From the editor

Parks & Recreation, Oct, 2004 by Rachel Roberts

As the park and recreation field descends upon Reno, Nev., for the NRPA Annual Congress & Exposition this month, it's fitting that the October issue is so full of new ideas they can use. Although the conference is about education sessions and exciting vendor exhibits, it's also about networking with fellow professionals and citizens to find a fresh view on things that you can bring back home.

Whether you want to talk to colleagues about budgeting or building a dogpark, someone at Congress will have accomplished it already. Although this great opportunity rolls around only once a year, the magazine is a once-a-month stop to gather ideas, and new ways to look at things as well. Of course, you may not get the same kind of laughs as you do with your colleagues, but hopefully the magazine will entertain you, too.

This month, read about how one department in Florida took trespassing paintball players who were destroying public property, and turned the problem into a money-maker for the town (page 82). Or, get some advice from a spraypark expert on bow you can solve maintenance issues at your park's facility (page 64). Need some ideas on how to improve overused trails? Check out the story that discusses multiuse trails and how to make them work on page 56.

These are just a few of the ideas presented in this issue, and we're always looking for more that could help others in the field. We hope you'll stop by the NRPA Pavilion at Congress and discuss topics you'd like to see covered in the magazine, or write to the magazine at edit@nrpa.org, and give us some of your thoughts on issues you want to read about.

Rachel Roberts Editor, Parks & Recreation