Parks & Recreation Innovation Guide 2021

INNOVATION GUIDE 2021 NRPA.ORG

2021 INNOVATION GUIDE The 2021 Innovation Award Winners NRPA Awards Highlight P&R Leaders

Introducing the We-Go-Swing, We-Go-Swing ™ , the first no-transfer inclusive swing that can be integrated into the playground setting, inviting kids of all abilities to get in on the fun together. We’ve always designed for inclusive play. Now we’re bringing a whole new way to play for all.

Learn more about this revolutionary swing forward at playlsi.com/we-go-swing

© 2021 Landscape Structures, Inc. All rights reserved. U.S. Patent pending.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Landscape Structures Inc. 50 years at play

Many people remember the days of the freestanding slides, swings and monkey bars. But in 1967, that idea of playground design advanced to interconnected play components.

The revolutionary idea of combining playground activities is known as the continuous play concept, which was created by Steve King, co-founder and chairman of Delano, Minnesotabased Landscape Structures Inc. As his final thesis project at Iowa State University, Steve developed a system that linked play activities together to provide a continuous challenge for children. His premise was that if kids are together on one structure, they’ll learn things that they will use in real life, like social and conflictresolution skills.

While his thesis only scored him a C+ grade, Steve took his continuous play concept to his first job as a landscape architect specializing in park planning. In 1969, he was assigned a playground design project for the City of Minneapolis where he was able to put his approach into action.

His first playground was a success, which led to more interest. And in early 1971, Steve and his wife, Barb

King, obtained a $1,000 loan and incorporated Landscape Structures to design and build commercial play structures.

The company began to see steady growth in the late 1970s and 1980s, which led to building expansions, acquisitions, and sales growth at home and overseas. By the mid-1990s, Landscape Structures had expanded immensely, which led Steve and Barb to implement the Kaizen approach to lean manufacturing. Kaizen created efficiencies in the manufacturing and business processes, and even the engineering and product development process.

In an effort to provide great play experiences for kids, Landscape Structures has always been committed to innovation. Hedra® (playlsi. com/hedra), the company’s latest invention, allows kids to safely navigate via their own intuition and curiosity, and invent routes, games and imaginary environments. Landscape Structures has a long-standing commitment to inclusive play and is breaking barriers with the We-GoSwing™ (playlsi.com/we-go-swing), the first no-transfer inclusive swing that can be integrated directly into

the playground setting. In addition, the use of innovative materials and the development of colors that are truly inspired by nature is changing the world of playgrounds.

As Landscape Structures moves into its 50th year in business, the company is taking time to reflect on the power of play. With the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, the value of play and recreation is being recognized for its role in health, well-being and fun. And that’s why the team at Landscape Structures — nearly 500 employees and a network of more than 200 playground consultants worldwide — are proud to provide unique play opportunities for all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

Because no matter what’s happening in the world, we come back to play (playlsi.com/shapedbyplay).

playlsi.com 888.438.6574

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Contents

The NRPA Innovation Awards recognize the latest advancements in the field.

Features PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK OPERATIONS AND RECREATION

4 Innovation in Parks and Recreation 10 Showcase Your Innovation With an NRPA Award

Department 13 Advertiser Index

Company Profiles

Page 10

1 Landscape Structures Inc. 3 Creos 11 Ambient Glow Technology™ 12 Vermont Systems

The Latest Park and Recreation News and Trends

On the Go Available on iTunes and Google Play

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Discover Creos Offer Your Community Something Beautiful and Exciting Parks everywhere are being taken to a whole new level with interactive art. Temporary interactive light and sound installations are transforming parks into unique and memorable gathering places.

Choose Some Art Creos offers a diverse portfolio of installations that provides visitors with interactive, sensory experiences. Day and night, across seasons, Creos’ installations have transformed more than 200 parks and public spaces on four continents, creating unforgettable moments for millions of people.

Let the Magic Happen Attract new and regular visitors and increase your social media presence by becoming the place to be.

“We received a flood of positive responses from the community regarding the Prismatica activation,” says Patrick Allison, physical environment manager for Cherry Creek North in Denver. “It quickly became a very popular spot here in the District during the holiday season. The activation was a success to say the least.”

One-Stop Shop Creos helps clients design unforgettable, one-of-a-kind public spaces.

Our turnkey services and installa-

tions meet the highest standards of quality and reliability, and we handle everything from A to Z to ensure smooth implementation.

Laura Wiegand, program director for Arts Van Aken in Shaker Heights, Ohio, says: “Thanks for everything!

Creos certainly makes things easy for clients!”

Are you ready to take your park to a whole new level? Creos is there to help.

Contact alexandre.lemieux@creos.io. creos.io/en 844.992.7367

Transform your park into a vibrant and attractive gathering place for your community Make this happen with Creos’ interactive installations

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Innovation in Parks and Recreation

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he NRPA Innovation Awards recognize and honor the latest advancements in the field of parks and recreation. The 2021 Innovation Award winners highlighted below exemplify the inspiring work park and recreation professionals are doing in their communities.

Innovation in Health — Port St. Lucie (Florida) Parks and Recreation Healthy U: A Series of Conversations Not only did the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic present

physical health concerns, but also it took a toll on many people’s mental health. Knowing this, staff at the Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Department (PSLPRD) worked diligently to create a program that addresses the mental health service needs in their community. The program — Healthy U: A Series of Conversations (Healthy U) — is comprised of a series of six sessions on a variety of mental health topics, such as anxiety and depression.

Launched in November 2020 and held monthly at the Port St. Lucie Community Center, these sessions are offered free to the public and are available to attend both virtually and in person.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PORT ST. LUCIE PARKS AND RECREATION

Innovation The mission of Healthy U is to create a dialogue and let participants know they are not alone in

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their journey toward improved mental health; that their experiences are real and validated; and that there are resources they can access to help them on their journey toward improved well-being.

“Having conversations on sensitive mental health topics is the most innovative aspect of our Healthy U program,” says Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation Director Sherman Conrad. “Healthy U’s impact is seen in data we’ve collected between 2020 and 2021, which shows an improvement in the overall mental health of our guests.”

Community Engagement and Partnerships During August 2020, PSLPRD conducted a public engagement survey, the results of which helped to identify what community needs should be met

Part of the mission of Healthy U is to create a dialogue and let participants know they are not alone in their journey toward improved mental health.

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Looking Ahead PSLPRD is continuously expanding the Healthy U program by reaching out to new community partners in the health and wellness field to craft additional health-focused programs and discussions led by health and wellness leaders in the community. Additionally, PSLPRD staff continue to conduct outreach via social media, gateway banners, park banners, website postings and more to promote the Healthy U program.

Innovation in Equity — Cleveland (Ohio) Metroparks Re-Connecting Cleveland: Pathways to Opportunity TIGER Grant Project Re-Connecting Cleveland: Pathways to Opportunity (ReConnecting Cleveland) is a transformative project consisting of five distinct trail projects in Cleveland, Ohio, where a

Re-Connecting Cleveland: Pathways to Opportunity is a transformative project consisting of five distinct trail projects in Cleveland, Ohio.

sixth of the city’s residents had been physically cut off from employment centers, each other and amenities by railroads, freeways and industrial development, resulting in economic, social and racial segregation.

The accessibly-designed trail system now links more than 66,000 Cleveland residents to centers of employment, schools, shopping districts, and parks and recreation facilities, addressing decades of isolation, reduced property values and disparity in project-area neighborhoods while positively contributing to well-being by providing access to high-quality parks and green spaces. “The Re-Connecting Cleveland project helped to break down transportation barriers and improve access to parks and green space,” says Brian M. Zimmerman, CEO of Cleveland Metroparks. “Through strategic collaboration and support across public and private sectors, 66,000 residents are now connected to centers of employment, schools and parks, including a new link between downtown Cleveland and its lakefront.”

Community Engagement and Partnerships In 2013, the Connecting Cleveland partnership was established to guide the work of Cleveland Metroparks and two nonprofit partners — The Trust for Public Land and LAND studio — in promoting and developing an integrated set of parks, greenways and water access points

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLEVELAND METROPARKS

by the Healthy U programming.

PSLPRD staff partnered with mental healthcare providers to create programming that fulfilled the needs identified by the survey.

Additionally, PSLPRD partnered with a number of local groups and organizations — including the Treasure Coast Opioid Task Force, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Tykes & Teens, Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, Port St. Lucie Police Department, New Horizons of the Treasure Coast, The Inner Truth Project, Kane Center and Suncoast Mental Health — to provide programming presented by subject matter experts on various health-related topics.

along the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie in Cleveland. This partnership was memorialized in a project development agreement in 2015, which covered development of the north and south sections of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail, a new Wendy Park Bridge to the lakefront, and green-space enhancements.

Shortly after acquiring the Lakefront Reservation from City of Cleveland in 2013, Cleveland Metroparks began a year-long master planning process for the new lakefront parks that included iterative rounds of public and stakeholder engagement with heavy emphasis on the role of trails and connections to neighborhoods as part of the community vision for the park. This included close collaboration with Community Development Corporations to utilize its networks of committees and block clubs to garner feedback from the diverse residents of each neighborhood. Special emphasis was made to reach more than the typical public meeting regulars by working with dozens of stakeholder organizations, as well as advocacy and affinity groups. Online comment forms,

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meetings with communities surrounding the parks and groups with special interests all provided valuable feedback about the parks and the ways people travel to them.

Looking Ahead Re-Connecting Cleveland trails and greenway corridors have been constructed following all relevant design guidelines and specifications to ensure they will last long into the future.

Cleveland Metroparks’ natural resources and management personnel will maintain the trails.

Additionally, Cleveland Metroparks’ police department will

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF OCALA

Innovation In early 2016, the Connecting Cleveland partnership team applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program with the Re-Connecting Cleveland project to develop and build remaining elements of the Connecting Cleveland agreement, along with several other critical pieces of trail infrastructure. In July 2016, the application was selected and the partnership team was awarded $7.95 million. At the time, only one other park district has received a TIGER grant out of the 421

funded projects and more than 7,300 applications received since the grant program’s inception in 2009. This innovative bundling of projects also leveraged another $8.4 million in funding from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, Ohio’s Clean Ohio Trails Fund and State Capital programs, the Wendy Park Foundation, and several other philanthropic sources.

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provide regular safety patrols to ensure the well-being of all users.

They will be supplemented by the nearly 300 volunteer Trails Ambassadors that assist users with questions and first aid and report any maintenance issues.

Innovation in Conservation — City of Ocala (Florida) Ocala Wetland Recharge Park The Ocala Wetland Recharge Park was established to address three main goals: recharge, reduction of nutrients and recreation. Treated wastewater and local stormwater are sent to the park — an engineered wetland — where aquatic vegetation and the microorganisms that live on the plants consume and trap pollutants that are found in both water sources.

In Ocala, most drinking water is pulled from the Upper Floridan Aquifer, which also is the source of water for one of the few first magnitude springs (large springs that discharge at least 64.6 million gallons of water per day), Silver Springs, in Marion County, where Ocala is the county seat. Silver Springs is classified as an impaired water body due to nutrient pollution, primarily from Nitrogen. Nitrogen is carried into Silver Springs from a number of sources, including by stormwater containing animal waste (both domestic and wild) and fertilizer applied to lawns and used in agriculture.

The stormwater and wastewater that flow into Silver Springs also The Ocala Wetland Recharge Park was established to address three main goals: recharge, reduction of nutrients and recreation.

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Best in Innovation

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF OCALA

Congratulations to the City of Ocala, Florida, for winning the overall 2021 Best in Innovation Award for its project, Ocala Wetland Recharge Park.

contain other contaminants, such as heavy metals and oils.

The wetland prevents toxins from making it to the aquifer by trapping them in the detritus (decomposing matter) layer of the wetland. The wetland then sends the clean water down into the aquifer. The park also features education exhibits, educational kiosks and 2.5 miles of fully accessible walking trails.

Innovation Engineered treatment wetlands are increasing in popularity as a resource to reduce nutrient and pollution levels in wastewater and stormwater. What sets Ocala Wetland Recharge Park apart is the “recharge” component. The park wetland provides up to 3 million gallons of clean and pol

ished water to the aquifer daily.

What’s more, the park is an inclusive educational facility, providing easy-to-understand educational signs throughout.

The purpose of integrating education is to promote behavioral changes to reduce pollution and water consumption.

“This is an innovative project due to the rapid recharge of nutrient-reduced water into the Floridan Aquifer,” says Rachel Slocumb, conservation coordinator for City of Ocala. “However, what truly makes that project stand out is the educational component. Park guests are exposed to educational opportunities that focus on preserving our precious natural resources, and our hope is that this incites a desire to protect the environment.”

Ocala Wetland Recharge Park features education exhibits, educational kiosks and 2.5 miles of walking trails.

Community Engagement and Partnerships Prior to and during construction of the park, more than 100 community presentations were given, reaching more than 4,000 individuals. Multiple community groups were consulted for their expertise, including the Marion Chapter of the Audubon Society and the Big Scrub Native Plant Society. City of Ocala staff also established relationships with Marion County public schools, local rotary chapters, Friends of Silver Springs and other local civic groups, all of which were influential in determining many of the public components of the park.

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Looking Ahead During the planning stages of Ocala Wetland Recharge Park, park staff ensured that all features of the park were selected as investments to the community and to the park. For example, the boardwalks — which are a mainstay feature of the park and are constructed from aluminum and fiberglass — were selected primarily for their low maintenance needs and long warranty. Additionally, integrating education into the park helps to ensure long-term success of the project by helping people understand the importance of the wetland. The signage is made of high-pressure laminate and features National Park Service-style frames that allow signs to be updated as needed.

Innovation in Park Design — City of St. Louis Park (Minnesota) Operations and Recreation

Innovation To meet this goal, the interpretive center incorporates many sustainable and energy-efficient technologies and features, such as 32 geothermal wells that pipe heat from the earth to the building; large windows made of high-performance bird-safe glass to make use of natural daylight, with sensors that control lighting to properly balance daylight with artificial light; an array of rooftop solar panels; permeable pavers; rain gardens and more.

The zero-energy design of the building helps meet the community’s climate action goals, while the layout of the building improves accessibility and boasts

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK OPERATIONS AND RECREATION

Westwood Hills Nature Center The City of St. Louis Park has adopted a Climate Action Plan, which sets an ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by

2040. This plan guided the decision to commit to the sustainable, net-zero energy design of City of St. Louis Park Operations and Recreation’s new Westwood Hills Nature Center. The building project was to design a new building that produces as much energy as it uses, working toward a zero-energy certification — one of the first commercial buildings in Minnesota to do so.

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an inclusive and welcoming environment. The space includes an inviting front patio featuring public art, designated animal and raptor-care spaces, large community gathering spaces, spacious patios sheltered by a roof overhang, interpretive exhibit space separate from the rental and programming areas, and more.

“We built this new interpretive center building as a teaching tool,” says Cindy Walsh, director of St. Louis Park Operations and Recreation. “We wanted people to come and actually be able to use the facility and see that you can use different sustainable materials and do things differently than things have been done in the past.” Education opportunities within the building include a glass viewing area in the floor that showcases the radiant floor system, large windows into the mechanical and raptor-care rooms, 13 interpretive signs showcasing sustainable and low-impact design features, and ample space for environmental education programming.

Community Engagement and Partnerships More than 50 presentations were held to educate community members about and build support for the project, reaching more than 700 people. Through these meetings, St. Louis Park Operations and Recreation staff received feedback that community members were supportive of the new building. Additionally, staff gained valuable insights regardThe Westwood Hill Nature Center design project was to create a building that produces as much energy as it uses.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK OPERATIONS AND RECREATION

The zero-energy design of the Westwood Hills Nature Center helps meet the community’s climate action goals, while the layout of the building boasts an inclusive and welcoming environment.

ing design features that enhanced the project’s design, including the need for a vestibule with a restroom and drinking fountain open year-round, from sunrise to sunset; easy wayfinding; and a place for residents to be in community with one another.

St. Louis Park Operations and Recreation contracted with Captivate Media, which created a marketing campaign that included distribution of information via television, social media, city publications and newspapers, surveys, email communications, and the city’s website.

The department also worked with HGA Architects on the zero-energy design, Split Rock Studios on exhibit designs, RJM Construction on construction management, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts on bringing public art to the building, the Rap

tor Center on best practices for care and management of the raptor facilities, and Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission on an educational waterscape.

Looking Ahead In the face of a changing climate, the city and design team sought to understand how future climate may impact zeroenergy performance. HGA Architects led city staff and team members through an extensive, multi-faceted resiliency exercise to prepare and plan for adverse events. Risks were forecasted and assessed, and resilient strategies implemented to ensure the building and site continue to meet energy goals and future community needs.

The building itself features durable materials, such as polished concrete floors and a geothermal

system with few moving parts, minimizing the need for maintenance. The building site includes wide use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials and systems, reducing its negative impact on natural resources. Native plants were used in the landscaping to reduce maintenance needs over time. What’s more, the zeroenergy designation requires annual certification, which encourages maintaining current systems and evolving processes over time to maintain the certification.

“This is a perfect opportunity for City of St. Louis Park to really plant the seed in the youth for tomorrow to know what we can do and how we can live in harmony with the environment,” says Brian Hoffman, director of buildings and energy for City of St. Louis Park Operations and Recreation.

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Showcase Your Innovation With an NRPA Award

G

etting an award not only is a validation of the great work you do, but also can be used to show decision-makers and policymakers the intrinsic value of what you do.

Starting January 7, NRPA will begin accepting applications for its 2022 awards program.

Starting January 7, NRPA will begin accepting applications for its 2022 awards program.

Innovation Awards The NRPA Innovation Awards recognize the latest advancements in the field, showcasing the inspiring park and recreation agencies that have improved their communities through innovative practices.

Innovation in Health Award This award recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative project that fosters a culture of health in their community. Agencies that have led an initiative that has addressed a critical health need for their community — such as getting residents more active, improving access to healthy food, or implementing policies that encourage healthy behavior — are encouraged to apply.

Innovation in Equity Award This award recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative project that im10

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proves access to the benefits of local parks and recreation for everyone in the community, no matter the color of their skin, age, income level or ability.

Agencies that have found an innovative way to improve access for all to a great park through creative programming, community outreach and more are encouraged to apply.

Innovation in Conservation Award This award recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative project that creates localized solutions for addressing global or regional environmental challenges.

Agencies that have addressed a critical environmental need in their community — from habitat preservation or green infrastructure to nature programs and water restoration projects — and have helped educate residents along the way are encouraged to apply.

Innovation in Park Design Award This award recognizes a park and recreation agency that manages a unique park or facility that embraces innovative technology, strategies or programs to improve their community.

Agencies that have designed a

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great park tailored to their community’s needs and dreams are encouraged to apply.

To learn more about the NRPA Innovation Awards, as well as NRPA’s Spotlight Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships, visit nrpa.org/ Awards.

Taking the Mystery Out of the Awards Process What can you do to make sure your application stands out from the rest? How does the scoring process work? And, what are some pitfalls to avoid? In the webinar, “Taking the Mystery Out of the NRPA Awards Process,” representatives from the NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee shed light on the awards application process. Learn more at tinyurl.com/4fce7jyv.

Join the NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee Are you interested in volunteering with NRPA? NRPA Awards Committee members facilitate the recognition of individuals and organizations whose activities have advanced the public’s appreciation and enjoyment of parks and recreation by reviewing and scoring awards applications and selecting the Diversity Scholarship, Student Scholarship and Young Professional Fellowship recipients. If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more about this opportunity, contact us at awards@nrpa.org.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ambient Glow Technology™ An Electricity-Free Lighting Alternative for Multi-Use Trails and Paths Imagine walking or biking along one of your town’s nature trails after sunset, being guided only by magical, star-like glowing stones embedded in the concrete or asphalt. Welcome to the world of Ambient Glow Technology™ (AGT™) glow aggregates.

Since 2004, when we launched the first commercial-grade glow stone in the world, our mission has remained the same — to continue to develop and offer only the highest-performing glow aggregates scientifically possible.

Designed to blend in with any natural environment, AGT™ glow stones are almost invisible during the day, coming to life once the sun sets. Achieving peak luminosity after only eight minutes of

daylight, these non-toxic glow stones will glow all night and continue to self-power for well over 20 years.

AGT™ is specially formulated for use in both concrete and asphalt substrates. For concrete applications, glow stones are seeded on to the top of curing concrete and then exposed.

In the case of asphalt, AGT™ is rolled into the top layer. Glow stones are available in three glow colors: Aqua Blue, Sky Blue and Emerald Yellow, as well as three sizes: 1/8,” 1/4” and 1/2”.

AGT™ ULTRA glow aggregates offer multi-use trails, paths and playground projects a next-level design feature that is both aesthetic and functional

in nature. This technology offers park visitors a unique attraction that will be enjoyed by all for many years to come.

For a complimentary AGT™ ULTRA Sample Kit, please visit ambientglowtechnology.com/NRPA or contact us toll free. ambientglowtechnology.com 1.877.248.8641

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To learn more, please visit us online or call. ambientglowtechnology.com | 1-877-248-8641

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Vermont Systems Collecting payments — there is a better way With unmatched experience and insight, Vermont Systems brings solutions that fit any size department to project a professional image, increase efficiency and provide extensive reporting. An important consideration is the ability to accept and process payments and reporting of all transactions. PayTrac provides park and recreation departments with a single source for all of their payment needs.

Do You Offer Contactless Options?

Are Your Devices Up to Date?

Can You Report and Project Activity?

Make sure that you have an EMV solution that is PCI compliant and allows for chip processing to build trust.

The desire for that ease and convenience isn’t going away. The good news is the technology is readily accessible.

How Long Do Refunds Take?

Refunds are an inevitable part of life. Being able to return payments as quickly as possible is key to customer satisfaction.

An integrated payment system provides numerous advantages. It’s

much simpler to manage and track all transactions and adds interaction data for improved patron insights.

This enables you to tailor offerings to your community, simplify support and maintain the trust of your community.

Hear what customers say about Vermont Systems’ PayTrac: go.vermont systems.com/innovation.

vermontsystems.com 877.883.8757

Make Payment Processing a Walk in the Park Vermont Systems is now a Payment Facilitator.* What that means for you and your community is secure and reliable processes, the latest devices and technology, and consolidated reporting views.

Level 1 PCI compliant & secure

Advanced reporting

Modern user experience

Hear what customers say and download an infographic at go.vermontsystems.com/innovation. *Payment Facilitator is a specific term in the payments industry that describes a business that takes on the onboarding, underwriting and associated risk to process card-present and card not present (online) transactions.

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“PayTrac was the best option for us to have better communication, more fluid operations between our credit card processing and RecTrac” KELSY MAXIE Frisco Adventure Park, Colorado

Creating Equity-Based System Master Plans NRPA’s online tool can help you create master plans grounded in equity and inclusion. nrpa.org/ParkMasterPlanning

Advertiser Index Ambient Glow Technology...................... 11 Creos................................................................3 Landscape Structures Inc.......................C2 Most Dependable Fountains.................C4 Vermont Systems...................................... 12