National parks are in trouble. According to park officials, there is an $11 billion backlog of work that needs to be done. That means there is a need for more park benches, roads, charcoal grills and
park benches
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Posted: April 03, 2015Categories: Parks and RecreationGrand Canyon National Park is one of many parks in need of funding. Source: NPRead more »
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Posted: February 05, 2015Categories: Community Building
Paley Park in NYC is one of the best "pocket parks" around - Photo by Aleksandr Zykov (Flickr
Take a vacant lot and fill it with park benches, a few shade trees and some bright flowers and what do you have? A pocket park!
What is a pocket park? Generally it's any park that is about a quarter of an acre in size. They are typically located in urban areas where open spaces are tight. Sometimes they are referred to as "vest pocket parks."
These small, mini-parks are a perfect solution for any budget-strapped parks and recreation department or to attract customers to a savvy local business.
The concept is catching on and when you think about it, it's a perfect way to expand any park system without a huge expense. Many cities already have plenty of vacant lots. The city of Baltimore,
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Posted: January 06, 2015Categories: Community Building
People-friendly space with plenty of outdoor park benches - Photo from Project for Public Space
When it comes to open spaces, just creating an area with a "build it and they will come" approach doesn't always work. According to experts, it takes a combination of the right people, plenty of outdoor park benches, strategically placed sidewalks, empty trash cans, secure bike racks and a whole lot more.
How many times have you walked through an open public area that was somehow just not right and not inviting? Or how many times have you visited a location and thought, gee, it would be nice if there was some way to hang out here but right now there is no comfortable way to do that?
According to researchers at
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Posted: December 23, 2014
To add variety to the holidays, take the opportunity to take the family outside and visit local parks
The holidays are a time when families and people gather to exchange gifts, sit down together for a meal and just take time to be together.
But after all the presents are opened, the meals are consumed and everyone is caught up with everybody else, one of the best things you can do with family and friends is get outside!
Go for a walk together. Visit a park. Toss a football or kick a soccer ball. Ride your new bikes.
Mother Nature gives us the best gift of all - the great outdoors. Blue skies and green grass all wrapped up in a giant package of fresh air.
Sure, we know, it's the Age of Technology. But you can bring your new tablets, iPhones, and hand-held game consoles with you. Sit on a park bench or a picnic table and play, take photos or create videos.
The main thing is to just get out of the house. It breaks up the day, it gives people some elbow
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Posted: September 16, 2014