The National Park Service oversees the installation of the National Christmas Tree and the lighting ceremony. (NPS photo

Many people might not know this but one of the duties of the National Park Service, in addition to taking care of ALL 419 of our wonderful national parks, is to oversee the National Christmas Tree.

The massive tree is located in the Ellipse at President's Park near the White House South Lawn.

The park is outside the White House fence and in an open area accessible by the public. It's free for the public to visit the tree.

This year, the tree is a 30-foot Colorado Spruce from Palmyra, PA. In addition, there are 56 smaller trees surrounding the big tree. They are adorned with some very unique one-of-a-kind ornaments.  These are not store-bought ornaments. They were created by students across the country.

Those trees are meant to represent every state, territory in the US, including the District of Columbia.

The National Park Service worked with the US Department of Education

King of the Hill ramp is just one of the agility pieces with today's selection of Dog Park Equipment

If you don't have a dog park with dog playground equipment in your neighborhood or multi-family community, you may want to organize a group and build one - for the benefits of both canines and owners.

Because here are some interesting statistics.

We all know that dogs benefit from having a designated space for them to play. They get out of the house. They can run around unleashed. And they can socialize with other dogs.

When you add in dog playground equipment, such as ramps, tunnels and hurdles, there are even more benefits. Dogs learn new tricks that stimulate them mentally. They interact with their owners, which they love to do. And they burn up all that pent-up energy from sitting indoors.

That's one reason why the number of dog parks across the country has skyrocketed in the past decade.

If you are interested in adding an off-leash place for pooches with dog playground equipment in

 

The giant "Sandi" Christmas Tree in West Palm Beach, Fl. The tree is made with 700 tons of sand as part of the "Holiday in Paradise" event produced by the West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation

Many people might have the misconception that Parks and Recreation Departments are mainly busy during the summer months.

They certainly are with local citizens flocking to parks to dine alfresco at picnic tables, play or watch baseball games, swim in a community pool or participate in an arts program at the rec center.

And then there's all that grass that needs to be cut, flowers to be planted and trees to trim.

However, many parks and recreation departments are busy year-round.

And during the end of the year and the holiday season, they are particularly busy.

Take the National Park Service itself. This massive department has 20,000 employees who manage more than 84 million acres of national parks.

But few Americans might know that the NPS is also responsible for the installation of

Here are the results of a recent survey on what people like to do at parks besides just sitting on a park bench

Why do people visit parks?

According to a recent survey by the National Recreation and Parks Association, there are several and they vary in scope by quite a bit.

In other words, there's more to parks than just sitting on a park bench.

For example, when posed this question: "What are the Key Reasons you go to parks?" here are some answers.

62% - said to be with family and friends

52% - to be physically active and exercise

50% - to be close to nature

36% - to experience adventure and excitement

16% - to learn a skill or craft

8% - to have someone take care of children (programs for kids)

As you can see, hanging out with family and friends is the top activity for park visitors. This certainly points out the need for plenty of outdoor site furnishings for them to sit such as picnic tables or park benches. Not only that, but when those families get together, they like to eat. So

Industrial Picnic Table with protective coating on tabletop and seat planks

Industrial Picnic Tables need to be manufactured with materials that are tough and rugged just like the workers who use them for lunch or during breaks outdoors.

After all, a clean, sturdily built picnic table sends a positive message to employees that your company cares about them and strives to treat them right.

That's why it's important to install commercial-grade industrial picnic tables from a reliable supplier.

Here are a few picnic table products to consider:

Coated industrial picnic tables

One of the toughest metal picnic tables  is a thermoplastic coated industrial picnic table.

Thermoplastic is basically a protective coating applied to a metal picnic table. The material is a plastic polymer that is pliable at high temperatures, but when it cools, hardens into a tough covering. A fluidized bath process covers all the nooks and crannies of the metal. Then the plastic is oven-fused to bond tightly to the

 

The construction forecast for 2020 predicts a slight slowdown next year

The Construction Industry in America is a gigantic engine that drives the nation's economy.

The industry builds billions in projects every year.

In the past few years, cranes and construction crews were busy on major developments such as:

Hudson Yards in New York which is a massive office, residential and retail center above a rail yard The giant indoor amusement park at the American Dream complex in northern New Jersey Two new billion-dollar Star Wars exhibits at both Florida and California Disney properties A billion dollars in renovations at the Hard Rock Casino in Fort Lauderdale that includes a guitar-shaped hotel Two new billion-dollar NFL Stadiums in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The industry involves about 680,000 businesses that provide paychecks for more than 7 million employees.

However, construction does face its challenges. That's why in their 2020 Construction Outlook, Dodge Data and Analytics forecasts

A family enjoys a walk in a park. Many people are choosing to #OptOutside on the day after Thanksgiving

If you go to the National Park Foundation website, you can find some interesting facts about Thanksgiving, including portions of Abraham Lincoln's letter proclaiming the holiday.

There's a fascinating story behind the history of this popular holiday.

For one, all Americans might not be celebrating this same day off every November if it weren't for a woman named Susan Josepha Hale.

Hale was a popular writer and editor in the 1800s. You might have heard of a nursery rhyme she wrote called, "Mary Had A Little Lamb." (By the way, her poem was the first words ever recorded on the first phonograph invented by Thomas Edison).

As far as Thanksgiving, this tradition was one that was celebrated for years in Europe as an expression of gratitude for the annual harvest. The celebration transitioned over to the United States as well.

However, in America, each state had its own separate Thanksgiving

Memorial bench installed under a shade tree so the employees could remember a popular doctor at their facility

What better way to honor an individual than with a memorial bench located in a grassy, shaded area where people can sit and be reminded of that person on a regular basis?

That's what the employees of the Forbes Family Medicine Residency Program in Monroeville, PA can do on a bench they purchased to honor one of their physicians.

"We decided upon the bench because the doctor was such a vital part of our department, that we wanted something that could remind us of him for many years to come," said Gina Sacco, Recruiting and Medical Student Coordinator, who ordered the bench for the department.

The Forbes Family Medicine Residency Program was established in 1978 and is a training program in Pittsburgh. They offer clinical experience in all aspects of family medicine including obstetrics, pediatrics and inpatient pediatrics in one location. The training hospital also provides osteopathic

Doug Leen with two of his "Ranger Doug" national park posters

When Doug Leen was a park ranger for Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, an iconic poster from the past caught his eye.

Ever since then he has been on a mission, like an archaeologist of national parks, to find or create those missing park posters.

In fact, he refers to himself as "Ranger of the Lost Art."

Earlier in his life, before Doug became a dentist, he decided to spend a few years in the outdoors as a park ranger.

He worked at the spectacular Grand Teton National Park, America's equivalent of the Swiss Alps.

While involved in an annual cleanup, he came across an old, dusty poster for the park tucked away in the corner of a barn.

Something about that nostalgic poster of those majestic mountains struck a note with him.

Upon further research, he discovered the poster was one created by artists back in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration. That massive WPA program was established by President Franklin D.

Study suggests ways that parks can help citizens exercise more and stay healthy

As we get closer to the next decade, a recent study shows that parks may play a more important in our lives than ever before.

This is the digital age. Americans are spending more time indoors on electronic devices.

According to a report prepared by the City Parks Alliance "Active Park, Healthy Cities," the lack of physical inactivity is a major cause of illness and death. In fact, the study says 11% of deaths can be attributed to a lack of activity.

Yet, annually we spend $10,348 per person on health care and only $83 per person on city parks.

Spending more on city parks and getting people outdoors could change that equation.

The study suggests one of the main functions that park departments and city officials might want to conduct is measuring park usage.

As the old saying goes, "What gets measured gets managed."

Here's one of the bigger issues that measuring might confirm - most neighborhood parks are underutilized.

"My cats inspire me daily. They inspire me to get a dog," - Greg Curtis "There ain't a man livin' who hasn't talked to his dog." - Hank Williams "Dogs have boundless enthusiasm but no sense of shame. I should have a dog as a life coach." - Moby "Every dog is a lion at home." - Henry George Bohn "I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone." - Steven Wright "We've begun to long for the pitter-patter of little feet - so we bought a dog. Well, it's cheaper, and you get more feet." - Rita Rudner "Asthma doesn't seem to bother me any more unless I'm around cigars or dogs. The thing that would bother me most would be a dog smoking a cigar." - Steve Allen "What a dog I got, his favorite bone is in my arm." - Rodney Dangerfield "My fashion philosophy is, if you're not covered in dog hair, your life is empty." - Elayne Boosler "I was a dog in a past life. Really. I'll be walking down the street and dogs will do a sort of double-take. Like, Hey, I know him." - William Macy "This man used to go

Picnic Tables located outside the USS Constitution Museum along the waterfront in Boston

The Park and Facilities Catalog is proud that our picnic tables are now provided at one of the most interesting maritime museums in the country.

That facility is the USS Constitution Museum located in Boston's Charlestown Navy Yard along the waterfront.

The USS Constitution Museum is featured in a restored shipyard and offers an in-depth and interactive look into the famous ship that earned the nickname "Old Ironsides."

The ship, the USS Constitution, is a mighty, wooden heavy frigate with three gigantic masts. It is the world's oldest commissioned U.S. Navy vessel that is still afloat.

Constitution is famous for incredible tales of combat on the open seas in the War of 1812. Launched in 1797, the Ship's name was approved by President George Washington and is one of six built to defend the country in war and against pirates.

The Ship's first assignment was to protect American merchant ships from

Buddy Bench at St. Mary's Catholic School, donated by the Ganje family in honor of their parents

It is estimated that more than half of elementary schools in the US now feature Buddy Benches in their playgrounds.

The Park and Facilities Catalog, a major supplier of Buddy Benches nationwide, continues to see a steady number of orders for this popular product.

And many of the orders we see come in the form of donations either by individuals or organizations who recognize the power of this simple concept.

Take St. Mary's Catholic School in Alexandria, Minn.

The school recently added a Buddy Bench that was donated by the Ganje family, in honor of their parents Dice and Bennie.

School principal Troy Sladek said the couple was very active supporters of the school. They served on the Parish Council, Diocesan Board of Education, various school committees, CCD programs and even volunteered in the lunchroom.

"Their children have proud memories of their parents' desire to make sure everyone felt welcomed

Quick ship concrete picnic tables that can leave the warehouse on the way to your location in just a few days

Quick ship concrete picnic tables in a few select styles can be transported from our warehouse to your location when you need a reliable table in a hurry.

And while these tables can be shipped in just a few days, with the durability characteristics of concrete, they last a very, very long time.

The quick ship concrete picnic tables from The Park and Facilities Catalog are manufactured with a blend of granite and concrete.

The parts are reinforced with 3/8-inch diameter steel rebar that makes them sturdy and keeps them upright.

Now while some people might think concrete products are plain and ugly, our tables are not.

Our tabletops are polished to a high gloss, which gives these tables a smooth, attractive appearance. (And by the way, makes them easier to keep clean).

For quick ship, we have these models available in limited quantities:

324-1192 Polished Concrete Square Picnic Tables

Dog park equipment such as hurdles are equipped with an adjustable bar for different dog sizes and breeds

Here is a handy preliminary checklist for those interested in starting a dog park and adding amenities such as dog park equipment.

There are apparently more than 1,000 dog parks currently in the US. From 2009 to the present, the top 100 cities in America saw nearly a 75% increase in the number of dog parks added.

One reason, a super large number of people own dogs. Nearly 50% of households in the US own at least one dog.

The total number of dogs is estimated to be a whopping 89.7 million.

That's a lot of canines.

Paws table where dogs can rest or learn new commands. These tables are treated with a special easy to grip coating for canines

Dog park basics

Here's another fact about dogs. They need to exercise. Most experts say as a rule of thumb dogs should get at least one hour or exercise per day, although times vary per breed and age.

Let's face it. Dogs are programmed to run and jump.