Family Health & Fitness: Fun Day in the Park

Author: Austin Stanfel

Family Health & Fitness Day is an annual event encouraging families to get active and prioritize their health. It is a beautiful opportunity for families to engage in physical activities together, enjoy the outdoors, and create lasting memories. Moreover, what better place to celebrate this day than

Shade in Playgrounds: Beating the Heat for Kids’ Safety

Author: Austin Stanfel

Playgrounds are vital to any community, offering children a safe and enjoyable physical activity and social interaction space. However, the importance of providing adequate shade in playgrounds must be addressed. The scorching sun can pose risks such as sunburn, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. Therefore, it is crucial

Play Deprivation: Why it Matters and What Schools Can Do About It

Author: Austin Stanfel

Play is an essential part of childhood development. Through play, children learn critical social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills crucial for their future success. Unfortunately, many schools have cut back on playtime, leaving children with limited play opportunities. This lack of play, or play deprivation, can severely

Empowering First Graders: Encouraging Student Leadership in Classroom

Author: Austin Stanfel

Leadership is an essential skill that can be developed at any age. Many people assume that leadership is an innate quality and that some people are born with it while others are not. However, this is only partially true. Leadership can be taught and developed, especially when

Play’s Impact: Children’s Developmental Journey

Author: Austin Stanfel

Play is vital to a child's development, as it promotes physical, social, and emotional growth. One of the most important aspects of play is the environment in which it occurs. Playgrounds are integral to a child's play environment, providing a space to run, climb, and interact with

Designing and Maintaining Off-Leash Dog Parks

Author: Austin Stanfel

Off-leash dog parks have become a popular destination for pet owners and their furry companions to socialize, exercise and play. With the increasing demand for dog parks, designers and planners are adopting new trends in the design and construction of off-leash dog parks to meet the needs