Picnic table worn out by time, mold and weathe

By Gerald Dlubala

Picnic table coatings have come a long way. Here's why. Enjoying a meal outside at a local park, stadium or outdoor venue makes for a great outing.

Time spent in nature turns your boring, stay-at-home, what-to-do day into a day of anticipation, relaxation, and good times.

Who doesn't want, or need more of that? A quality, easy-to-clean, metal picnic table or park bench can enhance these activities by creating the center point or hub for your day's events, from games, meals, and prep areas to being the catchall place for coolers and bags.

But a great picnic table will easily become the best place to sit, talk, and catch up with friends and family in a casual,

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

Wed. March 30 is "Take a Walk in a Park Day" and a time to appreciate the value of parks

If you are looking for something to do on Wed., March 30, here's a worthwhile (and free) activity to fill your calendar. That day is national "Take A Walk In A Park Day."

This official designation is meant as a reminder for Americans to set aside time Wednesday or any day for a walk in a park and get yourself a shot of "Vitamin G" (for green).

It's not an endeavor that will cost you any money. You won't need special equipment to participate. You can do it alone or with a friend.

Okay, people might say. I get it. Taking a walk in a park is good for you. Inhale a bit of fresh air, absorb a little sunshine, take a few minutes to relax. And then get out of there. Sure, we're kind of busy but we will keep that take a walk in a park day in mind.

Actually, there's a much bigger picture behind take a walk in a park day.

According to study titled

Source: Heartland Habitat for Humanit

The first Thanksgiving held in America back in 1621 was held on wooden picnic tables and in a show of support and thanks, The Park Catalog has donated 400 wooden planks to the Heartland Habitat for Humanity in Kansas City, KS.

If you are not familiar with the charity, Habitat for Humanity is an amazing organization. It was created in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller and its purpose is to eliminate substandard housing, homelessness and basically provide places for people to live.

As we gather around the dinner table this Thursday, many of us may take for granted that roof over our heads. But an adequate home is something a large part of the world's population does not get to enjoy. There are an estimated 2 billion people who live in slum housing and more than 100 million are homeless. That's Habitat for Humanity's mission, to create "a world where everyone has a decent

Park managers take notice: When are picnic tables and park benches more than just pieces of outdoor furniture? When they become part of a workout routine.

In fact, park benches and picnic tables seem to be taking on new functionality as outdoor fitness equipment promoted by fitness experts on sites such as YouTube and Pinterest.

It's a great concept. The routine motivates people to go outside, breathe fresh air and work out with Mature Nature. And rather than just jogging in a park, with these routines you can turn a park into a virtual outdoor gym and enjoy a complete workout.