Weedoo clearing the way: Why more municipalities are turning to mechanical harvesting for waterway health
Public works departments are under growing pressure to meet environmental regulations, manage costs and maintain community trust. Nowhere is that balancing act more visible than in aquatic maintenance. From stormwater canals to retention ponds, municipalities face persistent challenges: invasive weeds, … More from our cover sponsor →
M Top 10: Best cities for first time home buyers
Much has been made recently about the lack of ability of young people to afford their first home. Indeed, research shows first-time homebuyers made up 26% of the home buying market last year, compared to 34% the previous year. As … Continue reading →
Florida city combats gun violence through community involvement
Gun violence is on the rise in the United States. The number of people who have died by gunshot wounds – both murder and suicide – has risen sharply over the last decade particularly since the start of the pandemic, … Continue reading →
Downtown park is new heart of North Carolina community
Cary, North Carolina, spent more than 20 years envisioning Downtown Cary Park, from its inception through designs to problem solving. Along the way, challenges included the pandemic, quarantine and resulting supply shortages, financing and then construction. The park is expected … Continue reading →
Cities embracing adaptive technology
Whether you call it adaptive technology or assistive technology, implementing ways to make your city be more user-friendly for people with special needs is a wise investment; and as Mike Carter of Sand Springs, Okla., will share, it doesn’t have … Continue reading →
Employee scheduling for public safety: Easier, faster, better with Aladtec
In public safety, it’s never a matter of simply having employees working. You need the necessary combination of employees, whether officers on foot patrol, sergeants in the precinct or voluntary firefighters on call to fill in at a moment’s notice. … Continue reading →
Placing Efficiency and Quality – Muscatine County Highway Department in Iowa reflects on the benefits of Road Widener’s FH-R
There are a few things that come to mind when thinking about summer in the Midwest: warmer weather, weekends at the lake, camping trips — and roadwork. In fact, Midwesterners often say they have two seasons — winter and construction … Continue reading →
Colorado Springs embraces the operation of Westside Community Center
A little more than a year after taking on operation of the Westside Community Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the city is enthusiastic about its success. “We are really pleased with how far we’ve come,” commented Mark Snow, community recreation … Continue reading →
Director expands funding, infrastructure and programming for recreation
After high school, in 2011, Michael Patton began his college career at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Following his first completed year, he began a church mission in Mexico City, Mexico, and was there until 2013. He returned to Brigham Young University-Idaho … Continue reading →
Laurel, Mississippi, acts to capitalize on new-found fame
A small city in the spotlight is working on a plan to maintain tourism draws after the camera crews dissipate. In 2016, husband and wife team Ben and Erin Napier premiered the HGTV restoration and revitalization show “Home Town.” It … Continue reading →
Schenectady, New York, restarts parks programming
Unable to find the right person for the role, the position of Schenectady, N.Y., parks and recreation director was left vacant for many years – about 20 years. Once Willie Deane moved back to the city and was available to … Continue reading →
Perseverance reconnects coastal town to its legacy
Along the U.S.-Canadian border rests Blaine, Wash., a small town with a population of around 6,000 residents. Of its 8.43 square miles 2.80 are water, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It is a prime location for migratory birds and … Continue reading →
Brownfield redevelopment program turns old railroad depot into environmental Connor Park
The approximately 2-acre parcel of land in Palmetto, Fla., that is now Connor Park, was once a busy railroad spur and depot. Solid waste from the area was diverted into this location and pushed into the river up until 1960 … Continue reading →
Cave of the Mounds is a million years in the making
Often considered to be the most significant cave of the Midwest due to its mineral formations, Cave of the Mounds near Blue Mounds, Wis., is a privately owned natural wonder that is over a million years in the making. A … Continue reading →
Parks and recreation fundraisers — a chance to build community
Some might dread the thought of fundraising, but for these parks and recreation administrators, holding fundraisers provides programs and resources to their communities that might not be available otherwise. Additionally, fundraisers build community — bringing everyone together for a common … Continue reading →
The Municipal Top 10: Best cities for recreation
Staying active isn’t only good for a person’s health, it can also make good financial sense. One of the best ways to maintain an active lifestyle is to live in a city that encourages and facilitates recreation. The healthiest cities … Continue reading →
Cities cultivate programming to match seniors’ desires
“Park” is a pretty broad term, and it’s more specialized than it used to be. From parks catering to four-legged friends to playgrounds specifically designed for small children, parks departments are diversifying their offerings. There’s a lot of interest in … Continue reading →
Adopt-A-Park further connects a community with its parks
Some residents visit parks in Rapid City, S.D., to do more than admire the beauty of flower gardens or get in a hike or evening stroll. They go to take care of the park. Volunteers in the city’s Adopt-A-Park program … Continue reading →
Saving lives through AED/CPR program
Imagine a place where lifesaving help is no more than a football field’s length away; where average citizens with CPR training could keep a fellow human being alive until professional medical help can arrive; where automatic external defibrillator machines, which … Continue reading →
