frpq0209

journal frpa

a publication of the florida recreation and park association • summer 2009

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Summer 2009

Contents

Features 9 Creative Constipation Imagination-based thinking is the new paradigm.

FRPA EXECUTIVE OFFICE Eleanor Warmack, CAE, CPRP, Executive Director Lori Womack, CPRP, Director of Professional Development Amber Bulloch, Administrative Assistant 411 Office Plaza Drive Tallahassee, FL 32301-2756 850-878-3221 Fax: 850-942-0712 TDD 850-878-6177 Website: www.frpa.org

2008-2009 Board of Directors President Jim Sheets, CPRP President Elect T. Michael Stavres, CPRP Past President Gregg Scott, CPRP VP of Advocacy Kathie Margoles, CPRP

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For the S.A.K.E. of It A successful new awards program.

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Synthetic Turf Not just for water conservation.

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Agency Accreditation Are you ready for your review?

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Future Influences and Trends New opportunities for parks and recreation.

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Youth Advocate Spotlight Middle School Student “Spokes” man for bike trail

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Play Tennis License Plate An Ace for Parks and Recreation

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Civics Education Small effort, big reward.

VP of Finance tba VP of Member Resources Lucille Vaillancourt-Kreider, CPRP VP of Professional Development Chip Potts, CPRP Central Region Lanie Sheets, CPRP Northern Region Kim Sanderson, CPRP

Departments

Editor: Cathy Jones

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A Message from the President of FRPA

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A Message from the Executive Director of FRPA

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Spotlight On: Kevin Dunbar, J.D. Varney

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Index of Advertisers/ Advertiser.com

Southeast Region Fred Couceyro, CPRP Southwest Region Michael Kalvort, CPRP Parliamentarian John Fletcher Executive Director, Ex-Officio Eleanor Warmack, CPRP, CAE

The Florida Recreation and Park Association Journal is published for the Florida Recreation and Park Association 411 Office Plaza Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301-2756 phone: 850-878-3221, fax: 850-942-0712

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

James R. Sheets, CPRP

Whether it is family values, your love for a particular hobby, or just a passion for your alma mater, “live to dream and believe to achieve.”

This is one sure way to achieve happiness!

As I sit here thinking of how to conclude the last of my quarterly Journal president’s messages, on April Fools’ Day, I have to wonder what may lie ahead over the next four months, both in my home agency of Seminole and in Tallahassee. I have spoken previously of having a vision but this may be a bit of a stretch. So let me give a go: At last year’s State Conference, I asked the organization to focus on three special words: “Dream, Believe and Achieve.”

This challenge was also given to the members of our State Executive Board as they began the work of the association for the year. These words are also extremely important in our personal lives and must never be lost in difficult times. Whether it is family values, your love for a particular hobby, or just a passion for your alma mater, “live to dream and believe to achieve.” This is one sure way to achieve happiness!

During the winter, I spoke of “Having a Vision,” a concept that is and continues to be the true strength of our organization, its leaders, and our membership. When I joined the Florida Recreation and Park Association back in 1996, I had a vision to serve the profession on more than a local level. Having arrived to Parks and Recreation from the private golf club business, I was already pre-programmed to serve my membership. When asked to serve as the District Golf Tournament coordinator on the District IV Board, I said, “I Can.” I dreamed that I would serve a membership again; I believed that my knowledge of golf could benefit the district, and many years later I achieved the ultimate goal of serving the entire association membership as your president.

In the spring, during some personal reflection, I also wrote about “In the Beginning,” a process of remembering how we came to be what we are today.

Take a moment and think about a time when you were most happy, and I guarantee it involves some form of leisure activity.

Our careers are typically a series of these moments, and if you don’t capture each and every one of them you may never be completely fulfilled. Today’s message is an attempt to bring these messages

together in a traditional presidential farewell address.

Throughout the many years serving this organization, I have come to respect the vision that the Florida Recreation and Park Association has, largely due to the strength in leadership, and especially the passion of our executive director, Eleanor Warmack. Working with and following such a group of visionaries has certainly made my presidency much more enjoyable. In addition, I have had a terrific volunteer board to work with including the vice presidents, committee chairs, and the region directors who truly are the backbone of the association. We are truly a team organization, and I have thoroughly enjoyed being on that team!

This past year, I have had an opportunity to visit with each of the regions during one of their region meetings. It is obvious that the work done by these region boards speaks volumes of our organization and I want to thank region directors Fred Couceyro, Michael Kalvort, Lanie Sheets, and Kim Sanderson for their hard work and hospitality during our visits.

Our State Executive Board has also been instrumental in ensuring that the Vision of the Association continues to drive the organization and strengthen its reputation. The delivery of the recently adopted FRPA Vision Plan has been our main focus including work within Advocacy, Member Services, and Leadership Excellence.

Throughout these challenging times, we must continue to tell our story and advocate our message. That includes at the Capitol, and in our own towns, cities and counties. The efficient delivery of services to our membership continues to improve through the electronic delivery of several communication pieces including the monthly newsletter, e-clips, e-lerts, and an electronic FRPA Journal.

In the area of leadership excellence, it is imperative that our association continue to assist in the development of future leaders, both in the leadership of the association and in our local agencies.

I am very proud of the work that FRPA has done in the development of the Joe Abrahams Leadership Academy over the last 12 months. We welcomed our first summer 2009 | frpa journal

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As for my final thought: Commit yourselves personally and professionally to continue to “Dream, Believe, and Achieve,” and join State Conference co-chairs Don Decker and Kara Petty at Disney Coronado Springs August 24-29. Let’s celebrate together another year of successes, professional development, networking, and of course our playful “FRPA Personality!”

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E XECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Eleanor Warmack, CPRP, CAE

I am pleased to reassure you that FRPA is solid. These are the days that our Boards for many years have been planning for. It is why we have a contingency fund.

WOW, what a first half of 2009!

Each morning brings a new day, however it also brings discussions that just seem to be repeating — those about how challenging our economy is and what challenges are being presented to local governments. I often have the opportunity to speak with other association executive directors, and I am continually reassured that FRPA has a sound membership base. Stories of volunteer voids, dire financial straights, plummeting membership numbers, these are the stories that association executives are speaking of these days. FRPA’s valuable volunteer base continues to be a strong support for the Association. Thousands of hours each year are contributed by volunteers, and those hours supplement staffing levels to assure that the association can continue to move forward with our vision plan and our work to advance the profession. Membership numbers have decreased, but there is no plummeting here (knock on wood).

That is due to many of you who share daily with others the value of FRPA membership, and the many of you who are dedicated enough to pay your dues from your personal income now. We applaud your commitment to the Association and to your professionalism.

Recently, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton was quoted on the cover of Florida Trend’s Economic Yearbook of 2009: “We cannot let the existing climate create survivalist thinking or paralysis.” What a profound statement coming from a mayor in these challenging times. His statement really rang true to me as I traveled to the 2009 Agency Summit in

Altamonte Springs, where 54 directors of Florida’s parks and recreation agencies convened. There were stories of challenges back at home, but more than that, there was sharing of success stories and the beginning of a dialogue on how we can each individually and as agencies re-engineer ourselves to be better, more efficient, and more effective. It may mean letting go of some of the old programs and services that are thought to be at the center of our core. With that will come a new core defined by professionals who consistently outperform other entities within government when it comes to thriving in the midst of challenge.

Some may not be as prepared as others to move through the challenge, but they can be inspired by the positive, forward thinkers in our field, and I encourage you to take notice. Take notice of the employees who seems to be struggling, and encourage them to continue to move forward, assuring them that they aren’t in this by themselves. We have all heard about the “parks and recreation family” in Florida, and now is when the foundation formed by family members must remain solid.

One thing that became clear in John Spence’s presentation at the Agency Summit was that reassurance comes at a cost — the time that it takes to take notice and see who needs our encouragement. However, the cost for not providing that reassurance is immense. Whether it is staff, volunteers, citizens, elected officials, or our own families, reassurance is a must, and inspiration is at the forefront of what has to be a daily task. summer 2009 | frpa journal

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I am pleased to reassure you that FRPA is solid. These are the days that our boards for many years have been planning for. It is why we have a contingency fund. It is why we have realistic fees and dues, and why our Board of Directors continues to be conservative managers of the Associations finances. Since the economy turned, I am pleased to report that we have not reduced one membership service. We have in fact, introduced several new services to improve communication and information flowing to the membership.

We remain committed to constantly assessing what we are doing to see how we can do it better. We continuously have our ears to the ground listening to what the members want and responding to that. Your 2008-2009 Board of Directors has remained focused on the Vision Plan and the result has been tremendous. Solid performance, solid membership, solid finances, solid leadership.

We hope you will be at the 2009 FRPA Annual Conference. The Committee has a quality event planned for you, and one that will yield a high return for your registration investment. The education planned is some of the best we have ever provided. Plenty of time will be allowed for networking and reconnecting with your fellow professionals so you can share in the strength of the FRPA family.

In conclusion, I hope we can all remember the words of Mayor Peyton as we march through the rest of 2009 and look to a more positive 2010. Stay strong as professionals and as agencies, and we will all be better for the effort.

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B Erik Wahl, Keynote Speaker at By: 2009 FRPA Annual Conference 2

Our minds have been trained from childhood to think in lockstep and conformity. Our school systems automated us to sit in straight rows, color within the lines, and respond with sequential one dimensional answers. We were taught to take all of our wonderful multidimensional answers and to narrow them down in search of only one right answer.

Ultimately, our analytical systems blocked our natural paths to creative thinking. In a sense, we trained to become creatively constipated.

Don’t get me wrong…..these left brain analytical functions are important.

In fact, they are absolutely, categorically 100 percent necessary. Necessary, but no longer sufficient to compete in the rapidly changing recreation and park industry. Playground equipment and therapeutic recreation that worked yesterday will not necessarily work for the changing leisure and entertainment needs of your consumers for tomorrow.

The success paradigm has switched from knowledge and experience based learning to a new frontier that the emerging organizations are successfully embracing…..imagination based thinking!

Albert Einstein, arguably one of the greatest creative minds in history, saw this years ago when he stated, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” The phrase “Thinking outside the box,” became passe’ corporatespeak many years ago. Yet, so few individuals or organizations subscribe to its core philosophy of actually thinking and acting creatively. What is a creative idea worth? What is it worth to be visibly different from your competitors?

What would your community look like if you were starting from a blank canvas with limitless possibilities? What

are the possibilities for the future of the recreation and park industry if no prior model had been set in place? What if we could unlearn what we’ve learned and look for different combinations, new patterns and possibilities that we had never seen before?

What would it look like to start with a blank canvas?

As an artist, whenever I sit down to paint, I always start with a blank canvas of endless potential. There are never any preconceived notions on whether I am to paint a still life or an abstract impressionistic painting. Before I lay one stroke of paint across the canvas I always step back and take time to consciously tap into my imagination. To take what I have been logically trained to see with my eyes — and twist it. To look at the ordinary yet force myself to see the extraordinary.

Professionals who embrace imagination and creativity are going to be better equipped for success. You need to differentiate your strategies in ways your competitors have not even imagined was possible. It’s not enough to simply think you are different from our competitors; you must be recognizably and visibly different

as perceived by the consumers in your marketplace.

I recently had the privilege to deliver a keynote address to the International Association of Foodservice Consultants.

These are the companies that deliver marketplace advice for the top restaurants in the world. Given the 80 percent failure rate of new restaurants, I asked a number of the different market leaders the same question. “What is the single greatest differentiating factor leading to the success or failure of a restaurant. “ As they began to share their secret formula for success, I realized they were all saying the same thing. Competition based on products and services is dead. That is not to say that having good food or good service isn’t important, because it is critically important. But that is merely the ante to enter the game. If you don’t have at least good food — if you don’t’ have at least good service — you are out of business overnight. Competition in their industry is now based on new and different business designs. How are they strategically differentiating themselves from the competition? Not what do they say they do differently behind closed doors in management meetings; but rather what do their competitors summer 2009 | frpa journal

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say about them. What do their customers say about them that visibly differentiate them from all the other options by which to eat out on the marketplace?

It is an experience that transcends the traditional dining experience. It is at this point that their consumers become their best source of marketing. They can’t wait to get home and tell their colleagues, their friends, their families about the extraordinary experience they had at this restaurant. Restaurants that provide traditional eating experiences have become invisible in what has become a very competitive business environment.

In any increasingly competitive marketplace where economic conditions and information overload are forcing your community to do more with less, it is important to remain on the cutting edge. The future of the parks and leisure industry belongs to those who creatively and imaginatively differentiate from other recreation options.

As leaders, you need to look for channels to resist conventional wisdom and flush out your most innovative ideas. I would suggest we need to explore our childlike curiosity. We need to schedule time to think unconventionally, challenge prevailing rules, take risks, be artistic, be imaginative and maybe even start asking “why?” again.

Erik Wahl is a recognized artist and corporate consultant. He speaks to organizations about peak performance and creativity in business. For more information about keynote speeches and workshops please visit his website at www.theartofvision.com or phone 858-715-1997.

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For the

S.A.K.E. of it

By Brian Picinic

Most recreation departments in our state and nationwide have been dealing with budget cuts and staffing shortages during these challenging economic times. It has been commonplace to hear of the struggles that everyone is trying to overcome on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. This story, though, is not about those struggles. It’s about working together, as a team, to overcome them and show that no matter the circumstances, recreation professionals continue to find ways to enhance our communities.

The following depicts a grand program we recently completed with great success. I’m not one to normally boast, but there is a point to why it’s part of the story and is important, so bear with me here while I share a success story to get to the point.

In early 2008, the City of Lauderhill Parks and Leisure Services Director, Irvin Kiffin, was approached by City Commissioner Hayward Benson with an idea. Commissioner (now Vice Mayor) Benson asked “Kiff” to help create a program that utilizes our youth sports programs to help enhance education.

Benson said, “Let’s call it S.A.K.E., Sports Advancing Kids Education.”

“Kiff” and the PALS department already valued the educational and developmental component of youth sports. Tutoring sessions are offered

for youth sports teams in the city, and important life lessons are learned throughout the sports programs on a routine basis, as our industry understands very well.

Now, however, it was time to sit down and brainstorm how this idea could eventually be a beneficial addition to an already very busy calendar year for a small department staff that services about 70,000 residents. At first thought, the typical questions would come up during these times: How are we going to add more to our plate when we are already above our heads in programs with our staffing shortage? Where will the dollars come from for ANOTHER program when budgets are constrained as it is?

After meetings to discuss potential ideas, the group of supervisors in the

department thought it would be great to host an annual awards ceremony to honor the top performers from our youth sports programs in seven categories including Sportsmanship, Leadership, Volunteer of the Year, Team of the Year, Community Service, Team of the Year, and Scholar Athlete of the Year. They all seemed to relate closely to the idea of Sports Advancing Kids Education.

But this would not be the normal, season-end trophy awards that you see youth programs host. We thought, “Let’s think big. The ESPYs. The Grammys.” Ok, so maybe no celebrity guests and not THAT grand in scale, but you get the picture.

A vision, a logo and theme were developed to depict the meaning of the awards. We hoped to honor the facets of youth sports that help build character, bolster self-esteem, enhance life skills, impart values, and advance education. A tree with roots, trunk, and branches became a recurring theme.

The roots represented the community leaders, including mentors, coaches, and volunteers who nurtured the trunk. The trunk represented the child who used the branches as opportunities. In this case, the awards were the opportunities.

With a vision and theme in place and goals and objectives set, it was time to begin accepting nominations from the community. The awards ceremony was heavily marketed to the youth sports community using the typical forms of advertising we have at our disposal.

The goal was to make sure that all qualified candidates were nominated summer 2009 | frpa journal

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to be considered as finalists since there were as many as thousands of potential candidates the youth sports programs.

During the months of build-up, we realized that an ancillary program goal was developing. We had a chance to enhance our department and prove the importance of our team and each of its individual parts. This was a project that our whole department could rally around. It was also a project that would continue to show to the community of policy makers, residents, and

other departments, that our “PALS” team (and the recreation profession) is such a valuable piece of the community puzzle.

Despite budget constrictions, we found alternative methods of funding to offset costs, including sponsorships, to fully fund this new initiative.

Thankfully, companies and community groups are still willing to commit dollars to quality programming! We were even able to provide monetary scholarships for the Scholar Athlete of the Year

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award winners. Partnering with a local school to host the event at its 500-seat theater allowed for the production elements to come into place for the show.

Completing all video compilation, editing, and production in-house also saved thousands of dollars.

After months of preparation and hours upon hours of hard work, on top of all the normal day-to-day job duties for staff, we pulled it off! There were some tough decisions throughout, including the selection of finalists and winners. The NCAA basketball tournament selection committee has it easy compared to narrowing down thousands of potential nominees to 28 eventual finalists!

The awards show received rave reviews from all in attendance. The smiles on the faces in the audience that evening were something special.

They realized they were a part of history and the passion that is S.A.K.E. is now spreading in the community. It has now become something that our young athletes will strive to achieve while competing and learning on a daily basis in our youth sports programs.

So, I told you to bear with me earlier…that there was a greater point than just some boasting about a local awards ceremony program, just another program of the many that departments conduct throughout the country. Well, here is how it ties in to all of us in the profession.

S.A.K.E. proved to our department that, no matter the staffing and budget constraints, our profession continues to find creative ways to positively impact communities nationwide.

Sometimes these programs and methods are conventional; sometimes they are more “outside the box, ” such as S.A.K.E. Regardless, when we are faced with difficult decisions about adding programs amid declining budgets or finding ways to cut corners to deal with a challenging environment, our profession can rest easy knowing that our group of talented professionals will do all in their power to create positive experiences for all in the community, especially our future…the youth…just for the S.A.K.E. of it!

Synthetic Turf

Not Just for Water Conservation

By Bill Hatifled, Synthetic Turf International

Droughts in Florida and throughout the Southeast have focused the attention of municipalities on water conservation while synthetic turf manufacturers have continued to promote the idea that their products required no watering to remain lush and green. This would appear to be a heavenly match especially considering the additional benefit that synthetic turf requires no herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers, or other pollutants for maintenance and no carbon fuel burning weed eaters, lawnmowers or weekly maintenance trucks. However, what the synthetic turf industry has been addressing is the conserving of available water through the elimination of the need to regularly water (irrigate) grass areas. Conservation of water resources is only one side of the equation. On the other side of the equation is the harvesting of rainwater.

Rainwater harvesting in urban areas can have manifold reasons. To provide supplemental water to fulfill municipal requirements, to increase soil moisture levels for urban greenery, to increase the ground water table through artificial recharge, to limit pollution of sheet runoff by petrochemical exposure in parking lots and roads, to mitigate urban flooding and to improve the quality of groundwater are some of the reasons for adopting rainwater harvesting using 100 percent recylable, lead free synthetic turf products. Many synthetic turf products incorporate BioCel®, a high performance, recyclable, polyurethane backing which contains Agrol® polymers created from domestically grown soybeans, a rapidly renewable resource. Additionally synthetic turf companies will work

with recyclers such as Carpet Cycle LLC and PRT in collecting and recycling the plastic polymers used in the manufacture of the yarns tufted in to synthetic turf. It is estimated that these companies’ efforts save more then 700,000 barrels of oil per year.

Utilizing the knowledge gained from sports field construction and from working within strict municipal codes an ingenious water harvesting system has been created using synthetic turf.

In the water harvesting system waters striking the synthetic turf surface are rapidly transported to a substrate where they are contained at the rate of one gallon per square foot. Most synthetic turfs drain at a minimum of 40 inches of rain per square yard per hour.

The system configuration establishes a profile which minimizes sheet runoff,

provides tremendous water retention/ containment, and slow release of collected water back to the aquifer without exposure to pollutants.

The water harvesting concept fully supports the United Sates Green Building Council’s initiative with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ which encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. Synthetic turf products can assist in accumulating up to fourteen (14) LEED points under Version 2.2 of the Leed® for New Construction & Major Renovations guidelines. The following is outlined in Version 2.2 of the Leed® for New Construction & Major summer 2009 | frpa journal

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Renovations guidelines and present the applicable areas of the Water Efficiency (WE) section of the USGBC document which could apply to water harvesting using synthetic turf products:

WE Credit 1.1: Water Efficient Landscaping: Reduce by 50% 1 Point Intent Limit or eliminate the use of potable water, or other natural surface or subsurface water resources available on

or near the project site, for landscape irrigation.

WE Credit 1.2: Water Efficient Landscaping: No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation 1 Point in addition to WE Credit 1.1 Intent Eliminate the use of potable water, or other natural surface or subsurface water resources available on or near the project site, for landscape irrigation.

WE Credit 2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies 1 Point Intent Reduce generation of wastewater and potable water demand, while increasing the local aquifer recharge.

Water harvesting configurations can be installed in playfields, playgrounds, school bus pickup areas, parks, backyards, highway medians and numerous other locations. In each application there may be unique circumstances, but the basis scheme remains the same with the goal of minimizing runoff and reclaiming more then 85% of the rainwater that strikes and area and returning the captured water to the aquifer; unpolluted and naturally recycled. (See Table 1.

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| summer 2009

2/9/09 2:18:45 PM

By: Debbie Derums, CPRP, NPSI

You’ve spent the last few years preparing your files, department, staff and selfassessment document in anticipation of receiving CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation

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Tips from a reviewer

compliance. Any potential problems noticed can be communicated before the actual visit, giving the agency extra time to strengthen the standard. Always write a narrative in the self-assessment stating how you met or did not meet the standard.

• If you write in the self-assessment that your agency does XYZ, make sure you have evidence included that it truly is in practice and does not just exist in your accreditation files.

Your reviewer may ask staff about certain procedures etc. he or she noticed in the self-assessment document.

Agencies) agency accreditation. You’ve submitted all necessary documents and are eagerly awaiting your visitation from fellow professionals who will look at every file, process, policy, etc. in order to report back to CAPRA their recommendations on whether each file met or did not meet the standard.

But are you really ready for your visit? While there are many ways to prepare for your review, and each agency visitor has his or her own opinion on what makes a good visit, the following are my tips derived as an agency reviewer for the past five years. This information is offered as a suggestion, not a required method of preparation.

The initial self-assessment and pre-visit documents • When writing the self-assessment, take advantage of the suggested evidence of compliance and make every effort to provide the suggested evidence. If you have alternate evidence, be sure to clearly justify how the alternate evidence meets the standard.

• Clearly mark each standard and piece of evidence.

• While only a few standards require documentation sent with the self-assessment, the more you can provide a reviewer in advance the better. One of the best examples I have seen was a CD of all documentation (or at least table of context and relevant excerpts from large documents) that was clearly marked and corresponds to the associated chapter. Even if the same evidence is used for several standards, it is referenced for each standard it is used.

• The more evidence a reviewer can see before the actual visit, the more familiar he or she will be with the agency’s level of

Preparing for your visitors • The agency contact will work with the team and team chair to develop a schedule to include time to work on files, talk to staff, tour facilities and meet any boards/staff the agency schedules. This includes whether lunches are during file work or time away.

• Transportation should be agreed on by all involved and not create an undue hardship on the visitor or agency.

• Hotels should be convenient to the location of the main agency files and in a safe/secure location.

• All files should be located in a private area that allows reviewers to freely discuss files.

• The review room should be large enough for three to five reviewers to easily spread out files, policy manuals, etc. next to their computers.

• Each reviewer should be provided with a computer (unless he or she is bringing a lap top) and networked to a printer in the file room.

• Have blank CDs available if needed.

• Provide notebooks, pens/pencils as needed.

• If you refer to documents on an internal network, be sure reviewers can access those documents.

• Make sure the room is stocked with water and refreshments throughout the day.

• Provide possible options for reviewers to participate in during the evenings, but be cognizant that reviewing files makes for long days and some visitors may be too tired to be out late.

• If your department requires any security measures, make sure the visitors are cleared before they arrive.

• Complete reimbursement procedures/paperwork as soon as possible.

Files • While you may have pre-submitted all supporting documents ahead of time electronically, some reviewers still prefer to see hard copies of the evidence in the files. If summer 2009 | frpa journal

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Never make a reviewer “search” for a piece of evidence.

•

• • •

•

•

• •

•

•

you are providing predominantly electronic evidence, this should be easily accessible without the reviewer having to constantly switch from his or her report screen to search a disc.

When organizing the physical files, you want to make it as simple as possible. More is not necessarily better. Stick only to the evidence needed to support the standard in question. Do not add extraneous evidence that does not support the file. This only makes it more difficult for the reviewer to wade though all the documents in order to find what is relevant.

Color code the chapters (10 different colors) so a reviewer can easily keep the chapters delineated.

Clearly mark each file with its standard name and number.

Each file should repeat (may be same as what is in the selfassessment) how the file has met the standard and what evidence is in the file. List the evidence in the order that it is in file.

If evidence is not in the file, assure that the review can easily find the document. A suggestion is to make a copy of the relevant page and then refer to the longer document.

When referring to evidence not physically found in a file, make sure that evidence is in the file room as an exhibit or provide the electronic link. Assure that the exhibits are clearly marked with the same title as used in the file reference and include the exact page number or tab the evidence.

If an exhibit is used multiple times for multiple files, reference the page number and document each time.

Treat each file as a stand-alone file. Do not reference another file for the reviewer to look at for a current file. A reviewer wants to “complete” a file and move on without having to continually go back.

Don’t assume that a reviewer knows where a piece of evidence might be. Different departments have different procedures and document names.

The best file is one that a reviewer can pull out of a drawer, open, read how the agency feels it has done, see the evidence listed, and then view the actual evidence. He or she should also clearly know the source of the evidence in case he or she wants to see it in its full context.

Actual visit • Have a staffer designated as the accreditation point person.

This person should be easily accessible to answer reviewer questions, contact the appropriate person who can answer a question, help make copies, find missing documentation and help with the general logistics of the visit.

• Make sure you have accounted for difficulties in your schedule and be open to changes. Reviewing of the files is top priority for the team. The better organized the files are, the quicker a reviewer can verify evidence. If files are not organized, it will take more time to complete a review of all 155 standards.

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• Don’t take requests for more information or evidence personally. If a reviewer cannot find a piece of evidence or wants more supporting documentation, find it quickly.

• It is not the role of a reviewer to tell you how to run your department. The visitor’s role is to review all evidence and report to CAPRA his or her findings. While some reviewers may make suggestions on alternatives to various processes, these are meant as professional observations, not criticism of the department.

• Never make a reviewer “search” for a piece of evidence. The worse file is one in which the evidence for review is noted as in a particular document (i.e. personnel manual), but not page referenced or containing a copy of that page in the file. This means the reviewer must get up from his or her computer, find the correct document/book (hopefully it is labeled well), go to the table of contents/index, try to find what page the section is on, and read several pages just to find one or two paragraphs that provide the evidence. While one or two files are not major problems, this quickly becomes a nuisance and is time consuming. Many reviewers will start making a list of “difficult- to-find” items and request the department secure the evidence.

• Make sure the file room is locked each night with computers secured, and have a shredder available for the review team to dispose of notes.

• Make sure key staff are prepared to work late to find missing evidence or to accommodate the reviewers if they need more time with files.

• When the team finishes reviewing all files, it completes its report to the CAPRA Board.

• The last day of the visit, the review team will make an oral report to the agency director and any other staff the director chooses. This meeting will discuss the process, the department’s strengths and any areas of concern. This meeting does not offer a pass/fail situation. Only CAPRA can grant accreditation status.

After the team leaves Although the on-site visit is over, the process continues.

• The review team chair submits the team report to the CAPRA board which reviews the document. Often CAPRA will request further clarification from the reviewers on various standards and sometimes requires more evidence from the agency.

• The review team will submit any outstanding receipts for airport parking, food or other traveling expenses.

• The agency and the team chair will stand together at the next CAPRA meeting (Congress or Mid-Year) to give a report and answer any board questions.

The above tips are for those who are well into the accreditation process and not meant to scare any departments contemplating accreditation. I want to help make the on-site review go as smoothly and successfully as possible. These suggestions are merely one opinion and certainly not the only way to prepare for your CAPRA visit.

Future Influences and Trends Offer New Opportunities for Parks and Recreation

By Stacy Turner

New trends in Parks and Recreation? Consider this. Eight hours a day kids are plugged in. We are the first generation to outlive our kids due to obesity. Online learning instead of classroom instruction. Staycations not vacations. Precycling not recycling. Sustainable energy and green roofs. If you have not heard about these trends, you probably soon will. In 2009, many new opportunities will come to the progressive parks and recreation professional.

As parks and recreation professionals, we focus on the world in which we work.

If we look outside the box, what we do is influenced by a continuous change in demographics, marketing, real estate, education, economics, and facility design. These factors directly impact one another and create patterns of change.

As the economic climate becomes more challenging, agencies should not be fearful of budget cuts. Change represents opportunity for those who are prepared to take advantage of it. Understanding influences that lead to future trends opens the doors of opportunity. Below are examples of what we will see more of in the future.

Online Learning As behavioral influences change around us, education also changes.

More students are learning online. The P&R professional should be aware of opportunities that exist as a result.

As of September 2006, 38 states have state-led online learning programs, with an estimated growth rate of 25 percent annually. Judy Bauernschmidt, Director of Secondary Education, with Colorado Virtual Academy suggests that we have just begun to see a rise in this trend. “We will soon see hybrid programs, which will allow students enrolled online to connect with others of similar values

and needs through a physical location.”

In 2006, the Sloan consortium reported 700,000 enrollments in K-12 online learning.

Shaping this trend are the number of kids that are not successful in traditional brick and mortar schools, including specialized athletes, actors and actresses, accelerated and gifted students, kids affected by illness, and rural students that may require more challenging academic curricula. These influences will strengthen in future years.

Children today are plugged in up to eight hours a day. By providing additional enrichment programs, and gym or classroom space, students can benefit through socialization and fitness/ wellness activities. Parks and recreation agencies have an opportunity to form collaborations by providing recreation centers and parks during daytime hours to generate revenue through rental fees or usage agreements with educational entities.

Tourism With the plummeting economy comes a new buzzword, “staycation.”

Due to high gas prices, food prices, and lodging costs, more Americans are spending their two week vacations right at home, looking to their own communities for fun and interesting experiences.

Although the buzz word in travel is “staycations,” Destination Manager, Tara Kuglan, with Boston-based Smart Destinations, shares information regarding tourism on a budget. Tourism groups are looking for collaborations with parks and recreation departments as there is a need for multi-purpose rooms to host evening events due to expensive hotel prices. Tara identified an opportunity to collaborate, allowing tourists to focus on health and fitness needs while traveling. Parks and recreation entities can promote their facilities and programs through tour passes or a card such as a “Go Card,” which offers travel passes that pay admission fees up front to area destinations. These collaborations can generate revenue from groups or individuals visiting local communities.

In 2008, staycations resulted in a 4 to 6 percent rise in use of campgrounds.

Staycationers seem to participate in low or no cost activities such as camping, hiking, biking, and running, as well as other activities. Festivals are emerging as a component of community-based tourism development, adding vitality and enhancing the appeal of a destination.

Community festivals offer diverse cultural and recreational experiences to residents and visitors while providing strong positive economic impacts. In recent years we have seen a rise in community and cultural-based festivals.

Preventative Health Care Obesity is not a new trend in the United States. However, the social and economic influences that lead to obesity may provide new opportunities for parks and recreation professionals to focus on recreation as a form of preventative health care. Family budgets are tight.

Buying healthy food, as well as paying for fuel to drive around town to participate in activities, can be expensive. Consequently, sports and recreation programs are often cut from budgets. Municipalities are looking to share programs or services with health systems, social services, corporate entities, and community service agencies.

Municipal parks and recreation structures are changing and new methods of delivering services are emerging. Certain services are contracted out, and cooperative agreements with non-profit groups summer 2009 | frpa journal

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and other public institutions are being developed. The relationship with health systems is vital in promoting wellness.

Traditional relationships with education facilities are evolving into cooperative planning and programming aimed at addressing youth inactivity levels and community needs for all ages.

As subsidy for programs is lessening and more “enterprise” activities are developed, staying current on legislation is critical for funding. The No Child Left Inside Coalition, a result of the No Child Left Inside Act, is becoming a popular partner for departments. It is a fact that children are plugged in to computers and televisions longer after school than in the past. Whether it is because both parents work, safety, or new choices, these have implications for childhood obesity. Recent legislation authorizes new funding for states to provide highquality, environmental instruction. Fran P. Mainella, Honorary Doctorate, and Visiting Scholar at Clemson University and Former Director of the National Park Service, highlights in the April 16, 2007 issue of Newsweek Magazine, “There’s a direct link between a lack of exposure to nature and higher rates of attention-deficit disorder, obesity, and depression.” In essence, parks and recreation agencies can and are becoming the “preferred provider” for offering this preventative healthcare. With current legislation and documented research on health benefits, P&R professionals have new

opportunities to collaborate and receive funding to support preventative healthcare programs and services.

Institute of Architects (AIA), American Society of Landscape Architects, (ASLA) and some private firms.

Sustainability

Connectivity

The concept of sustainability dramatically influences parks and recreation systems. Recreation centers and park maintenance services require considerable quantities of energy and water resources. In future years many recreation centers will focus budgets on retro fitting, rennovation, and new buildings that include sustainable design. Parks systems are going to computerized irrigation systems that control water loss and usage based on weather and evaporation rates.

In small communities, the push is often towards efficiency and cost savings, while for larger cities it is not leaving a carbon foot print behind. In most cases both reasons for sustainable design are justified when seeking funding. In the May 2007 issue of Recreation Management, Springwood Youth Center in Kent, Washington was recognized as an Editor’s Choice for innovation in architecture and sustainable design. The facility promotes sustainable design and environmental education, introducing youth to the importance of a “green” mission.

Conferences and workshops that educate parks and recreation professionals on these new sustainability trends are available through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), American

Creating connection means enticing people into the community to take advantage of recreation and leisure opportunities available not just by car, but via trails, walkways and bike paths.

In the community-planning world, this is often referred to as “connectivity” and attention to this dynamic is increasingly important for parks and recreation agencies. Walking and biking are emerging as some of the most popular fitness trends.

Trail systems offer communities a way to recreate and commute to work without having to start up the car. One example of such strategies is a bike library where agencies provide bikes for “check out.”

Awareness of changing social, economic, and climate conditions will help professionals understand and respond to community needs and trends. The opportunities highlighted in this article are just a sampling of what may lie ahead for you and your community.

Whether you are an administrator, programmer, planner, or parks professional, this information should inspire action for funding, planning, and your ongoing operations.

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Youth Advocate Spotlight — Middle School Student becomes ‘Spokes’-man for Bike Trail Corey Smith, a seventh grader at River Ridge Middle School in New Port Richey, is like most 12-year-olds. He likes sports, music, and video games; but he is a young man with a mission. Corey lives off Moon Lake Road, a heavily traveled, narrow, twolane road with no sidewalks or bike paths.

Moon Lake was designed for vehicle traffic only, not for pedestrians or bicyclists. Corey saw a problem and said: “Someone should do something about it.” He decided to tell Pasco County commissioners about the problem and what he wanted them to do.

In December of 2008, Corey stood before Pasco County commissioners and asked them to build a sidewalk along Moon Lake Road so he and his friends could ride their bikes to school. He had diligently researched the project and provided county commissioners with aerial maps he obtained from New Port Richey GIS, which identified where he wanted to place sidewalks and crosswalks. He provided information about available funding through “Safe Routes to School” from the

Florida Department of Transportation, and he quoted an exert from an article he read in the November 2008 edition of Parks and Recreation Magazine which stated, “In 1969, 50 percent of all children walked to school.

Today, that percentage has dwindled to 15 percent. Walking and biking to school provides children with the benefit of daily physical activity, teaches personal responsibility, allows children to enjoy the outdoors, and provides social opportunities to connect with friends and neighbors.”

Corey also cited his conservation with the Pasco County Engineer, where he discovered the widening of Moon Lake Road was identified in the County’s Master Plan.

The only problem, Corey told the Pasco County commissioners; “The widening project is scheduled for the year 2022, and I will be 26 years old then. I would like to have the sidewalks built before I get my driver’s license.”

The commissioners were so impressed with the thoroughness of Mr. Smith’s presentation that they did more then just listen

to this 12-year-old. The Chairman of the Board directed staff to look into funding sources for the project. The Pasco County Community Traffic Safety Committee and the Pasco County District School Board applied for “Safe Routes to School” grants on Corey’s behalf.

The Pasco County Greenways and Trial Committee identified Moon Lake Road as a potential trail and have named it “Corey’s Trail.” There has been a concentrated effort to move the project forward so Corey can attend the ribbon cutting for “Corey’s Trail” while he is still in school at River Ridge.

Speaking to government officials is not a new concept for Corey. Four years earlier, at age 8, Corey attended the National Legislative Forum in Washington, D.C. While there he had private audiences with two members of Congress so he could tell them what he liked about Parks and Recreation.

Never under estimate the power of youth.

Their voices are strong and true and can steer local government in the right direction as was made evident by the efforts of this 12 year old “spokes”-man in Pasco County.

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SPOTLIGHT ON

The Parks and Recreation profession is overflowing with individuals who have a passion for what they do, and a commitment to leaving their communities better than the way they found them. Their dedication to the profession, to their communities, to their agencies, and to their co-workers is deserving of recognition. The “Spotlight On” column of the FRPA Journal captures that passion and shares it with others, encouraging everyone to keep the spotlight on parks and recreation.

Kevin Dunbar, CPRP Director, Clearwater Parks and Recreation

As the economic challenges become greater, all approaches are/will be necessary to continue to offer our citizens the most robust programs possible.

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Began career in 1981 as the Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation for the Town of Westfield, New Jersey.

Who have been the most influential leaders in your career? Thomas J. Bonfield, current City Manager for Durham, North Carolina. I served with him from 1993 — 1998 in Temple Terrace, Florida. Also my parents.

What do you admire most about them? They believe in keeping things simple. Always advocated the golden rule “Treating others the same way as you want to be treated”, with that guiding principal and the opportunity to be a public servant in several dynamic organizations.

You have been identified as a progressive professional. How do you approach risk taking? If you are not taking risks, then you are not progressing forward, which should be every Administrator’s goal. Progressive administration requires you to be a visionary of potential impacts and for you to calculate the cost benefit of the risk. Then you ensure the vision is permeated throughout the organization so everyone is in the right seat on the bus.

How would you respond to people who think we should not implore business techniques in managing agencies today?

You must use a hybrid business approach or you will not have success. As the economic challenges become greater, all approaches are/will be necessary to continue to offer our citizens the most robust programs possible. We all do amazing things for our

community, but with increased challenges and fewer resources, business techniques are critical to identify the needs of the offerings.

You have been quoted as saying “I don’t have to do everything; I just have to make sure everything gets done.”

Obviously you appreciate partnerships.

How do you make partnerships work for everyone involved? By truly understanding what partnerships are. If done correctly, they allow a community to expand it’s offerings within the resources local government has available. It is not who gets the credit, it is who is served.

Why do you think so many of your staff have changed agencies and followed you throughout your career? I would like to think it is because we share the same passion for the profession and with that comes the desire to see if you can make it work together on a larger scale. Also, the philosophical vision that is in place and understood by all, which facilitates staff buy-in on all levels and creates the desire to continue to succeed.

What are your pet peeves as an agency administrator? Life is too short and the pace too quick to have any meaningful pet peeves. (Just the expectation that each day all in our organization come to work to provide their best effort on behalf of the citizens and visitors of Clearwater.)

Words of wisdom? Live by the golden rule “Treat others the same way you want to be treated yourself.” The rest is just details.

J.D. Varney, CPRP Recreation Superintendent, City of Boca Raton

Began Career in 1973, following graduation from Florida State University. JD began working with the City of Tallahassee.

After several years, he went on to work with the City of Miami Beach and Miami Shores Village.

Who have been the most influential leaders in your career? Dr. Frances Cannon, Sue McCollum, Harriet Orr, Howard Gregg, and Mickey Gomez.

What do you admire most about them? At Florida State, Dr. Cannon instilled in her students a clear understanding of why recreation is beneficial to both the individual and the community. She instilled in us an understanding that the service we provided is truly important. My first supervisor, Sue McCollum, taught her staff that meeting high standards was expected and that settling for mediocrity was unacceptable. Harriett Orr recently retired as the Parks & Recreation Director with the City of North Miami Beach. During her career, she operated in a challenging political climate, while retaining her integrity and maintaining high ethical standards. Howard Gregg is the Deputy Director with Miami Dade County. He always maintains a calm, professional and mature demeanor. He is the consummate professional. Boca Raton’s Recreation Services Director, Mickey Gomez has a genuine concern for the welfare of all whom he comes in contact with, whether they be his staff, community leaders or members of the public.

Complete the sentence: If I knew then what I know now… I would have begun developing better leadership skills many years ago. Only in recent years did I truly learn the difference between “management” and “leadership”. While management (most succinctly characterized by Henri Fayol’s 5 elements of administration: plan, organize, command, coordinate and control) relies on controls, leadership boils down to inspiring others to work together to achieve a shared vision. Currently, many of us in Boca Raton are working to developing our leadership skills, using the following as a guide:

Do: • Search out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve.

• Experiment, take risks and learn from the accompanying mistakes.

• Envision an uplifting and ennobling future.

• Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes and dreams.

• Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.

• Strengthen people by giving power away, providing choice, developing competence, assigning critical tasks and offering visible support.

• Set an example by behaving is ways that are consistent with shared values.

• Achieve small wins that promote consistent progress and build commitment.

• Recognize individual contributions to the success of every project.

• Celebrate team accomplishments regularly.

Avoid: • Failing to be Flexible — Everything changes.

• Commanding instead of Leading — Don’t dictate, elicit cooperation.

• Failing to Listen — Leaders must listen to their followers.

• Thinking of your own needs first — Great leaders put the needs of others before their own.

• Failing to Teach — Leaders must constantly learn and teach.

• Failure to learn from you past mistakes.

• Seeing things only in black and white — Things are not always right and wrong. Many solutions are found in the grey.

We’ve learned that developing leadership skills is an on-going process that never really ends. We simply strive to improve every day.

You have been identified as one who has a sincere interest in developing young professionals. What is the number one challenge you think they will have to face in this profession, and what do you recommend they do to prepare? As traditional levels of funding for parks & recreation agencies can no longer be relied upon, agencies are facing mounting fiscal challenges. We are increasingly considering cost recovery, fee based services and private sector sponsorships in our decision making.

It might be said that agencies are being obligated to evolve from a “social service” model toward a “business” model. The challenge for young professionals is to be an effective leader as the transformation unfolds. To not resist the evolution, but to embrace it. The young professional can prepare to meet the challenge by: Fully appreciating the value of public sector parks & recreation services to both the individual and the community. At Boca Raton’s Recreation Services Department, we have a philosophy that clearly and simply defines WHY we are in the business. As difficulties arise, it is essential to have a philosophy or foundation to keep one focused. Developing a support system. This may include family, community partners, friends, church and/or professional associations. This support system will serve to help keep one grounded, positive and clear thinking during their professional journey.

Remember, a support system is a two way street.

How do you go about making tough decisions that in the end will not keep everyone happy? By taking into account the following: • Hear both sides.

• Gather all information possible regarding the situation.

• Is there a compelling reason for denying a request?

• Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from those you respect.

• Have you considered the impact on all concerned?

• Consider any recent precedents.

• Don’t reveal your inclination or the direction you are leaning, to either party, before making the decision.

• Anticipate an appeal of your decision.

Can you defend it?

• Advise your supervisor of any pending decision that might have substantial ramifications.

• Carefully consider the best way to convey you decision.

Who has had the most influence in your life? Like many people, I have been blessed to be influenced by my mom, a wonderful lady who treated all people, regardless of their station in life, with dignity and respect, and my dad, a gentleman who, in the face of adversity, never gave up. summer 2009 | frpa journal

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Future Proceeds to Benefit Parks and Recreation Agencies Show your love for tennis with a Florida “Play Tennis” specialty license plate! The new specialty plate hit the streets in December of 2008, becoming the first tennis license plate in production in the United States. USTA Florida and the USTA Florida Section Foundation are thrilled about the opportunities that the proceeds from the license plate will provide throughout the state of Florida.

Why is this news exciting for Parks and Recreation agencies?

Proceeds from the Florida “Play Tennis” will assist with tennis programs for children and for special needs populations and with the building

A sample of the “Play Tennis” license plate.

and renovating of quality public tennis courts in the future. Twenty-five dollars from each tag will support tennis throughout Florida. With all of the recent budget cuts in Florida that directly affect future recreational

opportunities, the Foundation hopes to ease some of the financial burden for Parks and Recreation agencies by offering grants in the future.

“We want to ensure that children and adults have safe, affordable public facilities where they can try, learn and play the lifetime sport of tennis for many generations to come.” Comments Doug Booth, USTA Florida Executive Director.

The USTA Florida Section Foundation is the charitable arm of the United States Tennis Association, Florida Section (USTA Florida). Its mission is “to improve the health and quality of life of Floridians through tennis”. To learn more about the USTA Florida Section Foundation, visit www.ustaflorida. com/foundation.

Since 2005, the Foundation has given $36,000 in grants to: • MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation for their Excellence/Leadership Program for children in Jacksonville; • Tennis Foundation of St. Petersburg for education program to create their Arthur Ashe Center of Academic Achievement; • New Operation Cooper Street for renovation of the existing tennis court to provide a safe environment for the children’s tennis program.

“With the foundation’s mission “to improve the health and quality of life for all Floridians through tennis” we will now have even more opportunities for children and adults of all ages summer 2009 | frpa journal

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and all abilities to learn and play tennis at quality facilities across the state,” said Jean Mills, USTA Florida Section Foundation President. “The proceeds of the Play Tennis license plate will allow the foundation to assist other non-profit organizations so they can create tennis programs for our Florida youth, operate tennis programs for people with special needs of all ages, and for the building and renovating of quality public tennis facilities.” (l to r) Attorney General Bill McCollum, Governor Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, USTA Florida Section Foundation President Jean Mills, USTA Florida President Celia Rehm, Executive Director (DHSMV) Electra Theodorides-Bustle and USTA Florida Director of Community Tennis Linda Curtis

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For more information on the “Play Tennis” specialty plate, please contact Linda Curtis, USTA Florida Director of Community Tennis, at 386-671-8934 or curtisL@florida.usta.com.

Civics Education: Small Effort, Big Reward

By Carmine Priore, Florida League of Cities President and Vice Mayor, Wellington

The Florida League of Cities is reaching out to other organizations to help promote the “Building Citizenship in the Community: Back to Basics” campaign. We officially kicked off this initiative to promote civic education throughout the State of Florida with a Cabinet proclamation passed on September 30, 2008.

There’s no better time than now for city officials and city staff to help take civics education to the next level. Why? Civic education builds stronger cities and a brighter future for Florida. And because there is a great need for civics education as recent polls, surveys, and voter 11:16:56 AM turnout have confirmed.

There are many no- and low-cost civic education programs and partnerships — and many are very easy to implement. For a comprehensive list of ideas, resources and information, visit www.flcities.com/membership/ civic_education.asp.

What do we have to lose? More than you think. The passage of several constitutional amendments and various legislative initiatives that were damaging to city governance show the need to educate Floridians about the services provided by their municipal governments and how those services are funded. With a better understanding of city issues, would those proposals even have an audience?

If you have questions, the Florida League of Cities is here to help. For more information, visit www.flcities.com or contact Casey Cook at (850) 701-3609 or ccook@flcities.com.

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From front mowers to mid-mount Z's you can count on John Deere mowers to handle the tough jobs.

Tractors from 20HP-450HP

OEM John Deere Parts

HIGHLAND TRACTOR COMPANY 1800 US HWY 441 LEESBURG, FL 34748 (352) 315-1016 HIGHLAND TRACTOR COMPANY 2335 AURORA RD MELBOURNE, FL 32935 (321) 254-3310

JD PARTS GROUP PHOTO

HIGHLAND TRACTOR COMPANY 2805 STATE ROAD 60 WEST PLANT CITY, FL 33567 (813) 737-1660

Trained parts and service personnel that know how to handle governmental business.

6430P W/HX 15 ROTARY CUTTER

Nothing Runs Like A Deere™

If your City, County or Municipality has a need for a tractor, then Highland Tractor has the right John Deere for you.

HIGHLAND TRACTOR COMPANY 6918 US HWY 19 NEW PORT RICHEY, FL 34652 (727) 842-8618

• EXPERT STAFF @[(VARIABLE)IMAGECAPTI ON] • THE NEWEST EQUIPMENT • DEMOS AT YOUR CONVENIENCE • ONLINE PARTS ORDERING • COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLANS • 100% COMMITMENT TO YOU

HIGHLAND TRACTOR COMPANY 906 US HWY 301 N PALMETTO, FL 34221 (941) 722-3281

GOLD STAR CERTIFIED JOHN DEERE DEALER www.JohnDeere.com

CONTACT ONE OF OUR EXPERT GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNT MANAGERS

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12/15/08 8:49:22 AM

ALL THE LIGHT AT

HALF THE OPERATING COST NOT ALL THE CHEERING WILL BE

FOR THE PLAYERS

Light-Structure Green™ reduces your sports-lighting operating cost by 50% or more with less energy consumption, cuts spill light by 50%, and eliminates 100% of your maintenance costs for the next 25 years.

We guarantee it!

From foundation to poletop, Light-Structure Green makes your sports-lighting projects fast, trouble-free, and now more affordable than ever.

www.musco.com

800/825-6030 e-mail: lighting@musco.com

Unequaled performance . . . for your budget, for the environment. ©2009 Musco Lighting · ADFL09-4

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summer 2009 | 2/14/09 frpa journal 8:58:20 PM 25

Products and Services Marketplace

Highland Tractor has all your purchasing needs covered!

The Best Trencher Ever. And Then Some.

More power. More productivity. More speed. It’s the greatest trencher ever made. But what makes the Zahn® even more breakthrough is its unique InterChange connection that also makes it the best dumper ever, the best tool carrier ever, and more. To see for yourself, call or log on to www.ditchwitchofcentralandsouthfl.com ditchwitch.com

©2008 The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

Ditch Witch of Central & South Florida Leesburg & Pompano Beach | 877-392-3273

Products and Services Marketplace

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Because It’s More Than A Sale. It’s A Partnership.

Selecting an equipment supplier is a big challenge. You want someone that will stand behind what they sell and come through when the going gets tough. That’s why it’s great to have a partner like Kilpatrick on your side. Our trusted team can advise you on every aspect of your equipment fleet needs from new or pre-owned to parts and service.

Experience the Difference (800)-782-7399 KilpatrickCo.com

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2009

4/23/07 11:00:32 PM

In USTA Jr. Team Tennis, even the youngest players can join the action. Through a new format of play called QuickStart Tennis, kids 10 & under play and learn right away because courts, racquets, balls, scoring system and even the net height are just their size. It’s a great way to meet new friends while they Are you in?

Join a league or start your own today. www.jrteamtennis.usta.com Contact Michelle Willis, USTA Florida Team Tennis Coordinator, at (386) 671-8937 or willis@florida.usta.com. © 2008 United States Tennis Association, Incorporated.

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3/6/09 9:36:47 AM

MAP24 Deluxe Mobile Stage

The Marshall Austin Mobile Stage…

Banner B Ba nner Pac Pack Package ckage

Take your events to the next level • Put It On The Grass. Lowest surface impact of any mobile stage • Easy To Maneuver. Tow it with any pickup • Low Maintenance. All mechanical operation — no dependence on motors, pumps, hoses and hydraulics • Easy To Use. Quick and easy set up • Big-Time Performance. Live entertainment, Advertising, Movies-in-the-Park, and more…

• Save Thousands.

Cost savings over any other mobile stage

Rolling Billboard

Patent No. 6,393,769

The Only "Green" Mobile Stage

“Movie-in-the-Park” Package

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For more information call toll-free at 1-866-988-5550 or visit our web site at www.marshallaustin.com

GS-07F-5365P

summer 2009 | 4/17/09 frpa journal 12:40:14 PM27

Products and Services Marketplace

THIS IS WHERE SMALLER COURTS LEAD TO BIGGER DREAMS. THIS IS MY TEAM.

Play It Safe

Design  Sales  Installation Commercial Playgrounds Shade structures Shelters Site furnishings Splash pads Outdoor exercise equipment Athletic equipment

877-748-9444 Please call for more information and visit our website

www.playitsafeflorida.com Come see us at Booth 611

Products and Services Marketplace

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The Only Choice in Lightning Warning

If you are looking for a proven lightning warning system that can provide true, on-site lightning prediction for all types of lightning,

9/15/08 12:58:55 PM

How safe is the water your child plays in?

YOU NEED THOR GUARD If you need a fast, affordable, accurate and easy-to-use Internet Weather Subscription Service,

YOU NEED THOR GUARD WEATHER If you need World-Class, on-site meteorological services and require the experience that over 15 years experience on all major golf tours brings to your event,

YOU NEED THOR GUARD METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES If you need an emergency notification system with email/text message software and lightning prediction,

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YOU STILL NEED THOR GUARD

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REDEFINING WEATHER SAFETY! 1193 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway | Sunrise, FL 33323

Left unchecked, recreational water-borne illnesses (RWIs) can cause disease. Our Barrier® UV disinfection systems protect your children by supplementing chlorine and helping ensure that the water they play in is free of disease causing organisms like cryptosporidium. For more information on our total aquatic management solutions visit www.siemens.com/barrier.

888-571-1212 | www.thorguard.com

The world’s best weather and lightning technologies tailor-made for your facility.

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| summer 2009

Water Technologies

9/16/08 2:13:13 419764_Siemens.indd PM 1

3/4/09 11:46:41 AM

Classifieds AQUATIC SAFTY & WATER RESCUE

Marine Rescue Products, Inc. PO Box 3484 Newport, RI 02840 800-341-9500 401-847-9144 Fax: 401-848-9577 staff@marine-rescue.com www.marine-rescue.com Marine Rescue Products, Inc. offers a complete line of quality first-aid and aquatic rescue equipment, including: Rescue Tubes, Backboards, C.P.R. Equipment and a Full line of Lifeguard Uniforms.

ATHLETIC FIELD CONSTRUCTION/RENOVATION Hunter-Knepshield Co. PO Box 499 LaGrange, KY 40031 Phone: 800-626-6530 Fax: 502-225-9335 knepjr@iglou.com www.hunterknepshield.com Manufacturers & Distributors of Sports Lighting-Modular, RestroomConcession Bathhouse Buildings, Playground Equipment-Park shelters and site amenities. Hunter-Knepshield Co. was founded in 1967 with a mission of high quality services and products.

RESTROOM, SHOWER & CONCESSION BUILDINGS

The Public Restroom Company 9390 Gateway Drive, Suite 102 1/29/08 10:39:08 AM Reno, NV 89521 888-888-2060 ext 1 Fax: 888-888-1448 info@publicrestroomcompany.com Sport Surfacing Systems www.publicrestroomcompany.com TPRC specializes in the architectural design/construction of site specific public restrooms for parks, marinas, golf courses, and stadiums. Our mission is to build safer, odor free, low maintenance cost, public restrooms that look architecturally like your surrounding community. If you are seeking guaranteed odor free restrooms contact Sales at 888-888-2060 ext 1 R

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RV SANITARY DUMP STATION SYSTEMS The Tower Company PO Box 1958 Manitowoc, WI 54221 800-945-1532 Fax: 920-682-6094 salestower@comcast.net www.towercompany.com Tower Company is your supplier of quality sanitary dump station products for over 40 years. Our product line includes Romort Water Towers, sanitary 7/26/06 11:29:44 AM hatch covers and dump station signs.

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Chemical Containers, Inc. 413 ABC Rd. Lake Wales FL 33859 Phone: 800-346-7867 Fax: 863-638-1863 www.chemicalcontainers.com sales@chemicalcontainers.com

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POLY TANKS PUMPS ENGINES HOSES/REELS NOZZLES SPRAY GUNS COUPLERS/VALVES SKIDS TRAILERS TRUCKS

1/30/08 4:05:21 PM

WATER PLAYGROUNDS Empex Watertoys 591 Albright Road Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R4 905-649-5047 Fax: 905-649-1757 wt@watertoys.net www.watertoys.net Since 1986, Empex Watertoys速 has been an innovator of unique interactive Aquatic Playgrounds and Sprayparks, providing interactive water play for hotels and resorts, municipal parks and recreation facilities, housing complexes, YMCAs, YWCAs, campgrounds, zoos, military bases, waterparks and amusement parks.

summer 2009 | frpa journal

29

INDE X TO ADVERTISERS AQUATIC EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES Pentair Water Pool & Spa ..................... 30 www.pentairpool.com Vortex Aquatic Structures International ... 6 www.vortex-intl.com/florida AQUATIC SAFETY & WATER RESCUE Marine Rescue Products, Inc................ 29 www.marine-rescue.com AQUATIC WATER CHEMISTRY CONTROL Siemens Water Technologies................ 28 www.siemens.com/water ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS/PLANNERS Wade-Trim ........................................... 29 www.wadetrim.com ARTIFICIAL TURF ForeverLawn of Florida, Inc. ................... 6 www.foreverlawninc.com ATHLETIC FIELD CONSTRUCTION/ RENOVATION Hunter-Knepshield Company ................ 29 www.hunterknepshield.com

CONTRACTORS Recreational Design & Construction, Inc............................... 8 www.recreationaldesign.com EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTER Ditch Witch of Central & South Florida .................................. 26 www.floridaditchwitch.com Highland Tractor................................... 25 www.highlandturfandtractor.com FIREWORKS Zambelli Fireworks Internationale ......... 28 www.zambellifireworks.com FOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. .......... inside back cover www.mostdependable.com IRRIGATION SYSTEMS Ewing Irrigation .................................... 10 www.ewing1.com Hunter Industries.................................... 6 www.HunterIndustries.com

BLEACHERS - MOBILE Century Industries .................................. 8 www.centuryindustries.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS Wade-Trim ........................................... 29 www.wadetrim.com Wood & Partners, Inc. .......................... 10 www.woodandpartners.com

CONCESSIONS JE Hill Precast ...................................... 18 www.jehillprecast.com

LASER LEVELING LaserTurf Leveling ................................ 10 www.laserturfsoutheastinc.com

LIFEGUARD EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS Marine Rescue Products, Inc................ 29 www.marine-rescue.com LIGHTING/SPORTS LIGHTING Hunter-Knepshield Company ................ 29 www.hunterknepshield.com LIGHTNING PREDICTION SYSTEMS THOR GUARD, Inc................................ 28 www.thorguard.com LIQUID STORAGE Chemical Containers ............................ 29 www.chemicalcontainers.com PARK & PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Hunter-Knepshield Company ................ 29 www.hunterknepshield.com Piazza, Inc. ............................................ 4 www.piazzainc.com R.J. Thomas Mfg. Company, Inc./ Pilot Rock............................................. 14 www.pilotrock.com PARK SHELTERS & GAZEBOS Hunter-Knepshield Company ................ 29 www.hunterknepshield.com PARKS & PUBLIC SPACE PLANNING Wood & Partners, Inc. .......................... 10 www.woodandpartners.com PICNIC TABLES/PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Advanced Recreational Concepts/ Play Space Services/Rainbow Turf........................... inside front cover www.arcflorida.com PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Play It Safe Enterprises, Inc. ................. 28 www.playitsafeflorida.com Playmore Recreational Products & Svcs ................................................. 12 www.playmoreonline.com PLAYGROUND INSPECTION, INSTALLATION & REPAIR Advanced Recreational Concepts/ Play Space Services/Rainbow Turf........................... inside front cover www.arcflorida.com PLAYGROUND SAFETY & DESIGN Advanced Recreational Concepts/ Play Space Services/Rainbow Turf.........................outside back cover www.arcflorida.com PLAYGROUND SURFACING Advanced Recreational Concepts/ Play Space Services/Rainbow Turf........................... inside front cover www.arcflorida.com PROFESSIONAL TURF Pennington Seed, Inc. .... inside back cover www.penningtonseed.com

Pentair Pool Products / Paragon aquatics / Acu-Trol / Stark / Sta-Rite / Berkeley / Aurora

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RECYCLED PARK/PLASTIC PRODUCTS KorKat, Inc. .......................................... 24 www.korkat.com

RESTROOM, SHOWER & CONCESSION BUILDINGS The Public Restroom Company............. 29 www.publicrestroomcompany.com RV SANITARY DUMP STATION SYSTEMS The Tower Company ............................ 29 www.towercompany.com SAFETY SURFACES KorKat, Inc. .......................................... 24 www.korkat.com Product Innovations International, Inc. .. 19 www.safetysurfusa.com SHELTERS/GAZEBOS Vixen Hill Corporation ........................... 24 www.vixenhill.com/Pavilions.htm SITE AMENITIES KorKat, Inc. .......................................... 24 www.korkat.com SKATE PARKS KorKat, Inc. .......................................... 24 www.korkat.com SPORTS EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES Anaconda Sports, Inc. ............................ 8 www.anacondasports.com KorKat, Inc. .......................................... 24 www.korkat.com SPORTS LIGHTING Musco Sports Lighting ......................... 25 www.musco.com SPORTS SURFACES California Products Corporation ............ 29 www.calprocorp.com SPRAYGROUNDS KorKat, Inc. .......................................... 24 www.korkat.com STAGING - MOBILE Marshall Austin Productions, Inc. ......... 27 www.marshallaustin.com TENNIS ASSOCIATIONS USTA Florida ........................................ 27 www.ustaflorida.com TURF EQUIPMENT Kilpatrick.............................................. 26 www.kilpatrickco.com WATER PLAYGROUNDS Empex Watertoys ................................. 29 www.watertoys.net WEATHER SYSTEMS THOR GUARD, Inc................................ 28 www.thorguard.com

.. . s e o g d n . s a s g n e o h l t e e b r e n i h Anyw ugh Founta o r T e h t 840 SM-02

Contact Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. today for more information: 800-552-6331 or info@mostdependable.com.

810 SM-02

580 SM

www.mostdependable.com

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TH THE T HE answer anssw weerr for for when wh heen you you want want a grass grass to to die die •

does not tolerate the prolonged, intense spring heat so it will not compete with your warm season grass after spring transition.

•

Ryegrass, through innovative breeding, was conceived to overseed golf courses, athletic fields, parks, lawns and other areas where an easy and complete transition grass is needed

•

offers dark, glossy, green color and fine leaf texture.

Pennington, with their team at NexGen Seed Research, LLC, answered the concerns of turfgrass managers by breeding and developing , the only overseeding ryegrass that will not survive past spring!

Pennington Seed Professional Turf Representatives in your area: For info, call (407) 855-1803 or visit: www.penningtonseed.com

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