The Park and Facilities Catalog offers a large selection of ADA picnic tables

Inclusiveness is a major theme today with any park or facility and when it comes to site furnishings, supplying ADA picnic tables is a very simple solution and process.

For one, the Americans with Disabilities Act has provided guidelines to make picnic tables ADA compliant.

The American with Disabilities Act was enacted 1990 by Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush

The legislation was written to help protect people with disabilities from being discriminated against in the workplace.

In addition, facilities are required to provide reasonable accommodations for disabled members of the public.

Here are some suggestions when it comes to picnic tables at your park, restaurant, fairgrounds, hotel or other facilities.

ADA picnic tables also are available with seat cut-outs

ADA Picnic Table requirements

Here are a few of their criteria:

Height - surface height cannot be lower than 28 inches or higher

Portable bleachers can easily be towed from one area to another

When you oversee a facility with a large number of events, especially different types, Portable Bleachers can be a great solution.

That's the case with the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, OK.

This structure holds events, from rodeo to livestock shows, lasting from one day to several days, for 48 weeks out of the year.

That's a busy arena.

Portable bleachers at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, OK

To provide adequate spectator seating in addition to their current grandstands, the coliseum purchased two 5-row portable bleachers from The Park and Facilities Catalog.

"We need them to be moved from one arena to another arena," said Jeff Storms, general manager.

That's the great advantage of this type of aluminum bleachers. They provide versatility to facilities such as this one that hosts everything from cutting horse competitions to futurities, rodeos, roping events, and actual horse and pony shows.

With portable bleachers,

A Bike Repair Station added to a trail in Colorado by local Boy Scout Brennan Truitt

A Bike Repair Station can be a welcome sight for any cyclist who finds themselves out on the road with a flat tire or a bike that needs repair.

But for Boy Scout Brennan Truitt, the need for a bike repair station in his area was personal as well.

Brennan said his mother was out riding one day on the Poudre River Trail Corridor between Greeley and Windsor Colorado and her bike got a flat tire. There was no way for her to fix the tire.

For an Eagle Rank Service Project, Brennan decided to provide a solution for other cyclists who found themselves in the same predicament.

He raised money from local bike stores and businesses and purchased a Bike Repair Stand from The Park and Facilities Catalog.

The Bike Repair Station was placed on the trail next to a bench.

Now, cyclists have a place they can turn to for repairs and tune-ups.

"I chose the one from the Park Catalog because it had a great selection of tools

Construction has started on the "Tunnel Tops" park which will be built above a former roadway along the water in San Francisco. (Art from Presidio Trust, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

In clever reuse of urban space, a 14-acre park will be built in San Francisco near the water over two freeway tunnels within sight of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The $110 million project will include thousands of native plants, trees, meadows, trails, gardens plus a community plaza and youth education center. It is scheduled to be completed in 2021.

The project called Tunnel Tops, is part of the popular Presidio area, which is a former military base overlooking the bay and Golden Gate Bridge.

Tunnel Tops is another park project in a similar vein as the famous HighLine in NYC, the Beltline in Atlanta or the just started Underline in Miami.

All of these projects make clever use of existing space in the middle of urban environments.

The Tunnel Tops park is being built on tunnels that were constructed to

Commercial umbrellas provide shade at a charter school

Commercial umbrellas that are sturdy, secure, durable and appealing are certainly the type of umbrellas you want when adding shade to an area outside such as a school, hotel, restaurant or park.

The Arts in Action Community Charter Schools in Los Angeles chose our 364-Series umbrellas with those qualities from The Park and Facilities Catalog.

According to Stephanie Conde, director of facilities, these commercial-grade umbrellas were added to a charming outdoor break area to compliment the picnic tables, trees, and grass.

"We wanted to provide a comfortable shaded area for our students but not take away from all the trees and landscaping we have in the area," she said.

The school purchased 18 umbrellas along with super-strong concrete bases, each weighing 50 pounds.

"The umbrellas are great!" Stephanie said. "They're really good quality and hide dirt really well. They are easy to clean and are very sturdy when it's windy."

The school's

Golden Gate Park (center) in San Francisco, where the first "tweet" was sent. (Photo by Hispalois)

Few people know this, but for all the time techies spend indoors in cubicles, the first test Tweet was actually sent from a park.

That's the story told by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.

In 2000, the young coder lived in San Francisco and had developed a program that let him repost an email to as many people as he wanted.

To try it out, he went for a walk in the famous Golden Gate Park. The park actually covers more than 1000 acres. But what's unusual about the terrain is that the land originally consisted of sand dunes.

There are other weird facts about the park.

For example, bison live there. That's correct, right in the middle of the city. The buffalo graze in a meadow to represent the original herds that frequented the park. Other animals that once lived there include caribou, antelope, moose, and coyotes. (Some coyotes still frequent the park).

First tweet in history sent from Golden State

Concrete bollards in front of the South Plains College building

Concrete Bollards are a smart, attractive way to protect structures and entrances.

Concrete sphere bollard

South Plains College in Levelland, TX, recently installed nine concrete bollards from the Park and Facilities Catalog.

Those bollards are 12 inches in diameter and 30 inches in height. They were manufactured with reinforced concrete and given added strength with a ¼-inch by 3/8-inch steel rebar. Each bollard weighs approximately 295 pounds.

Located in front of the college, the bollards are low enough so that they don't obstruct any views of the building, yet positioned strategically to prevent any vehicle from accidentally running into the entrance.

"We added the bollards for a protective barrier from head-on traffic of the front entrance to the building in the main parking lot," said Brian Gerstenberger from the college. "The bollards are great. Shipping was great. There was no damage. They were easy to install, and they

Commercial picnic tables with a perforated metal surface for easy maintenance

Commercial Picnic Tables have come a long way since the days of traditional wooden tables.

In fact, with advances in coating technology, you can now purchase tables with amazing resistance to a variety of elements that will keep them intact for years.

Wouldn't it be great to have a picnic table with these qualities?

A pliable polyethylene copolymer-based thermoplastic coating that adheres to steel when heated, but then hardens into a tough shell when cooled. Coated in a fluidized bed,  so the coating completely covers all parts of the table and seats. Resistant to mold or fungus. Resistant to damaging UV rays (considering these picnic tables are under the sun all year long. Ultraviolet rays can actually damage wood fibers over time). Fade-resistant. Impact-resistant. Resistant to graffiti. Smooth finish. Easy to clean - usually just with soap and water or light industrial cleaner. Does not crack or splinter.

How the first dog park was founded and how it led to a boom in doggie playgrounds across the US

Few people know that when they are at play in a dog park, there was one woman, Doris Richard, who played a major role in the development of places for canines to play in America.

In fact, Doris was the founder of what is considered the first city dog park - Ohlone Dog Park in Berkeley, CA.

The first dog park had an interesting start.

The area chosen for the dog park was initially a vacant piece of land that remained after the construction of a BART subway station.

BART planned to use the land for residences. But a group of activists took over the property and called it "The People's Park Annex."

Part of the "People's Park" was used as an off-leash area where dogs could play.

Doris was instrumental in gathering petitions, working with the animal control workers and approaching city officials about officially designating the area for dogs.

City officials were skeptical at first. It's understandable,

Crowd control barricades in powder-coated color

Crowd Control Barricades are one item that is absolutely necessary for festivals, parades, concerts and other events and for this item, it is very smart to plan ahead.

When it comes to crowds, you definitely don't want to be caught short-handed.

Think of your schedule of upcoming events for the year.

Those events might include:

Concerts in the park Fairs Art shows Classic car nights Festivals Parades Sporting events Graduation ceremonies Visits by dignitaries Ceremonies to honor local residents

Figure a couple of unanticipated events (someone in your town makes it to the Final Four on American Idol and is about to visit).

All of these events have different needs and unique characteristics.

Crowd control barricades are a necessary part of event checklist

Here are some suggestions from experts for tasks to include on your checklist

Organize staff and give clear assignments from paid employees to volunteers Train staff Address need for police

Wooden picnic tables and the advantages of using pressure-treated planks

Wooden Picnic Tables, especially new ones or those in good shape, are an inviting sight when families go to the park for an afternoon.

Now is the time to consider ordering new wooden picnic tables to be ready for the spring, summer and fall seasons.

For best results, use commercial-grade wooden planks that are pressure-treated by experts.

Pressure-treated wood is the same tough material you see used for docks, boat pilings, and decks.

Wooden picnic tables undergo pressure-treatment for durability

Some of the advantages of this process when it comes to picnic tables are:

Insect, Fungus and Moisture Resistance: wood in its natural state tends to break down very quickly, especially when water seeps into the fibers. This creates an environment for bacteria and fungus. With pressure-treated wood, a preserving compound is forced with intense pressure deep into the wood grain. This chemical compound resists fungus, bacteria,

There are many free items available for visitors to our National Parks, including several days when admission fees are waived. Great Smoky Mountain National Park photo courtesy of National Park Service

If your resolution this year is to spend more time off the couch and on a park bench or hiking in our national parks, here are some free goodies that might keep you motivated in 2020.

Let's start with free admission.

Every year, the National Park Service issues a list of days when entrance fees are waived. This is for 110 parks that charge admission. There is no admission fee for the other 309 national park sites.

Free admission days at our National Parks

This year the free days are:

Martin Luther King Day - Jan. 20. First day of National Park Week - April 18. National Park Service Birthday - Aug. 25 National Public Lands Day - Sept. 26 Veterans Day - Nov. 11

Park fees vary. But when you consider the savings of bringing an entire family to a park, well, that savings can add up.

Go the NPS.gov

Freestanding Bike Racks help maximize space in Bike Rooms

Freestanding Bike Racks are becoming more popular as a solution for providing bicycle storage inside confined spaces.

Indoor bicycle storage, or bike rooms as they are commonly called, are now included as amenities for many apartment buildings as an effective way to attract tenants.

Here are some facts to consider:

There are now more than 48 million cyclists in the US. (According to Stastista.com). Millennials, in particular, prefer to travel by bicycle instead of automobile. Commuting to work with a bicycle is more popular than ever. According to the League of American Bicyclists, between 2000 and 2017 riding to work on a bike increased 43% across the country. For larger cities, the increase was substantial and even higher. For example, in New York City the number of bike commuters grew from 32,133 to 48,601 in an 11-year span, a 153% increase! Commuting by bicycle grew 165% in Washington, DC and 153% in Chicago during that same

Quick ship trash receptacles similar to this one that can be shipped from our warehouse in just a few days

Quick Ship Trash Receptacles from The Park and Facilities Catalog in a short time-frame can be a relief when you need to finish a project or stop extra litter at your location.

Because we have been in business since 2001, several years ago the staff at The Park Catalog saw there was a real need to stockpile certain products when time was of the essence.

Over the years we have helped out thousands of contractors, park superintendents and facility managers who needed commercial-grade trash receptacles shipped out quickly.

We understand. Deadlines come up fast. Products sometimes need to get shipped out quicker than normal.

Most people in the business know lead times for commercial site furnishings are traditionally longer than consumer goods. These are specialty super-durable products built with top-grade materials for constant use by the public or customers.

For that reason, we stockpile

 

Interesting quotes about parks and the joy of relaxing on a park bench

Few things in life are as great as a local or national park. Parks offer a respite from the world of traffic jams, office cubicles and artificial light. They give humans a way to reconnect and recharge with nature which is in our DNA. And they belong to each and every one of us.

Here are a few of our favorite quotes about parks. Pass them on and be sure to support your local parks department and the National Park Service.

"If you have found a quiet bench in a quiet park and sat down, be sure you had a very profitable day!" ― Mehmet Murat ildan "I fell for a girl who reminded me of the park benches where I've spent hours writing about love and sadness." ― Nitya Prakash "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir "Any day spent in a national park is a good day." - Chris Nicholson "At