UpFront
Don't Forget the Successes!
Spring is just around the corner and it’s at this time of year that public pool operators across the United States get in gear to open their facilities. In this issue of Parks and Recreation, dedicated in part to aquatics, you’ll discover that their task is easier said than done.
In “Clogged by the Law,” Stacey Pine, NRPA’s chief government affairs officer, reports on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Act, new federal safety legislation requiring public pools to replace drains and covers. But for many pool managers, meeting the terms of compliance is daunting at best, leaving them to wonder whether they will be able to open their facilities in time for the swim season.
We take another look at pool safety in “Making a Splash,” where aquatics experts Matthew Griffith and Tom Griffiths offer 12 tips to keep pools safe and lifeguards on their toes. It is stunning to learn that, in the United States, 60 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites younger than 10 years old can’t swim. Certainly, such statistics raise safety concerns. But how do the numbers change as nonswimmers grow into adulthood? What contributes to so many people never learning to swim, not to mention missing out on a great way to get physical and have fun? There’s a future story here, I think.
In “Bad Water, Bad Air,” Francesca Lyman, a writer who swims every day, dives into the issue of chlorine-related illnesses, which has prompted facilities to look at alternative ways to sterilize the pool environment.
Lyman takes a different turn down a green path in “Parks Unplugged,” where she explores how parks are shrinking their carbon footprints by adopting more eco-friendly maintenance practices. Eugene, Oregon, even hires a herd of goats for weed control. Makes you wonder if the four-legged mulch machines also offer fertilizer benefits.
Eugene continues its innovations as one of three cities featured in Kimberly Miller’s article, “Something for Everyone,” where she describes how their park and recreation departments adapt their recreational programs to include people of all ability levels. No longer are people with disabilities forced to stay home or sit on the sidelines. In Eugene, staff members make a concerted effort to learn firsthand how to relate to disabled people and apply what they learn to serve them better. In Groton, Connecticut, a cover story about the successful inclusion of a disabled resident is published seasonally in their park and recreation department’s program guide. And in Durham, North Carolina, recreation staff members swap jobs and extend the long arm of inclusion to make sure every resident—regardless of ability level—takes advantage of a myriad of activities.
While this issue of Parks and Recreation reports some very real challenges, it is balanced by some true success stories that validate an undisputed truth: Despite setbacks along a sometimes bumpy road, NRPA’s members have what it takes to forge ahead and make good things happen for the communities they serve.
Cassandra Franklin-Barbajosa
Executive Editor
:: In This Month's Issue ::
On the Cover
Clogged by the Law
A new pool drain law threatens pool operators' ability to open their facilities for the season.
By Stacey Pine
Bad Water, Bad Air Making a Splash
OTHER FEATURES
That familiar chlorine smell is making people sick!
By Francesca Lyman
These 12 tips can keep pools safe and running smoothly.
By Matthew Griffith and Tom Griffiths
Something for Everyone
Three agencies go the distance to deliver recreation services to people of all ability levels.
By Kimberly D. Miller, M.S.
Parks Unplugged
Pulling the plug on fuel-based maintenance, parks are finding that green is the way to go.
By Francesca Lyman
COLUMNS
Perspectives: A Voice for All Americans
NRPA urges members to stay engaged and speak out.
By Jodie Adams, CPRP
Advocacy Update: Staking Our Claim
This year's appropriations process offers an opportunity to get involved.
By Ashley Futrell and Mike Phillips
Research Update: Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan
Master planning for rural communities calls for a tailored touch.
By Nathan A. Schaumleffel, Ph. D., CPRP
DEPARTMENTS
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