Summer 2021 Edition of the Profile

Indiana Park & Recreation Association www.INPRA.org Summer 2021

t h e P

rofile

Buyer’s Guide Inside NEW in this Issue: Members on the Move

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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2021 Indiana Park & Recreation Association Conference & Expo

HORIZON CONVENTION CENTER MUNCIE, INDIANA Registration Information:

2021 Keynote Speaker: Neelay Bhatt

Registration is open for the 2021 IPRA Conference & Expo! We can’t wait to see you November 2-4, 2021, at the Horizon Convention Center in downtown Muncie, Indiana.

How to Build a Culture of Service Excellence and Inclusion

Hotel Information:

The Courtyard Muncie at Horizon Convention Center is conveniently located in downtown Muncie, and is within walking distance to many shops and restaurants.

Horizon Convention Center is connected to the hotel by an enclosed skywalk. An indoor pool, fitness room, and business center is also available for all guests. Free high-speed Internet is available throughout the hotel.

Special group rate: Courtyard Muncie at Horizon Convention Center for $116 per night.

Additional overflow hotels will be available.

Awards Nominations Information:

The Indiana Park & Recreation Association Awards of Excellence recognize those throughout Indiana that embody vision, dedication, and excellence in parks & recreation.

Among all the shifts and changes nationwide and in Indiana, the key ones are the increasingly diversifying communities we serve and the future trends in a post-pandemic world. This session will share key Next Practices for Guest Service Excellence and the Why, How and Who for building your Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive agency culture.

Learning Outcomes:

These awards highlight the efforts that transcend everyday standards to make a difference and improve the quality of life in our Indiana communities. Award winners include park and recreation professionals, organizations, agencies, and volunteers.

Projects must be completed between August 1, 2019 & December 31, 2020. All applicants must be current IPRA members. The deadline to nominate is Sunday, August 1, 2021. Late submissions will not be considered.

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Share their next practices and future guest service trends from other agencies within and outside parks and recreation.

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List ways in which Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion impacts organizations

Start the nomination process here: http://www.inpra.org/forms/2020-award-nominations

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Document specific actions and metrics that they can use to build a truly inclusive culture that values Diversity and Inclusion.

Thank you to our sponsors!

There are still sponsorship opportunities available, please contact Felisha Canillas for more information!

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Indiana Park & Recreation Association 107 Logan Street Noblesville, IN 46060 317.219.5272 www.inpra.org

We Need Your Contributions

Advertisers

Inside this issue

2 Rundell Ernstberger Associates, LLC

3 2021 IPRA Conference & Expo

5 Service Supply LTD., Inc. 7 Butler, Fairman, & Seufert, Inc.

How to Submit

12 Context Design

Articles and Photographs to: IPRA, The Profile 107 Logan Street Noblesville, IN 46060 317.219.5272 courtnie@inpra.org

Publication Schedule Spring Content Deadline - February 10 March Distribution Summer Content Deadline - June 10 July Distribution Fall/Winter Content Deadline - October 26 December Distribution

Advertising Sales Felisha Canillas felisha@inpra.org

Editorial Committee Christine Dunker Courtnie Pettigrew Felisha Canillas Rachel Landis

Editor

Courtnie Pettigrew courtnie@inpra.org

9 Norwalk Concrete Industries 11 R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. / Pilot Rock

17 Browning Day 25 Lehman & Lehman, Inc. 28 CRG - Commercial Recreation Group 30 MartinRiley Architects Engineers

facebook.com/INParkandRec

@INParkandRec instagram.com/inparkandrec 4 theProfile

25 Wookiee Walk 29 In Remembrance of Dr. Thomas J. Rillo

33 PlayPros

31 Indiana Parks Project Delivery Methods

34 Service Supply LTD., Inc. 35 Buddenbaum & Moore, LLC

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36 Weihe Engineers 38 Spear Corporation 38 Forest Commodities, Inc.

Columbus Parks and Recreation Department Names Brady Buckley as Sports Programs Manager

37 Happy Trails to Mick Renneisen

39 RATIO 39 Hawkins Water Treatment Group

46 Hitchcock Design Group

18 2021 IPRA Buyer’s Guide 26 Members on the Move

32 Meyer Najem

42 Miracle Playgrounds of Indiana

13 Importance of Play

17 In Memory of a Life Well Lived– Leah Gunderson

24 HWC Engineering

41 Pros Consulting, Inc.

10 Creating Change: The Social Impact of Parks and Recreation in Fort Wayne 14 Spring Time Fun and Fundraising: 2021 Dollars for Scholars Gold Outing Recap

16 John Deere

40 The Value of Adding Esports to Your Parks and Recreation Programming 44 2021 Maintenance Expo Recap 46 Upcoming Events Information

46 Huffcutt Concrete 47 Parkreation, Inc. 48 Midstates Recreation

Indiana Correctional Industries 317.955.6800 www.IndianaCorrectionalIndustries.com

Connect with us:

9 From the President

8 Sinclair Recreation, LLC

Publisher

Front Cover photo credit: IPRA staff, Bloomington Parks & Recreation, Huntington Parks & Recreation, and St. Joseph County Parks & Recreation Background images throughout publication, attributed to: Freepik.com

7 From the Executive Director

6 Recreation inSites, LLC

What makes The Profile a success is your input, ideas, experiences, and creativity.

Please consider sharing your input with our network of IPRA members. Artwork and photographs are encouraged.

5 Leadership Team

Happy Park & Recreation Month!

From the Boar d & Staff at IPRA

Mission Statement

The Indiana Park & Recreation Association advances healthy lifestyles and environmental stewardship by providing education, professional development, resources and advocacy.

Vision Statement

The Indiana Park & Recreation Association is the premier source of support and advancement for parks and recreation providers.

2021 IPRA Board of Directors PRESIDENT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES

CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVES

PAST PRESIDENT

RECREATION & PROGRAMMING CHAIR

Tricia Leminger Frost Brown Todd LLC

PRESIDENT-ELECT

AQUATICS CHAIR

Chip Orner Franklin Parks and Recreation Lora Helmick Washington Township Parks Becky Barrick Higgins Bloomington Parks

SECRETARY / TREASURER

Travis Tranbarger Brownsburg Parks & Recreation

NORTHERN DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES Steve McDaniel Fort Wayne Parks

Savannah Solgere Whitestown Parks & Recreation

Will Lacey Danville Parks

Kimberly Campbell Indy Parks

Jordan Brouillard Plainfield Parks and Recreation

NATURAL RESOURCES TRAILS & GREENWAYS CHAIR Denise Retz Richmond Parks

NEW & YOUNG PROFESSIONAL CHAIR Charlie Elliott Indy Parks

Ryan Cambridge Browning Day

ELECTED OFFICIAL

Chuck Gardiner NuToys Leisure Products, Inc.

IPRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lisa D. Nye Indiana Park & Recreation Association

IPRA STAFF

Courtnie Pettigrew Membership & Events Coordinator Indiana Park & Recreation Association Felisha Canillas Development Coordinator Indiana Park & Recreation Association

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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From the Executive Director

By Lisa D. Nye, Indiana Park & Recreation Association

Parks are often the cornerstone of our communities and experiences and memories are built in these important places. These moments are ones that park and recreation professionals make happen and I couldn’t be happier to celebrate Park and Recreation Month!

I am so fortunate to work with the heroes of the parks and recreation field. My place here at IPRA is so much more than a job. I have met the most incredible, committed professionals of my 30+ year career in non-profits. Without their dedication and service to the communities they serve, we wouldn’t have the rich, diverse park systems and programming available throughout the state of Indiana.

Not only am I afforded the opportunity to see the work that parks and recreation professionals do in their communities, but I get to be a part of the work they do behind the scenes here at IPRA. This summer, I got to see firsthand the passion behind the work through the formation of an IPRA social equity interest group.

After careful thought, consideration, and discussion, the IPRA Board of Directors and members of IPRA made the decision to form a social equity interest group. IPRA knows that recreation professionals are uniquely positioned to have a meaningful impact on our communities and thus we want to ensure that parks professionals have the tools and knowledge to best serve their communities. IPRA also believes that providing more inclusive services and programming in an effort to grow and educate oneself on social equity will enable the profession to significantly impact underrepresented community groups and promote more inclusivity here in Indiana.

This group has just recently formed, and you will hear more about the work they are doing in the near future. It is also not too late to join the effort, please reach out if you are interested in learning more or joining this group.

There is always a seat for park and recreation professionals at the IPRA table and we encourage you to continue to engage with us and get involved!

We have many upcoming events including the IPRA Conference and Expo Nov. 2-4 and we hope to see all of you there. For a full list of events, trainings, and opportunities, visit our website.

I would like to close with the biggest heartfelt thanks to all our parks and recreation professionals. As you celebrate Park and Recreation Month with your communities, please remember that without your hard work and dedication, we would not have the experiences and memories that we hold dear to our hearts. You are essential and your work resonates with people and creates lifelong memories.

Thank you!

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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From the President

By Chip Orner, CPRE, Director of Parks & Recreation, City of Franklin, 2021 IPRA President

IPRA Membership, Thank you for allowing me to serve as the IPRA President this year. IPRA has been an essential resource as we navigate the COVID-19 era and recovery period. IPRA serves as an essential resource in helping professionals all over the state work together to best serve our communities. Please join your colleagues in sharing your best practices and experiences on IPRAConnect.org. This is also a great resource to ask questions to your fellow professionals and find solutions to issues you encounter in your community.

There are numerous professional development/events opportunities this year including: • Leadership Summit & Trivia Night • August 24 - 25 • Saxony Hall-Fishers • Trails Gathering at Springwood Lake Park–Richmond • September 23 • IPRA Conference & Expo at Horizon Convention Center–Muncie • November 2 - 4 • Virtual AFO Training • November 15 - 16 • Virtual CPSI Training • December 7 The IPRA Board has approved the creation of a new Social Equity Group for the association. You will be hearing more about this from our Executive Director, Lisa Nye. Please keep our corporate members in mind as you operate your parks, summer programs, pools, and community events. We are blessed to have such great corporate members and partners that support IPRA.

If you have the opportunity, please thank them with your business this year.

Please check out the IPRA website www. inpra.org and IPRAConnect. Both are good resources to keep you up to date and informed of things happening in the Parks & Recreation world throughout Indiana.

Remember, now is the time to register for the 2021 IPRA Conference & Expo that will be held November 2-4 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.

Also, book your hotel room now!

Thank you to our excellent group of parks & recreation professionals on this years’ IPRA Board of Directors. The Board, along with the talented IPRA staff, look forward to serving the association and making 2021 a great year for Parks & Recreation in Indiana!

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Creating Change: The Social Impact of Parks and Recreation in Fort Wayne

By Megan Butler, Program and Events Manager for Riverfront Fort Wayne

By the time Riverfront Fort Wayne’s programming team introduced Creativity for a Change in January 2020, they had several years of a wide variety of program creation under their belts. In four years, the team had created events and programs spanning arts and culture, recreation, and nature—drawing over 60,000 attendees— all in a span of time in which they only had a dedicated programming space beginning in August 2019. Creativity for a Change was designed as a fusion eco-art and found-art project with the goal of using recycled materials to create art pieces.

The first project was to create murals using recycled plastic bottle caps.

Creativity for a Change took place in Promenade Park—Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation’s newest park and contribution to the larger riverfront development project led by the City of Fort Wayne—in downtown Fort Wayne twice per month until most programs had to be canceled due to COVID-19. However, the program quickly attracted an avid attendee—local youth activist Sammie Vance.

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Sammie is a local sixth grader most well-known for her many years of work creating Buddy Benches around the country. Sammie was dismayed at the sight of kids in her school spending recess without a friend.

She came up with the idea to collect plastic bottle caps and have them turned into a special bench—a Buddy Bench. If a kid sat down on the bench, it was a signal that they wanted a friend.

Her first bench at her school was so successful that she spearheaded benches in other schools and even around the US. Sammie’s connection to impactful reuses of discarded materials brought her and her family to join Creativity for a Change.

Her involvement was so important that the program was changed to Caps for a Cause. Luckily, the program could

continue to be done safely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and served as a regular meeting point for like-minded activists.

Out of that program came the idea to add a Buddy Bench to Promenade Park. In fall of 2020, through a dedicated partnership with Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, Riverfront Fort Wayne, and Sammie Vance

Continued on page 11

Creating Change: The Social Impact of Parks and Recreation in Fort Wayne, continued from page 10 (and her family), the first bench was added to the PNC Playground in Promenade Park. The addition of the bench (and her work with Caps for a Cause) was even profiled in a national TV show. In 2021, Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation added 11 more Buddy Benches all around the city.

in my daughter Sammie’s recycling and kindness endeavors. Seeing people come together for Caps for a Cause and create such beautiful murals out of caps from a drawing from Sammie is pretty amazing.

Our family hopes to continue to do things with and support Riverfront now and in the future.“

with park users—donors, families, retirees, youth, and even individuals experiencing homelessness—about what they’d like to see in the park, at programs, and for future development. Survey data from the last year has shown an average 10.3% increase in social capital among program participants.

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with Promenade and to be asked to lead Caps for a Cause,” Sammie said. “I love helping people realize how you can recycle caps into art and buddy benches.

I was so excited to be able to place a buddy bench at the playground to help new friendships be made! The staff at Promenade have become my friends and I hope to continue to be able to help out and work together in the future.”

The quick evolution and expansion of Creativity for a Change is demonstrative of the entire Riverfront Fort Wayne operating model to be radically answerable to the community it serves. Initial planning for the community and economic development project began in 2014 and in two years drew over 41,000 public comments and recommendations. Since that time, thousands more surveys have been performed at events and programs, two scientifically-valid surveys have been commissioned, and programming staff have spent time in the park conversing

Since opening in August 2019, Promenade Park has hosted boat tours, paddle socials, concerts, outdoor movies, Confluence Kitchen (an immersive multicultural dinner experience), philosophy and art programs, dance nights, the Sikh Turban Festival, dragon boat racing, urban birdwatching, and much more. Only time—and the community— will tell how Promenade Park (and future riverfront development) continues to evolve.

Sammie’s mom, Heidi, adds, “We love Promenade Park and all that it has to offer. I have appreciated their support

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Importance of Play

By Johanna Moos, PlayPros

As vaccine rates increase and warm weather rolls out across the country, Americans are eager to get outside after a long stretch of indoor activities over the past 12+ months. And one thing we are sure of is that kids, teens, and adults need outdoor activity to keep themselves healthy—both physically and mentally.

Making time for free, unstructured play is tricky in our 24/7 world, but research tells us that carving out time and space for outdoor play and activity is worth it. For children, playtime allows them to be in control and use their imaginations all while developing a range of important skills.

There are benefits for teens and adults as well. Not only does exercising outdoors lead to better physical health, but it may contribute to increased energy, reduced anger, tension, and depression.

So, as summer 2021 kicks off and more people increase their time outside of their homes, it’s important to provide play and recreation solutions that help individuals of all ages stay active and healthy. Creating thoughtfully designed play spaces help bring children, families, and the entire community together. Today’s playgrounds offer modern design aesthetics and can be complemented with vibrant color palettes to make truly unique destinations for communities. Adding customized playground components into the design can help deliver a world of fantasy for kids.

Even more, incorporating personalized or custom components into the overall playground design can help celebrate the heritage of a community.

It’s important to keep the needs of all users in mind during the design process in order to create a play environment that increases access, safety, comfort, and social participation. By designing with inclusion in mind—incorporating no-transfer swings and spinners, sensory-friendly play panels, ramped playstructures, and other inclusive playground components—children and families of all abilities will be welcomed to play with their peers.

Over the past year, teens, adults and entire families have been looking for opportunities to stay active in new ways, and parks and playgrounds can provide the perfect solution. In addition to playgrounds for children ages 2 to 12, consider offering outdoor fitness solutions for ages 13+. Traditional outdoor fitness equipment—especially if positioned near playgrounds—provides caregivers an opportunity to build muscle strength, cardiovascular health, and balance and flexibility while kids play nearby. Even more, extreme fitness courses can be incorporated to deliver exciting challenge for teens and adults, and even kids ages 5 to 12.

individual spinners, playground ziplines, or a variety of swings.

During the pandemic, many communities made the most of their existing outdoor spaces and have seen the benefits of increased space going forward.

Commercial shade sails and other shelter solutions along with benches, picnic tables, and other site amenities will allow for outdoor meetings, community gatherings, and so much more. To increase precaution for visitors, incorporate large-capacity hand sanitizer stations throughout all the playground and recreation spaces.

As more communities create their new normal in 2021, it’s important to remember the value of play and recreation in the health and wellbeing of all community members. Because no matter what’s happening in the world, we come back to play.

Adding freestanding play components is a great way to expand existing play spaces and freshen up the play experience.

Placing a selection of outdoor musical instruments together can create a fun music zone for smaller groups of visitors.

Encourage sensory nature play with nature-inspired climbers, balance beams, and more, or offer a thrill zone filled with

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Spring Time Fun and Fundraising: 2021 Dollars for Scholars Golf Outing Recap

By Christine Dunker and Felisha Canillas, IPRA

The Annual Dollars for Scholars golf outing was our very first in-person event of the year, and the Indiana Parks and Recreation Foundation (IPRF) was thrilled that participants were able to gather on Tuesday, May 11, to play a round of golf and raise funds for the IPRF scholarship fund. It was a beautiful day to kick off the start of summer and the return of in-person events. Congratulations to the winning team joining us from Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation: Mike Cremeans, Bryan Keister, Gary Whitacre, and Travis Whitman. Coming in second was Butler, Fairman and Seufert, Inc. Other winners included Robb Smithson with the longest drive, Ryan Burnside with the longest putt, and Dan Lawson who won the putting contest and closest to the pin.

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Finally, we want to give a big thank you to our 50/50 raffle winner, Rich Sinclair with Sinclair Recreation, who kindly donated the prize winnings back to the IPRF scholarship fund. The event was a huge success!

Beer was generously donated

by Metazoa and Four Day Ray Brewing. The outing raised over $10,000 for the Indiana Parks and Recreation Foundation. Scholarships provided by IPRF propels park professionals and future park professionals to the next level allowing individuals to take advantage of continuing education in the field of parks and recreation.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

Continued on page 15

Spring Time Fun and Fundraising: 2021 Dollars for Scholars Golf Outing Recap continued from page 14

We’d like to extend our sincerest thank you to the following sponsors of this event for your unwavering support of the foundation.

LUNCH SPONSOR:

DINNER SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSOR:

DRINK/SNACK CART SPONSORS:

GAME HOLE SPONSORS:

GOLF TEE SPONSOR:

TOWEL SPONSOR:

HOLE SPONSORS:

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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In Memory of a Life Well Lived– Leah Gunderson

By Don Seal, IPRA Lifetime Member

Recently, Indiana and the nation lost a leader and a true ray of sunshine with the passing of Leah Gunderson. Leah was a local, state, national, and international presence for the parks. Locally, she served on the City of Lowell Parks Board, and she was a board representative to the IPRA Board of Directors. Nationally, she was a trustee to the NRPA Board.

Internationally, she was an ambassador for the People-toPeople program.

In that capacity she was able to

help fulfill her lifelong love for international travel and her joy of hosting people from all over the world to NRPA conventions. In 2006, she received the NRPA meritorious service citizen award.

She was a determined advocate for parks in the halls of Congress, working on several initiatives with Representative Pete Visclosky from Indiana’s 1st Congressional District. She was also the social leader of the IPRA delegation in Washington, D.C. for many years.

In recent years, she enjoyed her annual trip to Tennessee to attend

the annual Smoky Mountain Wildflower Pilgrimage. She enjoyed painting mountain scenes, wildflowers, and visiting “The Ole Soda Shop” to sip a Green River.

In addition to her own family, she leaves behind her parks and recreation family.

A person like Leah comes around very infrequently. We will all miss her.

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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2021 Indiana Park and Recreation Association

BUYER’S GUIDE VENDOR DIRECTORY

Abonmarche Consultants

Bobrick Washroom Equipment

CHA Consulting, Inc.

American Clean & Seal

Browning Day

CivicPlus

American Ramp Company

Buddenbaum & Moore LLC

315 W. Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, IN 46601 https://www.abonmarche.com/ (574) 314-1025 Crystal Welsh cwelsh@abonmarche.com 4469 Bragdon Street Indianapolis, IN 46226 www.acs-indy.com (317) 536-0211 Jeff Wood jwood@acsinaz.com

601 S. McKinley Avenue Joplin, MO 64801 www.americanrampcompany.com (417) 206-6816 Evan Moss evan@americanrampcompany.com

AquaSeal Resurfacing LLC 7681 Tim Avenue N.W. North Canton, OH 44720 https://aquasealllc.com/ (330) 323-5972 Heather Scott hscott@aquasealllc.com

3004 E. 56th Street Indianapolis, IN 46220 www.bobrick.com (317) 253-5248 John Robison john@wmbakerco.com

626 N. Illinois Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.browningday.com (317) 635-5030 Drew Braley dbraley@browningday.com P.O. Box 990 Noblesville, IN 46061 www.buddenbaummoore.com (317) 214-7443 Yvonne Moore yvonne@buddenbaummoore.com

Butler Fairman & Seufert 8450 Westfield Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46240 www.BFSengr.com (317) 713-4615 Alan Hamersly ahamersly@bfsengr.com

Banning Engineering

853 Columbia Road, Suite 101 Plainfield, IN 46168 www.banning-eng.com (317) 707-3700 Jeff Henson jhenson@banning-eng.com

BGI Fitness

5501 W. 79th Street Indianapolis, IN 46268 www.bgifitnesscommercial.com (317) 671-5323 Justin Mize jmize@bgindy.com Fitness Equipment Sales, Service, and Design.

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BF&S provides a full range of engineering, landscape architecture, environmental, planning and design services, with primary focus on trails, greenways, parks, streetscapes and alternative transportation.

Cardno

3901 Industrial Boulevard Indianapolis, IN 46254 https://www.cardno.com/ (317) 388-1982 Sean Clauson sean.clauson@cardno.com

300 S. Meridian St. Union Station Indianapolis, IN 46225 (317) 786-0461 www.chacompanies.com Andy Hahn ahahn@chacompanies.com 302 S. 4th Street Manhattan, KS 66502 https://www.civicplus.com/about-us (888) 228-2233 Brian Scott bscott@civicplus.com

CivicRec provides recreation management software designed to address the unique needs of parks and rec departments to help you serve your community and drive revenue.

Commercial Recreation Group 15150 Herriman Boulevard Noblesville, IN 46060 www.CRGplay.com (317) 776-7830 Travis Goebel travis@crgplay.com

We provide and install playground equipment, surfacing, site amenities, shade structures, athletic equipment, dog parks and much, much more!

Context Design

5825 Lawton Loop E. Drive Indianapolis, IN 46216 www.context-design.com (317) 485-6900 Alyssa Prazeau aprazeau@context-design.com

2021 Indiana Park and Recreation Association Buyer’s Guide VENDOR DIRECTORY Cornerstone PDS

P.O. Box 6095 Fishers, IN 46038 www.cornerstonepds.com (317) 849-0600 Deb Schmucker schmuckerd@cornerstonepds.com

Forest Commodities Inc.

1789 S. Old State Road 67 Martinsville, IN 46151 www.forestcommodities.com (765) 349-3291 Kelly Hall khall@fcimulch.com

Davey Resource Group, Inc.

5641 W. 73rd Street Indianapolis, IN 46278 www.davey.com/environmentalconsulting-services (765) 430-9020 Aren Flint aren.flint@davey.com

Deaton’s Waterfront Services 215 S. Madison Street Fortville, IN 46040 www.deatonsdocks.com (317) 747-4933 Mike Deaton mike@deatondocks.com

Dewberry Architects Inc. 132 N. York Street Elmhurst, IL 60126 www.dewberry.com (847) 841-0571 Daniel Atilano datilano@dewberry.com

DLZ Indiana, LLC

138 N. Delaware Street Indianapolis, IN 46204-2524 www.dlz.com (317) 633-4120 Jeff Hirsch, PLA, LEED AP jhirsch@dlz.com

Finn All Seasons

4125 Port Union Road Fairfield, OH 45014 www.finnallseasons.com (513) 341-7002 Brad Dawson bdawson@finnallseasons.com

21 S.E. Third Street, Suite 800 Evansville, IN 47708 http://haferdesign.com/ (812) 422-4187 Ali Niemeier aniemeier@haferdesign.com

Hawkins Water Treatment Group

Cripe Architects

3939 Priority Way S. Drive, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46240 www.cripe.biz (317) 844-6777 David Roth droth@cripe.biz

Hafer

Frost Brown Todd

201 N. Illinois Street, Suite 1900 Indianapolis, IN 46204 https://frostbrowntodd.com/ (317) 237-3800 Tricia Leminger tleminger@fbtlaw.com

GGLeagues

6848 Bandera Avenue, Apt. 433 Dallas, TX 60607 https://www.ggleagues.com/ (832) 788-8296 Erich Bao erich@ggleagues.com

Gold Medal Products

3439 N. Shadeland Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46226 www.gmpopcorn.com (317) 714-0698 Lloyd Smiley lsmiley@gmpopcorn.com

Grasshopper Company

P.O. Box 637 Moundridge, KS 67107 www.grasshoppermower.com (620) 345-8621 Connie Estep show@grasshoppermower.com

4601 S. Delaware Drive Muncie, IN 47302-9177 https://www.hawkinsinc.com/ (765) 288-8930 Keith Uccello keith.uccello@hawkinsinc.com

Hitchcock Design Group

363 N. Illinois Street, Suite 2 Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.hitchcockdesigngroup.com (630) 961-1787 Randy Royer rroyer@hitchcockdesigngroup.com

Huffcutt Concrete

4033 123rd Street Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 www.huffcutt.com (715) 438-6254 Jon Schroetke jon.schroetke@thesighgroup.com

Hunger Skate Parks

7438 E. Lampkins Ridge Road Bloomington, IN 47401 https://hungerskateparks.com/ (812) 322-8044 Christy Wiesenhahn info@hungerskateparks.com

HWC Engineering

135 N. Pennsylvania Street Indianapolis, IN 46217 https://www.hwcengineering.com/ (317) 347-3663 Cory Whitesell cwhitesell@hwcengineering.com

Green Sign Company

1045 E. Freeland Road Greensburg, IN 47240 https://www.greensignco.com/ (812) 663-2550 Keri keri@greensignco.com

Indiana Correctional Industries

P.O. Box 840 1110 S. Vestal Drive Plainfield, IN 46168 indianacorrectionalindustries.com (317) 955-6800 Randy Reel rreel@idoc.in.gov Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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2021 Indiana Park and Recreation Association Buyer’s Guide VENDOR DIRECTORY Integrity Recreation Concepts, LLC 10851 State Route 593 Owensboro, KY 42301 www.timberform.com (270) 903-5776 Chris Kirn, Columbia Cascade Company chrisk@timberform.com

iStrike by AnythingWeather

77806 Flora Road, Suite B Palm Desert, CA 92211 www.iStrikeAlerts.com (760) 459-2079 Gregg Potter gregg@anythingweather.com iStrike provides lightning alerting text and email alerts along with standalone sirens and strobes. Flexible, customizable and simple as only power is required!

Kenney Machinery Corporation 8420 Zionsville Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 https://kenneymachinery.com/ (317) 593-2258 Dan Gamble dan.gamble@kmcturf.com

Kidstuff Playsystems

5400 Miller Avenue Gary, IN 46403 www.kidstuffplaysystems.com (219) 938-3331 Richard Hagelberg rhagelberg@kidstuffplaysystems.com

Lehman & Lehman, Inc.

510 Lincolnway E. Mishawaka, IN 46544 www.lehmanandlehman.com (574) 257-0255 Chuck Lehman chuck@landlehman.com

1828 Central Avenue, Suite 201 Indianapolis, IN 46202 https://www.landworxeng.com/ (317) 616-0177 Customer Service admin@landworxeng.com

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1279 Hazelton-Etna Road S.W. Pataskala, OH 43062 www.midstatesrecreation.com (614) 855-3790 Nathan Chamberlin nathanc@midstatesrecreation.com

Mader Design LLC

302 Main Street Beech Grove, IN 46107 www.maderdesignllc.com (317) 889-1775 Jeffrey Mader info@maderdesignllc.com

MartinRiley Architects • Engineers 221 W. Baker Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 www.martin-riley.com (260) 422-7994 Aimee Shimasaki ashimasaki@martin-riley.com

Midstates Recreation is a supplier and installer of commercial playground equipment, safety surfacing, site amenities, shade, shelter, and outdoor fitness equipment.

Miracle Playgrounds of Indiana P.O. Box 4045 Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 https://www.miracleindiana.com/ (877) 220-6705 Megan Miller megan@miracleindiana.com

McGavic Outdoor Power Equipment 2280 Westfield Road Noblesville, IN 46062 https://www.mcgavicoutdoorpower. com/ (317) 774-5888 Erica Spear espear@mcgavicoutdoorpower.com

Mean Green Electric Mowers

4404 Hamilton Cleves Road, Suite 2 Hamilton, OH 45013 www.meangreenproducts.com (513) 738-4736 Pete Sole pete.sole@meangreenproducts.com

IPEMA-certified playground manufacturer in Gary, IN. Full service including equipment, installation and safety surfacing.

LandWorx Engineering, LLC

Midstates Recreation

Formerly Miracle Midwest, Miracle Playgrounds of Indiana formed in 2021, bringing our passion for play, reputation for quality products and excellent service to our customers.

Musco Sports Lighting

100 1st Avenue W. Oskaloosa, IA 52577 www.musco.com (800) 825-6030 Brent Castle brent.castle@musco.com Mark Lusch mark.lusch@musco.com

Norwalk Concrete Industries Meyer Najem Construction

11787 Lantern Road Fishers, IN 46038 https://www.meyer-najem.com/ (317) 577-0007 Nate Lelle nlelle@meyer-najem.com

80 Commerce Drive Norwalk, OH 44857 www.nci.com (800) 733-3624 Jeff Malcolm jmalcolm@nciprecast.com

2021 Indiana Park and Recreation Association Buyer’s Guide VENDOR DIRECTORY NuToys Leisure Products P.O. Box 2121 LaGrange, IL 60525 www.nutoys4fun.com (708) 606-7223 Chuck Gardiner chuckg@nutoys4fun.com

PROS Consulting, Inc.

RenoSys

RATIO

A full range of products for pool renovation, expansion, and construction. RenoSys is based in Indianapolis and has supported Indiana parks for over 30 years.

35 Whittington Drive, Suite 300 Brownsburg, IN 46112 www.prosconsulting.com (317) 679-5615 Leon Younger leon.younger@prosconsulting.com

2825 E. 55th Place Indianapolis, IN 46220 https://renosys.com (800) 783-7005 Shanda Ellis info@renosys.com

Parkreation, Inc.

204 Leeds Drive Valparaiso, IN 46383 www.parkreation.com (219) 477-1842 Mary Sanders indianaoffice@parkreation.com Parkreation celebrates 25 years!

Parkreation represents ICON Shelter Systems, Shade Systems, Little Tikes Commercial playgrounds, Fibar, Murdock Fountains, and TrekFit for all your outdoor solutions.

Pioneer Athletics

4529 Industrial Parkway Cleveland, OH 44135 https://pioneerathletics.com/ (800) 877-1500 Tom Fron tfron@pioneerathletics.com

PlayPros

4815 S. 100 W. Kokomo, IN 46902 www.playpros.com (866) 959-7866 Andrea Halbig andrea@playpros.com

PlayPros is an exclusive representative of Landscape Structures that provides the best in recreational outdoor spaces including commercial play structures, aquatic play, and fabric shade structures.

With on-site consultation, design, and professionally certified installation, PlayPros has you covered from start to finish.

101 S. Pennsylvania Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 https://ratiodesign.com/ (317) 633-4040 John Jackson jjackson@ratiodesign.com

We are an international design firm.

We believe parks and trails can be a powerful force for social good. At RATIO, we design for impact.

RecDesk

300 Plaza Middlesex Middletown, CT 6457 http://recdesk.com/ (800) 325-7397 Chrisi Kemp chrisi.kemp@recdesk.com

Recreation inSites, LLC

12237 Westmorland Drive Fishers, IN 46037 www.recreationinsites.com (317) 201-7056 Melissa Guffey melissag@recreationinsites.com

Recreation inSites is a proud KOMPAN playground equipment and outdoor fitness vendor, and Cedar Forest Products shelters and site amenities.

IPRA, Working for You...

For more information about IPRA, Visit our website at: www.inpra.org

R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. / Pilot Rock P.O. Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012 www.pilotrock.com (712) 225-5115 Customer Service customerservice@rjthomas.com

RLTurner Construction 1000 W. Oak Street Zionsville, IN 46077 https://rlturner.com/ (317) 873-2712 Layne Cameron lcameron@rlturner.com

Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Inc. 618 E. Market Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 http://reasite.com/ (317) 263-0127 Kevin Osburn, PLA, ASLA kosburn@reasite.com

SealMaster

1010 E. Sumner Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46227 https://sealmaster.net/ (317) 780-1310 Chad Denison chad@sealmasterindy.com

Service Supply Ltd. Inc.

1610 Lancaster Avenue Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 www.servicesupplyltd.com (800) 848-7556 Jerry Groves Sr jgroves@servicesupplyltd.com DUMOR. SITE AMENITIES—since 1984 we have been the exclusive INDIANA REPRESENTATIVE— please visit DUMOR.COM Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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2021 Indiana Park and Recreation Association Buyer’s Guide VENDOR DIRECTORY Sinclair Recreation, LLC

128 E. Lakewood Boulevard, Suite 40 Holland, MI 49424 https://sinclair-rec.com/ (800) 444-4954 Rich Sinclair rich@sinclair-rec.com

Sport Court Midwest

747 Church Road, Suite G10 Elmhurst, IL 60126 https://www.courtofsport.com/ (630) 350-8652 Pat Walker pwalker@courtofsport.com

Top Notch Pressure Washing

128 Pine Street Southport, IN 46227 www.facebook.com/ TopNotchPressureWashing16/ (317) 340-5417 Customer Service topnotchpw2016@gmail.com

Troyer Group Sinclair Recreation, LLC is the GameTime playground sales representative for the state of Indiana. We design, sell and install playgrounds throughout the state.

Smart Field Forms

8745 W. Higgins Road, Suite 110 Chicago, IL 60631 https://www.smartfieldforms.com/ (312) 588-7200 Customer Service info@smartfieldforms.com

Snider Recreation, Inc

10139 Royalton Road, Suite K North Royalton, OH 44133 www.cvsnider.com (800) 888-2889 Heather Hice heather@cvsnider.com

Spear Corporation

12966 N. County Road 50 W. Roachdale, IN 46172 www.spearcorp.com (800) 642-6640 Brian Spear bspear@spearcorp.com

Spence Restoration Nursery Inc.

2220 E. Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 http://www.spencenursery.com/Index/ home.php (765) 286-7154 Amy Rhodes sales@spencenursery.com

Spohn Ranch Skatepark

6824 S. Centinela Avenue Culver City, CA 90230 www.spohnranch.com (626) 330-5803 Michael Stanfield mikendo@spohnranch.com

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Sport Court Midwest is a leading provider of athletic surfaces. We provide and install indoor gym flooring, outdoor tennis,pickleball and basketball surfaces. Call Sport Court.

Terra Tread

2121 Tracy Road Northwood, OH 43619 terratread.com (419) 351-5412 Bryan Martin bmartin@terratread.com

The Arsh Group Inc.

6481 Taft Street, Suite A Merrillville, IN 46410 https://www.arshgroup.com/ (219) 981-9050 Customer Service arshgroup@arshgroup.com

The Skillman Corporation

3834 S. Emerson Avenue, Building A Indianapolis, IN 46203 www.skillman.com (317) 783-6151 Natalie O’Hara nohara@skillman.com

Since 1972, Skillman has been committed to providing industryleading Construction Management services. We build relationships, not just buildings!

3930 Edison Lakes Parkway Mishawaka, IN 46545 www.troyergroup.com (574) 360-7042 Jonathon Geels jsg@troyergroup.com

V3 Companies

619 N. Pennsylvania Street Indianapolis, IN 46204 http://www.v3co.com/ (317) 423-0690 Don Staley, PLA, LEED AP dstaley@v3co.com

Veridus Group, Inc.

6280 N. Shadeland Avenue, Suite A Indianapolis, IN 46220 www.theveridusgroup.com (317) 598-6647 Tim Jensen tjensen@theveridusgroup.com

Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl.

11024 Bailey Road Cornelius, NC 28031 www.vortex-intl.com (877) 586-7839 Angie Monroe amonroe@vortex-intl.com

Water Solutions Unlimited 8824 Union Mills Drive Camby, IN 46113 https://www.getwsu.com/ (800) 359-3570 Callan Hughes chughes@getwsu.com

IPRA, Working for You...

For more information about IPRA, Visit our website at: www.inpra.org

2021 Indiana Park and Recreation Association Buyer’s Guide VENDOR DIRECTORY Weihe Engineers

10505 N. College Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46280 https://www.weihe.net/ (317) 846-6611 Bill Schmidt schmidtb@weihe.net

You can build with confidence knowing Weihe Engineers has been providing creative, and responsive Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Surveying services for over 60 years.

Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc.

3339 W. 850 N. Lizton, IN 46149 https://www.woodywarehouse.com/ (765) 894-1221 Tiffany Washam tiffany@woodywarehouse.com

CATEGORY LISTINGS Aquatic Design Supplies AquaSeal Resurfacing Buddenbaum & Moore LLC Deaton’s Waterfront Services RenoSys Spear Corporation Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl.

Water Solutions Unlimited

Architects • Engineers Abonmarche Consultants Banning Engineering Butler Fairman & Seufert, Inc. Context Design Cornerstone PDS Cripe Dewberry Architects Inc. DLZ Indiana LLC Hafer Hitchcock Design Group HWC Engineering LandWorx Engineering, LLC Lehman & Lehman, Inc. Mader Design LLC Martinriley RATIO Design Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Inc. Spence Restoration Nursery, Inc. The Arsh Group Inc. V3 Companies Weihe Engineers

Athletic • Exercise • Sports Equipment BGI Fitness

Buildings • Restrooms • Shelters • Site Amenities Bobrick Washroom Equipment Huffcutt concrete Midstates Recreation Norwalk Concrete Industries Parkreation, Inc. R.J. Thomas Mfg Co / Pilot Rock Service Supply LTD., Ind. TerraTread

Business Services • Consultants • Contractors

Playground Design • Equipment

Browning Day CHA Consulting, Inc. Davey Resource Group Inc. Frost Brown Todd Meyer Najem Construction PROS Consulting, Inc. RLTurner Construction The Skillman Corporation Top Notch Pressure Washing Veridus Group

Commercial Recreation Group Integrity Recreation Concepts, LLC Kidstuff Playsystems Inc. Midstates Recreation Miracle Playgrounds of Indiana NuToys Leisure Products Parkreation, Inc. PlayPros Recreation inSites Sinclair Recreation, LLC Snider Recreation

Computer Services • Software

Skate Parks • Skate Ramps

CivicPlus GGLeagues RecDesk Smart Field Forms

American Ramp Company Hunger Skate Parks Spohn Ranch Skateparks

Landscape Architecture

Forest Commodities Inc. Midstates Recreation Sport Court Midwest

Troyer Group

Lighting Green Sign Company Musco Sports Lighting

Maintenance Products • Services American Clean & Seal Finn All Seasons Grasshopper Company McGavic Outdoor Power Equipment SealMaster

Park Products • Services Indiana Correctional Industries iStrike by AnythingWeather Woody Warehouse Nursery, Inc.

Surfacing

Turf Products Kenney Machinery Corporation Mean Green Electric Mowers Pioneer Athletics

Other Cardno Gold Medal Products Green Sign Company Hawkins Water Treatment Group Service Supply LTD., Inc. Sport Court Midwest

IPRA, Working for You...

For more information about IPRA, Visit our website at: www.inpra.org Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Wookiee Walk

By Brandy Firchter, Superintendent, Bluffton Parks

In the galaxy of Bluffton Far, Far Away… we had been toying with the idea of a new Star Wars event ever since we used it as the theme of our Daddy/Daughter and Mother/Son Dance a few years ago. The residents in our community really enjoy unique programs, and they fully embrace getting a little silly with their families during our events.

Being in the Parks Department for over 19 years has led to some fascinating acquaintances, and one of ours includes an eight-foot-tall Wookiee. If you haven’t already heard, there are a few groups of Star Wars/Mandalorian Characters who will come in costume for special events.

We originally requested May 4th (May the 4th be with you), but there was a strong chance of rain, and you can imagine what

humidity would do to a Wookiee. So, we rescheduled to May 5th (Return of the Fifth). Our department’s new Assistant Superintendent, Karla Fritts, created a mystery message and hid clues along the River Greenway Trail for young padawans to find during their walk. Each clue had a photo of a movie character along with a corresponding letter that they can fill in on their paper to reveal the secret message of “may the force be with you.” We also wrote some of our favorite Star Wars sayings on the path with chalk.

Around 220 residents showed up in costume to meet the Star Wars characters and had their photos taken with them before they set off on their journey to discover the hidden message. We considered this event a huge success for getting families exercising on the trail together. I’m sure by the honks we heard from the passing traffic that this must have been quite a spectacle to see a Stormtrooper dancing on the side of the street. If you are looking for a budgetfriendly event, I would have to say that this one is out of this world!

If you would like to schedule an invasion in your city, contact the 501st Legion at https://www.501st.com/, the Rebel Legion at https://rebellegion.com/, and the Mandalorian Mercs can be reached at https://mandalorianmercs.org/.

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Congratulations to the IPRA movers and shakers who have recently changed jobs and/or retired within the park and recreation profession!

Brandon Beno

Brandon Beno completed his internship with the Channahon Park District in Channahon, Illinois during his time at the University of St. Francis. After graduating in 2017 with a degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism Management he moved to Michigan with his husband Jason and began working as a part-time Reservation Coordinator for the City of Livonia Parks and Recreation Department and as a part time Recreation Programmer for the City of Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. During this time, he was elected as the Chair-Elect for the Michigan Recreation and Park Associations New Professionals Focus Area. After working both part-time positions, Brandon became the Programs and Enrichment Administrator at The Community House in Birmingham Michigan.

During the spring of 2019, Brandon moved back to Illinois so his husband could go to school in Chicago to become an Overhead Lineman. Brandon began working for the Naperville Park District as a seasonal employee who coordinated the paddle boats.

At the end of the paddle boat season Brandon worked with school-age children at the YMCA and at KLA Schools, a Reggio Emilia based early childhood center. It was not until June 2020 that Brandon and his family relocated to Hobart, Indiana. Brandon continued to work in early childhood education centers. After many years of moving, Brandon earned a position in February 2021 at the Town of Merrillville Parks and Recreation Department as a part-time Recreation Supervisor. In June Brandon was promoted and earned full-time status. Brandon looks forward to creating successful recreation programs for the citizens of Merrillville. Brandon is now part of the Indiana Park and Recreation Association Conference Committee, Education Sub-Committee, Young Professionals Sub-Committee, the Maintenance Expo Planning Committee, and the Trails Gathering Planning Committee and is looking at growing the upcoming Social Equity Interest Group.

Brady Buckley

Supervisor of Athletics for the City of Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Department to Sports Program Manager for the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department (Columbus, IN) Columbus Parks and Recreation Department has named Brady Buckley as its Sports Programs Manager. Mr. Buckley brings extensive education and experience to the role. As Supervisor of Athletics, he was responsible for management of all sports programs, including youth and adult sports and tournaments, as well as serving as the interim Golf Supervisor during COVID for his department.

Go to page 35 to read more about Brady.

Austin Hochstetler

Associate Principal at PROS Consulting LLC to Principal (and Owner) at Zec Eight Insights LLC Austin left PROS Consulting in early 2021 to begin a new endeavor focusing on strengthening parks and recreation agencies’ ability to make well-informed operational decisions. Zec Eight Insights works with agencies to provide the following services: data analytics; business performance and measurement; organizational readiness, alignment, and culture; needs assessments and community planning; stakeholder engagement; and CAPRA assistance. Although the main focus encompasses parks and recreation agencies, Zec Eight Insights’ mission is to be your trusted partner, working with you to provide information-driven context to plan for community-centric challenges. This means that other public-facing organizations can utilize these services as well. Additionally, Austin’s goal is to focus on intentionality and transparency in his new consulting role.

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Lisa Leach

Program facilitator at Portage Township Bonner Senior Center to Park Superintendent at Portage Township Dept. of Parks & Recreation Lisa came into the position with passion for fishing, hunting, camping, mountain biking, and hiking. Her passion is what drives her to bring outdoor recreation to the parks. In her new role, she is responsible for the overall welfare of park visitors, property, staff, and natural resources through the development of programs, events, guidelines, and opportunities for all to participate in meaningful outdoor recreation.

Nikki Murphy

Director of Sports Programs to Associate Director of Recreation at the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department Nikki’s career has taken her down a number of different paths, but they all share one common denominator: people. She finds the most professional and personal fulfillment when she is able to spend time forging and strengthening relationships and spending time developing people. As she progresses in her career, she has found an equal passion for high level planning and project management. This position move allows her to spend the majority of her time utilizing her strengths in both of those areas, daily!

In her new role, she will be responsible for managing and leading operations of the department pertaining to recreation. These responsibilities include contributing to the strategic leadership of the Department of Parks and Recreation, coordinating and managing complex and high profile projects involving competing interests and multiple objectives, and team and staff development and facilitating workflow, operational decisions, planning, and organizational development initiatives.

Adam Owens

RL Turner’s Corporation COO to President/Chief Executive Officer Adam Owens has been appointed to lead the RL Turner Corporation as its new President/Chief Executive Officer by the company’s Board of Directors. The opening was created when Greg Turner, current President and CEO, stepped down. Turner, however, will remain with the company in an advisory capacity as well as retain his position with the Board of Directors. “The time has come to pass the torch, and I can’t think of a more capable team to which to pass it,” Turner said. “I am confident that I’m doing it at a good time, and the company is being left in excellent hands that will keep it flourishing for decades to come.”

Owens has been involved with much of that success as he’s served as COO since 2018. He’s been with the company for 11 years, starting as an intern in 2009 and moving up steadily through the company’s ranks. “It’s humbling to me to be stepping into this position,” Owens said. “I feel confident, though, because we have a phenomenal team overseeing all phases of the company. I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s commitment and dedication, and I look forward to leading the company.”

Mick Renneisen

Deputy Mayor of the City of Bloomington has retired.

Forty years ago, Mick Renneisen began his career with the City of Bloomington in the Department of Parks and Recreation. He worked in various positions within the sports division before becoming the Administrator of the Department for almost 20 years. Then in 2016, Mick was appointed Deputy Mayor. As Deputy Mayor, Mick oversaw 16 city departments and was instrumental in implementing policies and goals, including job creation, affordable housing, quality of life improvements, and transparent and efficient basic governmental services. Upon his retirement, Mayor Hamilton stated that “Mick has been at the center of so much that our community treasures – from parks, trails and recreational facilities and events to the basic functioning of all of our departments. He is a quintessential public servant and has been indispensable in helping envision and realize the Bloomington we want to create for future generations”.

Go to page 37 to read more about Mick.

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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In Remembrance of Dr. Thomas J. Rillo

By Becky Higgins, Bloomington Parks & Recreation The field of parks and recreation lost another great one. On May 25th Dr. Thomas J. Rillo passed away. He was 93 years young. He may be gone, but he won’t soon be forgotten.

Dr. Thomas Rillo, professor emeritus from Indiana University’s Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies (now the Department of Wellness Design), has been called “A Pioneer in the Environmental Education Movement.”

Active in the field of outdoor education for more than 66 years, he served as a consultant to many school systems setting up outdoor education programs, and has published widely in the field. In 1980, he received a Distinguished Teaching Award from Indiana University (IU).

Dr. Rillo was influenced by Lloyd B. (L.B.) Sharp and Dr. Reynold Carlson, who can both be credited as forefathers in the environmental crusade. L.B. Sharp was a friend and mentor to Dr. Rillo and served on his doctoral committee at Southern Illinois University. Dr. Carlson recommended Dr. Rillo for his professor position at IU. While coordinating outdoor teaching programs and classes at Montclair State College, he learned of the passing of L.B. Sharp and was asked to return to Southern Illinois University to coordinate the Outdoor Education Center at Little Grassy Lake. Back in Illinois he taught outdoor education courses and finished his Ph.D. He developed mobile outdoor teaching units made from trailers based on the ones that L.B. Sharp had used at his National Camp. This enabled him to take outdoor education to schools and work with teachers and students.

In 1967, Dr. Rillo returned to Glassboro State College and taught in the Experienced Teachers Environmental Education program. Two mobile trailers were created to help outdoor education reach schools in nearby communities.

In 1972, Dr. Rillo was recruited on the recommendation of Dr. Reynold Carlson to teach in the Recreation & Park Administration Department at Indiana University. He remained a professor in the department for 20 years. Dr. Rillo thought Bloomington would be a wonderful community to raise his three children. Tom and Joan Rillo remained in Bloomington and all three of their children graduated from IU.

While at IU, Dr. Rillo taught three classes each semester and helped restructure the curriculum to include an outdoor option.

He also taught courses at IUPUI and Bradford Woods. Bradford Woods was and still is one of the longest operating outdoor education school programs in the country.

Dr. Rillo’s teaching style was unique with how he encouraged his students to want to learn. He infused outdoor methods into his classroom teachings and the combination brought life to learning. He can be credited with influencing many students who became successful professionals. If you were fortunate enough to have gone through the recreation program during Dr. Rillo’s tenure, you were sure to have experienced the best ceremonial steak dinners known to man, the Buffalo ‘Tro.’ Dr. Rillo captivated audiences young and old with the story of the Buffalo ‘Tro.’ The Legend was passed down to Dr. Rillo from L.B. Sharp, and the phrase ‘Tro’ came from the youngsters L.B. Sharp worked with from the Lower East Side or Hell’s Kitchen in New York City. The feast was based on a style of cooking used by Native Americans and was a great public relations tool and way to end sessions at National Camp.

During countless occasions such as conferences, institutes, end of camp sessions, or courses held at Bradford Woods, the Buffalo Tro ceremony and feast left a lasting impression on anyone fortunate enough to attend. The ‘Tro’ experience was built up beginning with the hardwood fire that burned for hours before the coals were ready to be raked out. Next, attendees would gather around the fire to hear the legend as told by Dr. Rillo. The story, usually embellished a bit

by Dr. Rillo, contained history, folklore, and pure fun. The ceremonial eating of M&M’s, used as detoxification pills, came at the end of the story. Finally came time to eat the wonderfully marinated steak with a delicious side of Rock Creek potatoes. It didn’t get any better than that.

Dr. Rillo’s work at Bradford Woods influenced all who took classes offered at the outdoor facility. There was much to learn, and he was always ready for a hike through the woods. He also taught other types of classes including square dance calling. His knowledge was so vast that he could teach something about every bit of flora and fauna found

along the path. It was a wonderful time to be a student in the recreation department.

Dr. Rillo spent 20 summers in the mountain environment of Wyoming working in the Bridger Teton National Forest. The American Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS), owned and operated by Safari Club International, had its camp and outdoor classroom 7,000 feet up in the snowcapped mountains of the Grand Tetons. It was there that those outdoor techniques were taught to teachers and their outdoor personnel. University credit was offered through IU, and students came from all over the US and abroad.

Before Dr. Rillo’s retirement from IU, he took a sabbatical for a semester. He had been commissioned by the National Forest Service (NFS) to do an evaluative study of nine National Forest sites throughout the western states. He studied interpretive programs and made recommendations to the NFS on ways they could improve. This allowed Dr. Rillo to travel throughout the west and was a great ending to his career at Indiana University.

Upon retirement, he traveled extensively with his wife Joan. He was very active in writing stories and poetry about nature, spirituality, and many other topics. He stayed in Bloomington and was a regular at the YMCA until COVID, and never lost his love for nature and environmental education.

Dr. Rillo’s reach was far. He most recently was the recipient of the LEGENDS Award from Indiana University for all his contributions to the field of outdoor environmental education. He touched the lives of many throughout the years he spent at Indiana University, and I am honored to have been one of his students.

There are not many gems like him left in the world, and I was so proud to call him my mentor and friend. Rest well, Doc. You have earned it…

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Indiana Parks Project Delivery Methods

By Marc Griffith, Veridus Group

For as long as most of us can remember, municipal projects have traditionally been delivered via the Design-Bid-Build project delivery process. This most likely originated because of the interpretation of state statute and has continued decade after decade because of the culture of municipal entities (“It’s the way we have always done it”). While legislation is sometimes considered to be restrictive, Indiana, in recent years, has codified project delivery methods that are being closely reviewed and executed by forward thinking municipalities and other units of government.

In our role as Owner’s Technical Representatives for many municipalities around the state, we are seeing community after community becoming more and more frustrated with the traditional Design-Bid-Build process.

Considerable effort is placed on identifying the appropriate design team, developing a design which speaks to the community’s goals, and encouraging participation in the bid process, to ultimately find out that bids are over budget or there is a major concern with the lowest and most responsive bidder. Either outcome can be detrimental to the project. The former forces the community to seek additional funding or have the design team reduce scope, value engineer the project, or table the project until funds are made available.

The latter places a significant amount of risk on the community. It is often found that the lowest, most responsive bidder has missed scope and may come back with

expensive change orders after work has started, or the contractor could potentially cut corners and deliver an inferior product.

If only there was a way to have our cake and eat it too…

We are representing several municipalities around the state who are taking advantage of Indiana Code 5-32, commonly referred to as the Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) project delivery method. The CMc method is the public industry’s adaptation of Construction Manager at Risk. This method allows the Construction Manager to come on board early in the design process to provide pre-construction services. This usually entails constructability reviews through the design process, as well as construction estimates at schematic design, design development, and construction document design deliverables. This ensures that your design team is keeping the design within your budget so that you don’t have the unfortunate exercise of finding out the budget has been blown when bids are received.

There are several other benefits to the CMc process. The CMc is required to follow statute and publicly bid the project, but in a means to protect themselves and the client from unqualified subcontractors, the statute allows the CMc to prequalify those who are interested in bidding on the project. In most projects, prequalification typically focuses on the health of the contractor in regard to finances, litigation, and safety records.

Once the bid takes place, the CMc carries the contracts of the subcontractors and presents the client with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). This GMP typically includes a construction contingency to cover items which may arise during the construction process and help alleviate change orders during construction.

Ultimately, the CMc Contractor has assumed the risk of the delivery of the project per the plans and specifications for a guaranteed maximum dollar amount.

Some forward-thinking parks and recreation departments have been pushing the envelope with regard to project delivery methods. We are beginning to see them utilize Indiana Code 5-23, which is Indiana’s public private partnership statute, more commonly referred to as the Build Operate Transfer statute. This statute was originally written specifically for Marion County as a delivery method for the Hoosier Dome in the late 70s. The method got little use until around 2012 when communities looked to the method to develop large infrastructure projects.

While this has similar benefits in regards to a Guaranteed Maximum Price and pushing the majority of the risk onto the developer, it presents several other advantages as well. The statute allows the developer to finance the project during construction which then allows the developer to negotiate with subcontractors to identify the best team for the job.

Continued on page 32 Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Indiana Parks Project Delivery Methods, continued from page 31 design team, or you can contract with a design team. Typically, the developer is identified early in the process to help with the budgeting exercise to make sure the project design stays on budget. With the appropriate language in the request for qualifications, all of this front-end work can be done at the developer’s expense and the municipality can choose to walk away if they so desire (we are unaware of this happening), further distancing the municipality from risk.

Competition can increase through this method as there are qualified contractors who have not previously pursued public work that will be interested in pursuing projects of this model. The municipality can pledge revenues or bond proceeds to the developer as a repayment source, which allows the developer to go out and negotiate for the best interest rates from banks. Banks then compete for your

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business, which usually results in an interest rate as good as, if not better than, what the municipality could get on their own.

Municipalities can pledge revenues from future budgets to the project allowing larger, more complex projects to be delivered over multiple years.

The developer can bring their own

While both of the previously mentioned project delivery methods may led you to think they can only be utilized on large capital projects, many municipalities are taking advantage of their flexibility and targeting park projects, roadway projects, utility infrastructure projects, and maintenance projects in their communities.

Both models indicate that municipalities are looking to invest taxpayer dollars in a non-traditional manner to make sure those dollars are being spent well and more of those dollars are invested into the projects in a tangible way to provide even more benefit to their community.

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Columbus Parks and Recreation Department Names Brady Buckley as Sports Programs Manager

By Nikki Murphy, Associate Director of Recreation at Columbus Parks and Recreation

Columbus Parks and Recreation Department has named Brady Buckley as its Sports Programs Manager. Before joining Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, Mr. Buckley served as the Supervisor of Athletics for the City of Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation Department since 2018.

Mr. Buckley brings extensive education and experience to the role. As Supervisor of Athletics, he was responsible for management of all sports programs, including youth and adult sports and tournaments, as well as serving as the interim Golf Supervisor during COVID for

his department. Other areas of experience and expertise for Mr. Buckley include program management in a community center, Club Director for Metro Parks basketball and volleyball academies, coordinator of the Cincinnati Reds Youth Baseball program, and coordinator of the department’s esports league.

Mr. Buckley holds an M.S. in Recreation & Sports Administration from Western Kentucky University, as well as a B.S. in Health & Physical Education from Murray State University. He also holds an Intercollegiate Athletic Administration Graduate Certificate from Western Kentucky University and is a Certified Youth Sports Administrator through the National Alliance for Youth Sports. As Sports Programs Manager, Mr. Buckley will supervise the Hamilton Community

Center & Ice Arena Manager, Golf Pro/ Manager, and Sports Coordinator. Mr. Buckley will report to Nikki Murphy, Associate Director of Recreation.

“We are incredibly excited to have Brady join our Parks and Recreation team,” said Nikki Murphy, Associate Director of Recreation. “Columbus, Indiana is a community with an impressive sports culture woven into the fabric of its identity.

We rely on individuals, like Brady, who want to become a part of this unique community and who bring with them a new, fresh perspective on opportunities and improvements to our existing facilities and programs.”

“We’re very excited to have an individual like Brady, with his degree of talent, join our team,” said Mark Jones, Director.

Indiana Park & Recreation Association

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Happy Trails to Mick Renneisen

By Becky Higgins, Bloomington Parks & Recreation On April 23rd, after four decades of service to the City of Bloomington, Deputy Mayor Mick Renneisen retired. Wait a minute. It is probably best to start at the beginning.

Forty years ago, Mick Renneisen began his career with the City of Bloomington in the Department of Parks and Recreation.

He worked in various positions within the sports division before becoming the Administrator of the Department for almost 20 years. During his tenure, Bloomington Parks and Recreation completed over $50 million in capital projects, including the addition of nine new holes at Cascades Golf Course, the acquisition of a 100,000 square foot indoor recreation center, the addition of Olcott Community Park, Leonard Springs Nature Park, the B-Line Trail, Clear Creek Trail, Jackson Creek Trail, Upper Cascades Skatepark, and the Showers Common, and numerous improvements to existing parks. Mick also assembled both land and funding resources and led the Master Planning process for Switchyard Park, a $34 million project completed in 2019 and the largest park project in the city’s history.

In 2007 under his leadership, Bloomington Parks and Recreation received the first of two Gold Medal Awards and was previously recognized as a finalist for the Gold Medal Award five times. This award represents excellence in the field of parks and recreation services and is the highest honor an agency can receive. Mick was very proud of this accomplishment and always attributed this success to his staff.

In 2001, Bloomington Parks and Recreation became the 27th department nationally to achieve accreditation status from CAPRA (Commission on the Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies). To this day, the department has remained accredited.

Mick also served as a member of the Bloomington/ Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau, serving as the Board President in 2003 and 2004. He was also a board member of the Amateur Softball Association, served as the State Commissioner of USA Softball of Indiana, and in 2016 he was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame.

When Mick was appointed Deputy Mayor in 2016, the department said goodbye to Mick as an Administrator, but hello to him as parks advocate within the mayor’s office. It was the best of both worlds.

Mick continued his service to the City of Bloomington and to the community.

As Deputy Mayor, Mick oversaw 16 city departments and was instrumental in implementing policies and goals, including job creation, affordable housing, quality of life improvements, and transparent and efficient basic governmental services.

Upon his retirement, Mayor Hamilton stated that “Mick has been at the center of so much that our community treasures –

from parks, trails and recreational facilities and events to the basic functioning of all of our departments. He is a quintessential public servant and has been indispensable in helping envision and realize the Bloomington we want to create for future generations.”

Mick is a past president of Indiana Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), served on numerous IPRA committees, and was named Professional of the Year in 2011.

Mick holds both a B.S. and M.S. degrees from Indiana University where he served as an adjunct instructor, hosted a monthly IU sports program on WTIU, was a member of the Alumni Board, and currently serves as a member of the School of Public Health’s Dean’s Associates. Many who know Mick know that he has been an NCAA statistician for the IU men’s basketball team and the internal press box

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Happy Trails to Mick Renneisen, continued from page 37 announcer for IU football home games since 1983. Both are roles he plans to continue into retirement. We are pretty sure that he won’t give up his gig in Hawaii every year during the Maui Invitational Basketball Tournament. Who could blame him?

Mick and his lovely wife Brenda plan to continue to live in Bloomington, enjoying the positive impact Mick has made on this community and especially on its beloved parks for years to come. Also sharing in his legacy are the joys of his life: his three daughters Sara, Jaclyn, and Elizabeth, and twin grandchildren Connor and Sydney. His impact on the Bloomington community cannot only be seen, but also felt by friends and colleagues alike as Mick strove to create a fair, kind, warm, and welcoming place of understanding in any endeavor he undertook, always making time for a positive word of encouragement.

While we will miss Mick around City Hall, we know he won’t be riding off into the sunset anytime soon. We will be able to see him on the golf course, spending quality time with his family, riding his bike down the B-Line Trail, and enjoying all 35 parks located in Bloomington. We wish Mick the best and thank him for all his years of service. Happy Trails Mick.

You helped build them and you deserve to get out there and enjoy them.

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The Value of Adding Esports to Your Parks and Recreation Programming

By Joe Rozycki, CPRP, CivicRec

For those unfamiliar with the idea of Esports, the term does not simply stand for electronic sports or playing sports-based video games. Esports is the activity of competitive electronic gaming in a setting where an individual or team participates in a live contest against others, as you might expect with any traditional sporting event. You can watch these types of events online and even on some television channels, but soon, you also might be able to see them happening right in your community.

Esports might be new to you, but it’s an activity that is growing rapidly in popularity and will likely soon be commonplace around the world to both participate in and observe as entertainment. For parks and rec departments, Esports’ growing popularity means the chance to bring an engaging, virtual program into your activity catalog and one that can accommodate ongoing needs to socially distance citizens. Read on to learn how to maximize this growing audience’s potential as a recurring revenue-builder for your department.

Become an Early Adopter

In terms of a parks and recreation activity, Esports is still in its infancy. There aren’t many examples from which to model this type of programming, but that’s part of its appeal. The possibilities are vast, and they appeal to a group of citizens that may otherwise have had difficulty finding a place to fit in or locating an activity that provides the level of accessibility that gaming provides for audiences from all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. After all, this is what recreation aims to do to help citizens become engaged and involved in 40 theProfile

their community and increase their quality of life in the process.

Esports can bring people together in a new and unique way that solves many problems, some of which have been magnified since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary loss or limited access to city and county facilities or the need to maintain social distance. The pandemic has forced parks and recreation departments to reexamine their programming approaches while attempting to meet existing needs for citizens to stay active and not feel isolated. Having healthy, social activities for all ages is vital, and Esports can be a major player as an alternative form of social connection and community building.

How to Communicate the Benefits of Esports

When you launch your Esports events, get the word out to your citizens. Sell it as the cool, new, and unique activity that it has the potential to be. Work with schools, libraries, and after-school programs to distribute flyers and information. Make materials eye-catching while ensuring they appeal to parents. Parents are on the constant lookout for new, constructive activities for their kids to participate in, but video games can have a negative connotation with some adults. Do your

best to curb this perception with detailed communication of program details, goals, and benefits.

Competitive gaming in a group setting can provide many of the same lessons and skill building—such as teamwork and effective communication— as physical team sports. It’s a matter of perception.

Provide statistics, data, and show that your program is a structured, positive opportunity for change and development where youth can have fun, develop friendships, and build important social skills.

Don’t Limit Your Audience

It’s a common misconception that video games and Esports are only for kids. Don’t forget that the adults of today were some of the first social gamers. Their interest in gaming has not faded; today’s number of American adults playing video games is as high as 65 percent. Adults also need and are looking for ways to connect with others during this extended period of pandemic isolation. Even though the outlook is positive in terms of an approaching return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle, this type of program’s positive effects could be a foundation to build on for years to come.

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The Value of Adding Esports to Your Parks and Recreation Programming, continued from page 40 Ideas to Help Get Started

• Utilize staff as coaches or program leaders as you might with any other activity.

• Gauge interest and then create and plan a functional space accordingly, with the necessary technology and hardware, and adjust as you go.

• Create detailed pre-and post-COVID-19 plans of implementation—socially distanced stations and setups and how they will change over time.

• Plan events and invite an audience to attract participants and build community relationships.

• Allow participants to register for events using your parks and recreation management software.

• Pursue sponsorships and partnerships from local gaming businesses to help fund equipment, events, and programming.

• Create structure and organization like any other program in the form of rules, practice, schedules, and exercises.

• Hold all-age events as well as agegroup-specific programs.

• Develop mentorship opportunities within the program for kids that may need positive role models • Utilize constructive, positive games as your medium in the program—sports games, puzzle games, and creative games.

• Post results, successes, team trophies, or accomplishments on your website and social media to attract interest and promote the program.

• Hold tournaments within your local groups or connect with other neighboring communities and beyond.

Final Advice

Esports has been on the rise for several years, but its popularity is about to boom as citizens of all ages realize the convenience and benefits of digital engagement activities. By embracing this newest trend, your parks and recreation department will remain relevant with citizens of all ages and demonstrate your commitment to evolving your programing to meet new interests, events, and opportunities.

About the Author Joe Rozycki, CPRP In his role as a CivicRec Sales Engineer, Joe draws on his 12 years of experience as a parks and recreation professional in the Kansas City metro area, both at the municipal and county levels. Joe is responsible for identifying innovative ways for technology to automate the recreation engagement model to strengthen the relationships between municipalities and their citizens.

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Social Equity Group As one of NRPA’s central pillars, social equity is a significant responsibility upheld by every public parks and recreation system and the professionals who operate them. Our role as Recreation Professionals uniquely positions us to have a meaningful impact on our communities.

Providing more inclusive services and programming in an effort to grow and educate ourselves on social equity, will also enable our profession to significantly impact underrepresented community groups and promote a more inclusive community. IPRA is creating an interest group on Social Equity and would like your support, experience, and insight on this topic.

Don’t forget to take a PARKcation with us November 2-4 at the 2021 IPRA Conference & Expo!

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2021 Maintenance Expo Recap

By Christine Dunker, 2021 IPRA Summer Intern

The second IPRA Maintenance Expo was held on June 16, 2021, at Washington Township Park in Avon, IN. This event brought together park professionals and local maintenance companies from the greater Indianapolis area for a day full of maintenance education, networking, and professional development, all while enjoying the atmosphere of our beautiful parks. Exhibitors had the opportunity to showcase their best maintenance products and services such as lawncare services, playground equipment, and water treatment. We had a great turnout of exhibitors including local favorites Ability Indiana, Commercial Recreation Group, Davey Resource Group Inc., The Grasshopper Company, Kenney Machinery Corporation LLC, Midstates Recreation, Sinclair Recreation LLC, Spear Corporation, and Woody Warehouse Inc. Many education sessions were held throughout the day, with topics on chainsaw safety, herbicide use and safety, invasive species management in park natural areas, pool winterization, rain and pollinator gardens, and pest identification and removal. Our speakers included Aren Flint and Jake Bannister from Davey 44 theProfile

Resource Group, Clint Anglin with Spear Corporation, Sarah Hanson from Purdue Extension, Duane McCoy from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and Jake Brinkman with the City of Indianapolis.

At the maintenance roundtable discussion, a panel of park professionals from Danville Parks, Valpo Parks, Greencastle Parks, and a few other park departments, spoke about the current successes and struggles their departments are facing, and how they are combating and celebrating these circumstances. Overall, this discussion was a chance for park professionals from across the board to connect with one another and share their knowledge about

all things parks and recreation.

We want to recognize our sponsors for this event! Thank you, Midstates Recreation, for being the title sponsor of this event.

Midstates Recreation designs and installs quality and inclusive playground equipment, shelters, gazebos, aquatic play equipment, and other site furnishings to create a fun and accessible recreational experience for all to enjoy. Their mission is to provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to be able to play together in the same playground environment.

Thank you, Davey Resource Group for being the supporting sponsor of the expo.

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Trails Gathering Trail advocates and managers, join us for the upcoming Trails Gathering on September 23, 2021 at Springwood Lake Park in Richmond!

Thank you to our sponsor BF&S!

We can’t wait to see you in Muncie on November 2-4 at the 2021 IPRA Conference & Expo!

2021 Maintenance Expo Recap, continued from page 44 Davey Resource Group was founded on the principle that nature and the built environment can co-exist for the benefit of people and their communities. They offer both residential and commercial services for landscaping, grounds management, and tree care services, aiming to create and deliver sustainable solutions for all maintenance needs.

We also want to give a huge thank you

to the staff at Washington Township Parks and Recreation who provided us with their space, equipment, and hospitality to ensure that this year’s expo went as smoothly as possible.

At the end of the day, attendees filled out evaluations and put them into a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card. The winners of this drawing were Greg Dickenson with Brownsburg Parks, Ryan Middleton with Washington Township Parks, and Stanley Wilson with Danville Parks. Thank you to our 100+ attendees who participated, and we look forward to watching this event continue to grow

in the years to come. Keep an eye out on our website for information about future maintenance events.

Our goal at IPRA is to find more opportunities to provide education to maintenance professionals. If you are a maintenance professional, we encourage you to get involved with IPRA and help us plan future maintenance events!

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Upcoming Events Information Leadership Summit

August 24 – 25, 2021 • Saxony Hall, Fishers 13362 Pennington Road, Fishers, IN 46037

Trivia Night (IPRF)

August 24, 2021 • Saxony Hall, Fishers 13362 Pennington Road, Fishers, IN 46037

Trails Gathering

September 23, 2021 • Springwood Lake Park, Richmond 64 Waterfall Road, Richmond, IN 47374

Virtual AFO Training

November 15 – 16, 2021

Virtual CPSI Training December 7, 2021

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Indiana Park & Recreation Association 107 Logan Street Noblesville, IN 46060

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