Up on Play
Parks and Recreation
Issue 6
Supporting Parks & Recreation Associations with Scholarships
We are proud to announce that we will offer the Parks and Recreation State Association Speaker Scholarship program again this year. The 2015-2016 program will support the appearances of keynote speakers at state parks and recreation associations’ annual or regional conferences. Selected state associations will receive a scholarship of $2,500 to support conference speakers. Scholarship applications are being accepted now through July 31, 2016, and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. This is the seventh year that Landscape Structures has offered this program to state park and recreation associations. Below are recipients of the 2014-2015 program as well as examples of past speakers: 2014-2015 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Colorado Parks & Recreation Association New Hampshire Recreation & Park Association North Carolina Recreation & Park Association Nebraska Recreation & Park Association South Dakota Recreation & Park Association Vermont Recreation & Park Association Minnesota Recreation & Park Association Oklahoma Recreation & Park Society Wisconsin Recreation & Park Association Tennessee Recreation & Park Association Connecticut Recreation & Park Association Virginia Recreation & Park Society Northern New England Conference Indiana Parks & Recreation Association
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South Carolina Recreation & Park Association Kansas Recreation & Park Association Ohio Parks & Recreation Association Michigan Recreation & Park Association Missouri Parks & Recreation Association Utah Recreation & Park Association Massachusetts Recreation & Park Association Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society Maine Recreation & Park Association Iowa Parks & Recreation Association Maryland Recreation & Park Association New York State Recreation & Park Society Florida Recreation & Park Association
PAST SPEAKERS: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Corey Ciocchetti, associate professor of business ethics and legal studies at the University of Denver Dr. Zacharie Clements, author and motivational speaker Neelay Bhatt, board of directors for National Recreation & Park Association Nicole Greer, Vibrant Coaching Inc. Jennifer Stanchfield, author and founder of Experiential Tools Scott Friedman, motivational speaker Joe Schmit, author and award-winning broadcaster Brenda Spencer-Ragland, director of Family, Welfare and Recreation at USAG, Fort Sill Dr. John Glick, performer, writer and collaborator with Dr. Patch Adams R.A. Dickey, professional baseball pitcher Kathy Spangler, vice president of U.S. programs for Save the Children Dr. Nina Roberts, professor of recreation, parks and tourism at San Francisco State University Josh Bleill, Marine and author of One Step at a Time Mark Fenton, public health, planning, and transportation consultant Fran Mainella, co-chair of the U.S. Play Coalition Tom O’Rourke, executive director of the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission
Complete your application for Landscape Structures’ 2015-2016 State Association Speaker Scholarship at playlsi.com.
Playground spinners Think back to your days spent on the playground. What were your favorite playground activities? For many of us here at Landscape Structures, our favorites were the Merry-Go-Round and other spinners. And today, if you spend any time at your local playground, you probably notice a number of kids that flock to these same types of components. Why are some kids so fascinated with spinning activities? Because it’s one of the core movements that engages the vestibular system. When a child spins on spinners like the new TopsyTurny™ or OmniSpin® spinners, their brain receives signals to help control movement and balance. Even more, our playground spinners provide fun and also present opportunities for kids to be more social and engage in cooperative play. Children discover their world and how to be successful in it through sensory play. They develop their behaviors based on what they learn through their senses. And the more sensory-rich play experiences they have, the more they develop the skills necessary to engage, change and impact the world around them. Learn more about sensory playgrounds at playlsi.com.
Inclusive play in the news Earlier this summer, we had an opportunity to spend some time with our local CBS affiliate, WCCO-TV, to talk about the importance of inclusive playgrounds. John McConkey, market insights manager at Landscape Structures, along with our friends, Jay and Lucas Dean, spent time at Wabun Picnic Area in Minnehaha Regional Park to share how the playground design, colors and surfacing materials are all important when creating a truly inclusive environment. Watch the video to understand how this revolutionary playground design allows kids of all abilities and their families to play together.
CASE STUDY: An adventure in nature CLIENT: Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, Miami, Fla. DESIGNERS: Karen Cheney, landscape architect at Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces GOAL: Create a “play-in-the-woods” experience to reconnect kids to the natural environment SOLUTION: To create a nature-inspired play experience, the posts of the Netplex™ and PlayBooster® playground structures are custom printed to look like tree bark and recycled woodgrain lumber panels were used. Custom oak leaf balance boards, mushroom steppers and a log balance beam enhance the nature play theme and deliver challenge disguised as fun. In addition to the play environment, Karen renovated the grade separation to be a concrete gravity wall that she envisioned as a balance beam for children as well as a resting area for visitors. Visit playlsi.com to read more about how Karen and the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces department designed a prescription for nature deficit at Tom Sawyer Island at Amelia Earhart Park.
Industry News Learn about the latest happenings in the playground industry below, and then join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+. Let us know what you think about the following topics: • Law bans pesticides on municipal playgrounds The Connecticut General Assembly recently passed legislation to ban pesticides on municipal playgrounds, building on existing bans on Connecticut school grounds. Connecticut established itself as a nationwide leader on this important public health issue in 2005, when it became the first state in the nation to prohibit the use of lawn care pesticides on school athletic fields serving grades K-6. The new law is aimed at protecting small children, pets and wildlife from unnecessary exposure to dangerous pesticides. Read more. • LPD enforces zero-tolerance policy in park Zero-tolerance policy against hammocking? That’s what visitors to Tech Terrace Park in Lubbock, Texas, learned earlier this year after being served a $161 citation. A city ordinance prevents any rope, wire or contrivance from being attached to a tree in a public park. Read more.
Calendar of Events Looking forward to seeing you at the following events: SEPTEMBER • National Recreation and Park Association, Las Vegas, Nev. NOVEMBER • National League of Cities, Nashville, Tenn. • American Society of Landscape Architects, Chicago, Ill.
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• Seattle hoping to attract people to urban parks despite criminal presence Visible drug dealing and other crimes have declined by 40 percent since April in two of Seattle’s grittiest urban parks. It’s the result of a joint Seattle Police Department Major Crimes Task Force-FBI operation, which cleared the area with an increased policing and by adding new features—live music, gaming tables and more—to the park. Read more.