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Greenways & Trails Summit A Success:
An Intersection of History, Outdoor Recreation and Education
By Emily Gates, Special Projects Coordinator, PA Recreation and Park Society
Natural gas and oil extraction are legendary traits of northwest Pennsylvania, but after last week's statewide Greenways and Trails Summit, people will identify the region for its other qualities including its diverse outdoor recreation opportunities, rich history, and high quality trails summit! To read more, click here.
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E llen Ferretti Named Acting DCNR Secretary
On Monday, September 23, Governor Corbett nominated Ellen M. Ferretti as the Secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. She has been acting secretary for the past few months and has devoted much of her life to the development, promotion and protection of our state park and forest systems.
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Condolences
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of PRPS Honorary Member and Past-President, Larry Best.
In addition to his service on the PRPS Board of Directors and NRPA Board of Trustees, Larry served on numerous PRPS committees including: certification, membership, governmental affairs, publications, conferences, District 2, and most recently, as Chairman of the PRPS Historical Committee.
Larry was well-known for his 36 years of dedication and commitment to the Hershey's Track and Field Games, serving as State Chair and North American Final Meet Director.
His warm smile and gentle character will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues.
We will forward additional information about final arrangements when they are available. Sympathy cards may be sent to his wife, Janet Best c/o their daughter Sandy:
Sandy Atkinson
50550 Deer Ridge Court
Granger, IN 46530
Atkinson3rd@yahoo.com
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2014 Trail of the Year
Think your trail is one of the best in the state? Submit a nomination to the Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee's 2014 Trail of the Year Contest.
For more information on the nomination process or on trails, visit www.explorePAtrails.com and choose the 2014 Trail of the Year slide.
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Conference News
Save the Date!
67th Annual State Conference
March 22-26, 2014
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
For more information and prices for the PRPS Conference, click here.
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Leadership Living
the MasterPoint™ Series for the ascendant professional
by Tim Herd, CPRE
Ascending the levels of leadership
The neighborhood playground where I grew up contained a popular multilevel merry-go-round. Mounted above its rotating platform were two higher levels of successively smaller diameter. The wildest ride was always found on the crowded, lowest level where centrifugal force could fling you out on the grass where your head could continue to spin. Climbing to the second level where it was less crowded, but where you could grasp the rail, offered an easier go-around. On the third level, where there were even fewer riders, it took only one hand to anchor your soul to the earth while turning in a smaller orbit. But the pinnacle of derring-do was in achieving the flat post-top of the merry-go-round, where there was room for only one to stand, unassisted by any device save your own guts, and pivot seven feet in air.
(By today's safety standards, it was a veritable spinning factory of kid-tested hard knocks-it's truly a wonder that so many of us survived such childhoods!)
To read more, click here.
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PRPS Training
Park Resource Operations Workshop
October 24, 2013 - Cabela's, Hamburg, PA
For the brochure click here.
Certified Playgrou nd Safety Inspector Course
December 2-4, 2013 - Greater Plymouth Community Center, Plymouth Meeting
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Other Training
Professional Development Symposium
Join local education, park and recreation, and landscape architecture professionals for a complimentary "Play Symposium!" sponsored by Bitting Recreation and GameTime!
Wednesday, September 26 - South Park Home Economics Building, South Park
Topics include: Inclusive playground design, best practices for play and recreation initiatives, integrating nature into the play space.
Learn more and register here!
Thursday, September 26 - Derry Township Parks & Recreation, Hershey
Topics include: New ADA standards for public playgrounds, inclusive playground design principles.
Learn more and register here!
Lunch, educational resources, and continuing education certificates will be provided.
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Community Parks and Recreation Board
DCNR is offering free Saturday morning webinars in October. Tailored to the needs and responsibilities of local recreation and park boards and commissions, the webinars are open to anyone who has an interest in learning the roles and responsibilities of boards and commissions, as well as financing municipal parks and recreation. All webinars will be conducted on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Specific dates and topics include:
October 5, 2013: Board Basics 101 (Part 1)
October 12, 2013: The Board's Biggest Job - Developing Community Support (Part 2)
October 19, 2013: Budget for Success (Part 1)
October 26, 2013: Master Your Budget (Part 2)
Community Conservation Partnerships Grant Program Webinar
"Funding Opportunities for Recreation and Conservation Projects"
Thursday, November 14
Click here for more information or to register.
For questions about these events, contact Linda Manning at linmanning@pa.gov or call (717) 783-4736.
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Member Request
Needed:
Advice/examples of contracts signed between non-profit athletic associations and local townships for use of athletic field
I am a new Parks and Recreation Director (in training/part volunteer) for North Versailles Township in Allegheny County. Not much has been done to our 8 various size playgrounds/parks in years. We are just starting to put some money into rejuvenating some ballfields/basketball courts and there has been immediate interest from our local athletic associations to use the fields. The immediate interest is to use a freshly redone field by both a pony team and local softball teams (which already causes conflict in the pitcher's mound verses flat field). The interested parties are all volunteer run associations that are residents of our township. Additional money will be needed to get the field up to "pony specs." I am looking for advice or examples of contracts drawn up between local townships/municipalities and non-profit athletic associations that are fair to tax paying residents, yet prevent the "monopolizing" of the athletic fields by one party/organization should they contribute resources or maintenance labor. There is a shortage of usable athletic fields in our township and until we can find some more places to put in more fields, we want to be as accommodating as we can. Any advice or examples of basic contracts would be greatly appreciated.
Please respond directly to Lisa Green at 412-823-6602 Ext. 104 or email
nvtparks@verizon.net.
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