Many progressive municipalities, like Waterbury, Conn., are giving renewed life to previously industrial brownfields, turning them into brightfields or cleaned up spaces that residents want to visit. These often toxic barren grounds all over the nation are home to decaying, … Continue reading →
Community events require intensive labor to be a success. Reaching the 10-year marker, especially when working solely with volunteers, is an impressive feat for any event. In Orrville, Ohio, a city of more than 8,000, an annual weeklong Fourth of … Continue reading →
“We like to call it the happiest place in Scottsdale, (Ariz.),” Darryl Grimes, assistant recreation coordinator, affirmed, referring to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The park recently won the 2019 Engaging Local Government Leaders Knope Award for the Best Park or … Continue reading →
They say if you want something done right, do it yourself; and when it comes to adding or improving parks in a particular community, it’s advice that engaged citizens are taking to heart. By launching online crowdfunding campaigns and encouraging … Continue reading →
In a world of so many stresses, park and recreation departments have never been more important, simply by providing citizens and visitors alike with opportunities to take a break and rejuvenate. This is particularly true during the summer months. The … Continue reading →
Affectionately dubbed the “Little Apple” over the years by its residents, the city of Manhattan, Kan., may not be on everyone’s radar. Vivienne Uccello, the city’s public information officer, explained that it is often confused with the well-known Manhattan, as … Continue reading →
It’s not often a town of 45,000 gets a social media shout out from Hollywood stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jack Black. It’s also not often a town of 45,000 people is involved in the filming of a … Continue reading →
Though the time for “spring” cleaning is long past, there are still debris-littered hedgerows and various items of refuse and trash in municipalities that periodically will need to be cleaned up. Two cities featured here have taken the lead and … Continue reading →
If there wasn’t enough to do already as a municipal manager, the list just got longer. There is one issue quickly jumping to the top: improving communications and public relations with the community you serve. You can talk all day … Continue reading →
Last month, Warrenton, N.C., celebrated the first anniversary of its municipal park — the first one built in the small town with a population of about 850. This summer, the Hayley-Haywood Park bustles with warm-weather activities and happy “school’s out!” … Continue reading →
Across North America, the emerald ash borer is infesting ash trees, leaving behind fields of dead and dying trees. In wooded lots, the dead trees can be a vital part of the ecosystem, providing nesting branches for birds and vital … Continue reading →
