Spectators walking on bleachers that are not IBC-compliant can be hazardou

When you think about hazards at a football or basketball game, you're probably thinking the players are the only ones at risk. Actually, spectators can also get injured by an unexpected hazard: bleachers .

Think about it. Bleachers are the one thing separating you from the ground, so if they are old or weathered, they may collapse from underneath you. Aluminum bleachers need to be sturdier than regular seats because they take so much abuse from extreme weather and overly excited fans.

Besides needing to be sturdy, bleachers are also difficult to walk on. It's easy to trip or fall between the seats, especially when they are wet or icy. The likelihood of falling is even greater with damaged benches that are past due for maintenance.

Bleacher safety guidelines enacted after injuries reported

In 1999, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 22,100 injuries from bleachers that resulted in emergency treatment,

Public bike repair stations are a welcome sight for bicyclists

 

There's nothing more irritating than riding your bicycle to work and breaking down away from home. A chain derails. Quick release brakes need adjustment. Tires lose air.

But now there's a solution for those situations. A popular trend taking place around the country in cities, universities and apartments is to now offer bicyclists a way to fix or maintain their bikes with public bike repair stations.

With advances in manufacturing, these tamper-resistant bike repair stations can now be installed at high-volume bicycle hubs or bike rooms and give bicyclists access to a complete array of handy bike tools and bike air pumps.

They are sturdily-built out of steel to withstand harsh elements, heavy use by the public and to prevent damage by vandals.

For example, here's all the features available on a top-of-the-line public bike repair station:

Deluxe bike repair statio

- Standard screwdrivers

- Phillips head screwdrivers

- Tire

Horse with rider jumping over hurdle. The Park and Facilities Catalog specializes in supplying equestrian centers with commercial site furnishings

The Park Catalog is proud to supply commercial benches, picnic tables, and trash receptacles to equestrian facilities promoting the sport worldwide. Two equestrian centers, the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and the Tryon Equestrian Center in North Carolina, are state-of-the-art equestrian facilities that recently installed commercial site furnishings from The Park and Facilities Catalog. (See photo gallery below).

Commercial site furnishings at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center

Sitting on 500 acres in Wellington, Fla., with more than 18 competition arenas, 256 stalls, and a famous bridge arching over the in-gate where the horses enter, it's no wonder why the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is the most recognizable equestrian center in the United States. An exciting array of events, from jumper derbies to horse

Pokemon Go player in a par

Who would ever think creatures such as Jigglypuff and Squirtle could get people out of their homes and into parks and even get them to fill up trash receptacles?

But that is what is happening in some areas thanks to savvy park personnel.

While many people might see the game of Pokemon Go as sort of crazy, some clever people see the craze as an opportunity.

For example, folks at Delaware State Parks are conducting a contest through July to encourage people to go to a state park when looking for a Caterpie, Raichu or Wigglytuff.

(If you are not familiar with Pokemon Go, the game is basically played on a smartphone or iPhone. Using GPS technologies combined with cameras, players walk around various locations searching for colorful  Pokemon cartoon characters. When they see one, they toss a "poke ball" at the icon to "capture" it and earn points. There are a bunch of Pokemon creatures to pursue, and new ones created all the time).

At Delaware State Parks, when

The national litter problem can be easily solved with more commercial trash cans

 By Gerald Dlubala

There are no shortages of concerns in our country when it comes to our health and safety, yet something as simple as adding more commercial trash cans can solve the problem.

Gator and shark attacks, mosquito related viruses, and now, toxic algae are the front runners these days. The more dramatic and unusual get the daily headlines.

But behind the scenes, long after daylight surrenders to nightfall, in those dark corners and forgotten areas that we refuse to look at, uncover or clean around, there's an epidemic on the rise, one that's potentially more harmful to our daily lives than any single shark out there cruising around in it's own environment.

As the amount of population continues to grow and concentrate in specific areas, so does the proportion of waste and trash, just plain old garbage.

For the inattentive and unequipped, this problem is getting out of hand in a heartbeat. It's

Drawing for Miami Dolphins stadium that is undergoing a $450 million makeover (Source: NewMiamiStadium.com

When fans for the Miami Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricanes cheer their teams this fall, they will probably pay more attention to the structure they are in than the teams because the New Miami Stadium will be an incredible change from the old facility.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is spending about $450 million for renovations to the stadium that will truly make it a world-class sports facility. Early reports had that amount at $300. You can tell he is going all in on this bet.

Details of New Miami Stadium facelift

Here are some of the major improvements taking place at the 27-year old facility:

- Enormous 14-acre canopy. If you ever sat in the sun in Dolphin stadium in September or even October under a sizzling Florida sun, this feature alone will be worth its weight in cool air. The Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel said the canopy will place 92% of all seats in the shade. The center

Jump for joy in a park today. It's national Park and Recreation Month 2016

Most people don't think about going to a park for medicinal purposes. But for Park and Recreation Month 2016, perhaps the public should pay attention to a recent study on how parks can actually have a positive effect on a person's mental and physical health.

The study was conducted by The University of Queensland in Australia along with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions. Lead researcher Dr. Danielle Shanahan surveyed more than 1,500 residents of Brisbane, Australia. The city was a perfect location for the research because it has a high amount of park acreage and tree coverage

Subjects that were covered included: mental health issues such as depression; physical health such as blood pressure; social health such as interactions with others and health behavior regarding physical activity.

In taking a different approach when creating their criteria, researchers decided to equate visits a park

Family gathered around a picnic tabl

By Gerald L Dlubala

The weekend was predicted to be perfect, and started with the good feelings that only a few days off, great weather and a planned outing can provide -  the packing begins in anticipation of spending quality time relaxing on park benches or enjoying meals on metal picnic tables at a park or campground, free from household chores like grass cutting and car washing.

You can feel it, even anticipating the drive, with windows open and fresh air filtering through like your personal stream of good vibes. But before you hit the road, you should probably give a quick glance at a couple of social media review sites to see what others are saying about the places you're considering.

"Benches and picnic tables were neglected and in disrepair. Splinter city!"

"The facilities were filthy. We had to clean up before we could even enjoy ourselves. Could've done this at home."

"Seriously, only one site in the whole campground designed for disabled

Bike lockers are proving to be a major draw for bicyclists

By Alysa Kleinman

Ask any cyclist about the most secure bicycle storage and they will excitedly tell you about bike lockers.

Bicycle lockers provide the ultimate security, since they prevent theft, vandalism, and weather damage from harming bikes, while traditional commercial bike racks only protect from theft.

If you're a driver, think of it this way—would you rather leave your car in an empty lot, or a secured parking garage? The choice is easy. Just like how covered parking is more secure and protective of your car, so are bike lockers when it comes to bicycle parking.

Bike theft is actually a huge security issue, with about half of all cyclists having their bicycle stolen and only 2.4% getting recovered. Those who cycle year-round are also 90% more likely to have their bike stolen, according to statistics gathered by City Lab.

While the FBI estimates that 250,000 bicycles are stolen each year, the actual number

A rare Florida Panther caught on a remote control camera in Everglades National Park. At one time it was estimated there were only 20 in existence. Now the number is 160. (Sources: National Park Service

This year  marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in the US. In this electronic age of Instagram, mega-theme parks and blockbuster movies, the natural beauty of our national parks might get overlooked. Here is a collection of free national park photos you can download (along with hundreds of others) that will show you why our parks can compete with any man-made creation.

To go on a tour from the comfort of your couch, see this collection of images from parks around the country. Better yet, get off the couch and experience these wonderful environments in person. On these days admission to all national parks is free.

What you will see will be amazing.

Open the treasure chest of national park photos

There are royal battles taking place for dominance...

Alligator wins battle

The newly popular position of city bicycle transportation engineer is responsible for everything from bike lanes to outdoor bike racks

By Gerald Dlubala

Bicycling and bike commuting are up overall across the nation. So are the number of bicycle transportation engineers.

Here's why. Bicycle ridership figures are up 60% over the last 15 years. But if you look at communities designated as "bicycle-friendly", meaning infrastructure, roads, outdoor bike racks and facilities conducive to bike riding and commuting, that figure jumps to more than a 100% increase. The willingness and desire to at least consider bicycling is there, given the opportunity through safe roads and ease of travel.

More bicyclists and more safety concerns creates need for bicycle transportation engineers

More cyclists on the road mean more bikes on the road, the same road that is home to daily car and public transportation commuters. Sharing the road is necessary, but has also shown to be a cause for concern.

According

Park picnic tables and cookouts on public grill

By Gerald Dlubala

This week is National Picnic Week in the UK and for well over a hundred years, park picnic tables have been calling us to a fun dining experience under an open sky. Formulated in the late 1800s, these structures have become somewhat of an outdoor altar that draws people like moths to a light bulb.

They come in all shapes and sizes, but still have the same function and purpose as those original designs providing a place for outdoor seating, entertaining, and get-togethers. Whether in your backyard, the local city or state park, around a sporting venue or outside of businesses or apartments, these functional and compact seating areas are a mainstay in our society.

But what about "park picnic table etiquette"? If anybody knows about proper dining, it's the British. So follow their lead.

Yes, picnic table etiquette is a thing and is annoying to those that are on the receiving end of irresponsible or unsociable picnic table behavior.

A mountain, a tent and a picnic table are ideal for Great Outdoors Mont

President Barack Obama has declared June as national Great Outdoors Month and when the commander in chief speaks, then it's time to put on the hiking boots, pack a lunch for a picnic table and get thee out of the house.

"During Great Outdoors Month, let us enjoy our nation's natural bounty, whether in reflective solitude or in the energizing company of friends and family," the president wrote in a declaration. "As we rediscover the beauty of the outdoors - in our own backyards, along distant trails, or in the shadows of towering mountains, let us rededicate ourselves to preserving nature's splendor for future generations."

Not only is the president in on this, but so are most state governors and just about any organization that has anything to do with the outdoors.

And as we all know, America has the best in the world when it comes to interesting and exciting natural attractions. We have fantastic local, state and

Fans in bleachers on a chilly da

By Gerald Dlubala

It's game day, you're about to spend the afternoon on some bleachers, and this afternoon is turning into a beauty. Picture perfect, with high, blue skies, offering those signature, gentle breezes that make you feel as if you're on vacation.

There are hordes of tailgaters out as you approach the venue. Confident and boisterous, each rowdy group enthusiastically touts their team's imminent success while enjoying food, drink and the companionship of fellow fans.

The good vibes continue as you enter and walk into the stadium. Rows and rows of smartly organized and efficiently placed seats in the bleachers greet you.

They're not only great looking, but also distinctly enveloped in alternating colors, matching those of the home team's uniforms.

The layout, design and color choice somehow ignites a feeling that you're here for some grand event, a spectacle of importance.

It's an event that draws your interest in such a way that you are compelled

Entrance to Delray Beac

What does it take for a small town to overcome obstacles thrown in its path and eventually turn itself into an award-winning city?

Delray Beach is one prime example. The transition this municipality made from a village by the sea faced with several challenges to one of the most successful small towns in Florida is a noteworthy study in how to get the right things done.

All along residents believed they lived in a special place, and they passed on that belief from one generation to another. That mindset became the driving force to take some bold steps to revitalize the town and a philosophy to keep innovating and never stop making improvements.

Some residents will point to one particular period in the town's history as an example of how this civic drive was able to push past several obstacles and take the city to the success it experiences today.

"(During this time) It had the bones, but no energy. You could have thrown a bowling ball down the middle of Atlantic Avenue