Equitable and safe access to parks and recreation facilities begins with firm, stable, and slip-resistant ground surface materials along accessible, connecting routes. Thoughtful planning ensures people who use mobility devices or other adaptive equipment can move independently from site arrival points and throughout each park, play, and recreation setting. This session will address requirements for exterior routes and surfaces in outdoor recreational settings and offer design considerations to go beyond minimum compliance to make certain everyone has the ability to participate. Accessibility Specialist, Bill Botten, will review best practices for planning accessible routes, sidewalks, shared-use paths, routes to and within recreation facilities including play areas, sports fields, outdoor recreation areas, trails, and beaches. This is the first session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Sustainable maintenance programs are essential to positive outdoor play experiences for children at their school and community playgrounds. This year, National Playground Safety Week is observed on April 22-25, and this webinar is designed to create awareness, maximize the value of playground investments, and create safer outdoor play destinations that promote healthy risk-taking and fun! Routine maintenance and visual inspections are key to preserving play and recreation environments, and properly identifying and addressing potentially hazardous conditions supports safer opportunities to engage in the lifelong benefits of play.

People of all abilities should have access to the many health benefits aquatic play and recreation environments can offer. Well-designed aquatic facilities provide opportunities for rehabilitation, exercise, socialization, play, rest, and relaxation for community members across generations. It is critical to consider the needs of individuals with disabilities when planning, designing, and programming these environments. This session will review provisions in the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design that address independent access to swimming pools, water play destinations, splash parks, and spas. Accessibility Specialist, Bill Botten, will review the application of the requirements for aquatic facilities, as well as the scoping and technical requirements for pool lifts, sloped entries, transfer steps, transfer walls, and accessible stairs. Additionally, the session will provide suggestions to go beyond the minimum requirements to enhance inclusive aquatic recreation facilities, including lazy rivers, wave action pools, water play elements, and other site amenities to support the diverse needs of all visitors. This is the second session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Join us for an insightful webinar discussing the intricate landscape of securing funding within municipal governments. We'll explore the complexities of government structures, the nuances of agency contracting processes, and the potential pitfalls along the way. Discover why adopting innovative approaches is crucial and explore alternative contracting methods to mitigate risks. Uncover the importance of understanding funding source deadlines and leveraging community health and wellness data to strengthen proposals. Gain invaluable insights into maximizing funding opportunities while ensuring the well-being of your community.

Meeting the minimum accessibility design standards for play and recreation areas is the first step to ensuring everyone can participate, enjoy, and experience park and play area facilities. During the session, a panel of individuals with disabilities and professionals who support persons with disabilities will discuss features that can “make or break” play and recreational opportunities for individuals with autism, people with developmental disabilities, people with various sensory or communication needs, or individuals who are neurodivergent. Strategies, design elements, barriers, and accessibility will be discussed differently. We hope you will join us for this look beyond the minimum accessibility design standards to discover how your community can make your park and play areas more inclusive for everyone. This is the third session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

Equitable and safe access to parks and recreation facilities begins with firm, stable, and slip-resistant ground surface materials along accessible, connecting routes. Thoughtful planning ensures people who use mobility devices or other adaptive equipment can move independently from site arrival points and throughout each park, play, and recreation setting. This session will address requirements for exterior routes and surfaces in outdoor recreational settings and offer design considerations to go beyond minimum compliance to make certain everyone has the ability to participate. Accessibility Specialist, Bill Botten, will review best practices for planning accessible routes, sidewalks, shared-use paths, routes to and within recreation facilities including play areas, sports fields, outdoor recreation areas, trails, and beaches. This is the first session of a yearlong four-part Beyond the Minimums accessibility series. This webinar includes real-time captioning and video remote interpreting (VRI) upon request. To request video interpreting services and/or resources in an alternate format, please email core@playcore.com at least two weeks prior to the live webinar date.

In August 2020, via the Great American Outdoors Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) permanently was funded at $900 million annually, offering funding opportunities for eligible projects to support land acquisition, recreational facility improvements and park planning projects. The National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers has developed a roadmap to help navigate the process, understand the requirements, and create a successful project application. Every project starts with a great idea! This session will provide a program overview, offer helpful tips to submit a standout application, and review a variety of resources to arm you for success!

Meeting the minimum accessibility design standards for play and recreation areas is just the first step to making sure everyone can participate, enjoy, and experience park and play area facilities. During the session, a panel of persons with disabilities and professionals that support persons with disabilities will discuss features that can “make or break” the recreational opportunity for persons that are low-vision or blind, persons using mobility devices, persons who are hard of hearing or deaf, persons with developmental disabilities, and individuals that are neurodivergent. Strategies, design elements, barriers, and accessibility will be discussed from different viewpoints. We hope you will join us for this look beyond the minimum accessibility design standards to discover how you can make your park and play areas more inclusive for everyone. This webinar will include video remote interpreting (VRI) and real-time captioning. Participants may ask questions during the live session.

The Advocating for Maintenance to Upper Management session will offer play facility owners and administrators information on the needs and benefits of these spaces. In addition, financial consequences of poorly maintained areas, and duties to manage and operate the facility to the highest safety levels will be covered. Special attention will be given to the role of the agency management to establish a proactive inspection, maintenance, and repair philosophy throughout the agency/department. During the session, we will discuss the key points of a written policy and procedures document to manage public play areas, the importance of hiring qualified inspectors and maintenance technicians to implement the policy, and the importance of continuously training staff.

The Advocating for Maintenance to Upper Management session will offer play facility owners and administrators information on the needs and benefits of these spaces. In addition, financial consequences of poorly maintained areas, and duties to manage and operate the facility to the highest safety levels will be covered. Special attention will be given to the role of the agency management to establish a proactive inspection, maintenance, and repair philosophy throughout the agency/department. During the session, we will discuss the key points of a written policy and procedures document to manage public play areas, the importance of hiring qualified inspectors and maintenance technicians to implement the policy, and the importance of continuously training staff.