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- Army Water Parks Make a Splash with Families
When temperatures climb and military families look for a place to cool off during the dog days of summer, nothing beats the thrill of a water park. From lazy rivers and spray parks, to heart-pounding jaunts down theme park-style water slides and other wild and watery attractions, Army water parks are proving that if you build it, they will come. Over the past 10 years, the Army has built many of these one-of-a-kind family attractions, and the response has far exceeded its expectations, from soldiers and family members to civilians outside the gate. And although these water parks bring with them added responsibility, including major safety concerns — a near drowning incident at Camp Humphreys Water Park is one such example — they provide a level of fun and excitement that contributes to raising the quality of life for soldiers and their families.
Army water parks provide a level of fun and excitement that contributes to raising the quality of life for soldiers and their families. 
The Palmetto Falls Water Park at Fort Jackson has been
increasing in popularity since it opened in the summer of 2004.
- Spray Parks Provide Adventure in a Cool Oasis
Spray Park at Fort Stewart, Ga. These watery wonderlands you see splashed across these pages are known by many names — water playgrounds, spray parks, splash pads, sprayscapes — yet their appeal is universal. In the military and outside the gate, these wet and wild playgrounds are adding a little fun and excitement to the local pool, while helping keep families cool when the mercury starts climbing. Spray parks provide much of the rush and thrill of water parks, yet at a much lower cost and footprint. In addition, they are safer — the likelihood of drowning is slim — and much cheaper and easier to run and maintain. Like water parks, the possibilities are endless, from a simple splash pad with some water sprayers and toys, to elaborate water playgrounds with wild themed events and features that provide adventure in a cool oasis.
- Staying Afloat While Managing Facilities
As pool managers hustle to get their facilities ready for the big Summer season, the never-ending list of tasks is daunting: Have you ordered all of your chemicals? Have you addressed all safety concerns leading into the season? Have you prepared your lifeguard training and recruitment process yet? Are all of your systems functioning properly? The to-do lists for many aquatic facility managers can read like a shopping list but there is good reason for this, as running a safe, clean and efficient operation is key to overall success and to the safety of the thousands who will be coming through their facilities throughout the busy season.
Running a safe, clean and efficient operation is key to overall success and to the safety of the thousands using the facilities throughout the busy season. 
The Anderson Indoor Aquatics Center at Fort Knox, Ky.
- Today's Playgrounds Challenge Both Body and Mind
No longer just a slide, swings and a sandbox, today's playgrounds are a marvel of ingenuity and creativity, providing thrills, excitement, cognitive learning and exercise. As our nation tries to stem the tide of overweight and obesity, especially in our children, finding new ways to get kids outside playing and exercising is of the utmost priority for playground companies. Creating play equipment that draws children in, keeps them busy — all while getting a workout — seems to underlie most of what is coming out today. Of course, providing safe and accessible playgrounds that are age appropriate is of the utmost concern, many playground operators are thinking outside the box when picking equipment and designing playgrounds. Wild climbers, realistic looking climbing rocks, climbing webs, and a mind-boggling assortment of unique play equipment that is coming out lately — the goal is to try to blend fun with fitness, and from the success of many of today's new playgrounds, it seems to be working. In addition to providing safe and fun equipment for the young ones, playground companies have been tasked with providing playground equipment that appeals to older children, teens and adults as well, as part of a park that can appeal to the whole family, from the toddlers to their parents.
McIntosh Memorial Park playground in Dayton, Ohio is fully accessible for children and parents of all abilities.As our nation tries to stem the tide of obesity, finding new ways to get kids outside playing and exercising is of the utmost priority. The following two park projects, McIntosh Memorial Park in Dayton, Ohio, and Conejo Creek Park North in Thousand Oaks, Calif., are great examples of how park districts are stepping up to deliver fantastic playgrounds that challenge children of all ages and abilities, physically and mentally.
- Gimme Shelter: Protecting our Most Precious Resources, Our Children
As parents continue their fight to keep video game and TV controllers out of their children’s hands, and to get them out and active, it is important not to overlook the dangers of overexposure to the sun, and ultraviolet rays, especially in children, who are most vulnerable. For those in the planning stages or in the process of adding new playgrounds or splash parks, including shade structures or other forms of shade, is vitally important. And for those who have already completed such projects, it is not too late to think about adding shade structures or providing areas that can provide some respite from the sun, which is the case with the two projects covered here – City of Commerce and Los Angeles County.
The installation of 10 new shade structures across four different city parks is protecting children from the dangers of overexposure to the sun and harmful UV rays.
All photos courtesy of Shade Structures/ USA Shade.
- From Courts to Playgrounds,
Tips for Maintenance and Selection
Poured in place surfacing, which was used at this park playground, is an excellent choice for both safety and accessibility.
Photo courtesy of Surface AmericaChoosing the right surface for the numerous sports and recreation facilities, both indoor and out, is no easy task. Whether it is a regulation size basketball court inside or a fully accessible playground outside, knowing what surfacing to buy and how to care for it can become a colossal undertaking.
For an indoor basketball court, there a number of companies out there which provide quality wood flooring, so the most important factor is knowing what the court will be used for before you start the search and decide on a company or wood surface. If you will be using the gymnasium floor for multi-purposes, such as basketball, volleyball, military functions, and aerobics, there are a number of flooring options, such as synthetic rubber, as well as a number of floor covering and protection options that can be used with a hard wood floor. The most important thing you can do once a wood floor has been installed is take care of it properly to insure its longevity.
Moving outside to the playground, the flooring options are equally confusing — poured in place rubber, loose fill products such as mulch, sand, and rubber tiling, to name just a few — creating a dilemma for those who are installing new playgrounds and are not sure what to budget for or choose.
For a guide to indoor floor care, and playground surfacing options, see your April 2008 issue of GRF.
Departments:
Initial Thoughts: Climbing the Hill Rec Notes:
Inside Industry:
EQUIPMENT ROOM: Product Showcase |
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On the Cover:
These watery wonderlands you see splashed on the cover are known by many names — water playgrounds, spray parks, splash pads, sprayscapes — yet their appeal is universal. At Fort Stewart, Ga., these wet and wild playgrounds are adding a little fun and excitement to the local pool, while helping keep families cool when the mercury starts climbing. Photos courtesy of Water Ventures and Fort Stewart |
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