advertising deadline: January 15, 2021 | Mails: March 2021
Editorial topics: • Complete 2021 NYSRPS Annual Conference Guide • Aquatics: splash pads, waterparks, maintenance, safety • Facility, Park & Trail engineering, design, and construction
*Additional content will be announced prior to each issue deadline.
42 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 42 Download the Advertising Media Kit at www.bit.ly/NYSRPS2020
Get maximum exposure and save with 2020 value-added packages!
The stand-alone NYSRPS Commercial Buyer’s Guide will mail to all members with the Fall 2020 issue of THE VOICE magazine. Municipal buyers, decision makers, and influencers will receive it in the fall when they are planning their 2021 budgets. It will also be distributed at seminars and annual NYSRPS events. NYSRPS Commercial members receive one free listing and special discounted rates on additional listings and ads.
Reserve your ads by June 15, 2020 and save!
New! Buyer’s Guide Product Innovation Advertorials An advertorial is a full page space which includes half a page of editorial with photos, plus a half page ad. An advertorial showcases your product knowledge and expertise in the industry. We can assist with writing and layout at no extra charge. Inquire for details.
Sponsored Editorial Text
A PACKAGE A: • Full page ads in Fall/Winter issue of The Voice magazine and 2021 Commercial Buyer’s Guide • Full page advertorial, logo placement, 2 additional yellow pages listings, and 1 featured product listing in 2021 Buyer’s Guide Package rate: $1,625 (a $2,600 value, a savings of $975) B PACKAGE B: • 1/2 page ads in Fall/Winter issue of The Voice magazine and 2021 Commercial Buyer’s Guide • Full page advertorial, logo placement, and 1 additional yellow pages listing in 2021 Buyer’s Guide Package rate: $1,425 (a $2,000 value, a savings of $575) C PACKAGE C: • Full page ads in Fall/Winter issue of The Voice magazine and 2021 Commercial Buyer’s Guide • Logo placement, 1 additional yellow pages listing, and 1 featured product listing in 2021 Buyer’s Guide Package rate: $1,275 (a $1,750 value, a savings of $475)
NEW!
SPECIAL VALUE-ADDED PACKAGES
2021 Commercial Buyer's Guide
D PACKAGE D: • 1/2 page ads in Fall/Winter issue of The Voice magazine and 2021 Commercial Buyer’s Guide • Logo placement and 1 additional yellow pages listing in 2021 Buyer’s Guide Package rate: $775 (a $1,125 value, a savings of $375)
1/2 Page Ad
Ad Dimensions & Single Issue Rates Rates listed are ad
cost per issue.
Width x Height
1 issue
BPP Member 2 issues
Commercial Member 1 issues
2 issues
Non-Member Rate 1 Issue
2 Issues
M + BG
(A) Full page (with bleed)
8.5" x 11" (+ .125" bleed)
$450 $425 $775 $725 $1,000 $975
M + BG
(B) Full page (non-bleed)
7.5" x 9"
$450
M + BG
(C) Full page advertorial
N/A (Photos & editorial text) $875 $800 $875 $800 $1,200 $1,175
M + BG
(D) 2-page facing spread NEW!
17" x 11" (+ .125" bleed) $1,275 $1,200 $1,375 $1,300 $1,650 $1,575
M + BG
(E) 1/2 page vertical
3.625" x 9"
$250
$225
$575
$525
$875
$725
M + BG
(F) 1/2 page horizontal
7.5" x 4.25"
$250
$225
$575
$525
$875
$725
NEW!
$425
$775
$725
$1,000
$975
M + BG
(G) 1/3 page banner NEW!
8.5" x 3" (+ .125" bleed) $150 $100 $475 $400 $650 $550
M + BG
(H) 1/4 page
3.625" x 4.5"
FREE
FREE
$325
$300
$525
$475
(I) THE VOICE inside front cover*
8.5" x 11" (+ .125" bleed) $925 $900
$950 $925 $1,275 $1,200
(J) THE VOICE inside back cover*
8.5" x 11" (+ .125" bleed) $900 $850
$925 $900 $1,200 $1,100
(K) THE VOICE back cover*
8.5" x 8" (+ .125" bleed) $1,000 $925 $1,075 $975 $1,375 $1,300
(L) Buyer’s Guide inside front cover* 8.5" x 11" (+ .125" bleed) $875
$875
$1,150
(M) Buyer’s Guide inside back cover* 8.5" x 11" (+ .125" bleed) $800
$800
$1,000
(N) Buyer’s Guide back cover*
$925
$1,125
8.5" x 11" (+ .125" bleed) $925
NEW! (O) Buyer’s Guide featured product N/A (Photo & 50 words) $175 per featured product $225 per featured product $450 per featured product
(P) Buyer’s Guide yellow pages listings N/A (Indicate category(ies) (Q) Buyer’s Guide logo listing addition
N/A (Submit company logo)
*Premium ad spaces available on a first-come, first served basis.
MSize + BGavailable
First listing free; $25 per each additional category $75 per category $50 First logo; $25 per logo for each additional category N/A in both THE VOICE Magazine and 2021 Buyer's Guide
M + BG
Advertising questions? Contact: Todd Pernsteiner, Account Manager Phone: 952-841-1111 | Email: info@pernsteiner.com
2020 Commercial Members AQUATIC SUPPLIES & CONSTRUCTION RenoSys Corporation NYSRPS Aaron Darcy BPP Member 2825 East 55th Pl. Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-251-0207 W: www.renosys.com E: aarond@renosys.com Waterplay Solutions Kyle Siedlik 1451 B. Ellis Street Kelowoa, BC V1Y 2A3 Canada W: www.waterplay.com E: kyle.siedlik@waterplay.com
AQUATIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT Deschamps Mat Systems Inc. Noreen Rochford 218 Little Falls Rd, unit 12 Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 973-928-3040 W: www.mobi-mat.com E: northeast.sales@mobi-mat-dms.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: www.bbsarch.com E: longo@bbsarch.com Lothrop Associates LLP NYSRPS Arthur Seckler BPP 333 Westchester Ave. Member White Plains, NY 10604 914-741-1115 W: www.lothropassociates.com E: aking@lothropassociates.com
BACKGROUND SCREENING NCSI / SSCI Craig Picca 18 Division St, Suite 414 Saratoga Springs, NY 12804 518-245-6941 W: www.ssci2000.com E: craig.picca@sportsengine.com
CONSULTANTS Weston & Sampson Dan Biggs 1 Winners Circle Albany, NY 12205 W: www.westonandsampson.com E: biggsd@wseinc.com Wright Risk Management Company, Inc., Connie Wallis P.O. Box 471 Mexico, NY 13114 315-317-2361 W: www.wrightspecialty.com E: cwallis@wrightinsurance.com
CLEANING SERVICES Alliance Cleaning Service Paul DiVincenzo 20 Endicar Drive Rochester, NY 14622 585-370-0055 W: www.alliance.janitorial.com E: pdivincenzo@rochester.rr.co
FunFlicks Timothy Bennett P.O. Box 685 Cortland, NY 13045 315-663-5005 W: www.funflicks.com E: timothy@funflicks.com Quassy Amusement Park Ron Gustafson P.O. Box 887 Middlebury, CT 06762 203-758-2913, ext 109 W: www.quassy.com E: ron@quassy.com WonderWorks Nicole Montgomery 9090 Destiny USA Drive Syracuse, NY 13204 315-466-7700 x 417 W: wonderworksdestiny.com E: nmontgomery@ wonderworksdestiny.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING Environmental Design & Research NYSRPS BPP Andrew Britton Member 217 Montgomery St. Suite 1000 Syracuse, NY 13202 315.471.0688 W: www.edrdpc.com E: abritton@edrdpc.com
DIRECT MAIL CATALOGS
PAINTS & COATINGS
Graphic Image NYSRPS BPP Seth Danenberg Member 561 Boston Post Rd. Milford, CT 06460 800-553-0220 W: www.graphicimage.net E: seth@graphicimage.net
Franklin Paint Company Greg Chapin 259 Cottage St. Franklin, MA 02038 518-528-0303 W: www.franklinpaint.com E: lauretta@franklinpaint.com
ENTERTAINMENT Four Seasons Golf and Ski John Goodfellow 8012 E. Genesee Street Fayetteville, NY 13066 315-637-9023 W: www.fourseasonsgolfandski.com E: info@fourseasonsgolfandski.com
NYSRPS BPP & Commercial Memberships
Super Seal Sealcoating Co. Gregory Duffy P.O. Box 925 Penfield, NY 14526 585-248-5770 W: www.supersealco.com E: Duffygj@aol.com
NYSRPS Business Preferred Partner (BPP) members and Commercial members receive benefits that help them reach New York park and recreation professionals all year long. Learn more and join at www.nysrps.org.
44 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org
PET WASTE PRODUCTS BagSpot Pet Waste Solutions Jeff & Ruth Springer NYSRPS 9648 Olive Blvd.#313 BPP Member St. Louis, MO 63132 1-800-203-3613 314-755-1037 W: www.bagspot.com E: info@bagspot.com
PLAYGROUND DESIGN & INSTALLATION Playsites + Surfaces, Inc. Mark DeKenipp 103 Brightside Ave Central Islip, NY 11722 631-392-0960 W: www.playsitesplus.com E: mdekenipp@playsitesplus.com
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT American Recreational Products Bob Brown 1535 Locust Ave. Bohemia, NY 11716 631-244-0011 W: www. americanrecreational.com E: bob@americanrecreational.com Bears Playgrounds Marcey Bears 7625 E. Main Rd. Lima, NY 14485 585-624-5694 W: www.bearsplaygrounds.com E: info@bearsplaygrounds.com BigToys Playgrounds John LaRue 35 Oak Forest Dr. Little Compton, RI 02837 800-986-3716 W: www.jplarue.com E: info@jplarue.com Denzak / Miracle Recreation Joseph Denzak Jr. P.O. Box 15517 Syracuse, NY 13215 800-925-1545 W: www.miracle-recreation.com E: drecreat@twcny.rr.com FlagHouse John Ruggiero 601 Flaghouse Drive Hasbrouck Hts, NJ 07604 800-793-7900 ext. 7521 W: www.flaghouse.com E: john.ruggiero@flaghouse.com
Gametime Playground Equipment/Marturano Recreation Jim Marturano P.O. Box 106 Spring Lake, NJ 07762 800-922-0070 W: www.mrcrec.com E: james206@optonline.net NYSRPS Parkitects, Inc./ BPP Member Site Specialists Steve Lauzun 138 Ludlowville Rd. Lansing, NY 14882 607-533-3517, ext 101 W: www.parktiects.com E: steve@playgroundinfo.com
PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS & SPORTSWEAR EDS Presentations Barbara Hassman 245 Silver St. Bridgeport, CT 06610 203-371-7224 W: www.edsideas.espwebsite.com E: edsideas@aol.com Pop Tops Company, Inc. Jonathan Fine 10 Plymouth Dr. S. Easton, MA 02375 800-647-8677 W: www.poptopssportswear.com E: jonathan@poptopssportswear.com
PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTION Peggy Payne & Assoc. Inc Peggy Payne 146 Broadway Hawthorne, NY 10532 914-747-3237 W: www.playgroundmedic.com E: info@playgroundmedic.com
SEAL COATING/ASPHALT Rochester Jet-Blak Sealers, Inc. Gary Rosbrook 16 Deep Rock Rd., P.O. Box 24362 Rochester, NY 14624 585-441-4125 W: www.jetblak.com E: gary.jetblak@gmail.com
SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING iZone Imaging Sheryl Teetz 2526 Charter Oak Dr Suite 100 Temple, TX 76502 888-464-9663 W: www.izoneimaging.com E: steetz@izoneimaging.com
SITE AMENITIES Jamestown Advanced Products Leanna Cameron 2855 Girts Rd Jamestown, NY 14701 716-483-3406 W: www.jamestownadvanced.com E: lcameron@jamestownadvanced.com R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. / Pilot Rock Justin Jorgensen P.O. Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012 712-225-5796 W: www.pilotrock.com E: jjorgensen@rjthomas.com
SOFTWARE CommunityPass Mia Kocci 141 Dayton Street, Suite 204 Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-689-2323 ext. 234 W: www.communitypass.net E: mkocci@capturepoint.com Edmunds GovTech NYSRPS BPP Melanie Rowan Member 661 Plank Rd. Clifton Park, NY 12065 518-371-6869 W: www.edmundsgovtech.com E: melanier@edmundsgovtech.com MyRec.com Ray Foley P.O. Box 302 Killington, VT 05751 1-866-466-9732 W: www.myrec.com E: ray@myrec.com Rec Desk Software Justin Waz 300 Plaza Middlesex Middleton, CT 06457 W: www.recdesk.com E: justin.waz@recdesk.com
Vermont Systems NYSRPS BPP Michelle Berthiaume Member 12 Market Place Essex Junction, VT 05452 802-879-6993, ext 3028 W: www.vermontsystems.com E: michelleb@vermontsystems.com
SPORTING SUPPLIES/ FITNESS EQUIPMENT BSN Sports NYSRPS BPP Elliot Schwebel Member 27 Schalren Dr. Latham, NY 12110 518-783-1632 W: sportsupplygroup.com E: eschwebel@sportsupplygroup.com G&G Fitness Equipment Inc. Tony Giordano 7350 Transit Rd. Williamsville, NY 14221 800-537-0516 W: www.livefit.com E: tony@livefit.com
SPORTS LIGHTING Musco Sports Lighting Nicholas Mauer NYSRPS BPP 100 1st Ave W Member Oskaloosa, IA 52577 845-628-4577 W: www.musco.com E: nick.mauer@musco.com
US Playground Surfacing Michael McGuffie 29 Thompson Hill Canton, CT 06019 860-309-9901 W: www.usplaygroundsurfacing.com E: mmcguffie@ usplaygroundsurfacing.com Velvetop Products Bill Walsh 1455 NY Ave. Huntington Station, NY 11746 631-427-5904 W: www.velvetop.com E: bwalsh@velvetop.com
TENNIS NYSRPS USTA Eastern BPP Member Joe Steger 70 West Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY 10604 914-282-4153 W: www.eastern.usta.com E: steger@eastern.usta.com
TREE & LAWN SYSTEMS Alternative Earthcare Peter Solch 240 S. Fehr Way Bay Shore, NY 11706 631-499-4300 W: www.alternativeearthcare.com E: peter@alternativeearthcare.com
TURF SPECIALIST
SURFACING Nagle Athletic Surfaces, Inc. Eric Neubauer 6597 Joy Rd. East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-883-1514 W: nagleathletic.com E: eric@nagleathletic.com Seal Master Daniel Lang 30 Railroad Ave. Albany, NY 12205 518-928-5225 W: www.sealmaster.net E: dan.smalbany@gmail.com Sport Tech Acrylic Corp. Michael Edgerton 410 Rt. 22 Brewster, NY 10509 914-232-1640 W: sporttechacrylics.com E: medgerton@sporttechacrylics.com
Pioneer Athletics Evan Steele 39 Richardson St. Billerica, MA 01821 800-877-1500 W: www.pioneerathletics.com E: esteele@pioneerathletics.com
YOUTH SPORTS National Alliance for Youth Sports Kate Nematollahi 2050 Vista Parkway West Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-684-1141 x.224 W: www.nays.org E: knematollahi@nays.org
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2020 • nysrps.org 45
New York State Recreation and Park Society, Inc. Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Dr., Suite 200 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Manufacturer of Commercial Site Furnishings on NYS OGS Contract #PC67465
#
www.JamestownAdvanced.com www.JamestownAdvanced.com
800-452-0639