Voice
SPRING/SUMMER 2022
The
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF NEW YORK STATE RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETY
Annual Conference Returns to Saratoga Springs in 2022
2022 NYSRPS Conference Preview APRIL 24-26
2022 NYSRPS CONFERENCE
ALSO INSIDE:
Special Features: Tec
& New Facilities
for Rec
Recruiting Tips & Staffing Strategies
Loving Our New York Lands - All Year Long
Hand Wash Stations
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New York State Recreation and Park Society, Inc. Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Dr., Suite 200 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 www.nysrps.org (518) 584-0321
MISSION The New York State Recreation & Park Society (NYSRPS) is the principal organization advancing the value of parks, recreation, and leisure services through professional development of its members and citizen engagement.
PURPOSE NYSRPS has served the leisure service industry for 81 years as an independent, nonprofit, public interest, professional membership association dedicated to the following: To function in such a manner as will further the interests of the leisure service movement, its professionals and leaders in voluntary, public, private, and commercial agencies. To promote principles and standards for the improvement of leisure services and to encourage studies and research in professional relations. To affiliate for our mutual benefit and cooperation on local, state, and national levels, and with those organizations in similar or related fields. To educate the public in regard to the principles and goals of the leisure service industry. To assist in the advancement of the leisure services, recreation and parks, and environmental conservation fields. To study legislation pertaining to the leisure services and further that legislation which is in the public’s best interest. To provide opportunities for professional growth of individuals employed in the leisure service industry. To develop a public awareness of the necessity of recreation as a vital part of life. To stimulate a widening interest in leisure services in local communities and statewide through conservation and development of leisure resources. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences are celebrated, thus driving the creation of innovative programs and services to meet the needs of our members, participants and employees. To celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion of healthy people and healthy communities through a variety of programs and services. NYSRPS will guarantee our success by uniting our members, while celebrating and encouraging our many differences among us. We will strive to be the best stewards and spokesperson for our profession by ensuring we promote activities, initiatives and open spaces that unite and promote participation from those of all backgrounds and experiences. We will lead with an openness to change, when needed. The Society is comprised of over 600 New York State Recreation and Park professionals spanning from Long Island to Niagara Falls, Lake Placid to New York City. Members have access to a wide range of programs and services to improve their skills as recreation providers. To best deliver upon our mission and purpose, the Society focuses on five core services: professional development, membership development, resource development, communications / PR, and public policy.
Executive Office Staff Interim Executive Director: Michael Mendrick, ed@nysrps.org Membership/Admin. Services Coordinator: Linda Sylvain, pr@nysrps.org Bookeeper: Kim Brock, bookkeeper@nysrps.org Deadlines for articles, photos and advertising: Fall/Winter 2022 Deadline: September 1, 2022 Spring/Summer 2023 Deadline: January 30, 2023 All members of NYSRPS receive The Voice, reduced registration rates to the NYSRPS Annual Conference and One Day Seminars, as well as discounts on the Continuing Education Unit Program. NYSRPS areas of involvement and service include Legislation, Workshops and Seminars, Conferences, Membership Publications, and Continuing Education Units. The information and articles contained within this publication are for your consideration and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of NYSRPS. NYSRPS reserves the right to approve all material in The Voice. All requests for articles, photos, and advertising should be made to the Membership Services Coordinator at 518.584.0321 or pr@nysrps.org. In 2021, The Voice was printed three times per year. This is issue #3 of 2021.
Be seen and noticed! Advertise in The Voice. For advertising information, contact Todd Pernsteiner, Account Manager, at 952.841.1111 • todd@pernsteiner.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Get Your eSports Game On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2021-22 NYSRPS Board of Directors / Committee Chairs . . . . . . . . 4 Regional Partners and Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Regional Partner Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 2022 NYSRPS Annual Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13 2022-23 State of the State Budget Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Loving Our New York Lands All Year Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Good Help is Hard to Find - Recruiting Tips & Staffing Strategies West Seneca’s Hiring Bonus Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Mentorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Tips for Managing the Feelings of Burnout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Creative Sourcing Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 11 Strategies for Recruiting Seasonal Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Love for Skating Starts Locally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 NYSRPS BPP Member Spotlights: NORA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 USTA Eastern Here to Support You in 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 TEC FOR REC The Value of Adding a Business Operations Manager . . . . . . 32 Installing EV Chargers in Your Community . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 NEW FACILITIES New Community Center Opens in Irondequoit . . . . . . . . 36-37 New Community Center Opens in Crown Heights . . . . . 38-39 NYSRPS Commercial Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-41
ADVERTISER INDEX Bagspot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 BBS Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Broyhill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Edmunds GovTech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 iZone Imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Jamestown Advanced Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover John Deere Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lothrop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover Musco Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 NFL FLag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Northeast Off Road Adventures (NORA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Parkitects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Pernsteiner Creative Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Quassy Amusement Park & Waterpark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 R.J. Thomas / Pilot Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 RenoSys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 US Playground Surfacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 USTA Eastern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 One the cover: Yaddo Gardens & Artist Retreat, Saratoga Springs, NY ©Dreamstime Photo, www.dreamstime.com/bratty1206
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 1
President’s Letter
Wishing you a successful spring and summer season! Let me begin my message with a huge shout out and thank you to our former Executive Director, Lisa Morahan. Lisa worked tirelessly for our society for several years as both a staff person and for the past six years as our executive director. Congratulations to Lisa on her new position as Assistant Director with the City of Saratoga Springs Recreation Department. We are happy for her and look forward to still seeing her as a new member of NYSRPS. Thank you, Lisa, for all you did for NYSRPS! Welcome to our Interim Executive Director Michael Mendrick. Michael began on January 3 and comes to us with a wealth of association management knowledge and experience. If you haven’t yet, check out the NYSRPS website (Society Staff page) to see his extensive list of achievements and background in Association Management. In Michael’s first month he has come up with a thoughtful and thorough plan to move forward in a positive direction identifying what our members are looking for and finding
the value of being a part of our society as well as delivering on our promises. Michael will be with us until the end of June. He will be a resource to help us move NYSRPS forward in a positive direction. With these changes comes my own personal introspection into what value I place on being a member of NYSRPS. The first thing that always comes to mind is networking. Talking with people who are facing similar issues at their jobs and gaining new views, perspectives, and ideas to better deal with and program for our constituents. Another benefit gained from membership is the annual conference. Nothing motivates more than attending a great session with skills or ideas to bring back to your department. For me it is also the added benefit of obtaining CEU’s to keep my CPRP Certification up to date. I think that the most valuable thing I have gained from being a member of NYSRPS are lifelong friends that I have created memories with attending NYSRPS functions or being on committees or boards together with them.
The old saying “you get out what you put in” comes to mind. The activities that I have benefited from most are often the things I was volunteering to help make happen. Working along side some pretty great people to bring a conference to members and then enjoying the socials at the end of the day is one of the most rewarding experiences and long-lasting memories you will create. I am so excited that we can have an in-person conference again this year. Please consider joining us in vibrant Saratoga Springs from April 24 – 26. Our location in the historic Gideon Putnam Hotel and in the beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park will be the perfect setting to learn, interact and enjoy! It is also a great way to rejuvenate and get in the right “head space” for the upcoming peak time for most of our calendars. Wishing all of you a successful spring and summer season! Peggy Kenyon NYSRPS Board President
I think that the most valuable thing I have gained from being a member of NYSRPS are lifelong friends that I have created memories with attending NYSRPS functions or being on committees or boards together with them.
Get Your eSports Game On! NYSRPS Forms Partnership with GGLeagues The New York State Parks and Recreation Society has joined forces with GGLeagues, an online esports gaming company, to bring esports education and competition to the state of New York! The partnership creates an easy and unified way for New York State Parks and Recreation Society members to join the partnership and start their own esports programs. GGLeagues is an esports management solution designed specifically for organizations looking to bring this type of programming to their communities. GGLeagues, founded in 2018, works with over 370 park districts across the US and more than 130 colleges.
RSVP now for one of two introductory webinars (they are the same) to learn how GGLeagues can be a turnkey solution for providing esports programming to your community! Visit www.ggleagues.com for more information on leagues.
Introductory webinars: March 2, 12:00 p.m. EST www.bit.ly/GGwebinarA
March 23, 12:30 p.m. EST www.bit.ly/GGwebinarB
2 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
From the Interim Executive Director
Hello NYSRPS members and partners. Greetings from the NYSRPS office in the Saratoga Spa State Park. As I write this, I am just six weeks into a six-month assignment as your interim executive director. I want to thank the NYSRPS Board of Directors for giving me this opportunity to serve the organization and help you through this transitional period.
across-the-board good nature and willingness to help exhibited by everyone with whom I have interacted. The “community” that is the membership of NYSRPS is strong and stable and, from my perspective, one of your strongest attributes as an organization and most valuable benefits of membership.
It’s been a whirlwind first month and a half of introductions, outreach and efforts to learn as much as possible about what we do, how we do it and how we can potentially do more to provide value and resources to our membership. I’ve enjoyed conversations with many of our board members, committee chairs and members (including commercial members) as well as the simple pleasure of working with dedicated part-time staff members Kim Brock and Linda Sylvain. I have also depended heavily on the good will and awesome assistance of former executive director Lisa Morahan. I am proud to report that in my sixth week in the office my combo of calls, texts and e-mails to Lisa have dropped from about 20 a day to maybe 5 or so!
My role during the first half of 2022 is to assess the operations of NYSRPS, identify the challenges (e.g. limited financial and staff resources, dependence on volunteers), the opportunities (new programming and enhanced member value, expanded role and relevance in the park and recreation industry of NYS) and the means by which to address and attack both. I also hope to help ensure a seamless hand-off and transition to permanent executive leadership before I wrap things up at the end of June.
One of my earliest observations about this organization is the impressive commitment of your volunteer leadership and the
I hope to meet many of you at our Annual Conference coming up April 24 -26 in Saratoga Springs! Michael Mendrick NYSRPS Interim Executive Director
Let’s be social!
WHAT CAN
OFFER YOU?
Facebook:
@NYSRPS
Instagram:
@NYSRPS
Twitter:
@NYSRPS_INC
LinkedIn:
New York Recreation and Parks Society
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The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 3
2021-22 NYSRPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS / COMMITTEE CHAIRS EXECUTIVE BOARD President Peggy Kenyon Town of Manlius 315-637-5188 pkenyon@townofmanlius.org 1 year term - Expires 2022 President-Elect Julie LaFave City of Syracuse 315-473-4330 JLaFave@syrgov.net 1 year term - Expires 2022 Immediate Past President Linanne Conroy Town of Perinton lconroy@perinton.org 1 year term - Expires 2022 Vice President of Programs & Services Tom Venniro Town of Parma 585-392-9030 tvenniro@parmany.org 2 year term - Expires 2022 Vice President of Professional Development Jason Marra Great Neck Parks District 516-487-7665 jmarra@greatneckparks.org 2 year term - Expires 2023 Treasurer John Hirliman City of Saratoga Springs 518-587-3550 john.hirliman@saratoga-springs.org 2 year term - Expires 2022 Secretary Kyle Derry Town of Ogden Parks and Recreation 585-617-6177 Recleader@ogdenny.com 2 year term - Expires 2023
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Region I Representative Jessica Dickinson Town of Pawling 845-855-1131 jldickinson@pawling.org 3 year term - Expires 2024 Region I Representative Bob Kaczmarek Village of Scarsdale 914-722-1160 rkaczmarek@scarsdale.com 3 year term - Expires 2023 Region II Representative Heather Maltby Town of Bethlehem 518-439-4955 x1603 hmaltby@townofbethlehem.org 3 year term - Expires 2024 Region II Representative Jack Davison Town of Onondaga 315-469-3464 jdavison@townofonondaga.com 3 Year Term - Expires 2022 Region III Representative Joseph Menter Grand Island 716-773-9680 jmenter@grand-island.ny.us 3 year term - Expires 2023 Region III Representative Nick Berlin Town of Perinton 585-223-5050 nberlin@perinton.org 3 year term - Expires 2022
COMMITTEE CHAIRS 2022 Annual Conference Committee Alyssa Benway, Town of Malta Constitution and Bylaws Committee Gregg Goodman, Upstate Safe Play Elections Committee Jill Ramos, City of Saratoga Springs Executive Committee Peggy Kenyon, Town of Manlius Finance Committee John Hirliman, City of Saratoga Springs Membership Development Committee Rebecca LaFountain Nominations Committee Linanne Conroy Past Presidents Committee Linanne Conroy Professional Development Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius Professional Ethics & Grievance Committee Joanne Coast, Retired Public Awareness Committee Tom McGerty, Village of Garden City Public Policy Development Committee Eric Bacon, Town of Camillus Recognition and Awards Committee Charry Lawson, Town of Onondaga Resource Development Committee Ryan Rockefeller, Hilton-Parma NYSRPS Friends Foundation Bill Zimmerman, City of New Rochelle
Honorary Representative Yolanda Bostic Williams New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Regional Programs & Services Yolanda.BosticWilliams@parks.ny.gov
2022 Preliminary Board Meeting Dates Board meetings are at 10 a.m. (unless otherwise noted) and are open to all to attend. We welcome guests and encourage participation. Please contact ed@nysrps.org for meeting specifics. • Annual Meeting, April 26, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Saratoga Springs Please refer to the “Members Only” section of the NYSRPS website under Membership for important Board documents and the latest approved minutes at nysrps.org.
4 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Upcoming NYSRPS Events 2022 NYSRPS Annual Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY April 24-26, 2022 2022 NYSRPS Awards Ceremony, Saratoga Springs, NY April 25, 2022 ‘Discover Canyon Country’ Group Travel Tour Arizona, Nevada, Utah October 4-11, 2022 Visit nysrps.org for complete details and to register.
REGIONAL PARTNER AND AFFILIATE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS NYSRPS REGIONS Region 1 – Hudson Valley, Long Island, Metro, and Westchester Region 2 – Central, Capital Region, Adirondack/Lake Champlain & North Country Region 3 – Genesee Valley & Niagara Frontier
REGIONAL PARTNERS
AFFILIATES
Central NY Recreation and Park Society (CNYRPS) President: Charlie Bisnett, Onondaga County, charliebisnett@ongov.net Past President: Eric Sopchak, Onondaga County President-Elect: Jack Davison, Town of Onondaga Secretary: Jake Brigham, (again!) City of Binghamton Treasurer: Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius Member-at-Large: Deb Morrell, Town of Geddes Member-at-Large: Ryan Atkinson, Onondaga County Member-at-Large: Keith Caiello, Village of East Syracuse (new job!) Member-at-Large: Linda Adams, Town of Cicero Member-at-Large: Jen Whiston, Town of Van Buren (new job!)
Long Island Leisure Services Association (LILSA)
Genesee Valley Recreation and Park Professionals (GVRPS) President: Ryan Rockefeller, Town of Parma, rrockefeller@parmany.org Past President: Tom Venniro, Town of Parma President-Elect: Kelly Bartell, Town of Ogden Secretary: Ellen Fridman, Town of Gates Treasurer: Stacie Paris, Town of Gates Member At Large: Kelly Attridge, Town of Perinton Member At Large: Kathleen Laskey, Town of Parma North Country Leisure Service Professionals (NCRLP) In development / no current executive board
President: Anthony Martino, amartino@northwell.edu Vice President: Tom McGerty, Village of Garden City Secretary: Dorothy Ferencik Treasurer: Manny Falzon, Great Necks Park District Board Member: Kate Schneider Niagara Frontier (NFRPS) President: Sara Lester, Gateway Longview, Longviewslester@gatewaylongview.org President-Elect: Nicole Ruberto, Town of Tonawanda Past President: Joseph Menter, Town of Grand Island Secretary: Kristin Welch, Town of Orchard Park Treasurer: Mary-Diana Pouli, Town of Amherst Member-at-Large: Josh Haeick, Village of Hamburg Member-at-Large: Mandy Lofft, City of Tonawanda Member-at-Large: Marty Denecke, Town of Hamburg Member-at-Large: Lauren Massett, Town of West Seneca
Affiliates and Regional Partners are encouraged to share news and events with NYSRPS. Please send submissions by the 15th of the month to pr@nysrps.org.
Metropolitan Recreation and Park Society (METRO) In development / no current executive board Capital Region Recreation and Park Society In development / no current executive board Westchester Recreation and Park Society (WRAPS) President: David Goldberg, Pound Ridge Recreation & Parks, dgoldberg@ townofpoundridge.com Vice-President: Sally Veltidi, Town of Eastchester Immediate Past-President: Brian Gray, Scarsdale Treasurer: Matt Trainor, Village of Pleasantville Secretary: Kim O’Brien, Town of Bedford Member at Large: Bob Kaczmarek, Scarsdale Member at Large: Bill Camarra, Eastchester Member at Large: Jen Guisti Member at Large: Beth Bricker, Westchester County Member at Large: Elizabeth Linsalato, Town of Mt. Pleasant Member at Large: Brittany Neider, New Castle
Hudson Valley Leisure Services Association (HVLSA) President: Jessica Dickinson, CPRP, Town of Pawling, jldickinson@pawling.org Vice President: Robyn Priano, Town of Pawling Secretary: Jeanne Scigliano, Town of Beekman Treasurer: Matt Veronesi, Town of New Windsor Member-at-Large: Nina Kallmeyer, Town of Carmel Member-at-Large: Courtney Carroll, CPRP, Town of LaGrange Member-at-Large: Jason Szeli, Town of Newburgh Member-at-Large: Sandy Washburn, Dutchess County
WORKING TOGETHER FOR NEW YORK COMMUNITIES
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 5
REGIONAL PARTNER UPDATES
Westchester Recreation and Park Society (WRAPS) WRAPS, like most of our professional organizations in the state, is slowly getting back on track with in-person events and programs. We held our first post-pandemic in-person vendor luncheon, and while we had to go to a new venue as the Westchester County center is still set up as a COVID hospital, the event went off without a hitch. Thank you to the Town of Mt. Pleasant for the use of their community center and staff and our always ready VP Sally Veltidi and her staff Jamie and Bill for putting together an awesome program. The program was held on Tuesday, February 8th with 21 vendors and 45 members present. Our next program is our Entertainers Showcase on February 25th. Again, this will be the first year since the pandemic that we will hold it in-person and as of today we have 16 entertainers and 30 members signed up. Another movement that WRAPS has been involved with is IDEA, our diversity committee. Their mission statement is to promote and foster Inclusion, Diversity and Equity for All within our profession and our communities. They have established 4 primary goals, which are: 1. Advocate for establishing safe, supportive and open-minded environment for the exchange of thoughts and ideas within the WRAPS community.
2. Promote the growth and development of underrepresented populations in our field. 3. Develop and influence professional development and training within the areas of IDEA for local programming and conferences. 4. Actively promote the creation of productive work environments within our field. The committee has garnered strong support from both the WRAPS Executive Board and the New York State Recreation and Parks Society and through its outreach efforts, has resulted in an increase of 12 new memberships for both organizations. The committee has also successfully begun developing relationships with Recreation Department Administrators at both Lehman College and SUNY Cortlandt in an effort to connect with students and grow our profession. Other highlights of the past year for the IDEA committee have included: • April 2021 – participated in discussion on DEI initiatives around NYS with Yolanda Bostic Williams, Special Assistant for Legislative & Community Affairs at NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation and Kendra Hayle – Area Coordinator, City of Rochester-
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6 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Department of Recreation and Youth Services. • May 2021 - Participation in a NRPA sponsored DEI Roundtable discussion via Zoom at the invite of NYSPRS. • August 2021 - Presentation to the WRAPS Executive. • September 2021 – Presentation at the WRAPS BBQ Luncheon. • November 2021 – “What’s the Big IDEA” presentation at the Downstate Recreation Conference. The IDEA Committee looks forward to another year of tremendous growth in 2022. Expect to see us continue supporting the committee’s goals and bringing valuable resources and information to our members. The WRAPS Executive board looks forward for its members to have a more normal 2022 recreation program year, similar to a pre-pandemic year. Stay healthy and safe. David Goldberg WRAPS President
REGIONAL PARTNER UPDATES
Hudson Valley Leisure Services Association (HVLSA) Collaboration and Support Make A Difference in the Hudson Valley! The Hudson Valley Leisure Services Association (HVLSA) has been bridging communities through Parks and Recreation since 1975 with professional development and networking opportunities. We are excited to share a new path for our members!
increasing the participation of local professionals in the advancement in the Parks & Recreation field. Please visit our website at www.hvlsa.org to view the upcoming meeting schedule or to find out more information.
If you work in Parks & Recreation, you know that both of those words go hand-in-hand to serve our communities best. Most recently, we have created new tracks at our monthly meetings to bring more valuable knowledge from the field into our professional development group. At these meetings, the group has been able to split into those two tracks for more streamlined “parks/maintenance” discussions and then a “recreation/programming” niche. We have new ways to more effectively discuss a variety of topics such as field maintenance, seasonal staffing, concession stand operation, senior centers, and park projects – all with different lenses and perspectives.
Jessica Dickinson, CPRP, CPSI HVLSA President Recreation Director, Town of Pawling
It has been a breath of fresh air seeing our local colleagues able to partner and share tips and tricks of the trade with each other. As professionals, it can feel isolating in an agency of any size when we do the work alone. HVLSA is striving to create more collaborative and supportive environments between agencies.
• Like a pool, the water is filtered and chlorinated.
The HVLSA Executive Board has spent the last year expanding our general membership and
Town of Patterson The Town of Patterson Recreation Department and the Town of Kent Recreation Department recently partnered up to offer a basketball program for youth ages 5-18.
• The bottom of the plake is bulldozed and cleaned each spring with new stone and sand spread eliminating muck and weeds.
At Patterson Rec, we have our own indoor basketball courts, but we were on the fence about running an indoor program with Covid still an issue. The Town of Kent normally uses the schools, but the schools were not allowing outside groups to use the gyms. The Town of Kent Recreation Director reached out to me and a plan was formed. After navigating the planning process of this shared service, we now have over 300 kids playing, competing and socializing at our joint basketball program every Saturday!”
• Fresh water is continually drawn from a creek into the swim area.
Matt Chibbaro Recreation Director, Town of Patterson
Highlights from HVLSA members:
Town of Beekman Unlike most other parks’ swim areas, The Town of Beekman has a “Plake”! A “plake” combines the best part of a pool and the best part of a lake!
• Like a lake, there is a sandy beach which the kids LOVE to build and play in. • Each weekday there is a sand castle contest. • We have CORCL boats to rent…can’t do that in a pool! Jeanne Scigliano Recreation Director, Town of Beekman
Town of Poughkeepsie The Town of Poughkeepsie Recreation Department plans to expand the love of reading through parks with the power of the Little Free Library. We’re excited to have installed our first library in a town park. The neighbors are loving it and there are plans to install additional boxes at more parks this coming season.
Beekman’s plake
Poughkeepsie’s Little Free Library
HVLSA members gather monthly to discuss agency collaboration
HVLSA January 2022 meeting
Patterson’s basketball program
Patterson’s basketball program
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 7
REGIONAL PARTNER UPDATES
Niagara Frontier (NFRPS) Happy almost spring, as the weather begins to break, we begin to plan for one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year with constant challenges and changes. We know that time and resources are limited but we as parks and recreation professionals have so much to offer and support each other in. If you have a program, idea, employment opportunity, or resource that you would like to highlight please contact myself and I will make it possible to communicate to the local society thru our email distribution list, Facebook, state office publications when applicable, and in print at our next meeting. Thank you to Joe Menter from Grand Island as he continues to be our Region 3 representative on the NYSRPS executive board. Should you
have any questions, comments, or concerns that you would like Joe or I to address please let us know. Our President Elect of the NFRPS Nicole Ruberto from the Town of Tonawanda remains on the NYSRPS Awards Committee. Thank you to our NFRPS executive board members: • President Elect: Nicole Ruberto • Past President: Joe Menter • Secretary: Kristin Welch • Treasurer: Mary-Diana Pouli • Member at Large: Marty Denecke • Member at Large: Josh Haeick • Member at Large: Mandy Lofft • Member at Large: Lauren Massett
We hope to see you or a representative from your department, agency or office at our next meetings: • April 7, 11 a.m., via zoom Topic will be making your camp/program staff a cohesive team-roundtable discussion • June 2, 11 a.m., location TBD Season end picnic and training I cannot stress enough that we are here for you and want to assist where and when ever able. I am always looking for feedback positive or negative. Please feel free to reach out to me via email slester@gateway-longview.org or 783.3100 ext. 3321. Best Regards, Sara Lester, CTRS Director of Recreation, Gateway Longview
Genesee Valley Recreation and Park Professionals (GVRPS)
NOW HIRING! NYSRPS is pleased to share employment opportunities now on the public side of the Society website (nysrps. org). Only members can post positions, but these may be viewed by all potential applicants looking for employment in the field of parks and recreation. Do you have an opening and are a current member? Please send your job posting, agency logo and job closing date to: Linda Sylvain at pr@nysrps.org.
8 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
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2022 NYSRPS Conference April 24-26 2022 NYSRPS CONFERENCE Saratoga Springs, NY Call for Exhibitors Get face-to-face time! Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their latest products, services and trends to hundreds of park, recreation and therapeutic recreation professionals in New York State. GRAND BALLROOM BOOTHS The Grand Ballroom will feature exhibits skirting the perimeter of room, for optimal visibility during meals. HALLWAY EXHIBITORS Hallway exhibitors enjoy 8’ x 8’ space with a covered table and access to conference attendees at a lower rate. EXHIBITOR RATES Includes 6 ft. covered table and 2 chairs. NYSRPS Member (Grand Ballroom)...............$800 (sold out) NYSRPS Member (Hallway).........................................$700
Conference Rates Full Conference Member..................................................................... $300 Full Conference Non-Member..............................................................$375 Committee........................................................................................ $225 Spouse...............................................................................................$160 Retiree............................................................................................... $150 Presenter............................................................................................ $125 Monday Only...................................................................................... $185 Sunday / Tuesday................................................................................. $85 Students Full Conference...................................................................... $85 Hotel Rooms......................................................................... $142 per night (Link to hotel available on nysrps.org website)
Register for the Conference online at nysrps.org! 10 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Non-Member (Grand Ballroom).................... $875 (sold out) Non-Member (Hallway).............................................. $775 Non-Profit (Hallway spaces only).................................$550 Receive a 20% discount for multiple booths. $75.00 additional charge for electricity. Decorator will handle all shipments to/ from the conference center. Find exhibitor sign-up and decorator information at nysrps.org, click on the Conference section on the menu bar.
2022 NYSRPS Conference Photo: Gail Stein Frozen Moments in and Around Saratoga
April 24-26 | Saratoga Springs, NY
Downtown Saratoga Springs at night
Join us for the Sunday Night Social in Saratoga Springs Sunday, April 24, 2022 | 7 - 10 p.m. After exploring and enjoying one of more than 50 restaurants and pubs in downtown Saratoga Springs on Sunday evening, make sure to stop by the Saratoga City Tavern between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. for three floors of fun with NYSRPS friends and colleagues. Enjoy live music courtesy of City Tavern favorite Watchdog - donating their services to us! Plus, we have the whole third floor to ourselves that features a photo booth by Dean’s DJ Service, a dessert bar to sweeten your evening, a cash bar, couches, pool table, TV’s – everything you need for a great night out in Saratoga Springs!
Schedule At-a-Glance Sunday, April 24, 2022 Registration Opens.................................................... 12 p.m. Sessions........................................................... 2 - 4:45 p.m. Welcome Social..................................................... 5 - 6 p.m. Evening Social - Saratoga City Tavern.......................7 - 10 p.m.
Monday, April 25, 2022 Healthy Initiative.....................................................6:30 a.m. Breakfast with Exhibitors.....................................7 - 8:30 a.m. Sessions........................................................8:30- 11:15 a.m. Exhibit Hall w/Lunch.................................. 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Keynote Presentation.........................12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Sessions....................................................... 1:45 - 4:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Social................................................... 5 - 6 p.m. NYSRPS Awards Dinner........................... 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Saratoga City Tavern exterior
Saratoga City Tavern third floor
Healthy Initiative.....................................................6:30 a.m. Breakfast with Exhibitors.....................................7 - 8:30 a.m. Sessions....................................................... 8:30 - 11:15 a.m. Exhibit Hall w/Lunch................................... 11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. Annual Membership Meeting..... 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Roundtables.......................................................1 - 2:15 p.m.
Stay Up-to-Date & In-the-Know! Download the 2022 Conference App NYSRPS will once again provide all conference information via the Eventsential conference app. Simply download (for free) Eventsential on your mobile device and search NYSRPS for the 2022 Annual Conference. The app is a terrific way to plan your itinerary and be connected to all program information at the touch of a tab. The app includes the latestl program details and updates. Scan QR code to download the Evensential app from the Apple store.
Scan QR code to download the Evensential app from Google Play.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 11
2022 NYSRPS Conference April 24-26 | Saratoga Springs, NY Keynote: Ian Hill, Chief Executive Officer, National Grassroots Media Corporation
“Catalyst for the Renaissance” Humanitarian, Business Leader, Award Winning Social Innovator and World Record Breaker; these are some of the words that are often used when referring to Ian Hill. Whether running a multimillion dollar business operation with over 1000 employees, or spearheading first of their kind life-changing community projects, Ian Hill has been recognized for being a catalyst for positive change throughout the Globe. Ian’s latest world record attempt is to be the oldest man to play college football and to save lives (middle-aged men are 70% more likely to commit suicide than any other segment of the population)! The effort will help de-stigmatize mental health for men, and introduce men to partner programs who will provide meaningful information and tangible tools that foster mental wellness, resiliency and strength. Today, Ian is CEO of the National Grassroots Media Corporation and it’s family of Networks. These Digital TV and Radio networks reach into 185 million households across the US and 3.1 billion mobile devices around the world.
Ian is also known for his humanitarian effort, “Let Them Be Kids”, of which he is the founder and volunteer CEO. This first-of-its-kind initiative builds playgrounds in areas of extreme need. Let Them Be Kids has impacted over 150 communities across North America and as far away as Africa. The National Council for Community and Justice recognized Ian for his commitment to positive change, by naming him Humanitarian of the Year, The Stand for Children Organization, named him its Child Advocate of the Year. Most recently, Ian’s Let Them Be Kids program was named one of the foremost innovative social leisure programs in the world by the World Leisure Congress.
Ian Hill
Keynote Session Description: Throughout history after every Pandemic there have been a renaissance! The recreation, parks, arts, culture and heritage, the “Quality of Life sector” is poised to be the catalyst for this
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renaissance in the Communities they serve. This sector is both figuratively and literally the heart of any community; it pumps life-giving blood throughout any region, touching in a meaningful way, every citizen. In these increasingly complex and challenging times, those at the top must be able lead like never before. Designed specifically for those in this critical sector, this life changing keynote will remind all who attend why we do what we do, while discussing leading edge collaborative strategies and proven concepts for building community capacity needed to take on the challenges of today.
Outcomes: • Attendees will learn the 3 keys to leading a renaissance for the stakeholders and communities they serve. • Participant will have a better understanding of the dynamics of rapid change and how to navigate to their vital outcomes. • Participants will have deeper knowledge of the value they bring to a community and be able to articulate the impact of their department in these changing times.
2022 NYSRPS Conference April 24-26 | Saratoga Springs, NY
2022 Breakout Session Topics Here is a sampling of some of the 2022 Conference sessions*: Empathy: The Key to Effective Leadership Growing Weeders into Leaders The Impact of COVID-19 on College Student Leisure Time Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Stress in New York City Cross-Cultural Communication: Building bridges of understanding SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Cheat Sheet: Creating a Positive Youth Development Context Got History? Adding History to Your Programs MyRec.com Recreation Software User GroupSoftware That Simplifies Your Recreation Management
Neurocognitive Diagnoses: Deeper Insights for Recreation Educators The Funding Dilemma – prioritizing the program when all the funding hasn’t come through (yet)! The Hunt is On!
Volunteer Management for the Modern Era
“Hey Neighbor, Would You Like a Cup of Coffee?”...Be your best by creating an extraordinary brand and “magical” customer experiences
Coaching Poor Performance
Top Reasons for Turf Decline on Golf Courses
Let’s Include Everyone in All Activities! Strategies on how to include people who have developmental disabilities in inclusive activities. Learn How To Lead Like A Pro
E-Sports Communication, Management and Risk Mitigation: Public Entity Risk Management Leadership Strategies for Crafting Positive Outcomes”
Designing Your Life
All About Dog Parks, Providing Successful Facilities for Canines, Owners and Facility Managers
Everybody Plays: A Best Practice Guide to Multigenerational Design
Public Private Partnerships Creating Spaces Where Everyone Belongs: Community Inclusion in Recreation
Play it Cool: How to Have Fun in the Sun
Proper Maintenance Saves Money
Open Water Safety
Circus Works for Every-Body
Character Education through Creative Recreation
Designing and Implementing Safety and Security Measures in Recreation Programming
The Magic Force- Building Pride as a Performance Strategy
The Ball is in Your Court
Get Your Mud On! Specialized Outdoor Recreation for All (SOAR) Re-envisioning the Backyard: Leveraging Your Community’s Fading Spaces
Best Practices in Recreation Needs
Park Improvement Projects - From Concept to Construction The Past, Present & Future of Playgrounds for Active Play and Community Health Playground Equipment & Resilient Surfacing Safety & Accessibility Standards Recycling and Composting Programs with Municipal Parks & Rec: A Collaborative Approach
*As of February 18, 2022. Schedule subject to change.
Register for the Conference online at nysrps.org!
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 13
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
2022-2023 State of the State Budget Highlights By Erik Kulleseid, Commissioner, New York State Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Governor’s budget reinvests in the places essential to our health and well-being Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget proposes commitments for a broad range of reforms and advancements for all New Yorkers, especially those of us with a strong interest in parks, outdoor recreation and the environment. The Governor’s proposed Executive Budget for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is precedent setting, reflecting her deep personal support for the State Park and Sites System and her confidence in our ability to deliver strong results. As a patron herself, she recognizes the value of parks and historic sites and supports the work that needs to be done for our basic infrastructure and to meet the needs of our visitors. Moreover, it reflects a needed investment in a park system that has seen visitation grow by 41 percent since 2008. As such, in her Executive Budget, Governor Hochul has increased our bonded capital appropriation by more than 80% to $200 million annually through 2027. Understanding the incredible strain of our expanding built infrastructure and our growing visitation, OPRHP’s State operations budget is set at $199.3 million, and our approved staffing level has also been increased to its highest level since 2009, which means we will be in a better position to serve a growing number of visitors.
State Parks Capital Budget Accelerating and enhancing our NY Parks 100 initiative, Governor Hochul has proposed bonded capital funding of $200 million for our capital program, a $90 million increase over last year. This commitment will position the agency for 2024 and our celebration of
the 100th anniversary of the State Parks Act, which established the system we know today. This increase is a fantastic vote of confidence in the direction of our park system, as we strive to meet the recreational and cultural needs of New Yorkers, visitors and tourists.
Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) The spending plan also proposes increasing the total EPF to $400 million, up from $300 million currently. Notable EPF categories that impact parks and open space include: • The Local Parks/Historic Preservation Grant Program, administered by OPRHP, provides matching capital grants to municipal parks, is increased by $6.5 million to a total of $26 million. The Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums grants program is funded at $18 million, an increase of $2 million from the current year. • State Lands Stewardship is increased by $15.6 million which brings the total to $50 million. This funding is shared by OPRHP and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to enhance public access to state parkland and undertake natural resource projects. An increase of more than $7 million brings our allocation to $25 million. • Parks & Trails New York is slated for $2 million to fund its successful and vital Friends Groups Capacity Grants program, providing competitive grants to not-forprofit friend’s groups that support state parks and historic sites. This doubles our appropriation for this program. • The Environmental Justice line is increased to $13 million, with the “Connect Kids”
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allocation increased by 50 percent to $3 million to allow children from economically distressed and underserved communities to experience state parks and historic sites, environmental educational opportunities and get job skills training at our parks and sites. • The Open Space land acquisition category is proposed at $40 million, a proposed increase of $10 million from the current year.
Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Bond Act The Budget authorizes a $4 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. If approved by voters in the November 2022 general election, this bond act will make significant environmental investments across the State. This historic initiative will provide funds to restore critical environmental habitats; reduce flood risks; conserve additional lands and open spaces; protect and improve our water resources; and invest in climate change mitigation projects that will reduce pollution and lower carbon emissions. Parks and recreational project will be eligible for a portion of Bond Act funding.
Conclusion In summary, in her inaugural budget proposal Governor Hochul demonstrates her historic commitment to New York’s state parks and historic sites with increases to our funding in both capital and operating funds, including much needed increases in our workforce. It represents a tremendous investment in the places that our so important to New Yorkers’ health and well-being.
Congratulations to Elliot Schwebel on His Retirement! Longtime member Elliot Schwebel recently retired from BSN Sports/US Games. We thank him for his years of service to our organization and the parks and recreation field. Here is what Elliot had to say about this life transition: “I began working at BSN Sports/ US Games in January 1994 as a sales representative covering New York State and New England. My very first trade show was the 1994 NYSRPS Conference at the Nevele Resort in the Catskills. I attended every conference until 2020. I have for many years served on the Elections Committee counting ballots at the annual conference. Being a part of the NYSRPS has always been a membership I have really enjoyed participating in. In my 28 years at BSN Sports/ US Games I have worked as a sales rep, Northeast regional manager, National Sales Manager and finally returning as key account sales rep for my final 4 years. I have been married to my wife Ina for 52 years. We were both born and raised in Troy, NY. We have a son, daughter, son in law and 2 grandsons. As I have only been retired for 2 weeks I am not sure what my plans are for retirement. I have appreciated the support and friendships from the members and staff throughout my career. Thank you, Elliot Schwebel.”
Keep it Beautiful...Keep it Clean
800-203-3613
bagspot.com The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 15
Loving Our New York Lands All Year Long By Maria Gigliello, Arthur V. Savage Intern for Parks & Trails NY Every season, a variety of events from Christmas Bird Counts to First Day Hikes in the winter to packed trailhead parking lots in the summer and fall demonstrate that people from all over the state are using and enjoying parks, trails and public green spaces in record numbers. No matter the season, outdoor activities have an impact on the land and it’s important that we do our part to protect New York lands all year long. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) launched the ‘Love Our New York Lands’ campaign last spring in response to the steady increase in the number of visitors to state lands, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the decade prior, particularly
in the Adirondacks and Catskills. This framework is appropriate for all New York lands, including state parks, historic sites, trails and greenways. Loving our New York lands means all of us have a responsibility to protect state lands for future generations by following the Hiker Responsibility Code, practicing Leave No Trace Principles, and considering lessvisited open spaces. Loving our New York lands can also mean choosing the path less traveled. Popular trails are popular for a reason, but New York has lots of hidden treasures just waiting to be explored. Now is a great time of the year to check out some of the state’s hidden gems. State Parks launched a free mobile app, The Parks
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Explorer App, to provide helpful information about the variety of destinations, activities and adventures available in state parks and historic sites. PTNY’s TrailFinder Map and DEC’s Info Locator are also great resources to find a new place to explore near you! If you love visiting New York’s state lands, join us in protecting our lands and resources for generations to come by minimizing your impact, carrying out what you carry in, stopping to check out signage at trailheads and visitor centers and encouraging others to care for our shared lands. Below are some resources you can use when planning your next trip.
Love Our NY Lands www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/119881.html
State Recreation Lands www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82098.html
General Hiking Information www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/351.html
Parks Explorer App https://parks.ny.gov/explorer-app/
Follow the Hiker Responsibility Code BE PREPARED with proper gear and attire, including sturdy, comfortable boots. USE MAPS, GUIDES, OR DEC’S WEBSITE TO PLAN where you’re going and when you expect to return. LEAVE TRIP PLANS WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS. Update them with any changes. BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR FITNESS LEVEL— don’t overestimate your abilities and don’t underestimate mother nature.
CHECK THE WEATHER for the day of your trip, that night, and the next day so you can be prepared if your return is delayed. PREPARE FOR SURVIVAL. Know what to do in case of emergencies and be prepared for them to happen. HIKE IN A GROUP AND STAY TOGETHER. Pace your hike to the slowest person. TURN BACK IF WEATHER BECOMES EXTREME or if exhaustion is setting in. Don’t push your limits.
PLAN YOUR NEXT HIKING OR CAMPING TRIP.
VISIT: www.dec.ny.gov ⊲ Recreation ⊲ Hiking
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Good Help is Hard to Find (But not impossible!) West Seneca’s Hiring Bonus Program Mentorship Helps Staff Grow Managing the Feelings of Burnout Creative Sourcing Strategies Strategies for Recruiting Seasonal Employees 18 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
West Seneca Tries Hiring Bonus Program in 2021 By Lauren Masset, Recreation Supervisor, Town of West Seneca Amid staffing struggles, West Seneca got creative last summer and offered a summer employment bonus. We implemented and had success with an employee bonus program. Could something like this work in your community? See below for details on how our program worked.
West Seneca Employee Bonus Program 2021 A bonus will be issued to Summer 2021 Employees (at the end of the season) who meet all of the following criteria: 1. Employee must have obtained all required certifications, on their own and have them on file with West Seneca Youth & Recreation, by June 10, 2021. All required certifications must be valid until September 1, 2021. Proof of enrollment in an unfinished course will not be acceptable for this. Certifications can be emailed to Lauren Masset, Recreation Director or dropped off to the Recreation Office, 1300 Union Road, West Seneca, NY, 14224. 2. The employee must have worked the entire length of the season (opening date – closing date). 3. The employee must have attended all mandatory orientations, trainings, in-services, meetings, etc. during the regular season and pre/post season. 4. The employee must show up for all their shifts (entire length of shift) or find shift coverage for the shifts they are unable to attend. This is for all request-off types. If the department must find the coverage or there is no coverage the employee does not qualify for the bonus. 5. The employee must have had no disciplinary action for the entire season. This includes but is not limited to verbal, written, final, or investigation.
If the employee is fully certified and has presented certification by June 10, 2021 and accepted employment as approved by the Town Board and the Town is unable to run the summer program, the employee will receive 25% of the bonus for the program they were hired for. If the employee is fully certified and has presented certification by June 10, 2021, and accepted employment as approved by the Town Board, and the Town is forced to shut down the summer program after it has already started, the employee will receive (a) the bonus at a pro-rated amount based on how many weeks the program has already run for or (b) 50% of the bonus for the program they were hired for. The employee will be issued the lesser amount. The bonus will be submitted to the finance department on or around September 1, 2021 to issue to Summer 2021 employees. An “End of Season Qualification Form” would be used. Employees would be required to sign the “Onboarding Employee Acknowledgement of Summer Bonus Requirements” during the on boarding process.
Final Results • We had 27 staff members who qualified and 6 staff members who did not qualify for the Summer 2021 Bonus. • Two who did not qualify because they did not obtain their certifications and were hired late. Their Town Board agenda item stated they would not get a bonus. • One who did qualify because they did not turn in their certification on time and did not attend the mandatory orientation. • Three who do not qualify because they did not turn in their certifications on time. • The department had zero no-call/no-shows, no last-minute low staffing shutdowns, all staff found shift coverage as needed, and zero employees with disciplinary action or investigation. The total cost of the Summer Employee Bonus 2021 was $7,300.
Offering a bonus over a certification reimbursement will offset the cost of a certification course and would hopefully allow us to be more competitive in finding qualified staff, avoid employees requesting off/no call, no show for their shift causing the program to close/cancel last minute and ensure all employees follow the policies set forth by the Town.
The bonus forms were completed the week of August 9, 2021 and sent to the Finance Department to process for payment on August 13, 2021. All staff were notified via email if they did or did not qualify for the bonus. All in all we were pleased with the results of the program. Perhaps it can work for you as well!
There is no guarantee that by offering a reimbursement or bonus that the Town will find enough applicants to run our Summer programs. Further, if we do hire enough staff, this does not guarantee a staffing shortage caused by COVID-19 and/or a closure/shut down or for any reason related or not related to COVID-19. If an employee is placed in quarantine, they must follow the Town of West Seneca COVID-19 Quarantine Policy. This will not affect their bonus.
West Seneca Employee Bonus Program
By the Numbers
$7,300 Total cost of Employee Bonus Program
6 27 0 Number of staff who qualified for the bonus
Number of staff who did not qualify for the bonus Number of no-call/no-shows, last-minute low staffing shutdowns, and disciplinary actions The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 19
Mentorship: It’s the Best Advice We Can All Give Each Other By Cindie Sullivan, CPRP, AAPRA Mentorship Chair When NYSRPS Interim Executive Director Michael Mendrick asked me if I would write an article for The Voice for March 2022, I initially suggested waiting until the winter, so it would coincide with the Mentorship program offered annually by the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in which emerging leaders in parks and recreation directors, as well as students of parks, recreation, and related fields are paired with experienced professionals for a formal eight-month period to help strengthen their professional development. Michael shared that this spring issue of The Voice was dedicated to staffing and human resources, and that perhaps I could share additional thoughts about what mentorship means. I thought about it for a few days, and realized that it is a perfect time to discuss just that because mentorship isn’t just about a younger professional learning from a more experienced director, nor does it need to occur in any sort of formal setting. It’s about having people in our professional lives with whom we can share ideas, discuss goals, and listen to feedback about how to tackle a current work situation. After 40 years in our profession, I still choose to have mentors, and one that I am proud to call my mentor is Bill Zimmermann, a Past President of NYSRPS. Approximately 10 and 15 years ago Bill and I collaborated to act as facilitators to develop
strategic plans for both NJRPA and NYSRPS, at the request of the then current boards of directors for our respective state associations. Over the past 25 years, we also served on NRPA committees together, including the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council. Many times, we discussed work issues, shared polices that one agency had and the other was developing, and also introduced each other to other colleagues in our professional networks, so that we could expand our circles of professional relationships around the country. Sometimes it may seem daunting to find the right person or persons to have as mentors in your life. Typically, the person is not a direct supervisor, although they may be in your workplace, if your agency is large enough. It may also be someone that you have met while serving on a committee in NYSRPS or even someone in a related field that you serve with in the community, on a non-profit board or even as a youth coach. I know of many instances in which a younger professional has asked a more experienced one to go for a cup of a coffee or to lunch, to discuss situations such as: • Best methods to prep for the CPRP exam • How to approach a supervisor with whom there are relationship issues in the workplace • How to develop skills that the mentor may have (and the mentee wants to develop) • Reviewing a proposal for a new program before it is submitted • Assistance with updating a resume and how to write a cover letter • Work/life balance The only hard part is taking the initiative to reach out to someone to form that relationship. Sometimes mentorship is informal, such as asking for guidance on a specific issue. And other times, it is more formal, in which the mentee has a goal or goals which they want to pursue, with coaching from the mentor. In that instance, regular short meetings would be agreed upon by both parties, usually one or twice a month (or whatever works between them). Both parties work toward achievement of the goal, by investing in the professional collegial relationship. I know of a mentor and mentee who last year read a self-help book together because the mentee had identified that she needed more self-confidence and was unconsciously sabotaging her own abilities to advance her career. The two people shared with me that their discussions after each section of the book were enlightening for both of them. At the
end of the project, the mentee has now applied for two promotions and awaits the interviews. Whether you seek to create informal or more formal mentoring relationships, be proactive about nurturing them. As the mentee, it should be more incumbent upon you to take the first steps in reaching out to suggest a meeting and stating what your intentions are. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure! The great thing about our profession is that almost everyone I know is willing to listen and give of themselves to make all of us and the profession the best that it can be. It sometimes takes a while to get to know each other and not all relationship work. If someone suggested a potential mentor to you or if you were matched in a formal program, and you don’t hit it off, it’s alright to say that perhaps this isn’t a good match. If you are an Aquatics Coordinator and want to expand your skills in that genre, and you were paired with someone from a Conservation Agency, there’s a good chance that you’ll both want to ask for new folks. You will both want to make a difference. If you think it’s personality though, give yourselves time to develop the relationship. Remember, you’re not friends, you’re in a mentorship. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have fun! Our profession is all about fun! And it’s also filled with daily stresses of being both a public servant and ensuring our elected officials look good. In between that are all of the wonderful programs, special events, facilities, and park services that we provide that make the communities special places. Share as much as you feel comfortable about your life. After a while, you’ll discover that both people benefit from a successful mentorship. In the AAPRA’s formal program, I’ve had three different mentees in the past four years, and they were all great people who are making a difference in their park systems. I’ve also learned things from each of them. They will soon be ready to mentors others themselves. That’s part of the passion of parks and recreation, to nurture and foster professional development within our professionals. Someone shared this quote with me recently. While it says “she”, it can be inclusive of all of us: “When you get to where you’re going, turn around and help her too. For there was a time, not too long ago, when she was you.” We can all use more mentors.
“When you get to where you’re going, turn around and help her too. For there was a time, not too long ago, when she was you.” 20 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Feeling the Burn? Tips for Managing the Feelings of BURNOUT By Courtney Carroll, Parks and Recreation Director, Town of LaGrange The alarm goes off, she opened her eyes and immediately felt a pain in her gut and her mind started to spin. The crucial conversations to have, the meetings to attend, the programs to run, the situations to handle, the paperwork to complete, the update of COVID requirements, and the highstress workplace flooded her thoughts all at once. She felt worried, exhausted, angry, and fearful. Does she even have time to do all of it in one day, she questioned. And she hadn’t even had her coffee yet. Complete disclosure, this woman has been me recently. And I’m sure many of you have experienced these same feelings of burnout, sometimes without even knowing it. Currently, we are living in a world where burnout is at an alltime high. If dragging ourselves out of bed in the morning requires all the energy we can muster, you could be burnt. (I don’t know if burnt is a thing, but I’m going to make it happen, ok Gretchen?!) Burnout is the condition of someone who has become very physically and emotionally tired after doing a difficult job for a long time or exhaustion of physical strength, emotional strength, or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. The World Health Organization has characterized three different dimensions of burnout: feeling of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job, or feeling of negativism
or cynicism related to one’s job. Some reasons for burnout might include unmanageable workloads, unfair treatment at work, confusing work responsibilities, lack of communication or support from managers, or work life imbalance. If you can relate to any part of this article, make sure to check out some small changes the Town of Lagrange Recreation department has implemented this year to help us recover from the feeling of being “burnt”.
1. Turn off the screens at night. I have been told I am a “doomscroller” which is defined as excessive amount of mindless scrolling or surfing through negative news on your phone or screen. Have you ever landed on a story and have no idea how you got there? Lost hours (and I mean 2+) watching videos on TikTok or Facebook? That’s doomscrolling. My suggestion is to do something before bed that doesn’t involve a screen. For example, writing, reading, or recently I have learned how to knit. I have found it easier for me to fall asleep and I am able to wake up feeling more refreshed. Also helpful tip, Apple iPhones have a sleep setting on them that has been helpful for me to use.
2. Make appointments with yourself. “Dinner with me, I can’t cancel that again!” – The Grinch. One of my goals this upcoming year is to schedule my lunch time for actually eating lunch. Usually you will find me shoving a sandwich in my
mouth while finishing up an e-mail on my phone walking down the hall to a meeting that is about to start. On Fridays in our office we make it a point to order food together, sit around a table, and talk about anything. Topics that are completely off-limits are work and COVID. It is a truly refreshing feeling to not only have those conversations with your coworkers but it is a special treat to order out. It is something we look forward to every Friday after a long week. And don’t worry, the work will still be there when you get back. #treatyoself
3. Exercise. I highly recommend this. There are so many benefits to moving your body for 30 minutes a day, and bonus points if it is outside in nature. Yoga, Walking, Running. I have come to realize that I hold a lot of emotional stress in my body and at times I can actually feel the weight of the world on my shoulders and it can be heavy. The ability to come back to a balanced state of being after getting my blood pumping has been important for me mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have more energy, I am more productive at work, and I am happier. Thank you, endorphins!
4. Find your word. At the beginning of the year I picked a word to always come back to when I am feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or need to refocus. That word for me is, FOCUS. Focus on myself and what I need, focus on what you can change, focus on what is right in front of you and be present, or take time to focus on nothing for a minute or two. Pick a word that will help you, come back to you and commit to it. Some other words that I looked to use were: Thrive, Strength, Believe, Grateful, Conquer. The words we use matter. Give yourself grace, do the hard work on yourself and for yourself, and be present in moments that matter to you. Rest assured I am not a mental health professional but I know what has worked for me and the small manageable changes I have been able to implement in my life. I find that putting myself first and my work life balance can sometimes get lost in our profession as parks and recreation professionals, but our department has focused on supporting each other as the world moves forward from COVID. I’m letting go of the things that don’t make me feel good, and focusing on what makes me happy in hopes of making room for all that is needed in my life. I hope you do too. Burnt Toast, Courtney Carroll, Director, Town of Lagrange Parks and Recreation
Give yourself grace, do the hard work on yourself and for yourself, and be present in moments that matter to you. The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 21
Creative Sourcing Strategies: Actionable Advice for Tackling Hard-to-Fill Roles and Programs By Janel Stedtler, Marketing Manager, RippleMatch (Reprinted with permission) Almost every recruiter is faced with the challenge of filling challenging positions or programs. Unlike those positions where you have dozens of qualified applicants and your biggest struggle is deciding who to advance among a number of great candidates, these roles might receive few applicants each season. Or perhaps you receive hundreds of applications, but very few candidates fit the requirements of the role. What do you do when you have a role you just can’t fill? We shared some tips during RippleMatch’s Fall User Conference. Here are the top takeaways from that presentation.
Shortage of Qualified Candidates There are a few reasons you might be having difficulty finding qualified candidates for your roles. Chances are, it’s not just because there are no candidates to choose from.
Your qualifications are too limiting.
Students don’t know they’re qualified.
The first thing to consider is whether your job description itself is filtering out otherwise qualified candidates. Do you have a strict, yet unnecessary GPA requirement? Are you expecting candidates to have skills that can be taught or trained? If you’re hiring for a specialized position like a mechanical engineer, you won’t be able to consider English majors, but if the student only had one internship instead of two, are they really unqualified for the role? It’s important to decide which requirements are truly critical, and which are simply nice to have.
Do you have a relatively obscure role that candidates might not know about? Similar roles often have different titles at different companies, which can be confusing to students who aren’t familiar with the opportunities available to them. Or you might have an entry-level management position, but students automatically assume a job with “manager” in the title requires years of experience. It’s important to educate potential candidates on the requirements of these types of roles, or you risk losing applicants who don’t realize they’re qualified.
How to resolve: Remove gate-keeping qualifications.
How to resolve: Source candidates and focus on education.
Take an audit of the job description requirements that could be needlessly limiting your candidate base. Remove those that aren’t completely necessary. Once you have expanded your preferences, renew your search for talent.
Reach out to students who could be successful in your role, even if they don’t feel they are an obvious fit. Tools like RippleMatch can help you easily find good fits for your role and allow you to reach out to them with a click of a button. It’s also important to create robust educational and marketing materials for the role to ensure more students apply on their own.
There’s a skills gap and systemic shortage. In some cases, there really are more roles than qualified candidates. How is your company helping close the overarching skills gap? How to resolve: Invest in Early ID programs & support. Work to help students develop the skills necessary for these types of roles. In order to ensure your pipeline is filled with more qualified candidates in the future, make long-term investments in helping candidates learn the skills they need.
Take an audit of the job description requirements that could be needlessly limiting your candidate base. Remove those that aren’t completely necessary.
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Lack of Candidate Interest The other type of challenging role is one where there is no shortage of qualified candidates, but you have difficulty getting students to apply. There are a few reasons this might happen.
Student perception (or lack of) toward industry/company Some industries and companies are much more well known, or perceived as more exciting and interesting than others. Students might gravitate towards industries they’re most familiar with or to companies that they think will look the best on their resume. How to resolve: Educate candidates on the benefits of your company and industry Candidates may not understand why your company or industry can help them in their career. It’s important to educate them as to what makes you special. For example, if your industry offers great job security, that can be very appealing to students. If your company has standout benefits, make sure
candidates know that early in their career search. If your company lacks brand recognition in general, you can also invest in Early ID programs to help students learn more about you months or even years before they begin applying for jobs.
Student perception toward a role Some roles—like sales—are surrounded by misconceptions. As a result, they often aren’t heavily pursued by students. This is especially true if candidates don’t understand the career potential at a company or don’t know what career paths are available to them. How to resolve: Educate candidates on role fit and career path. Students may have misconceptions about what a position entails or how they can progress in their careers. Help them see themselves in the role! Share what a day in the life looks like for someone in that role. Make sure they know all of the opportunities available to them once they begin their career in that position. It’s important that you can help students
see beyond their first impressions and understand why that role could be perfect for them.
Lack of interest in relocating Barriers to relocation—like cost of living, perceived lack of activities, and lifestyle differences—can keep students from accepting offers. If the role requires employees to work in person, it’s important that you help candidates see why your city would be a great place to live. How to resolve: Highlight the benefits of your location Review the data on why candidates would choose to relocate (or not relocate) for a job. Let them know what makes your city standout, life if it has a low cost of living or a great culture. If your company offers relocation assistance, also make sure to highlight that during the interview process for candidates who may be concerned about the upfront costs of moving.
Don’t let hard-to-fill roles keep you up at night. Once you’ve analyzed why the position is so difficult to fill, you can start to take steps to find more great candidates. In some cases, it may be as straightforward as tweaking the job description. In others, you may need to dedicate marketing resources to help change the perception around the role. With some intentional planning and a little bit of creativity, you may soon be trying to figure out how to turn down droves of top talent instead!
It’s important that you can help students see beyond their first impressions and understand why that role could be perfect for them.
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The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 23
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Strategies for Recruiting Seasonal Employees
By monster.com Staff (Reprinted with permission) If your business relies on a seasonal workforce, it’s important to source, hire, and onboard seasonal employees who represent the best that your business has to offer. Many pitfalls plague employers who need to supplement their full-time staff for the summer, for tax season, the holidays, or for any other portion of the year when business peaks. Most of these troubles stem from a failure of the company’s leadership to devote enough energy and resources to assembling an optimal seasonal workforce. Are you willing to take a fresh look at your operations to see where you might improve your seasonal hiring? Consider these 11 tactics for recruiting seasonal employees when the annual rush is on.
1. Write Better Job Descriptions Take time to ensure that your job descriptions for seasonal hires are accurate, complete, and upto-date. “We have clients using job descriptions that are four or more years old,” says Nels Wroe, partner and product director at SHL Group, a vendor of talent-assessment tools. Consider asking the author of the job description to spend a few hours shadowing an employee in the relevant position. When it comes to seasonal hiring, your customers won’t forgive poor service simply because it’s rendered by a seasonal worker.
2. Source Candidates Who Only Want Seasonal Work Recruiting seasonal employees will go much more smoothly if you can mine rich veins of candidates who just want to work for the season. “We have tapped into graduating university students who are taking time to figure out what they want to do,” says Jennifer Lemcke, chief operating officer of Weed Man USA, a lawn-care franchisor. Often these candidates would prefer the temporary nature of seasonal work compared to a longerterm commitment.
3. Dedicate More Resources to Successful Onboarding If your seasonal staff is large, you should consider paying more attention — and money — when it comes to how you train new employees. “One of
the most common mistakes is throwing seasonal hires on a sales floor with minimal training or onboarding, viewing them as a way to fill a schedule rather than as company representatives to serve your customers,” says Wroe. Giving seasonal employees the sink-or-swim test could hurt your bottom line at season’s end.
4. Consider Tools for HighVolume Hiring and Screening If you’re hiring for many seasonal positions, you’ll probably benefit from using a talent management system. “Our candidates have doubled or tripled over the last few years, so we need tools to manage the flow,” says Kyle Martin, manager of talent acquisition at Vail Resorts Management Company in Broomfield, Colorado. Wroe says that with seasonal hires, “you have a very limited window to get a return on your hiring investment. Assessments let you select workers who will get up to speed more quickly.”
5. Hire for Attitude as Much as Aptitude Most seasonal work is about being flexible and getting up to speed quickly, rather than bringing to bear an elaborate skill set. “All of our training is so in-depth, we don’t necessarily need someone with experience,” says Lemcke. Instead, many employers who engage in seasonal hiring will look for dependable workers who are able to focus on higher level skills like safety and customer service.
6. Give Preference to “Same Time, Next Year” Candidates Hiring a brand-new force of employees during every busy season can be exhausting and inefficient. If you’re able to select for candidates most likely to return for another season, do so. It’ll streamline the process when you start recruiting seasonal employees the following year and can build a little more predictability into your planning.
7. Don’t Cut Corners You may be tempted to save short-term costs by bypassing some HR processes for seasonal employees. This can bring trouble on many fronts, from fielding confused workers to running afoul of labor laws. So, keep your seasonal workers on your regular HR platform, and disseminate systems and knowledge to branch offices that are hiring for the
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season. “We supply franchisees with information on how to interview and evaluate candidates, with orientation and training programs, and with all the forms they’ll need,” says Lemcke.
8. Don’t Assume High Unemployment Makes Seasonal Hiring Easy When the economy fluctuates, it’s important to remember that higher unemployment doesn’t necessarily mean that quality candidates will line up at your door. In fact, “we’ve experienced pockets of the country where it was very difficult to hire,” says Lemcke. The catch in these conditions is that extensions of federal and state jobless benefits have made many workers eligible to collect benefits for a long time, reducing the motivation to find work, according to Mark Perry, a professor of economics at University of Michigan in Flint.
9. Use One Staffing Vendor If you use multiple staffing vendors, consider giving just one an exclusive for your seasonal hires. Staffing agencies may be swamped recruiting seasonal employees for many clients at once. If you promise one agency all your business, they may be more willing to go the extra mile to bring you the best seasonal workers.
10. Don’t Assume That All Your Seasonal Hires Are Temporary Many of your seasonal workers will never be candidates for permanent positions, but some of them could be. Tag potential permanent hires early on, keeping close tabs on their performance. At the end of the season, evaluate their fitness for full-time employment.
11. Don’t Neglect Your End Game Never assume that your workforce will remain intact through the season; it most likely won’t. “No matter how much we plan, we still have to hire some people toward the end of the season,” says Lemcke. Consider structuring compensation to reward seasonal workers for staying as long as you need them. “Our lawn-care technicians get a bonus based on production if they complete the season,” Lemcke adds.
Travel with NYSRPS and Collette Tours October 4-11, 2022 NYSRPS is very happy to announce the first organized group travel opportunity for our members and their communities across NY! Travellers will have the chance to visit Canyon Country and the nation’s most beautiful National Parks including Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon and more, conveniently organized by New York State Recreation and Park Society and Collette Tours.
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE Day 1: Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ Day 2: Yavapai East at South Rim Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Days 3 & 4: Lake Powell Resort, Page, AZ Days 5 & 6: Courtyard by Marriott St. George, St. George, UT Day 7: Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV On some dates alternate hotels may be used.
This package will offer all the chance to enjoy air, overnight accommodations, meals and tours at a discounted group travel price. NYSRPS earns a small portion of proceeds from each reservation so it is a win-win with no minimum number of participants required. NYSRPS member agencies wishing to promote this vacation through their program catalog are asked to contact nysrps for marketing material and webinar support. Park agencies will also receive a small return on packages booked by travellers within their communities. More information on this opportunity is now available at nysrps. org or scan the QR code to download the brochure.
If you are a department wishing to share this opportunity to travel with your community, please contact NYSRPS fo the marketing toolkit for your program brochures. The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 25
Love for Skating Starts Locally By Amy Hughes
We moved to Great Neck in 1982, and my husband John, a Canadian hockey player, discovered the town’s Parkwood sports complex, specifically the rink in that complex, in short order. We put our oldest daughter Rebecca on the ice that season and John started playing in adult leagues. One by one, each of our six kids and four grandkids learned to skate at the Parkwood ice rink. Since 1982, someone from our family has skated on that rink in the Parkwood Sports Complex every season consistently, from the hockey leagues to the figure skating programs. Currently, my 17-year old granddaughter Alexandra skates on the freestyle sessions there before school. We were so lucky to have had that kind of access to sporting facilities. Though some of my kids became elite figure skaters and hockey players and traveled to many rinks, their time at the Parkwood complex with their friends remain some of their best memories. Right across the
John Hughes with his granddaughter Charlotte
street from the middle school, the kids would just walk over to Parkwood. John called it “backyard play” because growing up in Canada, there were so many backyard rinks where kids would play pick-up hockey after school. No referees, no supervision – just play. The Great Neck Park District gave our family that, and continues to give. What did one of my granddaughters want to do for her 11th birthday in February 2022? A party with her friends at the Great Neck rink, now called the Andrew Stergiopoulis Rink. Charlotte is a travel hockey goalie who, of course, also started figure skating and then playing hockey at that rink. Her party was a family affair as it usually is, with various members of the Hughes family lacing up, including my sons David and Matt, former college hockey players who like to test Charlotte’s skills between the pipes. The Great Neck rink is home to us. Over the years, my daughters Sarah and Emily have skated with their nieces in Skate School performances. They
Sisters Sarah and Emily Hughes
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hosted the rink’s 50th Anniversary celebration and have participated in Great Neck’s wonderful therapeutic skating program. My youngest daughter Taylor, and Rebecca, have taught skate school classes, helping the youngest kids experience the joy of skating. World and Olympic judges came to Great Neck to evaluate Emily and Sarah as they made her way up the figure skating ranks. When each went to the Olympics – Sarah in 2002 and Emily in 2006 - they enjoyed an outpouring of support from the community, with watch parties for their performances and celebrations when they returned. The facility has improved over the years, with more and more amenities and an expanded schedule, providing even more value to our town. The Great Neck Park District is a jewel of the community, and for us, the rink is the center stone. Physical fitness, community building, fun – you can find it at our local rink.
Sarah and Emily Hughes (back row) with Charlotte and Alexandra Parker (front row)
1
‘Total freedom’ 2
Kids thriving in Great Neck Therapeutic Skate Program Like so many other ice rinks, the rink managed by the Great Neck Parks District, which is located on Long Island in Great Neck, New York, is a spacious facility and the kids there love hearing the sound of their own voices echo. They joyously holler and scream the moment their skates touch the ice. As they skate throughout a two-hour session each month, laughter fills the facility. It’s a moment that brings a smile to Cindy Zubli each and every month when she hosts the Therapeutic Skate Program. In 2012, Zubli, a special needs educator in Great Neck, combined her professional interest as a teacher assistant with the school district — she helps to acclimate special needs students with life skills in the community — with her personal passion: figure skating.
“It’s like a total freedom with them,” said Zubli, who is the president of the Great Neck Figure Skat1. Emily and Sarah Hughes ing Club, “They’re like, ‘Look Mrs. Z. Look Mrs. Z. Look what I can do’ and 2.Sarah Hughes with her nieces they’re off.” Zubli works at Great Neck North. 3. It’sEmiliy the and Sarah Hughes same high school Olympic gold medalist Sarah hear Sarah is coming they get all excited.” 4.Sarah Hughes performing Hughes graduated from prior to the 2002 OlymMost of the children cannot skate witho pic Games. assistance or right) the aide of an on-ice walker and, 5. Sarah (front row, far and Hughes is a regular at the Therapeutic Skate cording to Zubli,Skate they love watching Sarah sk Great Neck Therapeutic Program. circles. They especially love when the 29-ye Programinparticipants She’s more than a high-profile advocate. old hometown hero takes them by the hands a Hughes is wildly popular among all the kids who literally pulls them in circles around the center participate in the program. the rink. “She’s amazing out there with them,” Zubli The program has grown in each of the p said. She has so much patience and when they three years.
3
Participants in the Great Neck Therapeutic Skating Program have a ball every time they take the ice.
4
5
Photos by Great Neck Park District staff
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 27 34
m ay 2 0 1 5
NYSRPS BPP Member Spotlight
Get to Know NORA Northeast Off Road Adventures NYSRPS is pleased to welcome new BPP member, NORA! A rugged, adrenaline-pumping driving adventure of a lifetime awaits you and your community members just 90 minutes from New York City, in Ellenville, NY. Northeast Off Road Adventures (NORA) offers 4WD training and driving tours through 75 acres of wooded trails and terrain – a memorable outdoor experience. Venues include a private 75-acre mountain top facility in Ellenville, NY and Hunter Mountain Ski Resort.
was bitten by the off-roading bug. Now he leads a fleet of a dozen vehicles and a staff of qualified instructors who run classes on 4WD operation, safety, maintenance, and recovery, as well as survival and first aid from their ADA-compliant facility. A host of adventure-style excursions, like Hunter Mountain driving tours with private and overnight options, beckon the truly outgoing. Trager and his team are all dedicated off-roaders, working hard to ensure everything they do is both educational and safe. They aim to make NORA a leading facility for adventure-themed education in the Northeast, and a day spent at their Ellenville facility proves they’re well on their way to making that a reality.
As a training facility and adventure company, NORA teaches people how to drive responsibly and safely off-road NORA’s certified instructors and professional guides provide a highly structured learning experience with focus on safety. - either in their own vehicles, or NORA rentals. They offer public NORA’s training, driving tours, team outings classes on a set calendar schedule in addition to and adventure programs serve commercial, private training. government, and private sector clients. Park and The facility and accompanying trails, which were recreation agencies are invited to inquire about featured in MotorTrend’s Ultimate Adventure in incorporating opportunities into their regular 2018, can be reserved for private group events seasonal programming offerings. and off-site business meetings. Single and At the helm of the niche business is Scott Trager, multiday packages can be booked in Ellenville a certified 4WD trainer and former Wall Street where NORA offers fast wired internet, Wi-Fi and employee. In 2007, Trager just drove his Jeep to catered meals for group outings. and from the train station. But after one fateful Jeep Shari G., a 2019 NORA participant, said “We had Jamboree with his then-13-year-old son, Trager a company meeting followed by off-road activities
for about 45 people. It was a huge success. We rented a bus from NYC to take us there and NORA helped organize and coordinate it all. The staff were extremely accommodating and every detail was thought about. The new building was perfect for a company event. Everything was top notch.”
Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation (SOAR) NORA’s unique SOAR program helps guests and groups with mobility challenges enjoy outdoor recreation, allowing people with impairments (stroke, amputees, spinal injury and disease, etc.) participate in outdoor activities they never believed they could. SOAR also offers team competitions. These skillbased adventures are designed for individuals or teams who enjoy a competitive spirit and like to ‘get a little gritty’. “I’ve used a wheelchair for 16 years. They have AMAZING outdoor activities basically any level of injury can do. MUST VISIT! I’m an incomplete C6 and drove off road in a jeep and enjoyed the wheelchair course in both the GRIT Freedom Chair and the Action Trackchair. Went with my quad rugby team and we all had a blast and WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK SOON. Thank you to Scott for building such an awesome place!” said guest Chris D. on Trip Advisor. With more than 300 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Google, NORA prides itself on “Learning, Adventure and Fun.” Learn more at www.nora4x4.com.
FUN FACT: On July 14, 2022, NORA hosted the official Ford Bronco live reveal on ABC’s Good Morning America. Scan the QR code at right to watch the video or go to https://gma.abc/3LAB5im NORA’s off-road training at their mountain top facility.
SOAR offers individuals with mobility issues a chance to explore.
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Adventure for All!
Off-Road Training and Trail Hikes for New York Communities + Families of All Abilities
Off-Road Training Facility Northeast Off Road Adventures (NORA) teaches people how to drive their own vehicles or NORA rentals, responsibly and safely off-road at a 75 acre training center in Ellenville, NY. Programs available to park and recreation agencies include team-building, vehicle driving & recovery training, rugged terrain reconnaissance and more. Give us a call to discuss ways we can partner with your agency at (845) 514-9895.
NORA programs include: • Public & Private Driving Classes • Off-Road Vehicle Recovery Training • Hunter Mountain Driving Tours • Ride-Alongs • Team-Building • Air Gun Marksmanship
Adaptive Adventures Recreating in the woods offers both physical & mental health benefits, and everyone deserves this quality of life opportunity. NORA’s Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation (SOAR) program helps make that a reality for people with mobility impairments. NORA welcomes individuals, families and small groups to get outdoors and simply enjoy the day.
NORA’s SOAR program offers: • GRIT Freedom Chair Adaptive Hiking • Action Trackchair Adaptive Hiking • Introduction to Off-Road Driving • Off-Road Ride-A-Long • Air Gun Marksmanship Interested in NORA’s SOAR program? Contact scott@nora4x4.com or (845) 514-9895
Action Trackchair Dealer The Action Trackchair helps mobility impaired individuals get outdoors to enjoy hobbies like hiking and camping. It’s great for low traction surfaces like snow, dirt, mud, and grass – terrain a regular wheelchair would have difficulty accessing. New York communities can schedule a rugged terrain test ride with STARR Adventures - a full service Action Trackchair dealership based at NORA’s off-road training center in Ellenville. We offer sales, delivery and service for individuals, agencies and organizations. Contact us to learn about Trackchair options and how it can help offer outdoor recreation access to your mobility impaired guests. Learn more at www.starradventures.com or contact us at 845-514-9658 or starradventuresinc@gmail.com.
WE CAN HELP YOU MAKE YOUR PARKS AND TRAILS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL USERS!
Call to discuss opportunities for your agency! www.nora4x4.com • (845) 514-9895 • info@nora4x4.com
USTA Eastern Here to Support You in 2022 By Monica LaMura, USTA Eastern Director of Marketing and Communications
In every metric, tennis is knocking it out of the park. Interest in the sport has surged over the last two years, as people have sought out fun, heart-pumping physical activities they can enjoy safely with friends and family. In 2022, our mission as an organization is to help you capitalize on this momentum. Below, learn more about how we can support your efforts to grow tennis in your community. 1. We can provide financial and staff support. USTA Eastern offers grants and general assistance for all kinds of tennis programming, including free interactive and virtual training sessions for instructors. Just ask Marty Denecke, Head of Youth, Recreation and Senior Services for Hamburg, N.Y. Denecke estimates that tennis participation in his community has grown 10% each year as he has collaborated with USTA Eastern to develop programming in the sport. In fact, due to demand, Denecke endeavored to extend the town’s summer outdoor tennis operation into the fall. To make the plan a reality, Denecke collaborated with Joe Steger—USTA Eastern’s Community Tennis Coordinator for Western and Northern New York—to apply for a Growing Tennis Together Eastern Grant. Using money
from the grant, Denecke was able to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and racquets, as well as bring in Eastern clinician and USTA National trainer Michelle Skelley to lead the instruction. “The grant allowed us to do an outdoor program in the early fall,” Denecke says simply. Beyond just that program, Denecke thinks his partnership with USTA Eastern has been wildly successful, and he is hopeful that it will continue long into the future. “The USTA has been a consistent resource for our tennis programming,” he says. “Staff training, equipment grants and discounts, program grants, lesson plans and program formatting outlines make our jobs much easier. Joe is in constant contact with us to make sure all of our tennis needs are covered. His dedicated efforts, attention to our program and nurturing oversight has paid great dividends!” 2. We can help find volunteers for your events. Need more people to assist you in running your programming? We have established a robust volunteer base and can connect you with nearby tennis enthusiasts happy to lend a hand. If you have an upcoming event on the calendar that could use help, reach out to USTA Eastern Marketing & Communications Director Monica LaMura at lamura@eastern. usta.com so that we can advertise it in our volunteer newsletter. 3. We are making parks even more of a priority in 2022. A sizable number of USTA Eastern employees—
Bring new tennis players into local programs, inspire lapsed players to pick the sport back up and energize existing players to play more. As your partner in play, the USTA is providing resources, ideas and support. Check out materials available to you at:
usta.com/nationaltennismonth
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including our executive director—learned how to play the game in a local park. We know firsthand just how critical our parks community is to our overall success as an organization. To that end, we are hiring a parks and recreational play coordinator who will focus specifically on supporting parks initiatives. 4. We are leading a big participation push for National Tennis Month. May is National Tennis Month and we’re celebrating by providing our parks with resources to both help bring new players into tennis and reinvigorate those who’ve already made this sport a part of their lives. Visit USTA.com/NationalTennisMonth where you’ll find downloadable artwork like banners, t-shirts, and car magnets, as well as customizable marketing materials and press releases and much more. Start planning what you’ll do for National Tennis Month and use the hashtag #NationalTennisMonth in all of your programming and promotions throughout May, and please make use of the digital National Tennis Month email signature (downloadable on the website) as a way of generating awareness in the months leading up to the celebration. 5. We offer additional tools to help get your programming off the ground. Use the USTA Eastern Marketing Public Drive to create your own event flyers with customizable artwork. You can also register to attend our 2022 Parks Webinar Series. Sessions are held once a month on a wide range of topics relevant to your interests, including partnerships, complementary racquet sports and more. Get started today! Contact USTA Eastern Community Tennis Coordinator Joe Steger at steger@eastern.usta.com to learn more.
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32
You wear a lot of hats, designer doesn’t have to be one of them.
FALL 2020
PARK & REC profession als AND GUEST S above-and who go -beyo the call of nd duty
SOUTH RECREA CAROLIN PARK TION & A S EDITI ON
PLUS: Makin g of Summ the most er 20 + Pets in Park 20 s
We provide both á la carte and turn-key solutions: • • • •
Advertising sales & sponsorships Incentive products Social media & web graphics Exhibit design & production
• • • •
Graphic design & branding Publication & catalog design Printing & mailing Event marketing
Contact Todd Pernsteiner to discuss your project at
(952) 841-1111 or todd@pernsteiner.com.
www.pernsteiner.com (952) 841-1111
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 31
TECH FOR REC
The Value of Adding a Dedicated Business Operations Manager to Your Parks and Rec Department By Jessica Marabella, CivicPlus communications and media manager
Parks and recreation departments enable community members to get out, get active, learn new skills, and find a sense of community within their hometown. Also, importantly, they operate and maintain community assets through a combination of revenue generation and tax support. To achieve optimal programming and engagement success and business efficiency, park and recreation leaders need dedicated staff with skillsets that uniquely enable them to focus on communications, programming, execution, and financial optimization. If your department doesn’t already have a full-time position dedicated to managing your business operations, adding such a staff member could 10-X your ability to make data-informed decisions about pricing, programming, and membership strategies.
The Benefits of Maintaining a Dedicated Operational Analyst in Your Parks and Recreation Department and Insights from The Data Guy Matt Hickey, MSM, is known as “The Data Guy.” Today, he is a parks and recreation cost recovery and recreation software expert. Before his current position, he worked as a senior operations analyst at the City of Boulder, Colorado. The City recognized the need for a parks and recreation department team member to lead its ongoing backend operations and the management of its parks and recreation software. Hickey was asked to leverage his facility management
• An internal expert to help troubleshoot questions and concerns from community members, instructors, and volunteers • Regular financial analysis to help inform future program and pricing decisions In Boulder, Hickey successfully leveraged the City’s system to align the frontdesk community member registration experience with the backend system setup and administration, resulting in optimal opportunities to engage community members, earn repeat participation, and grow revenue-generating channels. Matt Hickey, MSM, is known as “The Data Guy.”
What Your Data Might Reveal background and technical and analytical skills to identify operational and business efficiency opportunities. “We realized our recreation management software was the plane that would get us where we needed to go, but we needed a pilot to fly us,” recalls Hickey. A dedicated business operations team member with parks and recreation software expertise brings the following benefits to your team: • A program and user-focused approach to setting up activities, leagues, memberships, facilities, and point-of-sale transactions in your system • Intimate knowledge of pricing variations and contingencies to optimize payment setup • Setting up registration and sign-up options to make it easy to market and sell engagement opportunities • A dedicated point of contact to collaborate integrations and data sharing with fellow department leaders such as accounting and finance teams
32 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Hickey’s experience in Boulder and as a parks and recreation cost recovery consultant have taught him that a critical data element a valuable parks and recreation management system might reveal is the average price per hour per person, particularly for sports leagues, fitness areas, memberships, facility rentals, and aquatics. He advises that there are inherent challenges in benchmarking any community’s revenue against a set industry standard; however, continual analysis of your data should reveal trends and opportunities to maximize revenue recovery based on registration type. If your parks and recreation department already has the internal talent and team members needed for operational analysis but lacks the software and required insightful reporting for optimal strategic action, contact the solution experts at CivicRec®. We’ll work to understand your functional and system challenges and help you configure a scalable solution. Learn more at civicrec.com.
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 d: 914-495-4292 e: aseckler@lothropassociates.com 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
Exercise Therapy Wading Infinity Edge
William R. Simmons, AIA - Aquatic Partner d: 914-495-4290 | e: bsimmons@lothropassociates.com www.lothropassociates.com/project/pools
TECH FOR REC
Lead the Charge Benefits of EV Charging Stations at Parks, Trails, Sports Fields & Rec Centers By Spencer Santilli, Jamestown Advanced
The future is undoubtedly becoming more electric! With new motivation at the federal level to incentivize electric vehicle purchases and charging stations, now is a perfect time to prepare your municipality for an influx of electrically powered tourism. A great way to put your city, park, sports complex, or outdoor areas on the map for travelers is to offer Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations so that they can recharge while the family explores. EV Charging Stations offer a simple install and setup process for anyone familiar with power solutions like RV Power Outlets or supplementary utility boxes. With most applications, you’ll need to run power from the main supply or a nearby
distribution center through an underground conduit to the base of the EV Charging Station. From there, it is as simple as wire and go, as most EV Charging Stations ship pre-wired and need only a power supply to become fully operational. If the base infrastructure exists, the labor required to install one, or several, EV Charging Stations is affordable in comparison to other common projects. Communities late to welcome and accommodate electric vehicles will miss out on the valuable influx of tourism and see travelers plan their vacations differently. In
All signs point to electric vehicles becoming increasingly prevalent on the road over the next ten years, and everyone should be thinking about this reality now.
34 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
stark contrast to traditional fuel-based travel, limited by their battery life, electric cars must route their journey in a specific way to ensure they are never out of reach of a charging station. Cities
Many stations are easy to monetize, if needed, with Wi-Fi connectivity options or credit card processing technology.
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especially should make a concerted effort to have banks of charging stations in downtown areas and near landmarks, popular destinations, parks, sports centers, and outdoor exploration areas. It is important to note that many county, state, and federal incentives exist to help assist with the cost of purchase and installation of EV Charging Stations. These valuable incentives can even defray the cost entirely, making the addition of charging stations to your city or park a “can’t miss” situation. Many stations are easy to monetize, if needed, with Wi-Fi connectivity options or credit card processing technology. All signs point to electric vehicles becoming increasingly prevalent on the road over the next ten years, and everyone should be thinking about this reality now. Rather than gas stations dominating the family road trip, your city, park, or sports complex can become the destination where travelers can relax and recharge all in one place! Learn more about EV Charging Stations at bit.ly/JamestownEV.
Call To Reserve A Date Today! 1-800-FOR-PARK
NY EV Charger Incentive Programs New York National Grid Commercial EVSE Program www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Business/Energy-SavingPrograms/Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Station-Program SDGE Commercial EVSE Incentive www.psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/greenenergy/ev/ workplacecharging New York NYSERDA EVSE Rebate - Commercial www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/ChargeNY/ Charge-Electric/Charging-Station-Programs/Charge-Ready-NY
More than 20 rides, waterpark, beach!
2132 Middlebury Road Middlebury CT 06762 www.quassy.com 1-800-FOR-PARK The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 35
NEW FACILITIES
Irondequoit Celebrates Opening of New Community Center at Skyview on the Ridge By Matt Driffill, rochesterfirst.com (Officially released October 4, 2021; Reprinted with permission)
There’s a new community center at the former Irondequoit Mall. Irondequoit town officials joined community leaders Monday morning to formally open the town’s new Irondequoit Community Center. Officials said the facility will provide a “long overdue resource” for the community and will “serve as an anchor” in the first phase of redevelopment at Skyview on the Ridge, formerly known as the Medley Centre. The 41,339 square-foot Community Center will be operated by the town’s recreation department. Approved by Irondequoit voters in 2019, the new facility has a gym, fitness center, dance studio space, walk path, meeting rooms, lounges, and more. “This is an exciting and momentous day for the Town of Irondequoit,” said Acting-Supervisor John Perticone. “We are providing a new amenity for our residents – one which many neighboring communities already have.
Furthermore, we are allowing the people of Irondequoit to play a role in the reimagination of the former Irondequoit Mall – once the source of so much adversity in our Town, but now full of promise.” The opening of the community center follows the completion of Skyview Park Apartments, which transformed space formally occupied by Sears into 157 housing units for Irondequoit’s senior population. On the western end of the building, the former Macy’s store has been reimagined as Rochester Regional Health’s Isabella Graham Hart School of Nursing. Town officials say the owner of Skyview on the Ridge is completing the interior renovation of the space adjacent to the community center, adding that when that construction is complete, residents will have access to the common area of the former mall for “Mall walking”.
“For too long, the former mall has gone without a purpose – but today, we take another important step forward to inject new life into a space that our entire community can be proud of,” said Rep. Joe Morelle. “With the opening of Irondequoit’s community center, we are able to provide an asset that improves quality of life for all who call our town home, and ensure access to activities and services residents of all ages can benefit from. I was proud to secure funding as the Assembly Majority Leader that helped ensure we made today’s announcement a reality and am grateful to all my partners in government whose work on this project helped secure Irondequoit’s legacy as ‘A Town for a Lifetime.’” “Today’s ribbon cutting at Irondequoit’s new community center is the beginning of a bright future for the Skyview On The Ridge and the Town of Irondequoit,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “Thanks to my colleagues for their tireless work to transform an underutilized space into a place for everyone to enjoy.”
Photos courtesy of Town of Irondequoit, Department of Recreation
36 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Residents may obtain additional information about the Community Center by calling 336-6070 or visiting this website. The facility is now open to the public 7-days a week. “I’m so proud of the community of Irondequoit for their patience and resilience as the former mall was transformed into a new community center,” said State Sen. Samra Brouk. “This space will create a new anchor in Irondequoit for families, seniors, and young people alike. This project showed us what we can do as the needs of our community evolve, and I congratulate Acting Supervisor Perticone, and the residents of Irondequoit, on the completion of the new Irondequoit Community Center.” “What an exciting day for Irondequoit. This new Community Center is an accomplishment that marks a major milestone after years of hard work repurposing the once beloved Irondequoit Mall, into what is now Skyview on the Ridge,” said Assemblywoman Sarah Clark. “Thanks to the concerted and steadfast efforts of town officials, staff and the many partners on this project, residents of all ages and interests have an incredible, state-of-the-art facility to enjoy, emphasizing Irondequoit’s motto, ‘A town for a lifetime’.”
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
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 37
NEW FACILITIES
New Community Center Named in Honor of Rep. Owens Opens in Crown Heights By New York Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
The Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center is New York City’s first-ever comprehensive health and wellness community. The state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot Major Owens Center acts as a one-stop shop for one of Brooklyn’s most historically underserved neighborhoods—bringing a long-held community vision to life. The Major Owens Center offers affordable housing, recreational opportunities, and nonprofit space for the Crown Heights community, and honors the legacy of the late Congressman Major R. Owens—a longtime advocate and voice for the community. In his more than 50 years in public service–as a local information librarian, Community Development Agency commissioner, New York State Senator, and US Representative—Owens was an unwavering civil rights and disability rights supporter and promoter of social justice.
A New Vision The Major Owens Center is a focal point for community and culture that features: • A state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot recreation center operated by The Boys’ Club of New York, with hardwood basketball courts, a competitive-length swimming pool, and a multi-purpose court able to accommodate a wide variety of sports and community programming • Athletic facilities for local public schools and youth sports leagues • Free and low-cost sports and fitness programming for the community • A flexible space to host cultural events, as well as local civic and community meetings • STEM classes and tutoring, LGBTQ support services, and additional cultural programming • 415 homes, 250 of which are affordable for families of three making up to $58,000/year
38 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
The Major Owens Center also offers affordable space to local nonprofit organizations, including: • New Heights Youth • Imagine Swimming • Globall Sports Concepts • Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy • Digital Girl, Inc. • Brooklyn Community Pride Center • West Indian American Day Carnival Association • James E. Davis Foundation • Carey Gabay Foundation • Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center
A Historic Site The Major Owens Center, formerly the Bedford Union Armory, occupies nearly an entire city block in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, covering
approximately three acres of land. Opened in 1908, the Armory was used by the US Army’s Cavalry Troop C for training and equipment storage, in addition to serving as a horse stable. When not being used for military purposes, the large, open space provided an excellent venue for sporting events and local community gatherings. Sometime after 2008, Congressman Owens, then a professor at nearby Medgar Evers college, began to envision a future for the Armory as a full-time community center with recreational opportunities and gathering spaces for Crown Heights. Along with his students and other stakeholders, he built local support for the idea. The military decommissioned the building in 2013, and the City of New York took ownership of the site.
Opportunity for Change In 2013, local elected officials asked NYCEDC to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to redevelop the vacant site and transform it into a space for housing, jobs, and the community. After years of extensive engagement with residents, business owners, elected officials, and other local stakeholders to better understand the needs of the Crown Heights community, it was evident that residents shared Congressman Owens’s desire for an institution that would positively support the vibrant communities of Crown Heights and greater Central Brooklyn. Specifically, the community expressed the need for affordable recreational opportunities for all ages (including a swimming pool) and space for local nonprofits to offer cultural, educational, and healthcare services. With the community’s ideas in mind, in 2015 NYCEDC selected a proposal from Bedford Courts LLC, an affiliate of BFC Partners, that most closely aligned with this vision for the future of the site. The Major Owens Center represents the culmination of a yearslong effort by the Crown Heights community to honor and cherish the past, while bringing to fruition its vision for the future—where a new generation will create their own memories and build closer connections to the community and to each other.
US Playground Surfacing ADA Compliant
Accessible Matting and
IPEMA Certified Playground Safety Surfacing Michael McGuffie CPSI 860-309-9901 mmcguffie@usplaygroundsurfacing.com
Photos by: Brett Beyer
www.usplaygroundsurfacing.com
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 39
2022 Commercial Members AQUATIC SUPPLIES & CONSTRUCTION RenoSys Corporation Aaron Darcy NYSRPS BPP 2825 East 55th Pl. Member Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-251-0207 W: renosys.com E: aarond@renosys.com
ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, PC John Longo NYSRPS 244 E Main St. BPP Member Patchogue, NY 11716 631-475-0349 W: bbsarch.com E: longo@bbsarch.com Suburban Consulting Engineers, Inc. (SCE) Joseph Perello 2430 Highway 34, Building A Wall, NJ 08736 732-282-1776 ext. 3301 W: suburbanconsulting.com E: jwood@suburbanconsulting.com
BACKGROUND SCREENING Commercial Investigations LLC Michelle Pyan 622 Loudon Road, Suite 201 Latham, NY 12110 W: commercialinvestigationsllc.com E: michellepyan@ commercialinvestigationsllc.com
BICYCLE TOURS Bicycle Tour Company Sal Lilienthal 9 Bridge Street, P.O. Box 381 Kent, CT 06757 W: BicycleTourCompany.com E: Explore@RevolutionaryBattles.com
CONSULTANTS Weston & Sampson Dan Biggs 1 Winners Circle Albany, NY 12205 W: westonandsampson.com E: biggsd@wseinc.com
NYSRPS
BPP
Member
= Business Premier Partner Member
Wright Risk Management Company, Inc. Jim Victor 8B Aspenwood Ballston Lake, NY 12019 518-410-3747 W: wrightinsurance.com E: jvictor@wrightinsurance.com
PAINTS & COATINGS
DIGITAL PASSES & TICKETING
Super Seal Sealcoating Co. Gregory Duffy P.O. Box 925 Penfield, NY 14526 585-248-5770 W: supersealco.com E: Duffygj@aol.com
Yodel Erik Wetzel 99 Powerhouse Rd, #207 Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 303-725-3801 W: yodelpass.com E: info@yodelpass.com
ENTERTAINMENT / PROGRAMMING Fun4All Brian Bourdon P.O. Box 1336 Plaistow, NH 03865 978-807-6714 W: fun4all.club E: fun4all.Brian@gmail.com FunFlicks Timothy Bennett P.O. Box 685 Cortland, NY 13045 315-663-5005 W: funflicks.com E: timothy@funflicks.com Northeast Off-Road Adventures (NORA)/ Starr Adventures NYSRPS Scott Trager BPP Member 23 Tempaloni Rd. Ellenville, NY 12428 845-514-9895 W: scott@nora4x4.com E: nora4x4.com Quassy Amusement Park Ron Gustafson P.O. Box 887 Middlebury, CT 06762 203-758-2913, ext 109 W: quassy.com E: ron@quassy.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Environmental Design & Research NYSRPS Andrew Britton BPP Member 217 Montgomery St. Suite 1000 Syracuse, NY 13202 315-471-0688 W: edrdpc.com E: abritton@edrdpc.com
Spring 2020 • nysrps.org 40 The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org
Franklin Paint Company Greg Chapin 259 Cottage St. Franklin, MA 02038 518-528-0303 W: franklinpaint.com E: lauretta@franklinpaint.com
PET WASTE PRODUCTS BagSpot Pet Waste Solutions Jeff & Ruth Springer 9648 Olive Blvd.#313 St. Louis, MO 63132 1-800-203-3613 W: bagspot.com E: info@bagspot.com
PLAYGROUND DESIGN & INSTALLATION Playsites + Surfaces, Inc. Mark DeKenipp 103 Brightside Ave Central Islip, NY 11722 631-392-0960 W: playsitesplus.com E: mdekenipp@playsitesplus.com
PLAYGROUND PRODUCTS Bears Playgrounds Marcey Bears 7625 E. Main Rd. Lima, NY 14485 585-624-5694 W: bearsplaygrounds.com E: info@bearsplaygrounds.com BigToys Playgrounds John LaRue 35 Oak Forest Dr. Little Compton, RI 02837 800-986-3716 W: jplarue.com E: info@jplarue.com FlagHouse Kathy Chichester 29 Beach Road Ossining, NY 10562 201-933-3882 W: flaghouse.com E: kathy.chichester@flaghouse.com
Gametime Playground Equipment/MRC Doreen Sembler P.O. Box 106 Spring Lake, NJ 07762 732-458-1111 x5 W: mrcrec.com E: dsembler@mrcrec.com Miracle Recreation NYSRPS Equipment Co./ BPP Vortex Water Play Member Joseph Denzak Jr. P.O. Box 15517 Syracuse, NY 13215 800-925-1545 W: miracle-recreation.com E: drecreat@twcny.rr.com Parkitects, Inc./ NYSRPS Site Specialists BPP Member Steve Lauzun 138 Ludlowville Rd. Lansing, NY 14882 607-533-3517, ext 101 W: parktiects.com E: steve@playgroundinfo.com Specified Play Equipment Company (SPEC) David Yosso 121 Unit 1 Industrial Rd., Ste. 1 Belmont, CA 94002 800-475-1071 W: specplay.com E: david@specplay.com Yonglang Alexander Huang 3233 112th St, 2nd floor East Elmhurst, NY 11369 917-622-2393 W: ylplayequipment.com E: Alexander.huang272@gmail.com
PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS & APPAREL EDS Presentations Barbara Hassman 245 Silver St. Bridgeport, CT 06610 203-371-7224 W: edsideas.espwebsite.com E: edsideas@aol.com Pop Tops Company, Inc. Erica Huckins 10 Plymouth Dr. S. Easton, MA 02375 800-647-8677 W: poptopssportswear.com E: erica@poptopssportswear.com
PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTION Playground Medic / Peggy Payne & Assoc. Inc Peggy Payne 146 Broadway Hawthorne, NY 10532 914-747-3237 W: playgroundmedic.com E: info@playgroundmedic.com
R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. / Pilot Rock Justin Jorgensen P.O. Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012 712-225-5796 W: pilotrock.com E: jjorgensen@rjthomas.com
(Formerly the Tony Hawk Foundation)
Pernsteiner Creative Group Todd Pernsteiner 952-841-1111 W: pernsteiner.com E: todd@pernsteiner.com
Trevor Staples 503 Fountain St. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-223-9837 W: skatepark.org E: trevor@skatepark.org
RECREATIONAL GAMING
SOFTWARE
GGLeagues Eric Bao 73 W Monroe St. 217 Chicago, IL 60607 832-788-8296 W: ggleagues.com E: erich@ggleagues.com
CommunityPass Mia Kocci 141 Dayton Street, Suite 204 Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-689-2323 ext. 234 W: communitypass.net E: mkocci@capturepoint.com
REMOTE CONTROL RACING Rock N Roll Racing, LLC Ed Cunningham 239 Gilead Rd. Andover, CT 06232 203-605-1369 W: rocknrollracing.net E: rocknrollracingllc@gmail.com
SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING iZone Imaging Lyndsay Blair 2526 Charter Oak Dr., Suite 100 Temple, TX 76502 888-464-9663 x150 W: izoneimaging.com E: info@izoneimaging.com
SITE AMENITIES/ FURNISHINGS Jamestown Advanced Products Julia Heitzenrater 2855 Girts Rd Jamestown, NY 14701 716-483-3406 W: jamestownadvanced.com E: jheitzenrater@jamestownadvanced.com
RCX Sports (NFL FLAG) Matt Osborn NYSRPS BPP 545 Batten Blvd. Member Pensacola, FL 32507 417-438-7802 W: rcxexperiences.com E: mosborn@rcxexperiences.com
SKATEPARKS The Skatepark Project
PUBLISHING & DESIGN
SPORTS PROGRAMS
Edmunds GovTech NYSRPS BPP Melanie Rowan Member 661 Plank Rd. Clifton Park, NY 12065 518-371-6869 W: edmundsgovtech.com E: melanier@edmundsgovtech.com MyRec.com Tracey Rivera-Cooper P.O. Box 302 Killington, VT 05751 802-465-9732 W: myrec.com E: tracey@myrec.com Rec Desk Software Justin Waz 300 Plaza Middlesex Middleton, CT 06457 W: recdesk.com E: justin.waz@recdesk.com
SPONSORSHIP ACQUISITION Power Ad Company NYSRPS Kylene Pippin BPP Member 259 Industrial Dr. Franklin, OH 45005 937-545-2728 W:poweradcompany.com E: kylene@poweradcompany.com
SPORTS LIGHTING Musco Sports Lighting Nicholas Mauer NYSRPS BPP 100 1st Ave W Member Oskaloosa, IA 52577 845-628-4577 W: musco.com E: nick.mauer@musco.com
SURFACING & SEALERS
TECHNOLOGY Code Wiz Arlington James White 60 Raymond Ave. Somerville, MA 02144 339-707-0628 W: thecodewiz.com E: jim@thecodewiz.com Logical Net NYSRPS BPP Al Santoro Member 2345 Maxon Rd. Schenectady, NY 12308 518-292-4500 W: logical.net E: asantoro@logical.net
TENNIS USTA Eastern NYSRPS BPP Joe Steger Member 70 West Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY 10604 914-282-4153 W: eastern.usta.com E: steger@eastern.usta.com
SealMaster Albany Daniel Lang 30 Railroad Ave. Albany, NY 12205 518-928-5225 W: sealmaster.net E: dan.smalbany@gmail.com
TREE & LAWN SYSTEMS
SealMaster WNY Gary Rosbrook 555 Ludwig Ave. Buffalo, NY 14227 585-441-4125 W: sealmaster.net E: gary@sealmasterwny.com
Alternative Earthcare Peter Solch 240 S. Fehr Way Bay Shore, NY 11706 631-499-4300 W: alternativeearthcare.com E: peter@alternativeearthcare.com
Sport Tech Acrylic Corp. Michael Edgerton 410 Rt. 22 Brewster, NY 10509 914-232-1640 W: sporttechacrylics.com E: medgerton@sporttechacrylics.com US Playground Surfacing Michael McGuffie 29 Thompson Hill Canton, CT 06019 860-309-9901 W: usplaygroundsurfacing.com E: mmcguffie@usplaygroundsurfacing.com VelveTop Products Bill Walsh 1455 NY Ave. Huntington Station, NY w11746 631-427-5904 W: velvetop.com E: bwalsh@velvetop.com
NYSRPS BPP & Commercial Memberships NYSRPS Business Preferred Partner (BPP) members and Basic Commercial members receive benefits that help them reach New York park and recreation professionals all year long: • Member discounts on advertising, booths, seminars, and more • Communications exposure • Access to online resources • Advocacy opportunities • Committee involvement For more details and to enroll, visit nysrps.org.
The Voice | Spring/Summer 2022 • nysrps.org 41
New York State Recreation and Park Society, Inc. Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Dr., Suite 200 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
